We are 1 week shy of it being a year since I ventured off to Peru.
Eliza is nearly 19 now and the loan I took out to go is nearly paid off!
I kept putting this post off 'cause I don't know the names of many the places we went etc.. I think regardless I just need to share what I've got...
Last year, my youngest sister Eliza turned 18. I always told her I'd be with her for it. Completely unrelated, my other sister Veronica always wanted to go to Machu Picchu in South America. One morning in January of 2014 at my Dad's house when I was home for Christmas, an idea sparked, a plan began to fester, and an adventure was born!
Where better to turn 18 than atop a mountain with your sisters!?
I have positively too many hundreds of photos and moments for this wee blog to handle..
Consider this a taste but know to fully comprehend the sights and experience, you have to go check it out for yourself, This trip one was of the best things I've ever done in my life to date.
On the 30th of June, I set off on a flight to South America.
The views fling over land toward Cusco were unreal!
DAY 1: We're in Peru!!
The girls were at the airport waiting for me.. and had been for hours.
Pooped 'n' pale, but happy to be together.
Taxi!
In true style, we had the room in ruins within approximately 4 mins!
Omg, we're in Peru?! Selfie number 11..
Went & checked out the main square in Cusco..
Found some pizza accompanied by a band, add a
little deliriousness and off to bed for an early night!
DAY 2: About town.
We met our Dragoman tour guide Neil in the morning.
Today was a day of leisure and adjusting to the altitude.
Stray dogs, Pisco Sours, shopping and a chocolate museum!
Day two gave one of my favourite photos of the trip!
DAY 3: On the move.
Today we met Piero, our tour guide and friend for the next 5 days.
We also met the rest of the tour group.
A view of Cusco.
Pretty lady.. and Eliza !
Street stalls.
A tourist photographing local.
Women at Chinchero weaving project..
Ta-Da!
Quick stop for supplies before we disappear into the mountains.
DAY 4:
5am start in Zurite, off we hiked.
Early, foggy, magnificent!
Today we went From 1050 meters up to 4500 meters in altitude..
Walk, breathe, walk, turn around, whoa! take a photo, walk, breathe, stop, walk... oigh!
Lunch time, Jose and his world cup radio.
Passionfruit??!
Piero, popcorn, hot chocolate and card games.
Today I walked through scenery and across distances I never imaged. And that was just day 1 of the hike!
DAY 5:
I froze overnight, was happy to see the sun when I got up.
Staying as snug as possible in my sleeping bag, I pathetically attempted to blow up a few balloons and woke Eliza singing along to Stevie Wonders Happy Birthday via my 2quid shitty ipod speakers.
Whilst Eliza looks increasingly fuzzled in her old age, I am clearly the shining image of a perfect morning person.
With some encouragement of hot coco tea from the amazing staff, we were up and away.
Whadda view to wake up to on your birthday!
This day saw us reach the highest altitude of our journey.
The walk was EPIC.
It was so long, but rewarding and challenging.
No photos could ever do it justice and no flight of stairs will ever scare me after that experience.
It was difficult, but incredible.
We made it to the top! Back of the pack, but we made it.
Someone had to fall along the way!..
Our amazing setting among the mountains, aside a glacier for the evening..
Dinner was spaghetti, luckily Eliza's favourite on her b'day!
We stayed up playing a dice game the boys taught us called 'Ambitious'. Simple, but kept us entertained for hours!
DAY 6:
Breakfast among some locals.
The walk today was a lot more down hill.
We followed a river along through the stunning mountains.
Us 3 girls had good banter and bullshit chats flowing this day.. was a great walk!
We made it to the bus, finally!
That evening we slept in civilisation. It was nice to sleep warm again!
Before sleep, us girls and a couple of others from our tour group went out for dinner with our guides Piero and Jose. Although no photographic evidence (none would do it justice) we great night! The food was Aaaamazing and the banter was fluent (despite not everyone's English being so)
Beyond being wonderful at their jobs, the guys were a pleasure to be around.
DAY 7:
After spending a night in a comfie bed and getting nice n clean we boarded the bus to..
Machu Picture!
2 of my favourite people hangin' out in Machu Picchu, as you do.
A slight hike up away, the ruins become a few ants in the distance!
Back down to town, lunch and legal cocktails!
The bus took us back to Cusco.
