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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
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Not Baja- but Machu Pichu
Sorry, but had to share this fantastic zoom site for Incaland.
http://www.docbert.org/MP/
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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Ken Bondy
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Registered: 12-13-2002
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Magnifico Oso!!! Here's my best from Incaland:
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DianaT
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Machu Pichu is fantastic, and I really enjoyed all the places around that area. The train going in and out of Cuzco is something!
However, I really fell in love with the ruins at Silustani outside of Puno----it really looked and felt like the place the mother ship landed----Art
Bell would agree. 
Also, the train trip across the Atiplano from Cuzco to Puno is one of the best.
Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories.
Diane
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Skipjack Joe
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Location: Bahia Asuncion
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The train ride from Cusco to Machu Pichu along the Urubamba river is a great adventure (if you don't get robbed). I've got some great shots, but alas
they are all on film.
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Minnow
Banned
Posts: 1110
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Lost Wages
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Mood: Embarrased Harry Reid is a Nevadan
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The Green Minnow says."you people really pee me off".
That goes Double for you Ken Bondy.
[Edited on 10-1-2007 by Minnow]
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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We were there six months ago....
Very interesting, and stunning place to visit, and yeah, train ride is really something.
Actually we liked Cusco as well, or better. It too had a great fascination.
Interesting sidebar...
Our guide had us all sitting in one of the building shells and he was carefully explaining that no reconstruction had ever been done on that
particular one, Nope, it was all just like it had been built thousands of years ago.
I looked up and broke into his spiel, "And the wood in that header over the door, what kind of 2000 year old wood might that be?"
Just could not resist...
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Barry A.
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The bajarunner------a guides worst nightmare-----
-----was there also a couple of years ago with OAT (overseas adventure travel)-------------incredible, but we loved Cusco the best, and the people
there were just great. Actually Lima was pretty fasinating, too, and we spent several nights at all 3 places. Highly recommend
Peru------wonderful!!!
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thebajarunner
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"A guide's worst nightmare"
| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
-----was there also a couple of years ago with OAT (overseas adventure travel)-------------incredible, but we loved Cusco the best, and the people
there were just great. Actually Lima was pretty fasinating, too, and we spent several nights at all 3 places. Highly recommend
Peru------wonderful!!! |
Barry, I like it... can I borrow that for my next batch of bizcards?
Bernie calls me the "Schoolmarm" but both have a nice ring.
Actually, the guy was such a 'know it all' and pontificating on and on and on..... it was just one of those sweet moments when you can put a small pin
into a large balloon....
(after Peru we went on to Quito and Galapagos.... Quito and driving around the equator was great, Galapagos was waaaaaaay overrated!)
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DianaT
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Bajarunner
| Quote: |
(after Peru we went on to Quito and Galapagos.... Quito and driving around the equator was great, Galapagos was waaaaaaay overrated!)
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When traveled quite a bit of Peru and Ecuador by bus and local plane, but we did not have the time nor the money to visit the Galapagoes when we were
there.
Now we have talked about going to Galapagos----real curious as to why you say it was overrated???
Thanks
Diane
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thebajarunner
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Galapagos gripes
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
| Quote: |
(after Peru we went on to Quito and Galapagos.... Quito and driving around the equator was great, Galapagos was waaaaaaay overrated!)
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When traveled quite a bit of Peru and Ecuador by bus and local plane, but we did not have the time nor the money to visit the Galapagoes when we were
there.
Now we have talked about going to Galapagos----real curious as to why you say it was overrated???
Thanks
Diane |
where do we start??
you can only do it by tour cruise ship
you only get a brief morning and a brief afternoon outing to land (like 1 or 2 hours)
half of the outings are to a beach that has a lot of smelly sea lion pups lying around in their own poop
less than 5% of the place is open to tourists
you see what they show you, and that is it.
the giant turtles/tortoises that you see in all the promo fotos..... they are in a cage, crawling around on a concrete slab... San Diego Zoo has a
better show than that!
on the plus side, you see a lot of tame birds, blue footed boobies, etc, but no better variety than on one of Baja's estuaries- they are just tame.
beyond a variety of lizards/iguanas, sea lions and some birds there is not much more to see
the landscape is bleak- you yearn for a cactus or a boojum
it is very expensive
we were on a "first class" boat (spell that expensive) and the food was mediocre
the morning we were leaving I was having breakfast with a nice old guy from San Diego and he commented on our short 3 day visit.... "I signed up for 5
days, wish I was going with you!"
