Last night was a riot. We all did our own thing for a few hours all over the city and finally reconvened at the hostal Señorio Real at dinner time. The guys got a bunch of rum, Kola Real, and ice cream, so we ate the tub of helado and split the bottle of rum over the next hour or so. Then went off for a giant and AMAZING pizza at a place across the main avenue. Fully stuffed, we splurged on another bottle of rum and set to drinking it.
Pat got this crazy streak in him and started jumping from bed to bed in our little hostal room and wriggling around underneath them all. Then, he focused his energy on us and we started a full on wrestling match. He has the strength of twenty men and we totally tore the room apart with our mobile wrestling match. Over and over again, Andy or I, or both, would pin him down and he'd say Uncle. Then, thirty seconds later, he'd catch his breath and we'd start the mayhem again. The room was so unbelievably disheveled by the end it was insane. At some point, I felt compelled to take down the glass-paned picture of Don Miguel above one of the beds because we were getting so nuts. Thank god I know some jujitsu, otherwise Pat would have just stomped me. Nothing got broken and no serious injuries resulted, but MAN it was fun. We slept like the dead last night. And miraculously, nobody knocked on our door or mentioned anything this morning when we checked out. Cleanup was difficult as we had to remake two beds that got overturned but that nobody slept in. Plus our bags got virtually emptied and everything scattered all over the place. BIG FUN. Thanks, Pat. Eat your heart out, WWF.
Today we checked into a slightly further hostal called the Valenzuela Hospedaje and it's great there. Four more days in Cuzco, so we're going to hike to the gigantic Jesus as soon as we can and generally just soak up this big city. There's great cuisine here, too, so we will definitely partake in some of that action. I'm going to the gym today, got some extra energy and the guys want to take a ciesta. Feel the buuuuurn. Musclehead.
Ta for now, friends. Be Rad
P.S. The photos of our Battle Royale can be seen on FaceBook, even without an account, at this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2019573&id=1445169559&l=5ec2bb90f5
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Staying in Cuzco for a bit
The internet here really, REALLY sucks, so this blog will be short. On our "last night" two nights ago, Andy and Pat were asking themselves why exactly we were going to leave. We like Cuzco a lot, so why go? I was out dancing, so yesterday morning when they told me that, we decided to change the dates on our bus tickets. We'll be in Cuzco until Tuesday the 14th now.
Mostly, it's a period of rest and comfort until we get back to camping and stuff in Pisco. I can't wait to get back to the ocean. Not much is really going on here, just some good reading, seeing the sights, long walks all around the city, and sleeping late. Today, we plan to hike up a substantial hill to the base of this giant statue of Jesus. The Cusqueños erected it at the onset of World War II to prevent the war from coming to Perú. I guess it worked. It's about a mile and a half to get there, and then I want a photo of the city from the great view up there and a photo of Jesus.
Sorry to disappoint those who've been living vicariously through my harrowing wildness, but even young people need rest sometimes. There are some real adventurous moments here, though:
1. Darting in and out of the psychotic Peruvian traffic is like playing a game of Frogger.
2. Avoiding the constant bombardment of salespeople selling Peruvian flutes, knitted clothes, cigarettes (even 5-year-olds do it), cheap food, postcards, paintings, and occasionally drugs.
3. Deciding what food is safe to eat and what isn't.
4. Not getting suckered into tipping the cute little Peruvian kids with authentic clothes and little goats.
5. Staying away from all the bloody tourists.
6. Not sleeping too late or pissing off the hostal owners by coming in at 4 in the morning.
7. More to come...
Another few days here and we'll do a 16-hour overnight bus ride to Pisco. Then it's ocean, new people, a new city, camping, sand dunes, ruins, a lagoon, and all kinds of other stuff we've heard of. I'm outta here, stay tuned for more TALES OF INTEREST!
B
Mostly, it's a period of rest and comfort until we get back to camping and stuff in Pisco. I can't wait to get back to the ocean. Not much is really going on here, just some good reading, seeing the sights, long walks all around the city, and sleeping late. Today, we plan to hike up a substantial hill to the base of this giant statue of Jesus. The Cusqueños erected it at the onset of World War II to prevent the war from coming to Perú. I guess it worked. It's about a mile and a half to get there, and then I want a photo of the city from the great view up there and a photo of Jesus.
Sorry to disappoint those who've been living vicariously through my harrowing wildness, but even young people need rest sometimes. There are some real adventurous moments here, though:
1. Darting in and out of the psychotic Peruvian traffic is like playing a game of Frogger.
2. Avoiding the constant bombardment of salespeople selling Peruvian flutes, knitted clothes, cigarettes (even 5-year-olds do it), cheap food, postcards, paintings, and occasionally drugs.
3. Deciding what food is safe to eat and what isn't.
4. Not getting suckered into tipping the cute little Peruvian kids with authentic clothes and little goats.
5. Staying away from all the bloody tourists.
6. Not sleeping too late or pissing off the hostal owners by coming in at 4 in the morning.
7. More to come...
Another few days here and we'll do a 16-hour overnight bus ride to Pisco. Then it's ocean, new people, a new city, camping, sand dunes, ruins, a lagoon, and all kinds of other stuff we've heard of. I'm outta here, stay tuned for more TALES OF INTEREST!
