Category Archives: vacation

06/01/2013
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adventure, cusco, happiness, mp, vacation

cusco.

IMG_2648we spent a couple of days in cusco city. we both dealt with the ills of altitude sickness even though we were taking altitude medicine. i suppose at some point, altitude medication can only help so much when you go from sea level to 11,000 ft. as a result, we relaxed for the majority of our time in the city, but we still took time to explore as well.

life in the city.

life in the city.

i was so excited about the 12-sided stone. seriously, it was one of my top things to see while in cusco. (nerd alert).

i was so excited about the 12-sided stone. seriously, it was one of my top things to see while in cusco. (nerd alert).

 

the other highlight to the city was going to the religious art museum...not necessarily for the art, but really just for the carved cedar wood ceilings.

the other highlight to the city was going to the religious art museum…not necessarily for the art, but really just for the carved cedar wood ceilings.

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the sun came out in the afternoon for a beautiful shot of the main plaza.

the sun came out in the afternoon for a beautiful shot of the main plaza.

 

we attended a mass in the main cathedral. the interior was quite ornate and had a last supper painting that included cuy and chica.

we attended a mass in the main cathedral. the interior was quite ornate and had a last supper painting that included cuy and chica.

this is us waiting for our delayed flight to lima. i can't say i was surprised that it was delayed considering everything in peru is always behind schedule. i am pretty sure we were the only gringos not stressed about the delay...

this is us waiting for our delayed flight to lima. i can’t say i was surprised that it was delayed considering everything in peru is always behind schedule. i am pretty sure we were the only gringos not stressed about the delay…

 

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06/01/2013
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adventure, cusco, happiness, mp, relax, sacred valley, sierra, vacation

chincheros.

chincheros.

chincheros.

we made our way to chincheros, which is well-known for its textiles and open-air market. unfortunately, we were there on a non-market day, but we still had the fabulous opportunity to visit a homestead who’s family specialized in creating natural textiles.

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nancy greeting us to her homestead.

nancy greeting us to her homestead.

all of the examples of local plants that are used to create dyes for the alpaca.

all of the examples of local plants that are used to create dyes for the alpaca.

nancy showing us how to clean the alpaca wool and then spool it into yarn.

nancy showing us how to clean the alpaca wool and then spool it into yarn.

after, she dressed us up in the finest sierran wear.

after, she dressed us up in the finest sierran wear.

06/01/2013
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adventure, cusco, happiness, hiking, mp, sacred valley, sierra, vacation

moray.

IMG_2608as seen above, i was extremely excited to visit and explore moray. moray is where it is believed that the incas experimented with various crops to find the ideal growing conditions. to do this they had layered circles with various irrigation levels as well, which would test approximately how much sunlight and water was needed for the crop. it is believed that they experimented with more than 250 different types of crops.

an overhead view of moray.

an overhead view of moray.

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look at the snow capped mountain in the background!

look at the snow capped mountain in the background!

 

the extremely safe and secure steps to get from level to level.

the extremely safe and secure steps to get from level to level.

 

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06/01/2013
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adventure, cusco, happiness, hiking, mp, sacred valley, vacation

salineras de maras.

IMG_2588The Salineras de Maras have been around since pre-Incan times. Fed by a natural, underwater spring in the neighboring mountain, the ponds catch the water as it makes its way down into the valley, and the locals wait for the ponds to dry. After, they harvest both natural table salt and fancy pink salt that can be used in cooking delicious items, or if you are really creative, you can carve figures out of the salt…

hundreds of salt ponds lined the narrow valley.

hundreds of salt ponds lined the narrow valley.

salt lining the sides of a pond. there were so many fascinating salt formations to be seen.

salt lining the sides of a pond. there were so many fascinating salt formations to be seen.

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05/01/2013
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adventure, cusco, happiness, hiking, huayna picchu, machu picchu, mp, sacred valley, sierra, vacation

huayna picchu.

IMG_2449to begin our day at machu picchu, we decided to hike huayna picchu. it is the tall, looming mountain above machu picchu. they only allow 400 hikers a day, and the ascent is only 1,000 feet. what they fail to mention is by “ascent” they mean “near vertical climb” and one uses a metal cable install only 7 years ago, to help you reach the top. and guess what! it was TOTALLY worth it! it was quite the accomplishment, and though i had altitude sickness problems, i still loved it. i highly recommend it.

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beginning our hike…and the last picture until we just about reached the top…i was too busy trying to not fall off the side of the mountain…

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there were more ruins found at the top, where the high priest and many of the virigins lived.

we made it! it was only raining a tiny bit....ha...

we made it! it was only raining a tiny bit….ha…

 

to reach the true summit, we had to crawl through a tiny cave. quite the adventure!

to reach the true summit, we had to crawl through a tiny cave. quite the adventure!

the clouds parted a bit, so you could see the road that the busses take to take visitors to machu picchu.

the clouds parted a bit, so you could see the road that the busses take to take visitors to machu picchu.

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the clouds parted for a brief second, and i snapped a picture of the view of machu picchu from above.

the clouds parted for a brief second, and i snapped a picture of the view of machu picchu from above.

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mp looking over the ledge.

mp looking over the ledge.

this was a super safe stairwell...especially when it was wet from all the rain.

this was a super safe stairwell…especially when it was wet from all the rain.

making our way back down the mountain.

making my way back down the mountain.

another quick cloud parting.

another quick cloud parting.

WE DID IT! and you know, it was difficult, but sosososososo worth it!

