Sunday, 30 September 2012
A Wonderful Day
After a brilliant nights sleep our day started at 08:30 this morning after Facetiming Jackie, Mum and Lisa and Ifan. How wonderful is the technology that allows me to talk to you and see you from Peru via an iphone.
First of all our driver took us to Chinchero where we went to see some local weavers. The skill they have which has been passed down through centuries is amazing. I can´t describe the whole process here but it was fascinating to see the different things they use to make the dyes, including cochineal for the red dye. I have always know that the colour cochineal comes from a beetle of the same name but had assumed that they were big black beetles. Not so, they are tiny white beetles that live on a cactus plant. One of the ladies removed a couple and then squidged them on her hand. The red colour was instantaneous. She then used a drop of lime juice and this changed the colour to orange. I could have stayed and watched longer but time was moving on and we had to continue with our visit to Chinchero.
We then made our way to the spectacular benched terraces of Moray (picture to follow). From here we walked to our lunch stop where our driver had erected a tent and a toilet tent and Flora had busied herself setting out lunch for us. We expected a simple lunch but found the set up in the photo below. We had our first taste of Inka Cola, which is bright yellow and very confusing because it tasted and smelled like Vimto!!!!
After lunch we set off walking and eventually arrived at Maras where we went to see the salt pans. Unfortunately by this time we were literally running out of time so the visit was very quick but it was fascinating to see how the salt is collected from the water that runs from the mountain.
We returned to our hotel at 18:30 tired but having had a throughly enjoyable day.
Tomorrow we leave this hotel and the Sacred Valley and return to Cusco for two nights before starting the trek to Machu Picchu. So far the acclimitisation is going well and the walk today at 11,600 ft presented no problems.
First of all our driver took us to Chinchero where we went to see some local weavers. The skill they have which has been passed down through centuries is amazing. I can´t describe the whole process here but it was fascinating to see the different things they use to make the dyes, including cochineal for the red dye. I have always know that the colour cochineal comes from a beetle of the same name but had assumed that they were big black beetles. Not so, they are tiny white beetles that live on a cactus plant. One of the ladies removed a couple and then squidged them on her hand. The red colour was instantaneous. She then used a drop of lime juice and this changed the colour to orange. I could have stayed and watched longer but time was moving on and we had to continue with our visit to Chinchero.
We then made our way to the spectacular benched terraces of Moray (picture to follow). From here we walked to our lunch stop where our driver had erected a tent and a toilet tent and Flora had busied herself setting out lunch for us. We expected a simple lunch but found the set up in the photo below. We had our first taste of Inka Cola, which is bright yellow and very confusing because it tasted and smelled like Vimto!!!!
After lunch we set off walking and eventually arrived at Maras where we went to see the salt pans. Unfortunately by this time we were literally running out of time so the visit was very quick but it was fascinating to see how the salt is collected from the water that runs from the mountain.
We returned to our hotel at 18:30 tired but having had a throughly enjoyable day.
Tomorrow we leave this hotel and the Sacred Valley and return to Cusco for two nights before starting the trek to Machu Picchu. So far the acclimitisation is going well and the walk today at 11,600 ft presented no problems.
Saturday, 29 September 2012
We´re here
Was it only yesterday we left, it seems like a lifetime ago. We left home at 13:30 on Friday and eventually got here at 09:50 on Saturday but if you take into account the time difference it means travelling/hanging around for over 24 hours. All went smoothly though and it was a relief to reach Cusco with all our bags and to find porters waiting for us to collect our luggage and shortly after we met up with our guide who will be with us for most of the next two weeks. The only downside was the transatlantic flight which was very cramped and made it impossible to get comfortable and sleep.
After being met at the airport we headed out of Cusco to the Sacred Valley. On the way our guide gave us each a goody bag with satsuma, chocolate bar and sweets. It felt like a school trip and he informed us that we´d be getting another goody bag tomorrow. After a short while we stopped for lunch. We were expecting something light but had a fantastic three course meal. We were spoiled for choice and John certainly didn´t hold back when it was time for puds. Just as well we are now walking nonstop for the next two weeks.
After lunch we spent the afternoon sightseeing and the Inca ruins at Ollyanatambo were incredible. Quite how the Incas built what they did without modern tools is unbelievable.
