The Road to Machupicchu

Machupicchu

Our travel to Machupicchu began with...

• a one hour flight from Lima to Cusco (Cuzco)
• overnight stay in Cusco
• 20 min drive to Poroy station
• early morning train trip from Poroy to Aguas Calientes
• overnight stay in Aguas Calientes
• early morning bus to Machupicchu

Needless to say, I really wanted to go. 

A little background... Back in the 90's my dear friend, Rob and I visited Sedona, Arizona. While there, we learned that some people believe there are places in the world that are known as high energy hot spots or 'energy vortices'. Sedona, Arizona - Calgary, Alberta Canada - Machupicchu and Stonehenge were right up there on our list of places to 'get energized' at. Sadly, Sedona was the last trip Rob & I took together. He died 8 weeks later. My trip to Machupicchu was - in part - a tribute to him.

Cusco

Being warned that Cusco was at 11,000 feet above sea level, we were advised to walk slowly and (in order to prevent altitude sickness) start on Diamox. Good advice. After a short walk in town, climbing a hill or two and up a flight of stairs, my blue finger-tips and shortness of breath indicated I was mildly symptomatic - some people require hospitalization and supplemental oxygen -my personal remedy was to continue on Diamox, drink a lot of water and rest. It worked.

A natural preventative to altitude sickness: Coca Tea

And by-the-way... Peruvian pharmacies are great. I was like a nurse in a candy-store. You can get your choice of antibiotics, diuretics, salves and ointments...all without a prescription. The Pharmacist is the official drug gatekeeper - he and I became instant friends - and I stocked up. Diamox? Yes, please. Bactrim? Sure! Anything else?...let me look around... most medicines are easy to I.D. if you are familiar with their generic names.

Our accommodations in Cusco were perfect. A rustic room with private bath close to the city center, in a section known as San Blas.WiFi was included and Coca tea served on arrival. Who could ask for more? It was comfortable and quiet. Perfect.

Having to be up and ready to go by 5 am in order to catch a train to Aguas Calientes, we were all snug and asleep when the music started in our room from the bar, across the street. Normally, the option would have been to just suck it up or join them but we had a long day ahead. Earplugs didn't cut it. So, in the best Spanish that I could conjure up, I asked our elderly landlady if she knew what time the bar closed and tried to explain that we had to get up early. She apologized and then as if by magic...the music was taken down several notches. I'm thinking she marched herself over there ...

The following morning, we were picked up at our door by South Adventure Peru Tours and recommend them highly. We were driven to Poroy, where we caught our train to Aguas Calientes. The city itself has no need for cars as it is entirely walk-able. I had read somewhere that 'AC' was an armpit. True enough, but it is safe and there are a few quaint streets - that's about it. Our wake-up call in AC was needless as the dogs howling, cats wailing  and roosters crowing did the trick.

Visiting Machupicchu would be a dream come true 

... and Rob would have loved it.

Next - Machu Picchu

Lima, Peru - Part Two

You can quote me on this...
"Travel is all about the people you meet and not necessarily the places you see"

Mr. Something and I, Kike, Patrick & Aurelio

Arriving in Lima, we had arranged for a driver to pick us up from the airport and had reserved a cute apartment in Miraflores. 

It didn't happen.

Wifi doesn't exist in Jorge Chavez International Airport unless you find the Starbucks on the level above baggage claim. We found Starbucks and after three hours of not receiving any response to the multiple texts we sent the guy who owned the apartment and who had arranged for our driver, we had to face facts.

Nobody was coming to get us.

We decided to call it a day and book a hotel room in the same neighborhood. 

My last text to 'the guy' was..."We are sorry but as we have not heard from you, we have no other option but to find another place to stay.We are disappointed that we could not stay at your place." I included the name of the hotel we were staying at in case he had any questions for us and left it at that.

That night, the hotel desk clerk woke me up from a sound sleep to tell me that we had a visitor in the lobby. Bleary-eyed, I met 'the guy' in the lobby. His name was Kike and he was there to pay our hotel bill.

Kike was one of the warmest, most giving people I have ever met. 

Profoundly apologetic for the confusion, Kike explained that a couple from Korea saw the sign that our driver was holding for us, with my last name "Young" written on it. Their name was "Yung". They got in his car and were taken to Kike's apartment.

You can't make this stuff up.

The following morning, Kike came to our hotel and brought us on a personal tour of his city, introduced us to his husband, Patrick and good friend, Aurelio. 

After the tour, he treated us to the most fantastic lunch at 'Altamar', a wonderful Peruvian restaurant with our new friends.

As if that was not enough, he arranged and paid for a driver to take us to the airport the next morning as well.

What a "guy"!

Sometimes it seems to me that when I've been disappointed with how I had hoped things to go, I end up being placed directly into the path of something good.

This experience was the best!

Lima, Peru - Part One

Larcomar

If you want to see Machu Picchu, then, most likely, you will start in the Lima. The capital city of Peru, Lima is not for the faint of heart. A fast-paced metropolitan area divided into 14 neighborhoods and comprised of approximately 9 million residents living within 324 sq.miles, Lima lacks the public transit systems of other major cities its size - but we understand that they are working on it - and its traffic congestion is infamous.

Know that Lima is not immune to petty crime, pickpockets and the like but that their taxi drivers have also been known to rob newcomers as well. We were told by locals that the Lima police are open to bribery and many are corrupt. Somewhat shaky ground to start our trip on.

Lima Airport Security: These boxes are at every security check-in.
 If you look closely, they are filled with sharp objects and potential weapons.

Taxi Green is located in Jorge Chavez International Airport. The tourist info people say they are the only taxi service to trust. We didn't have any problems with them but... if you can arrange for a driver or van from the place you are staying,..you are better off.

Miraflores: Is where we called 'home' during our stay in Lima. A clean, upscale neighborhood of Lima its known for its safety, restaurants, cafes and beaches. Walking around Miraflores, we came upon a park that was literally teeming with cats.

Parque Kennedy commemorates JFK and is a haven for stray cats. They run, play, climb trees and sunbathe here but are also petted by various citizens who keep food and water available to them. It's really a cool sight to see. Other places in Miraflores to check out while you're there...

• Iglesia Virgen Milagrosa
• Parque del Amor
• Larcomar

Our trip to Lima started out in a less-than-outstanding way. We had arranged for a driver to pick us up at the airport. He didn't show. We had arranged to stay in an apartment in Miraflores. We didn't connect. We tried getting a WiFi connection in the Lima Airport...no luck.

It wasn't looking good. So, as we occupied space in Jorge Chavez International, fending off offers of ground transportation, Mr. Something and I just shrugged our shoulders and chalked it all up to what happens sometimes when you travel. 

God love him. He is the best travel partner I could ever hope for.