PERU

Well actually from New Zealand Caitlin and I flew into Santiago, Chile for a few days before flying up to Peru - but I will tell you about that later as we plan to go back to Chile so I will include it with that blog!


LIMA

we had an early flight over to Lima, the capital city of Peru. from the airport we made our way to Miraflores, one of the neighbourhoods around the city center. It was a nice neighbourhood to wonder around and after a chorizo bagette lunch we went over to the promonade along the cliffs above the beach. While we were there, there were a few guys doing para-gliding... why not!? I signed my name away and got harnessed up while Caitlin decided to stay put on the ground and be designated photographer. When I was all strapped in and attached to the kite (and my instructor!) I was instructed too start running when the kite started to rise with the wind. This was all very well apart from th direction I was suppose to be running in was straight off the cliff! Luckily the wind had swooped us up before I reached the edge and I was up, up and away! It was fantastic seeing the views from way up high, being above the tower block roof tops. As we flew down the coastline I could see the tiny surfers and sunbathers on the beach, the roofs tops stretch out for ages and the roads looked like they were filled with toy cars!

NAZCA

We only spent one night in Lima before catching an early bus over to Nazca. Bone dry and baking hot Nazca is a small town in the middle of the desert . Travelers, including Caitlin and I, flood this somewhat unremarkable town to catch a glimpse of the curious ground drawings far out in the scorched desert. The lines were revealed in 1939 when and irrigation research flight flew across the barren region and unearthed th puzzling scratches in the sand that are engraved on the desert floor like a giants graffiti. it is thought that the lines date back to as far as 900 BC. Some believe that the drawings were offerings to the God's and the lines were an astronomical calendar mapped out by sophisticated mathematics. Other theories include that the lines were ritual walkways, giant running tracks and even extraterrestrial landing sites! But still... know one really knows!
That afternoon Caitlin and I were warned that it might rain, as we were visiting during rain season. But know worries, it only rains 10mm of water per YEAR!
CUZCO & MACHU PICCHU

We had a shrt stop over in Cuzco, a pretty city with high walls and cobbled streets. However the city has a huge altitude - sitting at 3300 meters above sea level, which meant our bodies had quite a shock coming from low down Nazca... the climb to find a hostel nearly killed us! We took it slowly in Cuzco, trying to aclimatize, while wondering the back streets, being tempted by the trinkets on sale and visiting the Cathedral and it´s historical charms in front of the Plaza De Armas.

< Cusco by day

Cusco by night >

It took us the best part of a day traveling to get to the small town, Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. From Cuzco we got a lift whinding throught the mountains, past the lakes and farm villages and down the ¨Sacred Valley¨. We stopped at Ollantaytambo to get on a train for the restof the way. The train was rediculously slow- it took us over 2 hours to complete the final 27 miles of the journey! However we were compensated by the outstanding sceenery as we chugged along side the Urubamba River.
The following morning Caitlin and I were up early to get to the top of Machu Picchu, The ¨Lost¨Inca City. The ruins are found at the top of a mountain and are undeniably spectacular. The archaeological site is deservably world famous for it´s stunning location and also it´s mysterious past. The acual purpose and function of Machu Picchu is still a matter of speculation and guesswork and despite studies of the ¨Lost¨Inca City knowledge still remains sketchy. Whatever the case, the excepionally high quality of the stonework and craftsmanship amazes me!

Climbing to the top of Machu Picchu and seeing the views that surrounded us was literally breath taking.

AREQUIPA


Caitlin and I had heard good things about Arequipa from fellow travellers and we were looking forward to arriving. Dad had put me in contact with a friend of his who lives there too so it was lovely to be met and welcomed by Anna after a horrible over night bus journey fromCuzco (the 10 hour bus we were on stank like a farm yard, there were screaming babies, snoring men and the sub zero temeratures meant that the condensation from our breath froze to the windows!). Anyway... we were taken to the family home and filled up with fresh fruit and hot coffee. We spent most of the day reading in the warm sunshine in the garden trying to regain some of our energy!

The next morning we went into town to see the centre . The perfect cone-shaped volcano of ´El Misti´ rises up behind the Cathedral and the town square and the grand buildings around the city are all built from the light coloured volcanic rock which dazzels in the sun. We were shown around town by Dromy (Anna´s daughter) and her boyfriend who acted as our personal tour guides and translators for the day! They also introduced us to the delicious Peruvian cuisine of ¨Ceviche¨; raw seafood marinated in lime, red onions and chilli.
It was a shame we didn´t get to spend more time in Arequipa, it was such a beautiful city. But our time in Peru had run out! Onto the next destination....