So far so good with regards to altitude. You could feel the affects flying in to Cusco at 11,200 ft and certainly we felt it on the way to the Sacred Valley when we reached 12,100 ft. Fortunately we are now at a more comfortable 9,500 ft with a couple of days to acclimatise.
No photo right now because I was stupid and forgot to take any. John took lots with the camera but when I tried to use the SD card attachment with my phone an error message tells me its unsupported. Why when its an Apple device??? I´ll remember to take photos in future.
Right now we are sat enjoying cocktails and heading off to dinner at 19:30. It´s a tough life isn´t it. Cheers all.
After being met at the airport we headed out of Cusco to the Sacred Valley. On the way our guide gave us each a goody bag with satsuma, chocolate bar and sweets. It felt like a school trip and he informed us that we´d be getting another goody bag tomorrow. After a short while we stopped for lunch. We were expecting something light but had a fantastic three course meal. We were spoiled for choice and John certainly didn´t hold back when it was time for puds. Just as well we are now walking nonstop for the next two weeks.
After lunch we spent the afternoon sightseeing and the Inca ruins at Ollyanatambo were incredible. Quite how the Incas built what they did without modern tools is unbelievable.
So far so good with regards to altitude. You could feel the affects flying in to Cusco at 11,200 ft and certainly we felt it on the way to the Sacred Valley when we reached 12,100 ft. Fortunately we are now at a more comfortable 9,500 ft with a couple of days to acclimatise.
No photo right now because I was stupid and forgot to take any. John took lots with the camera but when I tried to use the SD card attachment with my phone an error message tells me its unsupported. Why when its an Apple device??? I´ll remember to take photos in future.
Right now we are sat enjoying cocktails and heading off to dinner at 19:30. It´s a tough life isn´t it. Cheers all.
Friday, 28 September 2012
Terminal 5
Bags checked in and hopefully they'll be in Cuzco when we get to the baggage claim. It'll be a difficult trip if we're minus one. Just got to wait now for boarding so time to enjoy a nice cup of tea. 
Thursday, 27 September 2012
.... to this
Phew. We are just under 15kg each which will be considerably under
on trek with some stuff left at the hotel in Cuzco. Now I'm worried
that we've forgotten something as we had more in Nepal. Maybe it's
just that we're more experienced now!
Anyway, the countdown has begun. 1 hour to online check in and 25
hours to flying.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Map of trek
the kit bag is fastened the better. How many times can you pack and
unpack and check that everything needed is there?
Sunday, 9 September 2012
The Itinerary
| Full details of our trip can be found here - http://www.mountainkingdoms.com/itinerary_info.ihtml?schedid=1003
Days Itinerary
1-2 Fly to Cuzco via Lima. Drive to the Sacred Valley.
3 Sightseeing in the Sacred Valley including the Chinchero ruins and the Moray earthworks.
Trek to Maras and the shimmering salt-pans of Salinas.
4 Drive back to Cuzco, via the Inca ruins, Ollanataytambo and Pisac.
5 In Cuzco, visit Tambo Machay, the Red Fort (Puca Pucara) Quenqo temple and the impressive Sacsayhuaman. 6 Travel, first by car (4hrs), then on foot (4hrs), to reach the first luxury lodge, near Mt Salkantay. 7 Today is free to explore the area and aid acclimatisation. A suggested walk is to ascend to a beautiful lake at 13,452 ft beneath the snow face of Humantay mountain. 8 Trek from Soray Pampa to Huayrac Machay crossing the Salkantay Pass at 15,256 ft. 9 Trek from Huayrac Machay to Colpapampa 10 Trek from Colpapampa to Lucmabamba
11 Trek to the “Hydroelectrica” railway station and take a short ride to Aguas Calientes.
12 Enjoy a full tour of Machu Picchu, before returning to Cuzco on the train.
13 Andean Explorer train from Cuzco to Puno
14 Sightseeing Lake Titicaca, Isla Uros and Isla Tquile
15 Visit ruins at Sillustani before heading to Juliaca for the flight to Lima
16 Arrive Heathrow at 17:20, tired, exhausted, weary, but what a trip. |
Research completed
With less than three weeks to go the research has all been done and
fitness levels increased, 30 miles walked last week plus 3 cycle
rides. Peru here we come.
fitness levels increased, 30 miles walked last week plus 3 cycle
rides. Peru here we come.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)