That one comment summed it all up for me.
I guess the bottom line is this, you see better specimens at the San Diego Zoo, and better landscape anywhere south of El Rosario.... I mean like
waaaaaaay better!!
Sure is a long way to go, to spend a very large amount of money, to check one more thing off your "life list."
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Barry A.
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Galapagos-----
We also went to Equador, and the Galapagos, after visiting Peru. With OAT (Outdoor Adventure Travel, a division of Grand Circle travel) we were in
the Islands for 7 days, on a rather small motor cruizer, with 20 passengers, 2 excellent guides, and great food. We visited at least 7 of the
islands, doing most of the "cruizing" at night while we slept.
All of what Taco says is true, but we really enjoyed it, in spite of that. I would not go back, but I really enjoyed it while I was there. All in
all, a plus, and with OAT not really that expensive (tho I really don't remember how much). The islands did remind me very much of Baja, tho. The
entire Peru/Equador trip was one of the highlights of my later years, and my wife agrees.
Just do it, and expect to enjoy it, and you probably will. It is a very unusual and exciting place, IMHO.
But still--------------Taco is right about a lot of it.
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DianaT
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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Galapagos
Hey,
Thanks for all the information---maybe I will focus on making it to Tierra del Fuego---lots to see in that area---I think.
We really enjoyed several places in Peru and Ecuador, and almost got to Bolivia---got to the floating islands in Lake Titicaca-----so much to see.
Again, I appreciate your report.
Diane
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Barry A.
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Diane-----in case you missed my comments---
see above your last comments. ( I noticed that you posted almost the same time as i did, so maybe missed them.)
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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I have a great shot of Machu Pichu but it's on film. I will try to make a digital photo of it and post later on. We stayed in the little town of
Agua Caliente down below that peack for two nights and explored all over the area. Loved it! The wobbley train ride to get there was excellent along
the raging river.
Thanks for posting this subject. It brings back great memories.
Bob H
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Titicaca
Lake Titicaca straddles the border of Bolivia and Peru. The Peruvians have a joke about it.
"Yes, we share Lake Titicaca with Bolivia. Titi for us and Caca for Bolivia".
One of my fondest memories of the lake are the islands of the sun (or moon - I no longer remember). The boat leaves Puno and takes about 2 hours to
get to the island. The Indians run the operation. During the trip the men sit around knitting woolen caps while chewing coca leaves. You just cram a
bunch into your mouth and let it break down over time.
Diane, I'm sure you've had coca leaf tea in Cusco. They use it to cure "soroche", altitude sickness. When you first reach the city you get this
walloping headache for about a day.
I've heard that Tierra del Fuego is very windy and has a stark landscape.
Arguably the best thing about Peru is the Indian population. In that sense it's a lot like Guatemala, my other favorite Latin country. The jungle
ruins at Tikal rival Machu Pichu. Tikal is less commercialized than Machu Pichu. And Lago Atitlan is the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. What a
place!! Some day I hope to go back and walk it's banks again.
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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some day I would love to go to Machu Pichu, it has been an interest for me sense I was a child.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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DianaT
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Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Lake Titicaca straddles the border of Bolivia and Peru. The Peruvians have a joke about it.
"Yes, we share Lake Titicaca with Bolivia. Titi for us and Caca for Bolivia".
One of my fondest memories of the lake are the islands of the sun (or moon - I no longer remember). The boat leaves Puno and takes about 2 hours to
get to the island. The Indians run the operation. During the trip the men sit around knitting woolen caps while chewing coca leaves. You just cram a
bunch into your mouth and let it break down over time.
Diane, I'm sure you've had coca leaf tea in Cusco. They use it to cure "soroche", altitude sickness. When you first reach the city you get this
walloping headache for about a day.
