In Ft Lauderdale. Plane is about to take off. Will be pressed for time over the next few days. Pictures and videos will be available when I get a chance.
This trip has been wonderful. I saw some really cool things, and got a chance to really relax.
Now it is time for a word from our sponsors.
This trip would not have been possible without West Georgia Technical College and IKEA. If it had not been for them, I would not have been richer than ever before, and I would not have been able to afford this trip.
www.westgatech.edu
www.IKEA.com
This trip was also brought to you by Stone Mountain Park. If I had not climbed Stone Mountain forty times over the one hundred days before my trip, I would have never been able to do the walking I did at the high altitude and up so many hills.
www.stonemountainpark.com
A special thanks also goes out to Spirit Air. If the company and their pilots had not come to an agreement on wages, the strike might never have ended, and I may have had to change my plans and go Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon or someplace else closer to home.
www.spiritair.com
Oh! And I can't forget the wonderful people at the Hostal Pension Alemana in Cusco. The people of Cusco are terrific, but the people at the Hostal Pension Alemana were the best!
(I'll have to find their website later; the plane is boarding.)
--NB
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Leaving for the US today
Last day here. I am actually looking forward to getting back home.
Yesterday
Enjoyed seeing downtown Lima. Experienced it all on foot. My dogs are still achin' me.
First stopped by a set of ruins here in Miraflores called --------. We had a cool tour guide whose services were included in the ticket price(!). The people whe built this site predated the Incas by as many years as the Inca predated us. To protect against damage due to earthquakes, the hand-made mud bricks were laid vertically instead of horizontally. They built a step pyramid temple, which was later abandoned, fell into disrepair, became covered in dust and debris, and eventually began to look like a big hill in the landscape. In the 1900s, a large portion of the site was destroyed when the city expanded into its space, but the part that stands now was saved and is still in the process of being excavated. While my tour group was there, the excavation team found a fossilized frog.
Downtown Lima is several miles away, but I walked all the way there, stopping several times along the way to grab some snacks at the cafes. Real lunch was found at a mondern foot court where I had some Chineese food much like what you would find at Panda Express, just not as good.
At the Plaza de Armas, there was a big fan plex area for the World Cup, where Spain was playing Paraguay. It was weird to walk through there, as everyone was staring at the big screen TV.
Then it was off to the Iglesia de San Francisco. Beutiful church. On the museum tour, we got to see the catacombs! I was not at all grossed out by all the bones. But I was freaked out by the small enclosed space. I was in a fairly large tour group, and the closeness we experienced was highly uncomfortable. I was also very worried that there would be an earthquake, and we would be the final people laid to rest in the catacombes.
On the way back, I stopped in San Isidro, where there is a park full of olive trees. Apparently the park was an orchard before the city engulfed it. The park was a nice respite from the city, which is constantly hoppin'.
I found a grocery store, where I bought some Pisco to take home with me. I want to try my hand at making Pisco Sour.
Off to the airport later today. Flight departs latelatelate tonight. Arrival in Atlanta earlyearlyearly tomorrow.
--NB
Yesterday
Enjoyed seeing downtown Lima. Experienced it all on foot. My dogs are still achin' me.
First stopped by a set of ruins here in Miraflores called --------. We had a cool tour guide whose services were included in the ticket price(!). The people whe built this site predated the Incas by as many years as the Inca predated us. To protect against damage due to earthquakes, the hand-made mud bricks were laid vertically instead of horizontally. They built a step pyramid temple, which was later abandoned, fell into disrepair, became covered in dust and debris, and eventually began to look like a big hill in the landscape. In the 1900s, a large portion of the site was destroyed when the city expanded into its space, but the part that stands now was saved and is still in the process of being excavated. While my tour group was there, the excavation team found a fossilized frog.
Downtown Lima is several miles away, but I walked all the way there, stopping several times along the way to grab some snacks at the cafes. Real lunch was found at a mondern foot court where I had some Chineese food much like what you would find at Panda Express, just not as good.
At the Plaza de Armas, there was a big fan plex area for the World Cup, where Spain was playing Paraguay. It was weird to walk through there, as everyone was staring at the big screen TV.
Then it was off to the Iglesia de San Francisco. Beutiful church. On the museum tour, we got to see the catacombs! I was not at all grossed out by all the bones. But I was freaked out by the small enclosed space. I was in a fairly large tour group, and the closeness we experienced was highly uncomfortable. I was also very worried that there would be an earthquake, and we would be the final people laid to rest in the catacombes.
