Peru

Ahh Lake Titicaca, not sure exactly how I feel about it...

I toured Lake Titicaca for a total of 3 days. First Isla del Sol in Bolivia then the floating Islands containing the Uros and Taquila in Puno Peru. It was an interesting experience. I felt like I was invading the peoples land, and I felt obliged to buy things from them. In addition, the children sang to us in every language and it was clear that this is not what they want to do, but they have no choice but to do it...weird..I had a hard time with the fact that everyday these people wait for the tourists, spend the first 8 hours of there day with strangers and then go about there normal lives. What kind of life would that be to entertain people in your home on your island everyday? Thing is these islands are very small, there are over 40 islands with 5 to 8 familys per island. It was a sight to see, but way to touristy....

The island of Taquile was better, a natural island, unlike the man made floating islands (which were made to get away from the Incans on the main land). Still the people are so pushy, buy my bracelet NOW!!! NO!! I met a girl in the main square that was no selling anything, she was playing with a string. I start talking to her and teach her some fun stuff, like how to make the witches broom, ad the farmers pants, then I show her cats cradel. A guy sees me playing with her and comes over and we play cats cradel together. The little girl is amazed. She then shows me a lil trick that she knows how to do, which was basic, but cute! I really enjoyed her company, she didnt want any money from me and simly enjoyed playing with me. I wished that I had brougth something in my bag to give to her, like a toy or something...

I arrived back to Puno, the 3rd largest city in Peru, a little to large for me, but I stayed in an amazing hostel for fairly cheap and had my own room, my own bathroom, and a HOT shower!! WOO!

From Puno I went on a bus to Chivay, completly skipping over Arequipa. It was a tour bus with me and 4 other people, ahhh very comfortable. We stopped at different locations looking at a lake, lots of alpacas, and flamingos. I am still in the Andes, and on our journey we peaked at 4900m. Highlight of the ride was when we went through a crazy snow storm, it was awesome! The road was completely covered in snow, it has been awhile since I have seen snow collecting on the ground. However, we were unable to see the volanoes because of the storm, but it was just as fun to be in the snow storm and besides I have seen many volcanos.

So onward to Colca Valley. I went to Chivay first, where I visited the local hot springs, La Calera. It is interesting becuase every terma that I go to is so different. This one was segreageted into 5 different pools, and the water was about 85 degrees. Overall it was nice and relaxing. The mountains surrounding the pools and the river flowing below were all very serene.

I then went to to Cobanaconde, where I would be able to get into Colca Canyon! Upon arriving I check in and meet a girl from the US that was there for the Peace Corp. I hung out for a bit had some lunch and caught the 2pm bus to the Cruz del Condor. Here is a lookout close to a bunch of Condor nests that have been around for generations. I must have seen over 20 condors. They are HUGE! When they fly by you they sound like a plane. This was not my first time seeing the Condor, as I saw them in the Tupiza to Uyuni tour, however, this was the first time that I sat and specifically watched for them. As I was there in the afternoon there were only 5 of us up there. In the morning when I drove by there mist have been 100 people there. Essentially I had the canyon to myself!! As I waited for the bus to arrive I met Melanie and Rob, one from Spain and the other England. We hang out and waited for the last bus to arrive, which should be there at 430 or 5 I was told. At 5, it begins to get dark and cold, maybe we should walk. We walk about 3 miles for about an hour and half up and down the mountain road, when finally at 630pm a bus drives by and we hitch a ride!! I was grateful to be with other people!!

The canyon let me tell you is gorgoeous. At the bottom of the canyon runs the Colca River, and near the bottom is a place called Sangalle. Sangalle is an Oasis, with Palm trees, grass, and pools. I hiked down here which took about 2.5 hours, down a steep, rocky, mountain trail. It zigged and zagged all the way down. I had lunch and then becuase I did not have a guide, like every other gringo had, and it was already 3pm, I hired a mule to take me back up. The walk up is 4 hours, ALL up the steep rocky moutain trail, and it gets dark at 5pm.

With the mule I got up in 2 hours, It was such an odd experience. I was so sad that the poor mule had to work so hard carrying me up, she was sweating. UGhh, at one point I wanted to get off and walk myself. At the end of the trip up there was a down hill section and my girl, Blanca, I named, her slipped a little while running down and I almost fell off superman style! I intinctively grabbed a hold of her neck and my back pack was on and my water bottle went flying out, phew, scary moment!! I was grateful for saving myself from what coulds have been a bad accident, me hitting large rocks and then possibly being trampled by a huge mule!!!

Ohh in addition, the house dog, Osa, followed me down to the canyon and did not follow me back up. When I left Cobanaconde she was still not back! EEK...

The hostel I stayed at was awesome, it was named Pachamama (meaning motherearth), it was cheap, had hot shwoers, a bar, and good, safe, food. Which brings me to my next point, my last night in Cobanaconde I fainted. I do not know what happened, I was talking to a guy, and then I remember saying "excuse me, I am sorry I am suddenly not feeling well". I put my head down on the bar and then looked back up, he was saying something to me but I couldn´t hear, and then I was fighting to keep my vision. I excused myself, stood up, and was attempting to walk to my room, when the next thing I know I hear a Peruvian screaming for Kristin. I look over and realize I collapsed in the middle of the dining room!! Ugh, I felt like such an asshole, I got up and said "wow I am okay, really, I don´t know what just happened". Sucks, maybe it was because I had done down 1100m and then came right back up and my body was confused with the altitude. Cobanaconde is at about 3800m. I am okay, and since then have not had a repeat!!

After a day and a half on buses, I am now in Lima!!! I am SOOOOO stoked to see Dee today!!! Ahhhh!!! I can hardly wait, I have been talking about her non-stop!! I am equally excited to ge to Cuzco and anxious to do the Incan Trail!! I imagine I will have time for one more post to discuss Macchu Picchu before returing home on May 3rd. But the travels don´t stop here my friends, North America (northern USA and southern CA) follows this trip for the summer of 2011!!

Missing you all!!

Andrea