I've heard that Tierra del Fuego is very windy and has a stark landscape.
Arguably the best thing about Peru is the Indian population. In that sense it's a lot like Guatemala, my other favorite Latin country. The jungle
ruins at Tikal rival Machu Pichu. Tikal is less commercialized than Machu Pichu. And Lago Atitlan is the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. What a
place!! Some day I hope to go back and walk it's banks again. |
Ah yes, when we arrived in Cusco and found a small hotel, we immediately were served our first cup of Mate de Coca. (Landing in Cusco is NOT to be
forgotten!) On the local tour we took out of Puno to Sulistani, everyone was served Mate de Coca out of thermos, poured into well used cups. Didn't
like it as well as they sweetened it.
Good stuff---also helped with recovering from some bad pork in Ariquipa, Peru. Also, we hired a local guide to hike around some of the ruins near
Cusco and he showed us another plant whose fumes help with the altitude---did help.
Tikal, is my favorite---last time we were there we drove from Honduras and were surprised to find the road 1/2 paved. Now it is totally paved and I
guess there is more development.
Sometime I will find a couple of pictures of Lake Atilan---it is magnificent. We had traveled there before, and when we lived in Guatemala City,
Panahachel on Lake Atilan was one of our weekend get-aways.
Barry, thanks for your take on the Galapagoes----
Happy Travels
Diane
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Barry A.
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CONTINUING TO NAME DROP PLACES----
If you had trouble with the altitude in Cusco, Peru (which we didn't) be prepared for BIG trouble in Lhasa, Tibet (another OAT Tour) where we DID
have a little trouble. As I remember, Lhasa is close to 18,000 feet.
Tikal is incredible, but most of it is hidden in the Jungle and hard to get a proper perspective, in my opinion. Machu Pichu is totally "exposed" (to
high for much vegetation) and therefore I thought much more spectacular. We backpacked to Tikal (by bus) with an armed guard at our side----spooky!!!
We took a daylong bus trip from San Ignacio, Belize to Tikal. We learned our lesson-----organized tours are so much more relaxing!
I highly recommend Machu Pichu, and stay at the bottom in Agua Caliente, as somebody here recommended. Really nice.
[Edited on 1-12-2007 by Barry A.]
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DianaT
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Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
If you had trouble with the altitude in Cusco, Peru (which we didn't) be prepared for BIG trouble in Lhasa, Tibet (another OAT Tour) where we DID
have a little trouble. As I remember, Lhasa is close to 18,000 feet.
Tikal is incredible, but most of it is hidden in the Jungle and hard to get a proper perspective, in my opinion. Machu Pichu is totally "exposed" (to
high for much vegetation) and therefore I thought much more spectacular. We backpacked to Tikal (by bus) with an armed guard at our side----spooky!!!
We took a daylong bus trip from San Ignacio, Belize to Tikal. We learned our lesson-----organized tours are so much more relaxing!
I highly recommend Machu Pichu, and stay at the bottom in Agua Caliente, as somebody here recommended. Really nice.
[Edited on 1-12-2007 by Barry A.] |
I am afraid that 18,000 would be a bit much for me. ---but I bet it was a fantastic trip.
On the train trip from Cusco to Puno, a young ex-Israli soldier suddenly became quite ill from the altitude. We quickly got the porter to get the
oxygen that the tour book said the train carries----we were probably at about 14,000 at the time. Of course, there was no oxygen, fortunately she
came back around as we headed down in elevation.
We have never traveled with an organized tour from the U. S. , but I well imagine it is easier in many ways.
Most of Mexico, Central America, and a little of South America---that is it for us so far----need to augment that place name list. 
But that first picture of the fantastic Machu Pichu sure brouht back a lot of great memories for several of us.
Thanks Oso for starting this!
Happy Travels
Diane
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Bajalover
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Very nice Oso! Spent several years in South America (all countries except French Guyana, Paraguay). Your photos brings back fantastic memories.
Thanks.
Sometimes you really do question; why you are and where you are.
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