On the way back, I stopped in San Isidro, where there is a park full of olive trees. Apparently the park was an orchard before the city engulfed it. The park was a nice respite from the city, which is constantly hoppin'.
I found a grocery store, where I bought some Pisco to take home with me. I want to try my hand at making Pisco Sour.
Off to the airport later today. Flight departs latelatelate tonight. Arrival in Atlanta earlyearlyearly tomorrow.
--NB
Friday, July 2, 2010
First impressions of Lima
Picture it: Eastern Europe, 1991. A man in his salad days spends his first few days of his backpacking trip across Europe in Warsaw, Poland. At the time, the city was just crawling out from under the heavy thumb of communism. The people were sad, the weather was dreary, and the future seemed bleak. Days later, the man departed from this place of sadness, escaping to the town of Krakow, also in Poland. There he saw sunshine, saw smiling faces, and felt a general sense of optimism.
At first, today it seemed that today's Cusco is to yesteryear's Krakow as today's Lima is to yesteryear's Warsaw. My opinion has changed, but more on that later.
Before leaving Cusco today, I stopped by Jack's cafe for breakfast again. Delicious grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Open-faced. M'mm. I can't wait to get on the scales in Atlanta and see how much I have put on on this trip. Met some old people from Holland who apparently do a lot of traveling at this time in their lives: Just ended a 7-week trip to Bolivia and Peru. One has been to Machu Picchu three times in the past three years, and is so good at doing the "trekking", which I want to do on my next trip here, that he does not need to go through an agency anymore: He is setting up his own trip, hiring his own guides, etc.
Seeing these folks in their seventies going on long excursions made me feel a lot more positive about my opportunities to travel in the future. For so much of my twenties and thirties I could not afford to make a trip like the one I have made this year, and much of the time I have been here, I have mourned the fact that I am limited to two weeks here. But I guess I have retirement to look forward to. All I have to do is make sure I have enough money when I am in my seventies to go on big long trips. I will surely have the time (if I actually do retire).
Before leaving on my flight, I got the chance at the airport to try the "milk punch"-- the only ingredients I remember are in it are milk and Pisco. M'mm. It probably has sugar in it too.
Plane trip to Lima: Amazing. On the way out to Cusco it was dark most of the way. I only got to see the landscape for the last few minutes near Cusco. It turns out that mountains abound almost the entire way between Cusco and Lima. Most of the mountains are similar to the ones near Cusco: Green to brown with little vegetation. People scattered about in villages here and there, but not everywhere. High up; much higher than the Appalachians. But in the far distance I could see h.u.g.e. mountains. With ice caps. What the Andes are really famous for. That's one place I would like to go on my next trip to Peru.
On my arrival in Lima, I was at first slightly disappointed. Dreary weather. Too many people. It felt like Manhattan-- or probably Brooklyn-- without the cool stuff at first.
But then I got out for a while and realized it is much better than I thought. The people are extremely nice, just like in Cusco; and much nicer than in the US. It also appears that there are a lot more English-speakers.
I'm staying in Miraflores, which is just south of downtown. Not far from the hotel, I grabbed lunch/dinner-- more typical Peruvian fare: Beef(?) or pork(?) with tomatoes, potatoes, and rice. More Pisco Sour. Second favorite Pisco Sour so far. Only two more days to go to find the best one.
Near the restaurant is a park where some performances take place sometimes. It turns out that the performance that was going on when I got there was a group of kids from (??) Cleveland, Ohio (!! ) performing some jazz. They were pretty good.
After that, I walked to the Pacific Ocean. I know the history behind why we call it the Pacific, but I tell you, both places where I have seen it-- San Francisco and here-- it does not seem very peaceful. Here it is thrashing about anxiously. The Atlantic seems much more calm. Peaceful or not, it is very beautiful. Hoping to see the sun set there tomorrow. Today it was too dreary.
There was an improptu-almost-parade that got started close to the edge of the cliffs: Lots of horns blowing and flags waving celebrating Uruguay's victory over Ghana in South Africa this afternoon in the battle for the World Cup.
