Arequipa

After Puno i went to Arequipa, the white city. The night I spent on the local busterminal, I did not have more money left to take a hostel fortunatly i already had the bus ticket back to Lima and 10 soles (about 3.50 dollars) for the day (inklusive taxis)

Since this was my first journey it was still a bit complicated for me to take the local buses..

Around Arequipa are a lot of things to see, the Misti vulcano, the Colca Canyon… i just had one day, and after the night in the bus station (i did not have the impression, that was very dangerous) I was also a bit to tired to see much.

Since 6 in the morning i was discovering the city, no people there… and nooooo toilet! THe city is full of life, and full of very interesting markets. Also full of tourists, what i did not like that much. Well, i am not better

In the afternoon i got to know a crazy music professor from Lima, and a couple from Arequipa. The three took me to a local music festival and spent me lot of beer too (because i had no money). Many funny things where happening during that afternoon. Finally i had to leave to take my bus to Lima.

night in the bus terminal

the sun is coming…

also behind the cathedral

Arequipa, placa des armas

market

crazy friends!

fiesta

Prost :)

they call it dance ;)

Que frio!

After Cusco my next stop was Puno and Lago Titicaca. The bus was during the night, about 5 or 6 hours (and only 20 soles = a bit mire than 7 US $). I arrived for sunset at the lake.

Puno itself is not a very beautiful city. It is divided by two peoples, Quechuas (Incas ) and Aymaras. The people living here are among the most friendly I got to know on my travels. It is also a very cheap city. A night in a hostel is 15 soles, the cheapest menus in between 2.50 soles and 3.50 soles (menu with 3 plates and drink!). If you don’t take care you also can have European prices! The most important for the hostel is, to have warm water and electricity all night (and maybe a heating – it is really cold on 3800m during the night).

Travels on the Titicaca lake are only with a touristic environment possible. I could visit two islands there: The artificial floating island of Uros (populated and built by Aymaras) and Taquile (natural island populated by Quechuas).

sunset

in between the floating islands of Uros

tee in the streets of puno

Puno Main square

2 of 3 possible main dishes for 2.50 /S :)

que desayuno??

on the boat

Taquile Island

market place on Taquile :)

fiesta in Taquile

Cusco city, arround and Machu Picchu

After 20 hours we arrived in Cusco, which is on 3300 m altitude. Everybody recommends to bye pills against altitude sickness in order to avoid any problems. Well, i also bought this pills and before i took them i felt quite well (only a bit strange because of the roads), but after taking the pills i had a really dizzy feeling!

The only problem with the altitude i had was the thin air. When i left the bus i really had troubles to breath! After the first day and the first night in the discotheque this was also forgotten

Cusco itself appears like a european city, a bit spanish. Around the city a lot of Inca ruins are located and well, also Machu Picchu is not to far. The only problem are the prices for not Peruvian tourists. If you want to visit Machu Picchu you will spend at least 100 US-$.

Anyway, it is difficult to form words out of the impressions which you gain there. On the one hand you only see a lot of stones, on the other hand you have more on some places. There is some mystic in the ruins.

market in Cusco

niece of Freddy preparing the food

jesus de Cusco

freddy and me

roger

freddy

way down to cusco

streets of Cusco

cusco in the evening

yep

smile :)

thats not me!

inka bath

caves

cusco again

way to Ollantaytambo

Machu Picchu

flora

don’t fall!

shooting star :D

steep, no?

typical italian pizzeria!

lets finish the day!

more is following!

Way to Cusco

On the 29th of July Freddy, Roger and me left for Cusco. The first week of August was free so we had enough time to travel. Together we went to Cusco, where we spend 5 days in the house of Freddys Cousin. After that i continued alone to Puno and then to Arequipa.

In Peru it is very easy to travel by Bus. It is much cheaper than flying, train is no alternative, and the bus infrastructure is well developed. The bus ride to Cusco took about 20 hours and was during the night. So most of the time i only could imagine the kind of streets which was hidden in the dark and that led to all the curves on the road. Maybe it was better not to see in the deep valleys

Some impressions:

Austria fan in bus station of Lima

up or down… or both?

other bus

Arriving in Cusco