Bloggin' Blondie: 2010

09-17-2010 Gringa's Travel Day

Today was a great day to just lounge and shop in Cusco until I had to catch the early afternoon flight. By the time I got to the airport in Lima I was starving. So, I did as the Americans do and waited in line at the McDonalds. I was unaware of the South American line standing rules which are you literally need to stand on top of the person in front of you or you are not considered to be waiting in line. Poor Gringa. Blondie got cut... twice. Blondie got picked on again right before boarding my flight.

If there is one thing I dislike about traveling, it is checking my bag. It seems as though every time I do it gets lost and I end up wearing someone else's clothes for days. The lady at the counter insisted my bag was too large for the over head bin and forced me to check it after many long conversations of protest on my behalf. I even protested more immaturely when I noticed "Gringa's" bag was about half the size of many Latinos on board. I realized quickly that I was fighting a losing battle and allowed the woman to check it. Poor Fletcher I believe he did in fact listen to me bitch about it for the duration of our almost 4 hour illuminated flight. Upon my arrival in Santiago two bags were circling the carousel.

09-16-2010 Lake Titicaca (Taquile) with Fletcher the Fencer

I walked down the hill to the boat with Fletch where he stood like a child on Christmas day. He finally was going to swim in Lake Titicaca. He was a brave soul. The water was both freezing and filthy.

09-16-2010 Lake Titicaca (Taquile)

After Uros, I took a two plus hour motorboat ride over to Taquile. This place was an incredibly poor town. I stumbled upon an electoral debate and did a bit of shopping before lunch. The trout that was prepared was incredible.

On the walk down the hill back to the boat a little boy came running up to me pointing to the shiny wrapper of the granola bar tucked in the outside pocket of my pack. After realizing he was starving (an orphan perhaps?) I grabbed the bar (my last one) and gave it to him. I looked up only to be surrounded by five little ones fighting for the bar. This situation is one of the many reasons why people need to travel. Ignorance is based upon our own failure not to see the other side.

09-16-2010 Lake Titicaca (Uros)

Ah, Lake Titicaca. This place is like an ocean. The boat first took me to the man made island of Uros. This place was almost as incredible as Machu Picchu. The entire island floats on reed roots. In fact, the entire place is made of reeds. Reed floors, reed homes, reed lunch. The people are indigenous but many speak Spanish as their second language. They are so friendly and so kind. The one woman brought me into her home--just a one room place--perhaps only 6 by 6 feet. Her bed was also made of reed.

I ate the reed as well. First, you peel it like a banana then eat the inside. It doesn't taste like much, just celery but not as crunchy.

The islands are anchored so they do not float way. What are they anchored by? Reed rope of course.

I took a reed boat ride through the islands. After asking the woman how long it took to build this very detailed reed boat, she responded with "one month". About 8 families work together to build it but it remains shocking how much can get done in such a short period of time.

09-15-2010 Inca Rail

From the Inca Trail to the Inca Rail. This train ride was awesome. I journeyed through many small towns tucked away in valleys hidden in the Andes. I even kept seeing my "cows" (that I have yet to figure out exactly what they are). I ate seared alpaca which was delicious. The open carriage/bar cart was a welcome sitting area. The rocking and swaying of the ten hour train ride soothed me into some much needed sleep.

The people we met along the way were incredibly friendly. Each town the train passed, children and adults waited anxiously with waving arms. Peru is most definitely a very poor country that is very rich in life. I am in Puno now and tomorrow, Lake Titicaca.

09-14-2010 Aguas Calientes

After redecorating, I left Machu Picchu for Aguas Calientes to do a little shopping. Checking out of the hotel I noticed Coca leaves in the corner. They are real bitter when you chew them but the little buzz of relaxation you get is lovely. Later that night I had coca tea with dinner... delish!

09-14-2010 Pictures from the Grounds

09-14-2010 The Grounds of Machu Picchu

Today I got to tour the grounds of Machu Picchu and all I have to say is that the Inka's were un-fuckin-believable. I cannot believe how ahead they were of their time. Between the multi-angled rocks with sand between them on a graveled base to their water filtration system. These guys were incredible. It was unreal how they were able to carve these rocks and build this kingdom on man power alone.

I saw two chinchillas roaming the grounds. They are huge here! I also ran/race walked up to the top of Wayna Picchu in 45 minutes--record time--especially considering I had a near asthma attack on the way up. I loved the view from up there. It really gives you an idea of how huge the ruins are, the magnitude of it all.

Oh, and of course, I have insisted on "re-decorating" the place: putting "Caryl's touch". I would pull out a rock from the no morter ruins and put it in a different area. Afterwords, I found out the rocks are numbered for restoration--whoops! I hope I didn't destroy the paint-by-number picture.

09-13-2010 Aguas Calientes

The hot springs in Aguas Calientes (sorry! no pictures!) were located in a bath-like house only it was all in open air. If you didn't know what it was, you just would have thought it was a bunch of dirty pools that smelled like boiled chicken in the acoustic surroundings of bad Bob Marley remixes. I prefer my hot tub.

09-13-2010 First View of Machu Picchu

Through the Sun's Gate and I am sitting on a ruin looking down at Machu Picchu. My exact words as I stumbled upon was "Oh.My.God." You can feel the magic radiating from the Mountain Huay Picchu--"Young Mountain". (Machu Picchu--"Old Mountain"). I cannot believe I finally made it here. There are not enough words to describe the beauty you see and the wisdom you feel. Next stop is the hot springs and tomorrow I will explore the ruins.