Right on the cliffs, is a big ol' mall-- the Larcomar. I stopped by, and felt like I was at Lenox Square, speaking of which, I do not think I have been there in ten years. I wonder if it is still there (??).
Before heading back to the hotel, I stopped for cheesecake and cappuccino. You've got to live it up while you can. It will be back to beans and rice, rice and beans in the ATL on Tuesday.
--NB
At first, today it seemed that today's Cusco is to yesteryear's Krakow as today's Lima is to yesteryear's Warsaw. My opinion has changed, but more on that later.
Before leaving Cusco today, I stopped by Jack's cafe for breakfast again. Delicious grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Open-faced. M'mm. I can't wait to get on the scales in Atlanta and see how much I have put on on this trip. Met some old people from Holland who apparently do a lot of traveling at this time in their lives: Just ended a 7-week trip to Bolivia and Peru. One has been to Machu Picchu three times in the past three years, and is so good at doing the "trekking", which I want to do on my next trip here, that he does not need to go through an agency anymore: He is setting up his own trip, hiring his own guides, etc.
Seeing these folks in their seventies going on long excursions made me feel a lot more positive about my opportunities to travel in the future. For so much of my twenties and thirties I could not afford to make a trip like the one I have made this year, and much of the time I have been here, I have mourned the fact that I am limited to two weeks here. But I guess I have retirement to look forward to. All I have to do is make sure I have enough money when I am in my seventies to go on big long trips. I will surely have the time (if I actually do retire).
Before leaving on my flight, I got the chance at the airport to try the "milk punch"-- the only ingredients I remember are in it are milk and Pisco. M'mm. It probably has sugar in it too.
Plane trip to Lima: Amazing. On the way out to Cusco it was dark most of the way. I only got to see the landscape for the last few minutes near Cusco. It turns out that mountains abound almost the entire way between Cusco and Lima. Most of the mountains are similar to the ones near Cusco: Green to brown with little vegetation. People scattered about in villages here and there, but not everywhere. High up; much higher than the Appalachians. But in the far distance I could see h.u.g.e. mountains. With ice caps. What the Andes are really famous for. That's one place I would like to go on my next trip to Peru.
On my arrival in Lima, I was at first slightly disappointed. Dreary weather. Too many people. It felt like Manhattan-- or probably Brooklyn-- without the cool stuff at first.
But then I got out for a while and realized it is much better than I thought. The people are extremely nice, just like in Cusco; and much nicer than in the US. It also appears that there are a lot more English-speakers.
I'm staying in Miraflores, which is just south of downtown. Not far from the hotel, I grabbed lunch/dinner-- more typical Peruvian fare: Beef(?) or pork(?) with tomatoes, potatoes, and rice. More Pisco Sour. Second favorite Pisco Sour so far. Only two more days to go to find the best one.
Near the restaurant is a park where some performances take place sometimes. It turns out that the performance that was going on when I got there was a group of kids from (??) Cleveland, Ohio (!! ) performing some jazz. They were pretty good.
After that, I walked to the Pacific Ocean. I know the history behind why we call it the Pacific, but I tell you, both places where I have seen it-- San Francisco and here-- it does not seem very peaceful. Here it is thrashing about anxiously. The Atlantic seems much more calm. Peaceful or not, it is very beautiful. Hoping to see the sun set there tomorrow. Today it was too dreary.
There was an improptu-almost-parade that got started close to the edge of the cliffs: Lots of horns blowing and flags waving celebrating Uruguay's victory over Ghana in South Africa this afternoon in the battle for the World Cup.
Right on the cliffs, is a big ol' mall-- the Larcomar. I stopped by, and felt like I was at Lenox Square, speaking of which, I do not think I have been there in ten years. I wonder if it is still there (??).
Before heading back to the hotel, I stopped for cheesecake and cappuccino. You've got to live it up while you can. It will be back to beans and rice, rice and beans in the ATL on Tuesday.
--NB
Olloytaytambo and More; Goodbye to Cusco
Has it been three days since my last posting? M'mm H'mm. Sorry about the delay.
Wednesday
2+ hour bus trip to Olloytaytambo. More astonishingly beautiful ruins. Also looked around in the town. All of the streets in town parallel to the site have irrigation canals running through them.
I lost my hat in Olloytaytambo.
