| Peru Sat 20th Family Fortunes We were going to stay with a family on an island on Lake Titicaca, so we caught little bicycle� down to the port, (there was 2 of us in there) We caught a small boat to some reed islands - some of these are floating and are still built in the tradtional way. People still live on them, there are not that cosy, although some have solar power! We then stopped at Amarita island and got met by the families. Its very commercialised now and the whole situation is very fake, but its still intersting. So Neil, Phil and I went to Marcelos�s house where he let us into his spare bedroom with a door that was 3 foot 5 high. A bit of stuggle - even the beds were tiny! My feet were hanging off it. We had some lunch, veg soup, rice and chips, Quite nice actually. Then we met the others and played a 20 min game of football against the local team - it was a tough game but we won! The first time they have lost - we were all knackered after that, running at altitude is not ez! I had to ran to the toliet as lunch was making a quick exit...that was yuch! After that headed back home - which took ages, as it was so hard to find, they all look the same. These guys have a basic way of life, farming and making tat for tourists. There house is very basic with an outhouse (longdrop in it), but it did have solar panels! The kitched was infested with guinea pigs (a delicacy here), they are treated as pets, but on special occasions are eaten. They run about the kitchen, under the stove witch is just a small fire in the corner of this tiny room - it was amazing to see! I was now slightly worried as they were cooking there, hygenic or what! Stayed there for dinner, which was the same apart from some pastry�s with nothing in them. We then got changed in to local gear (poncho and hat) and headed to the dance hall. When I arrived there the dancing had already began - the girls were all dressed up in local gear (skirts and frilly tops!). So we all danced for ages ( I had 4 layers on ) and then chatted and drank some beer. Left there earlyish at 10ish as we were knackered . got escorted home by the Mother and daughter, as you can imagine the conversation was stimulating! Sleep was hard as the bed wsa a foot smaller than me, but it came eventually! Sunday 21st Back to civilisation and normal toliets... Got woken up by a huge thunderstorm which started at 6am till 8am - very heavy rain, we sat there and waited for breakkie to arrive. A fried egg sarnie and a another plain roll. Went back to the boat and then headed to the nearest island - Taquila island. There we climbed with loads of other folks to the central sq. This is where they have all the meetings and discuss town stuff - headed to a restaurant for lunch, spanish omlette, rice and chips. Tasted good! We then walked some more and walked down the steep side of the island, down 549 steps ( i counted each one!), at the bottom our boats were waiting, not b4 I had to run to the nearest toliet and have another shot there. I think I am allegric to whatever they are cooking with on these islands, I think I will have pizza later! After a 3 hr bus ride, we headed back to the hotel for showers and intersetting. Off out for some pizza soon, then I will head home early as we have cable with movie channels, sports adn MTV! In the morning we head to Cusco and we are there for 2 nites. Weds begins the inca trail, so i may run home later just to get fit (even if it is 50m away!) Monday 22nd Inca Capital Drove through some great scenery to arrive in Cusco. I started to chew coca leaves at about 9am and I was buzzing soon after. Some of the others started on tbe vodka and rum at 10.30am, I witheld till 11ish. The journey went rather fast after that- most of the other folks also started then. Arrived in for about 5pm - got some food and then headed out to the Irish bar. Really good here, fairly busy, although it didn�t have guiness on draught, just in bad cans. They also sold fosters and boddingtons! Stayed there till the small hrs. This bar could have been in London, as it was full of gringo`s (mainl brits) and the barman was ozzie! Tuesday 23rd Did some shopping in the morning with Monica, I bought another tshirt and some gloves (as the inca trail is cold!) Wondered around for ages. Cusco was the old Inca empire capital - the main sq, now with cathedrals in it used to have royal palaces and other important buildings. Most of the buildings have inca stonework at the base - they were pretty good masons. Some have huge lumps of rocks with 12 sides, and all the stonework fits! There are the usual markets here selling the same tourist gear - I am starting to get fed with tgheir persistant ranting and raving - they are always tryiog to sell me fags and poncho�s, how strange! Went out for dinner, some folks ate Guinea pig (a delicacy here) , tasted like turkey! Headed to the Irish bar for happy hour, had a crazy game of darts (killer), which I came second at (young Margot beat me!!) Wednesday 24th Carlos the guide! After a buffet breakfast which finsihed at about 11am, Monica and I bought some snacks for the trail, then headed back to the hostal to pack. We then met some of the others to go on a city tour. We got a bus with heaps of other tourists and then drove round the square several times...which was rather amusing! We then went to the cathedal built by tbe spanards after the conqured the capital - pretty impressive place. Although all the statues and pictures of Jesus were slightly scary. Built with inca gold and silver - the rest of the loot they shipped back to Spain. Unfortunately, the Brits intercepted most of it and took it (via some legitmate pirates operating off the Peru coast) - hence why Spain is so poor. After the cathedral we went to Santa Domingo - another churh buiilt round inca temples. Phil, Margot and I did this yesterday. There was the temple of the sun and moon there. Seemingly, the inca's never worshipped the sun or moon, but there was these temples in the church which people reckoned that they did! Margot and I went for lunch whilst the others toured the place - went to a local restaurant for $1. Some sort of veg soup and steak, spuds and rice, nice, although we were thinking wheather we would get ill from it! All the others piled off, just leaving Monica, Phil , Margot and me there. We went to some inca ruins outside town called Sausayweman - a pretty impressive site. Carlos kept on saying that the English people cannot pronounce it properly, so they call it Sexy women. Carlos kept on repeating this... Then went to 3 other inca runis, god knows what they were about or called... Met some Isreali girls who were doing the trek tomorrow, so chatted with them for a bit. Had some dinner and then went to bed early as we were getting up early. (4am). My small rucksack was packed and was so heavy, god knows how I am gonna lug it about the trail! |