Nov 5, 2009 - Cusco at last!

We arrived in Cusco with some major symptoms of altitude sickness. ... Both of us felt extremely tired, had headaches, and even a little bit of nausea.We arrived in Cusco with some major symptoms of altitude sickness. ... Both of us felt extremely tired, had headaches, and even a little bit of nausea....

Nov 4, 2009 - Finally arriving in Lima and meeting Mom

I was about to bail on the whole lot of them and hop on a flight to Lima, but the prices were outrageous so we got on ANOTHER bus to Chiclayo, figuring at least there were a few interesting markets and sights to see once there, also at least shops and cafes would be open by the time we arrived. ... No buses until 7pm to Lima, so we rested, ate, and regrouped at a small café for several hours. ... I got probably the best night of sleep on a bus so far on the trip going to Lima, probably because I was so exhausted at that point my body was simply shutting down. ... I said goodbye to the Irish and the Israelis and found my way to a centrally located hostal in Miraflores neighborhood in Lima. ...

Nov 3, 2009 - ...went on for days...

We were assured by many people along the way that a bus from Piura to Lima would be departing within several hours, but of course that was not at all the case. ... The next direct bus wasn´t until 8pm or something ridiculous.We were assured by many people along the way that a bus from Piura to Lima would be departing within several hours, but of course that was not at all the case. ... The next direct bus wasn´t until 8pm or something ridiculous....

Nov 2, 2009 - Peru: Cusco - Dia de los Muertos

We celebrated All Saints and All Souls days this weekend, which in Cusco is called "Dia de los Vivos" (Day of the Living) and "Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead). ... On Dia de los Muertos, we went to the cemetery to celebrate the dead, along with most of Cusco. ... We held a small service for our Aunt Marilyn, who recently died of lung cancer.We celebrated All Saints and All Souls days this weekend, which in Cusco is called "Dia de los Vivos" (Day of the Living) and "Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead). ... On Dia de los Muertos, we went to the cemetery to celebrate the dead, along with most of Cusco. ... We held a small service for our Aunt Marilyn, who recently died of lung cancer....

Oct 30, 2009 - Peru: Cusco - Swim Meet

We had the first round of the Cusco Regional swim championships on Friday. ... Both Cayman and Kendall did very well despite the lack of organization.We had the first round of the Cusco Regional swim championships on Friday. ... Both Cayman and Kendall did very well despite the lack of organization....

Oct 29, 2009 - Endlich im Dschungel! - Finally the jungle!

Als wir in Iquitos aus dem Flugzeug gestiegen sind, war es als ob wir gegen eine warme, feuchte Wand laufen wuerden und wir haben gemerkt, was es bedeuted im Amazonasbecken gelandet zu sein: Schier unertraegliche Hitze und 80% Luftfeuchtigkeitk, sprich konstantes, ekeliges Schwitzen :-) Wenn wir bisher Suedamerika recht modern fanden, haben wir uns hier zum ersten Mal ein bisschen wie in einem dritte Welt Land gefuehlt, denn in der groessten Stadt der Erde die nicht ueber den Landweg zu erreichen ist, sind die Menschen doch deutlich aermer als in vielen anderen Teilen des Kontinents. ... Dafuer konnten wir dann schoen den Preis runterhandeln und haben uns fuer umgerechnet 3€ in die 45 Minuten entfernte Stadt Iquitos chauffieren lassen. ... Heute morgen wurden wir von der Hitze aufgeweckt und haben den Tag im Zoo von Iquitos verbracht wo es jede Menge einheimische Tiere zu sehen gab, eben alles was im Regenwald so herum kreucht und fleucht: Puma, Jaguar, Affen, Piranhas, Vogelspinnen, rosa Delfine, Otter, Anacondas, Papageien etc. ... ----------------------------------- When we got out of the airplane in Iquitos, it seemed like walking against a hot, humid wall. ... That's when we realized that we really are in the middle of the jungle and that from now on, we have to accept unbearable heat, 80% humidity and the hardcore sweating that results from it :-) If we found South American quite modern so far, Iquitos proofed to us that we really are in a developping country: We had hardly set foot out of the airport and were already surrounded by masses of taxi drivers and luggage porters all offering their services to us. ...

Oct 27, 2009 - Lima

Wir waren nur zwei Tage in Lima an denen wir nicht viel gemacht haben, da wir die Schnauze von Suedamerikanischen Grossstaedten ein bisschen voll haben. ... Wir haben mit den Jugendlichen eine peruanische Suessigkeitenspezialitaet hergestellt die sie Anfang November auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt in Lima verkaufen werden. ... ----------------------------------- We only spent 2 days in Lima as we have gotten a bit sick of big south american cities. ...