I then went to nearby Urumbamba, which does not have ruins, but, according to my guidebook, has a restaurant that serves a buffet that includes a free Pisco Sour. I never found the restaurant, but did find another one that serves a delicious meal for $2, which begs the question of whether it is appropriate to eat in an establishment that sells meal for $2, mostly to locals if you can afford to eat someplace fancier and pay more. I don't know. I have enjoyed the $25 meals, but some of the $2 meals, where there is really not much choice in what you eat, have been some of my favorites.
New rule for inter-city travel on buses in Peru: When you can find a bus that costs double, it is worth it! I paid $1 to get from Cusco to Urumbamba early in the morning. We were packed into the bus like sardines when we left the bus station. On the way we picked up more people. On the way back, there just happpened to be a space on a bus that cost $2. After all of the seats were full, we left, and we picked up no one on the way. There was soft music playing in the background. Some people were able to fall asleep.
Arrived back in Cusco and actually enjoyed a museum. It was the Museo Inka, which had a lot of information about the Inca civilization. I actually spent quite a bit of time there.
Thursday
Down-time day. No real agenda on Thursday. After waking up, I decided to take a bus to the outskirts of town as far as it would go, and see what was there. It stopped in a village called Osoco (?). I got out and walked around. I ended up walking to a nearby village, which had a huge lake near it, as well as a USAID temporary housing relief site nearby. I do not know the story behind that. The people staying there are living in 18 square meters of space. I do not know how many people share that space.
Forgot the sunscreen Thursday. Got a little sunburned on the face and ears, but not too bad. It is actually a little better this morning.
I ate and ate and ate yesterday, stopping in two fancy restaurants. One was a place where I had been already-- the place that was out of the Nelson Mandela desert. This time they had it. M'mm. I was expecting something else-- it was a piece of pie with the chocolate, cream, rum, and brazil nuts. I was expecting it to be like an ice cream sundae without the icecream. Still it was delicious. By the time I got home in the evening, I felt like I was about to pop!
Today
I am leaving the hotel in a few hours. My flight to Lima is in the early afternoon. Happy 4th of July weekend to you!
--NB
Wednesday
2+ hour bus trip to Olloytaytambo. More astonishingly beautiful ruins. Also looked around in the town. All of the streets in town parallel to the site have irrigation canals running through them.
I lost my hat in Olloytaytambo.
I then went to nearby Urumbamba, which does not have ruins, but, according to my guidebook, has a restaurant that serves a buffet that includes a free Pisco Sour. I never found the restaurant, but did find another one that serves a delicious meal for $2, which begs the question of whether it is appropriate to eat in an establishment that sells meal for $2, mostly to locals if you can afford to eat someplace fancier and pay more. I don't know. I have enjoyed the $25 meals, but some of the $2 meals, where there is really not much choice in what you eat, have been some of my favorites.
New rule for inter-city travel on buses in Peru: When you can find a bus that costs double, it is worth it! I paid $1 to get from Cusco to Urumbamba early in the morning. We were packed into the bus like sardines when we left the bus station. On the way we picked up more people. On the way back, there just happpened to be a space on a bus that cost $2. After all of the seats were full, we left, and we picked up no one on the way. There was soft music playing in the background. Some people were able to fall asleep.
Arrived back in Cusco and actually enjoyed a museum. It was the Museo Inka, which had a lot of information about the Inca civilization. I actually spent quite a bit of time there.
Thursday
Down-time day. No real agenda on Thursday. After waking up, I decided to take a bus to the outskirts of town as far as it would go, and see what was there. It stopped in a village called Osoco (?). I got out and walked around. I ended up walking to a nearby village, which had a huge lake near it, as well as a USAID temporary housing relief site nearby. I do not know the story behind that. The people staying there are living in 18 square meters of space. I do not know how many people share that space.
Forgot the sunscreen Thursday. Got a little sunburned on the face and ears, but not too bad. It is actually a little better this morning.
I ate and ate and ate yesterday, stopping in two fancy restaurants. One was a place where I had been already-- the place that was out of the Nelson Mandela desert. This time they had it. M'mm. I was expecting something else-- it was a piece of pie with the chocolate, cream, rum, and brazil nuts. I was expecting it to be like an ice cream sundae without the icecream. Still it was delicious. By the time I got home in the evening, I felt like I was about to pop!
Today
I am leaving the hotel in a few hours. My flight to Lima is in the early afternoon. Happy 4th of July weekend to you!
--NB
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