B
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tomorrow, Pisco. Last night in Cuzco
Fun facts, not much going on.
In the period of Andy smoking one cigarette (about 4 minutes), we counted 73 Daewoo hatchback taxis pass us on the street. Talk about a cornered market.
Last night, I counted exactly 73 bug bites on my body, too. Those damn little flea/mosquito things on the train tracks back from Aguas Calientes just LOVE my sweet, sweet blood. It takes all my willpower to not just lose it and scratch myself to death.
Including rent, food, laundry, internet use and water consumption, it takes a maximum of $15 a day to live here. Next time I come, if there is one, I know exactly where to go to live cheap.
We walked to the bus station today to buy our tickets to Pisco for tomorrow. It's a small coastal city that puts us back in the desert region of Perú. There are some ruins, an ocean, and some cool things to do there, so it should be nice. And hopefully we'll be camping again. Wouldn't want to get soft from too much hostal living. At the station, a guy swooped in and repeatedly cut his price when it seemed like we wanted to go compare other prices. We got a 16-hour over night bus ride with two included meals, movies until 10:00 pm, two bathrooms, and complimentary coffee in the morning for 100 Soles, or about $30. It leaves at 6:00 tomorrow, so it's the last night to get crazy in Cuzco. I feel tempted to hit the discos, which I'm sure the guys won't do. But who knows. It's still only lunchtime here.
Bye bye, Cuzco. Hasta la próxima vez. Peace out, readers. I'll broadcast live from Pisco when we get there intact. Chau
B
In the period of Andy smoking one cigarette (about 4 minutes), we counted 73 Daewoo hatchback taxis pass us on the street. Talk about a cornered market.
Last night, I counted exactly 73 bug bites on my body, too. Those damn little flea/mosquito things on the train tracks back from Aguas Calientes just LOVE my sweet, sweet blood. It takes all my willpower to not just lose it and scratch myself to death.
Including rent, food, laundry, internet use and water consumption, it takes a maximum of $15 a day to live here. Next time I come, if there is one, I know exactly where to go to live cheap.
We walked to the bus station today to buy our tickets to Pisco for tomorrow. It's a small coastal city that puts us back in the desert region of Perú. There are some ruins, an ocean, and some cool things to do there, so it should be nice. And hopefully we'll be camping again. Wouldn't want to get soft from too much hostal living. At the station, a guy swooped in and repeatedly cut his price when it seemed like we wanted to go compare other prices. We got a 16-hour over night bus ride with two included meals, movies until 10:00 pm, two bathrooms, and complimentary coffee in the morning for 100 Soles, or about $30. It leaves at 6:00 tomorrow, so it's the last night to get crazy in Cuzco. I feel tempted to hit the discos, which I'm sure the guys won't do. But who knows. It's still only lunchtime here.
Bye bye, Cuzco. Hasta la próxima vez. Peace out, readers. I'll broadcast live from Pisco when we get there intact. Chau
B
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tuesday, a day of chores and relaxation
Yesterday, we got up at about 7:00 again and suited up for our 6 mile hike back down the train tracks to the hydroelectric plant. There, we got a ride to Santa Teresa, and from there a ride to Santa María. We ate some much-needed lunch and then bought tickets for a bus to Cuzco scheduled to leave about an hour later. Two hours later, we had repeatedly checked in with the guy who sold them, but still no bus. Finally he learned through some phone calls that the bus had broken down up the road in Quillabamba. He was a nice dude, so he gave us a refund and we caught a passenger bus back to Cuzco that took about five hours.
It was REALLY chilly back in Cuzco last night when we showed up at about 11, so we checked back into the hostal and walked around the city for some hot food. But basically everything is closed on a cold Monday night, so it took about twenty minutes to finally find some burgers and shish kababs. Afterward, back home for showers and sleep, interrupted only by some stupid ugly American types in the room across the hall.
Today, not much to report. Andy and Pat cruised to the campesino market down the street and bought a TON of carrots, onions, cucumber, spinach, peppers, tomatos, bread and cheese while I cleaned up the room and my foot injury. By the way, for all those concerned readers (like Sue Moore and my Mom, thanks), the foot is fine. I heal pretty quickly. We mixed it all up, except the bread, and ate a spicy salad fit for a king. The rest of the day, just going to hang out, rest up from Machu Picchu, do laundry, and explore Cuzco. Even war-weary travelers like us need to rest up for a day sometimes.
All is well, still having a blast, and we hope you all are, too. Within the next few days, another city and another adventure awaits us.
Chau, friend and family,
Brad
It was REALLY chilly back in Cuzco last night when we showed up at about 11, so we checked back into the hostal and walked around the city for some hot food. But basically everything is closed on a cold Monday night, so it took about twenty minutes to finally find some burgers and shish kababs. Afterward, back home for showers and sleep, interrupted only by some stupid ugly American types in the room across the hall.
