Goodbye Chile

We are sitting waiting to go to the airport - flight goes in 6 hours & so begins the 18+ hours flight. Arrive home 7:30am Saturday.
Yesterday we went on a tour to one of the wine areas. It was great to be away from the city & we had a tour around a vineyard & tasted a  couple of the wines - nothing to write home about!
We had a very relaxing massage in the afternoon so are definitely winding down.

I hope that you have all enjoyed the blog so until the next time - Adios!

Chile

We have just had a scary moment - well Jodi & I did, Valda was in the bathroom - the whole place started to shake with the bed moving & I thought the mirror was going to fall off the wall we were probably enduring an earthquake tremor! We have decided to run for the bathroom if it happens again!
We had a tour through the city of Santiago - quite green with tree lined avenues & lots of parks. There are some interesting buildings & we actually saw the changing of the guard at the palace - not quite as impressive as  Buckingham Palace! There is a lot of smog which obscures the snowcapped mountains.
In the afternoon we went for a massage - very relaxing - & then off to dinner around the corner from the hotel - great food.
Tomorrow we are taking a half day tour to the vineyards.
This is so different from the last dusty town - you could imagine John Wayne walking down the street- but we did have one really crazy moment there when we walked passed the supermarket to see a guy in there with his 2 llamas!! They filled the shop & got everyone laughing as it's not too often you see that happening in a supermarket.

Now in Chile

After a 4 hour bus trip & 7 hour train trip (arrived 2:30 am) we started a 3 day trip through Bolivia to Chile. First stop the Salt flats - had an awesome time felt like a kid again you will understand from the photos!

We travelled through the desert unlike anything I've been in before. Driver was fabulous especially when I explained why I was nervous about travelling by jeep! Our days were on dirt roads - we could only go on the salt flats for a short time because of flooding - the scenery was unbelievable with mountains all around. one day we stopped to save a llama which was stuck in a bog. We did reach 5000m & the altitude tablets certainly helped. We had our passport stamped at the Bolivian border,tiny hut, then drove for 45 mins until we reached the Chilean border where we stood in the blazing sun for 2 hours before we got passport stamped! NOw in dusty desert town. 

La Paz

The Bolivians have some interesting traditions - there is a period in January when they buy miniature models of something they desire to own eg car & they go to the church to pray for this to happen, When they do get the eg car they cover it with flowers & take it back to the church to be blessed by the priest. There are numerous stalls which have miniatures for you to buy - see below

 Another belief is that if you wish for rain you go to the 'Witches Market" where the Sharma will prepare a basket of lollies, coca leaves & a foetus of a llama you were then expected to burn it, - it all looked pretty yucky!
Today we went to Tiahuanaco - a spiritual meeting place of the Tiahuanaca people who were around 20,000BC. Very interesting but poorly developed & when you consider that money has been put into it but a lot was filtered off into other pockets (if you get my meaning) & the site really hasn't been excavated.
The surrounding countryside is quite beautiful with snow capped mountains as the back drop.

We have just met with the guy who is organising the next part of our trip through the salt flats. As there has been a lot of rain some parts of the journey have had to be changed. We are on a night train tomorrow which sounds interesting - thank goodness we have some gin left!!
It sounds as if we will be out of contact for quite a few days & we are getting up to 5098m - we will certainly be out of breath but hopefully I will have some good tales & photos to show you then.

Hello from Bolivia

After a 2 hour car journey we arrived at the border with Bolivia. We stepped across a chain & then headed to a couple of different rooms to get our passport stamped. A short walk in 'no man's land'with our new guide & another passport stamp & we had officially arrived in Bolivia!

An hour later, having our own van, we arrived at Copocabana - no not the famous one! We boarded a boat - just the 3 of us & our guide & headed across to Isla del Sol ( Island of the Sun). After a traditional lunch we were back on the boat to the Isla de Lunar (Island of the Moon) where we clambered up a few stoney steps to an old temple.

Back on the boat & back to Isla de Sol where we were staying for a couple of nights. We started to climb the 205 (we found out later!) stairs and were soon huffing & puffing - the high altitude certainly still gets to you. We proceeded to walk for about another hour to reach our hotel & it was certainly worth it - spectacular views over Lake Titicaca.

Next morning we were woken by the rain!! We headed back down the track which now resembled a quagmire where the donkeys had walked but we were game & got back to the boat. We moved to the north end of the island & the sun was shining brightly when we arrived but once again we had an up hill walk & more staring at scenery to catch our breath! Lunch was down by a beach & I decided that I needed to drink a coke to help me feel better & boy did it work when I had to attempt those 205 stairs & the rest of the walk.