Oct 21, 2009 - Peru: Cusco Baloncesto

Jason, Cayman and Kendall play basketball every Saturday at the Parque Zonal with the family that owns our apartment.Jason, Cayman and Kendall play basketball every Saturday at the Parque Zonal with the family that owns our apartment....

Oct 19, 2009 - Cuzco & Machu Picchu

Unser erster Stop in Peru war in Cuzco von wo aus wir zum Highlight unseres Trips in die verlorene Incastadt Machu Picchu aufgebrochen sind. ... Ich denke auf den Fotos wird klar dass der Ort beeindruckend ist, aber dann wirklich dort zu sein und von einem Peruaner zwei Stunden lang die Geschichte der Stadt erklaert zu bekommen war schon sehr beeindruckend! Seit gestern Abend sind wir zurueck in Cuzco wo wir uns im Hostel noch einen Tag erhohlen werden bevor es dann zu einer anderen Incastaette weitergeht - den Linien von Nazca --------------------------------------------------------- Our first stop in Peru was Cuzco from where we started a three-day-inca-jungle-trek up to Machu Picchu. ... The tourgroup consisting of us two, two irish guys and a malteser (haha) was picked up at the hostel in the morning to go mountainbiking for a few hours before we were brought, up a very, very windy mountain road, to the town that we spent the first night in.Unser erster Stop in Peru war in Cuzco von wo aus wir zum Highlight unseres Trips in die verlorene Incastadt Machu Picchu aufgebrochen sind. ... Ich denke auf den Fotos wird klar dass der Ort beeindruckend ist, aber dann wirklich dort zu sein und von einem Peruaner zwei Stunden lang die Geschichte der Stadt erklaert zu bekommen war schon sehr beeindruckend! Seit gestern Abend sind wir zurueck in Cuzco wo wir uns im Hostel noch einen Tag erhohlen werden bevor es dann zu einer anderen Incastaette weitergeht - den Linien von Nazca --------------------------------------------------------- Our first stop in Peru was Cuzco from where we started a three-day-inca-jungle-trek up to Machu Picchu. ... The tourgroup consisting of us two, two irish guys and a malteser (haha) was picked up at the hostel in the morning to go mountainbiking for a few hours before we were brought, up a very, very windy mountain road, to the town that we spent the first night in....

Oct 19, 2009 - Cusco Peru

In Cusco angekommen, sind wir wieder im LOKI Hostel abgestiegen. ... Nachdem wir unsere Waesche zum Waschen gebracht haben, eine neue DVD gebrannt und unsere Emails beantwortet haben, haben wir uns auf den Weg in die Stadt gemacht um einen Tour-Operator fuer unseren Inka-Trail zu finden.In Cusco angekommen, sind wir wieder im LOKI Hostel abgestiegen. ... Nachdem wir unsere Waesche zum Waschen gebracht haben, eine neue DVD gebrannt und unsere Emails beantwortet haben, haben wir uns auf den Weg in die Stadt gemacht um einen Tour-Operator fuer unseren Inka-Trail zu finden....

Oct 5, 2009 - Lima, Peru

The first hostel that we have stayed in was called Barranco Backpacker's Inn, and lets just say, it's not the Ritz. Lima, apart from being a little more dangerous, it is very much like any other capital city. ... With the exception that it has a Pyramid in the south where they're was the sacrificial killing of women and under their cathdrals they have buried and dug up the dead to see how many people were there.The first hostel that we have stayed in was called Barranco Backpacker's Inn, and lets just say, it's not the Ritz. Lima, apart from being a little more dangerous, it is very much like any other capital city. ... With the exception that it has a Pyramid in the south where they're was the sacrificial killing of women and under their cathdrals they have buried and dug up the dead to see how many people were there....

Oct 3, 2009 - Arequipa to Puno

After this alarming wake-up call, we had breakfast on the terrace and headed to the bus station, heading for Puno. ... The journey should have been 6 hours, but with irritating seemingly pointless stops on-route we arrive in Puno nearly 8 hours after setting off. ... As we rounded the corner and overlooked Puno, it was surprising to see how big the city was. ... The hostel is pretty dark and dingy, but then so is Puno. ... every cloud! We are going to have a night in tonight, as the streets of Puno are less than welcoming. ...