Today, not much to report. Andy and Pat cruised to the campesino market down the street and bought a TON of carrots, onions, cucumber, spinach, peppers, tomatos, bread and cheese while I cleaned up the room and my foot injury. By the way, for all those concerned readers (like Sue Moore and my Mom, thanks), the foot is fine. I heal pretty quickly. We mixed it all up, except the bread, and ate a spicy salad fit for a king. The rest of the day, just going to hang out, rest up from Machu Picchu, do laundry, and explore Cuzco. Even war-weary travelers like us need to rest up for a day sometimes.
All is well, still having a blast, and we hope you all are, too. Within the next few days, another city and another adventure awaits us.
Chau, friend and family,
Brad
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Machu Picchu, babay
We got back from Machu Picchu about an hour and a half ago. Immediately afterward, we HAD to eat some cooked food. The sandwiches and fruit were fine, but hell, it was time to treat ourselves. Last night, the journey to get to Aguas Calientes at the base of the MP mountain was arduous and prolonged. We caught an early bus from Cuzco to Santa María, which was actually the most beautiful bus trip I've taken so far. It ranged from lowland valleys and tranquil agricultural landscapes to intense switchbacks at super high elevations and bad roads and utter rivers flowing across the road. Scenic and interesting, even for 5 hours. That dropped us off at the tiny town of Santa María, where we hitched a ride with this crude guy named Chino to Santa Teresa. Over the two hour car trip, he played awful Peruvian love music, crashed recklessly around tight curves overlooking deadly and nearly vertical inclines, forged three small rivers that crossed the road in his '92 Corolla, and stopped almost every half hour to go socialize with friends he knew along the trail. At one point, I put my foot down and said, in Spanish, "so, we paid you to drive us to Santa Teresa and we're in kind of a hurry to get set up and go to sleep. Quit screwing off and drive us." Anyhow, he drove us through Santa Teresa and up to a hydroelectric power plant with some railroad tracks that led all the way to Aguas Calientes. The 7 mile trek up the tracks included monstrous land spiders all over, glowing worms, fireflies, a raging river alongside us, and countless pitfalls over which to cross. However, no train came, which actually bummed us out. Hugging the canyon walls to avoid a sticky death sounded fun after two hours of trudging with our 60 pound backpacks. No matter.
Arriving in A.C. at about 11:00, we wandered friutlessly around looking for a decent map or sign to point us to the free campsite we'd heard about. Eventually, tired and achy, we just walked toward where the city was supposed to be and found it. As we set up camp, the rain started to fall, so unfortunately the sleep was a bit damp last night.
In the morning, we got up at 7:00, ate a bit, packed up our stuff, and left it at a depósito de equipaje, or a baggage check place. It took about an hour and a half to get up the steeeep rock staircases and winding road to the entrance gates for Machu Picchu, and it nearly killed us to do it. I've never climbed so many stairs in one sitting, nor stairs that were so dangerous and steep.
At long last, we stamped our passports, bought tickets, and got in for S./124, or about $40. The old city is SO much bigger than I thought! It has ingenius engineering, clean surfaces, open plazas, agricultural terraces, and grazing llamas. I don't really need to go into it, it was a beautiful, and incredibly HIGH, old city. When possible, I'll post my M.P. photos to my FaceBook albums. Even with low picture quality, you'll see just how huge everything is. Massive precipices, steep rock slabs everywhere, and treacherous, certain-death-type drops all over the place, but surrounded by a mystical, silent and moist rain forest. Humbling and spectacular.
The trip back down was quicker, but nearly as hard, as the way up since we descended the staircases on achy legs in the rain. Now back in town, we want some beers and some chairs, and then it's off to an early night of sleep. Tomorrow, back to Cuzco.
I'm finished. Happy Birthday, Conrad! Chau, fans.
Arriving in A.C. at about 11:00, we wandered friutlessly around looking for a decent map or sign to point us to the free campsite we'd heard about. Eventually, tired and achy, we just walked toward where the city was supposed to be and found it. As we set up camp, the rain started to fall, so unfortunately the sleep was a bit damp last night.
In the morning, we got up at 7:00, ate a bit, packed up our stuff, and left it at a depósito de equipaje, or a baggage check place. It took about an hour and a half to get up the steeeep rock staircases and winding road to the entrance gates for Machu Picchu, and it nearly killed us to do it. I've never climbed so many stairs in one sitting, nor stairs that were so dangerous and steep.
At long last, we stamped our passports, bought tickets, and got in for S./124, or about $40. The old city is SO much bigger than I thought! It has ingenius engineering, clean surfaces, open plazas, agricultural terraces, and grazing llamas. I don't really need to go into it, it was a beautiful, and incredibly HIGH, old city. When possible, I'll post my M.P. photos to my FaceBook albums. Even with low picture quality, you'll see just how huge everything is. Massive precipices, steep rock slabs everywhere, and treacherous, certain-death-type drops all over the place, but surrounded by a mystical, silent and moist rain forest. Humbling and spectacular.
The trip back down was quicker, but nearly as hard, as the way up since we descended the staircases on achy legs in the rain. Now back in town, we want some beers and some chairs, and then it's off to an early night of sleep. Tomorrow, back to Cuzco.
I'm finished. Happy Birthday, Conrad! Chau, fans.
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