Dizzy Izzy & Ernst

Dizzy Izzy & Ernst
Dizzy Izzy & Ernstl

Thursday 15 May 2014

Machu Picchu & Wayna Picchu ...

... still very beautiful, despite a slight Disneyland feel ...

... we went up to Machu Picchu at about 7 am ... no point trying to get there earlier for sunrise, as it was too cloudy at that time ... it was a good choice, as it was still not too busy ...








... llamas: the natural lawnmowers of Machu Picchu ...



... at about 11 am, we climbed up to Wayna Picchu ... it took us about one hour on a very steep trail, but the view from above was incredible ... even Machu Picchu looked soooo small ...






... we spent about 7 hours on site and we were completely knackered by the time we went back to Aguas Calientes ... but it had to be done!!!

Monday 12 May 2014

Salkantay trek - insane but so beautiful!!

... first day - from 2900 to 3900 meters above sea level ... about 19 km on foot up and downhill until the first campsite on the Salkantay foothills ...



... it all started so well, with nice and sunny weather ...


... the first glimpse of the Humantay ... "only" about 5500 meters high ...




... second day - after a deadly freezing night in the tent, the hardest hike - from 3900 to 4630 meters above sea level, and down again to 2900 - about 25 km in sun, wind, rain and even snow ...











... but we did it! and the Salkantay stood in front of us in all its majesty ... until the bloody clouds arrived ... again!!!

... third day - after another pretty cold night, and barely standing after the previous day, we had to walk down from 2900 to 2000 meters, about 15 km - but the landscape changed dramatically, from snowy high mountains to rainforest and coffee plantations (Lucmabamba)




... we even had to work to get the first decent south American coffee - Ernst had to harvest and grind the marvellous Arabica of our host family (Basilio and Victoria - we cannot thank you enough for your hospitality and the excellent food ... not to mention the coffee, of course!!)




All in all - we survived the famous Salkantay trek, we proved once again that we are not made of sugar and that the vegan power will prevail! We are now ready for everything ...

Thursday 8 May 2014

Cuzco - Sacred Valley ...

... more llamas and alpacas ... just adorable ...






... and of course, lost Inca cities and the incredible Andes ...








... direct Inca descendants still weaving as their ancestors ...


... and cute (although slightly dirty) children ...

Lake Titikaka, Peruvian side ...

... Las Islas Flotantes ... where the Uros live on man-made floating islands ...



(aren't we ... eehhmm ... beautiful? we may buy the outfit ...)


... Amantani ...




... Taquile ... home of the knitting men ... yes ladies, you heard it right!!! look at this fine example ...





(we didn't buy this one but a very similar one ...)

... Llachon ...


... Sunrise in Puno Bay ... at we had to leave Llachon at 4:30 am to make our bus to Cuzco ...