WE DID IT! and you know, it was difficult, but sosososososo worth it!

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05/01/2013
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adventure, cusco, happiness, mp, relax, sacred valley, sierra, vacation

sacred valley.

IMG_2416christmas night, we took an overnight bus to lima, and then caught a flight out to cusco. our first few days in cusco, we stayed in the sacred valley, which turned out to be a great decision, not only because it’s gorgeous but because it’s located at 9,000 ft above sea level, rather than the 11,000 ft in cusco city. we stayed in a town called yucay, in an old monastery turned into convent. it was gorgeous. and a delightful, relaxing stay to get our adventures started.

our taxi stopped at this incredible view on our way to yucay.

our taxi stopped at this incredible view on our way to yucay.

some kiddos hanging out under their mom's merchandise table.

some kiddos hanging out under their mom’s merchandise table.

our hotel in yucay.

our hotel in yucay.

my dreams were coming true with these cuties!

my dreams were coming true with these cuties!

the rural life in the sierra.

the rural life in the sierra.

a mountain with...SNOW!

a mountain with…SNOW!

04/12/2012
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adventure, chachapoyas, hiking, kuelap, las amazonas, vacation

kuelap.

warning: there are a ridiculous amount of pictures in this post…it was just too hard to not share all of these…also, i live in the flat, brown desert, so the green mountainside just captivated me.

for our first day in chacha, we took a tour to kuelap, which is an ancient incan fortress about 2 hours outside of chachapoyas.

view from the car ride.

view from the car ride.

behind me are some more ruins where people had created homes inside of the mountain.

behind me are some more ruins where people had created homes inside of the mountain.

more scenery.

more scenery.

the fortress from below, before we started our hike. historians have concluded that if the incans had made kuelap their center capital, then the spaniards would not have been able to conquer them and history would have been forever changed...

the fortress from below, before we started our hike. historians have concluded that if the incans had made kuelap their center capital, then the spaniards would not have been able to conquer them and history would have been forever changed…

entering the park...

entering the park…

zack, robert and i right outside of the ruins.

zack, robert and i right outside of the ruins.

more of the incredible view.

more of the incredible view.

one of the three entrances into the three-level fortress.

one of the three entrances into the three-level fortress.

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you can see where it's raining.

you can see where it’s raining.

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hiking up the entrance to the first level. i am convinced that the incans had to have incredible legs....

hiking up the entrance to the first level. i am convinced that the incans had to have incredible legs….

the crew with some of the ruins and the incredible view.

the crew with some of the ruins and the incredible view.

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robert's dream pose.

robert’s dream pose.

pretending to lose my balance and fall...or that is exactly what is happening...that is up to you to decide....

pretending to lose my balance and fall…or that is exactly what is happening…that is up to you to decide….

a tiny cottage LITERALLY in the middle of nowhere.

a tiny cottage LITERALLY in the middle of nowhere.

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this picture seems pretty accurate.

this picture seems pretty accurate.

i was there.

i was there.

the incans buried themselves in the walls there. not creepy or anything...

the incans buried themselves in the walls there. not creepy or anything…

the three lines mean: god of the heavens, god of the earth, god of the underworld.

the three lines mean: god of the heavens, god of the earth, god of the underworld.

one of the kitchens...the line of the rocks on the right are thought to be where they stored their cuys (guina pigs).

one of the kitchens…the line of the rocks on the right are thought to be where they stored their cuys (guinea pigs).

 

eye of the puma.

eye of the puma.

sepent and eye of the crocodile.

sepent and eye of the crocodile.

it was said that more than 3,000 people lived in this fortress. also, loved that there were llamas EVERYWHERE.

it was said that more than 3,000 people lived in this fortress. also, loved that there were llamas EVERYWHERE.

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a mochika face.

a mochika face.

some pato (duck).

some pato (duck).

the crew with the the bottle-shaped "great temple."

the crew with the the bottle-shaped “great temple.”

the exit...nbd...

the exit…nbd…

robert making the hike down.

robert making the hike down.

the most breath-taking exit i have ever encountered.

the most breath-taking exit i have ever encountered.

the hike back.

the hike back.

 

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04/12/2012
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adventure, chachapoyas, happiness, las amazonas, sierra, vacation

chachapoyas.

during thanksgiving, i was able to FINALLY take my first vacation since being in peru. it was nice to have a few days to finally be a tourist and see a new part of the country after being here for 5 ½ months. also, it was a great distraction from missing time with my family in the states.

the plaza in chacha.

the plaza in chacha.

for my first vacation, i went to chachapoyas, which is located in the department of las amazonas. i took a 35 soles bus ride there on a 10 hour overnight bus. when i got on, the bus attendant handed out plastic bags, i didn’t understand what this was for until the middle of the night. i awoke to people rustling their bags so they had some where to put their waste as they were car sick since the road to there is 80% curving around and going up-and-down mountains. needless to say i turned the music up on my ipod.

a view of the town center.

a view of the town center.

once i arrived, i found a hostel on the town square to stay at and my friends and i took off on our first tour. if you are ever to visit peru, i highly recommend chachapoyas. i plan to return as i could have spent 5 more days there without having repeated a thing. the town itself is pristine and surrounded by beautiful green mountainsides. it also has consistently made some of the top up-and-coming travel destinations in the world.

i was sad i only had 2 short days there, and reluctantly boarded my 24-hour bus ride to lima for eist. at least i had the very front seat of my bus…which made for an incredible view.

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