So PUNO PERU we made it. After 4 weeks of Fantastic Bolivia. We thought indigenous termoil was over, but NOW we are in Peru it is actually worse than Bolivia. When we arrived at the Bus Station in Puno travelers were sent in a tizzy because NO ONE COULD GO TO CUZCO/Macchu Picchu. The roads were closed due to indigenous people (Campesinos/Farmers) blocking the roads because of them not getting along with the government. They block the road with boulders, rocks, trees, cars, fire and keep it going for many days. So many travelers were trying figure out their situation.
It was great for us because we did not have to be in Cuzco yet.....So Puno
Puno was great. We took a boat out to see the Uros People. They have left the mainland and live on Islands in Lake Titicaca. So back in the day, the Incas killed most of them and they decided to move to where they were safe. So they took these grass reeds and made islands, houses, boats, food, bedding, and everything you can think of out of these reeds. It is quite amazing how they live. Such a different culture. We only spent an afternoon out on the water and then headed back to the bus terminal and took a VERY COLD bus to Arequipa Peru. So we arrived from Bolivia, stirred with cuzco people, left bus terminal, went to islands, returned to bus and left to Arequipa. Busy day.
Nacky has become a great travel partner with us. He has been fun and his fluency in spanish has been beneficial. He might finish his travels with us in Peru and head back to Puerto Rico for the Holidays.
After a 6 hour bus ride to Arequipa we all found a hostal close to the bus station. We had Asian food in the Bus station for 4 soles 1 american dollar. Then went to bed.
We woke early on the sunday to go to the bus station to head to Colca Canyon. Since it was Sunday all the bus tickets were sold so we had to wait a day. So we toured Arequipa, had ceviche (Raw Fish cured in citrus) It was great. Then had a great dinner in town and then headed back to sleep.
Early the next day we took a 6 hour bus to the 2nd DEEPEST (in capital's for Cassie's Perfect grammer discussion) Canyon in the World Colca Canyon. It is 3191 m about 10,500 ft or so. We arrived in Cabanaconde. Ate lunch and started what was supposed to be a 2 hour hike which turned into 3 because of some wrong turns. We followed local advice as best as possible. The trail kept shrinking and shrinking and then we started going down steep cliffs and we all decided that it could not be the way. On our way back up an indigenous woman in the picture above was waving us toward her up on the hill. She told us people go the way we went but they never come back. We told her that is why we turned around. She guided us to the main trail down the canyon and smooth sailing after that. We went down about 1500 m to the river in the canyon.
There was a wonderful place to camp with pools, other travelers to chat with. We had a great dinner. Sat by the river for a while and just talked with a variety of people. The views of the Canyon were amazing. The next morning we woke and headed back up. 3.5 hours straight up. Tough work. Stair stepper for that long is tough. Cassie, Nacky, and Myself had Jello legs for 2 days afterwards. That afternoon we took a bus back to Arequipa after sitting and observing the steep canyon from the top. It was beautiful scenery.
We arrived in Arequipa and again travelers were sent into a tizzy the Road to Cuzco was open for 2 days. SO everyone except us bought tickets to Cuzco. We were tired and decided to sleep in Arequipa for the night.
We bought our tickets in the morning and headed out on a bus to Cuzco. We left at 7:30 and arrived at 6 pm. The road block remnants were still there. IT made it interesting for about an hour of zig zagging through random materials on the road, but we made it to Cuzco through all the civil unrest. It is nice to be here. We talked to people that left Arequipa the night before. Their bus broke down, they slept in the bus overnight, hitch hiked in the morning and caught another bus and cost them double the price and then arrived at 10 pm 26 hours later. They arrived in Cuzco 4 hours after us. They were pissed. We were happy to make a good decision.
Well we are in Cuzco. THE INCAN EMPIRE! Great Details to Come.....................
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