Off to the pub!
(the highest 100% Irish owned pub on the planet may I add!)
Paddy's, (unlike many I've met) was quite tame. We had a couple, Eliza bought her first legal drink, and off we went to a slightly more upbeat club.
It's safe to say the booze flowed freely and our night out escalated rapidly into fun dance-filled night for all!
DAY 8:
Intensely uneventful hangover day..
(including a really weird, overpriced and uncomfortable massage that I'd rather not recall)
ending with dinner and drinks!
After our massage, we ran into Jose in town. He kindly asked us 3 girls and Carly out to a place called Limo for dinner. Him and V had been talking Masterchef all week, he insisted we check out this particular restaurant with him.
We all got along so well through the trek, we were leaving the next morning, it was an offer not to be refused!
We manned up, kicked our hangovers to the side, got dressed and went out.
Best . decision . ever!
The food and drinks, along with charming Jose and restaurant views over the city were all incredible.
Just what the doctor ordered!
A lovely way to cap our time in Cusco.
DAY 9:
Today we boarded Carmen and travelled 9 long hours across the border to Puno.
We stopped off via some hot 'slightly suspicious, slimy and green' springs.
Added to the list of experiences!
Upon reaching our destination, our tour group were quick to check in and check out the world cup happenings.
Whilst everyone was glued to the TV set I was fascinated with the likeness of the hotel dining room to my Nunna's old lounge room! Strangely similar.
We all went out to a local restaurant for some slooooow cooked/bad serviced pizzas and hit the hay for an early one. I took a long handled teaspoon from there. It's the free souvenirs that hold most novelty, no? I don't know why I took it. Still got it! Long handle is quite useful actually.
That night and morning following was a rough one for me.
Bad tummys in Peru, awkwardly inevitable, no amount Imodium can prevent or solve!
DAY 10:
Off to Lake Titicaca today.
Bracing myself for the day out, I got outside to our surprise 'taxis'...
Oh my giddy aunt.
Despite the bumpy belly, it was a pretty cool joyride in the sun.
(and I didn't shit myself, high 5!)
We boarded a boat onto the lake, our toward the floating islands.
The Lake is a sacred place for Inca civilisation and it the tallest in the world at 3800 meters above sea level. The Grassy looking stuff growing in it is what they build their islands out of.
Being on the island was a strange sensation. A change in the water would make the whole thing bobble about.
Atop a floating island, a mini floating island! Just in case I didn't get the gist ;)
The way they they make their boats was pretty damn cool and clever... they're filled entirely of empty water bottles, wrapped in the same thing they live on!
I could tell they're used to visitors.
Lots of ladies with hand made souvenirs for sale, dotted about the place.
To think I could've given her 10 quid but instead nicked a silver spoon!? I don't think the reality of where I was in the world sunk in whilst I was there.
I can't even begin to imagine how different her life will be compared to mine!...
Back on land, lunch time accompanied by a Spanish version of Up on the tiny background TV
A little gem our driver Neil added into the long drive was the
Gate of the Gods.
There's said to be a few of these in the world.. Gates to other worlds, it's said that people have disappeared and some reappeared with no concept of time. Fascinating stuff!
Back in the truck!
And one last stunning stop before the home stretch
DAY 11:
Today we took off on a snails-pace boat to Isla de Sol.
And found another beautiful place !
On and off a few boats around the place, then a walk to take in the views.
Whoa. The views!!
I did most of this walk on my own-ish.. it was lovely!
DAY 12: The last day.
Morning charades before boarding the bus for our drive to LaPaz.
Bus views..
We then got to the river crossing time of the day.
LOADS of us wedged into this bad boy and prayed that it didn't sink.
Meanwhile, Carmen travelled across on this. We were told they don't sink, often!
She made it :)
Back on the truck for the last leg into LaPaz
Happy snaps before driving down into the mayhem.
Streets of LaPaz
After shopping and exploring, we had a last supper with the tour group, then a few of us went out for a few parting drinks...
A farewell drink (or 10) with Neil and co.
I woke up the next morning feeling and looking fabulous!
A few emotional goodbyes (3 sisters blubbering in a hotel lobby) and I was away.
It was a loooong plane ride home, overwhelmed by the journey I'd just experienced, hung over as shit and not knowing when I'd see the girls next.
I'd do it all again in a heart beat.
