Macchu Picchu and the road to Bolivia...
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Interview with the Vampire
Topic: South America
Hustler town Cusco. What a gorgous town, really really cool. Its a photographers day dream, every corner yields another beautiful yellow street lit scene, people wandering about and if you just squinted and looked in the right direction, you could easily be mistaken for thinking that this is a 17th century hamlet. Of course, minus 10,000 tourists, stoners, hippies, backpackers and tennis shoe wearin' oldies and well you got Cusco, Peru.
Since i was in recovery mode, i didnt do that much at first. Few days spent watching movies and reading 2 books, slow little wanderings around the plaza de armas and local environs, eating.
I met lots of argentinan peoples, but since in recovery mode, i could not, did not want to join the myrid of parties every night.
On one day or another (sunday i believe) i got my 0615 train out to Macchu Picchu and we jack knifing back and forth along the rail line to escape the valley of Cusco, the train climbing for 30 minutes before puffing along an open plateau.
Somewhere down by km 82 they said, the railway was flooded by the swollen river since the atmosphere was in downpour mode (liking modes right now!) and we had to clamber out and catch the bus back to town. MP day scratch 1!
The plan was to go out sunday, spend the night in the small hamlet of Aguas Callientes so that i could be ultra savvy and jump the first bus up to the ruins and be one of only a handful, a few trekkers, other savvites on the first bus and me. Ruins to our selves, anyway it wasnt meant to be.
So after changing the ticket, i went the next day all rosy eyed on a day trip to the ruins. The train passed km 82, and it wasnt a flooded river at all, it was a landslide that had taken out the track, rocks and dirt everywhere. Gorgous scenery.
Of all the impressive sights and things i have seen in my life, a few rank obviously higher than others, but MP was up there to be sure.
Square Namesti, Prague, Czech Republic at 11:59pm, December 31st, 1999.
Sunset from the summit of my first alpine peak in Bern Canton, Switzerland, Mt Fulhorn (9800ft)
Edinburgh, Scotland at dawn.
First time i saw houses in another country and i truly 100% believed that there were people out there, it wasnt fake and made in a studio. the realisation that the world is real, London, England.
The Red Square in Moscow, Russia. Need i say more?
Flying over Canada for the first time, seeing landmass. It happened to be Vancouver Island, part of the most beautiful square chunk of earth ever created.
Still ranking number one though, the 5am view of Mt McKindely in Denali National Park, Alaska. in all her 18,000ft glory. The most amazing sight i have ever ever seen in my life, one of a few things to put me on my knees with awe.
But MP was pretty darn spectular. The view, the classico view of the ruins from the hill behind, simply gorgous, truly one of the 7 wonders of the world.
I highly recommend all people of the earth, to go see MP....just like everyone else!
Anyway, i wandered around ever so slowly, soaking it all up and taking a million photos and just being me in a toursit sight. Cant describe, just me in tourist mode i guess! haha! :)
The train ride back was long, the beautiful mountain scenery hidden by rain and darkness.
On the next day, i was feeling in adventure mode like so i went white water rafting for the day.
This, was madness! Due to the heavy rains of late, the river was suitably swollen for danger and we rode 2 hours down class 4+ rapids. Waves well bigger than the raft, feet hooked into the cups, arms ready to paddle like demon spawn as we went up down, over sideways and all about down the C something river. Man it was some wet and wild times in that raft. I love rafting!!!
The water was a nasty shade of brown and we even stopped for the patent 6m plunge off the local bridge into the raging river. great fun. i was first to jump Mum, you'd be proud! :)
anyway, these last few action packed days have been fueled by masses of food as i play catch up mode. God ive eaten so much good veggie food here, im 100% sworn off meat now, at least here, in Asia too i presume.
Today awoke early for a bus that never came as i got pawned off to the worse bus company in Peru for the now 1 hour late, now 7 hour journey to Puno on the shores of the highest lake in the world, Lake Titicaca. If it wasnt raining, i would tell you its beautiful. I think it is.
Anyway, im off to Bolivia tomorrow! Woohoo...! Cant wait, going to be cool. a change of country, seeing a new president be sworn in in the capital (rather left ring and anti this and that i hear), possible coup and other actions going on, tete) anyway, it will be interesting to see, so Sunday ill be there for that.
Well, dont know what else to say, Cusco was great. Feeling good, ready for something to happen. Been down too long now, ready for something. :) Cau