An early start today because we were heading to La Paz only it was pouring with rain! Our colourful ponchos were only so helpful & the water was really heavy. We were soon walking through mini rivers & yes our shoes & socks were soaked but we made it to the boat well ahead of the donkeys carrying our bags.I don't know what happened to my bag because it arrived with donkey poo on it ! Safely on the boat we reached Copacabana & met a new driver who drove us to La Paz - 3 hours. In places the traffic was terrible & we actually boarded a ferry - a few planks of wood - to cross Lake Titicaca

. La Paz is overwhelming - so many houses stuck on the side of hills. 

More travelling around to morrow

Lake Titicaca

Left Cusco yesterday on a 9 hour bus trip! Luckily the bus stopped numerous times to see different sights.

Arrived at Puno, on edge of Lake Titicaca about 5pm & were basically over the whole thing so a quick bite to eat & then a sleep!
This morning from the breakfast room we had a great view of the lake but it was another early start. Boarded a boat to visit the floating reed islands of the Uros people, little has changed since I was here 7 years ago. We learnt a few things and then were rowed to a different reed island in a reed boat.

Boarded the motor boat again to go to Tequele Island, where the men knit. This took us over 2 hours and then we had a 45 minute walk to lunch. Lunch was delicious & we had soup & trout. Then it was into the Cooperative to check out the hats & gloves - you are safe Kez I did not buy you Llama gloves!! A quick walk, because it was all down hill, & we were back on the boat & 3 hours back to Puno. It was pretty rough & we were told that they get 3 metre waves which can be surfed - who'd want to do that when the water temp is 9C?!

Tomorrow we move into Bolivia & more adventures!
We have noticed that high altitude & lack of oxygen have made us say strange things - Jodi has been calling llamas limas & we now feel that's their correct name. We couldn't get Cusco right & were calling it couscous.

Machu Picchu

We made it to Machu Picchu - photos next blog. Started out on a bus & then caught the train. Valda & Jodi were pretty impressed when we saw where I started the trek 7 years ago. You forget how awesome the Andes are. Straight off train onto bus up to the top & a guided tour around. I was pleased to see that the government are now roping off areas so that tourists can't touch, sit etc on the past!
Thank goodness for plastic ponchos. It started to rain & then bucketed down! We got really wet when catching the return bus because we'd taken off the poncho & were made to run out into rain too get a bus!We were dropped at our lunch stop & as it was now 3pm & we'd last eaten at 5:30am we were ravenous! After lunch we walked to our hotel & were very impressed. We didn't realise that we got a free Pisco Sour - local drink- & dinner. Wait a minute we've only just had lunch. Happy hour beckoned & cocktails were tried. It was a good day.Walked around the local market before catching train & bus back to Cusco. Bus to Puno, Lake Titicaca tomorrow.

The dancing & end of manic fireworks for the celebrations of the Saints !

Hello from Peru

All met up after our various flights. Did a city tour of Lima by bus - a city is a city! Went out for dinner locally before an early night.

Day 25 - Sun 1st January
Picked up at 6am for airport -all transfers have been great. Very small plane for  the trip. Jodi was sitting on the aisle & something was dripping on her head! Being a true air hostess she jumped up & in a strong, authoritarian voice asked who’s the bag was. Everyone looked blankly at her until she realised that no one could understand English. The real hosties were very good & immediately moved us to the front - it’s the closest to First class that we will get!! So interesting flying over the mountains, some snow covered.
Great pick up again & straight to hotel & then we had a short walk around Cusco until it started pouring with rain. When it rains it was torrential - have to buy plastic poncho’s.
In the afternoon had a nanny nap & then a massage - really good. Too wet & too tired, being affected by altitude, to wander for food so ate in the hotel. Early night.


Day 26 - Mon 2nd January
Woke at a reasonable time & after a good breakfast set off to explore the area. Finally found the square that I knew from my previous trip. There are some changes with some up market shops.
It was an interesting day here with a number of Saints being celebrated in many strange ways. You hear the church bells ring, then a band starts up & then it’s like a carnival with dancers in strange costumes & then fireworks go off. A picture of the Saint is usually carried through the streets as well.
We saw a couple of parade but the last one we saw was quite something. The priest came out of the church followed by a Peruvian band wearing their traditional outfits, followed by what looked like a small coffin & then some very skimpily dressed girls followed by young guys in interesting outfits - bell on their trouser legs. We were standing watching when a group of people carried a
a bamboo structure when Jodi was dragged away by a woman in the crowd who was gesturing wildly. I turned & could see flames coming out of a firework so I hot footed it across the road. Once on the other side of the road the fireworks went off & we were very glad that we had moved!All will be relieved to know that Valda made it safely across also!!