Peru 2013.
In 2013, I went on an escorted tour of Peru. My dad had always wanted to go to Machu Picchu, but for health reasons, he never got to go. After he died, I asked my Doctor if I could go, and he told me I could but to go sooner rather than later as my health may cause me problems that would prevent me from going if I left it too long.
I went to my local travel agent and booked this escorted tour immediately. I went there partially to fulfil my dad's dream, but I was delighted I went. These stories are all about my journey in Peru, the places that I went and the people that I met in Peru.
Today, I flew from Heathrow in London to Lima in Peru via Madrid in Spain with Iberia Airlines. Getting to the airport was easy. Tony, a friend of mine, took me to Heathrow & because of a clear run, we were there an hour before we needed to be.
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My flight from Madrid to Lima was uneventful, but as normal, I could not sleep on the plane. After twelve & a half hours in flight, the plane landed in Lima & I was glad to get off & to have arrived in Peru.
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After a long flight & long day yesterday, today felt like a lie-in when getting up at 7 am. After breakfast, I went for a short walk around Miraflores before leaving the hotel around 1 pm to begin our journey to Chincha.
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Today we set off early to take a boat trip out to the Ballestas Islands, a protected area that is home to Humboldt Penguins, Peruvian Pelicans, Peruvian Booby, Neotropic Cormorants, Inca Terns & Sea Lions.
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Today, we set off early for a long drive down to Arequipa. We passed back through the sun-baked, arid desert plateau we crossed yesterday.
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This morning, I ate at the breakfast buffet, & drank one or two cups of Coca tea that I had gotten used to on this trip.
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Today, we travelled from Arequipa through the Colca Canyon to Chivay. We passed through many small villages in the rugged volcanic landscape, where farming was still the major source of work & way of bringing money into the local economy.
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Today, after a breakfast buffet & lots of Coca Tea, I joined the coach, ready for the journey to Lake Titicaca. We retraced our route out of the Canyon, passing strange-looking moss that can live for 500 years & when touched, it feels more like a rock than moss.
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After breakfast today, we left the hotel for the short drive through Puno to the pontoon, where a boat took us out onto Lake Titicaca.
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After breakfast & the obligatory coca tea, we set off this morning for Cusco, it will be a long day in the coach. Our tour guide, Rosario, overslept this morning and was met by a rousing cheer when she climbed on the bus ten minutes late.
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After a good breakfast buffet this morning at our hotel in Cusco, we set off for a tour of the Sacred Valley of The Incas.
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I woke up today very excited; this was why I came on this trip. Today, I would be going to the place my dad always wanted to go but couldn't because of his health. It was the day I would visit Machu Picchu.
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After yesterday's long day, I was glad to have a lie in this morning. After breakfast, at around 8:30 am, I sat in the lobby, just watching people coming & going. One of Peru's biggest football teams stayed in the same hotel as us & I talked to a few of the players in the lobby.
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Today, I joined a few others on another short tour of Cuzco to a few buildings we couldn't see previously because they were closed due to the bank holiday.
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