Highest Peak

Hear we are at ¨Dead womans pass¨ This is the highest peak that we reached on day two of our trek. 4215 masl, or 13,886 ft. There is very little air up here. The locals sell you Cocoa leaves to chew on, which are said to supress your appetite, and help you deal with the altitude. These are the same leaves used to make the drug cocaine. But here the leaves are legal. Many people here use it to make tea as well. As you can see that it is very steep. For those of you that have done the grouse grind, this is about the same intensity but 3-4 times longer and with backpacks of 7-20 kg. This particular part of the trek took me 3:51 min., but took other members of our group of 12, up to nueva horas.(9 hrs.)

Conquered Machu Picchu

Yes we made it after 4 days, 20-30 hours of challenging terrian, 49 km through the Andes mountains, we finally reached our destination. Machu Picchu an amazing civilization that was built by the Inca´s high in the Andes around yr. 1480 and remained self sufficient until 1530 when it was taken over by the Spaniards. The trek was most fullfilling as we travelled the Inca trail seeing and learning of the great people and there ruins which took us up to 13,886 ft. How they survived and where they lived was most astonishing.

Cuzco, Peru

Here we are in Cuzco, feeling even more relaxed.
This place feels much more like the Peru I expected. Everything here is much cheaper. Last night Larisa and I went out to dinner with 7 Ausie´s we met at the hostel. Dinner and drinks for all nine of us was 22 US dollars.

Yesterday we went on a 4 hora trip into the moutains on horseback. Taking pics while you are galloping on a horse is not the safest idea. We ended up checking out some great historical ruins, and then got caught in a hail storm for 1.5 hours on the way back. Of course we had nothing but shirts on to protect us from the elements.

Here is a pic of Larisa with a lama, and peruvian women on the streets of Cuzco.

Ariquipa, Peru

Yes Ariquipa feels much more like my vibe. Much smaller and safer, but still over 1.5 million peruvians. Wow this place has a very westernized economy. Many wealthy people here, and the architecture is amazing. All the buildings are made from very pourous white volcanic rock and many are more than 500 years old. The food here is also very good, and cheap. Maybe 4 to 5 US dollars for a great meal. It feels like a small town vibe, but still bustling like a big city. The are so much more advanced and westernized then I expected.

We are still looking for more off the beaten track adventure. So the very next day we take off to Cuzco in search for a 4 day trek to see the ruins of Macchu Piccu.

Traveling Peru,

Hello all, we have made it safe to Peru. Our first stop was Lima, just a big dirty city not too exciting, except for 8 to 10 million people and lots of crime. We were told not to go out at night, and even during the day it was not safe in many places. We quickly decided to take off and make our way south to Ariquipa. So off we go on an overnight sleeper bus with seats that don´t even recline. We had to suck it up and take a gravol to make it thought the 14 hour ride winding and turning, with no air con., hot as hell, and of course the windows don´t open.

Oh well you never no what to expect when you are traveling in a different country.