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Dead End

Wednesday, March 7th, 2007

I am in Arequipa, Peru now.  I have a few stories to tell and since today ended up being a no-go due to my first airplane cancellation (Arequipa to Cusco supposedly due to weather, but the weather is perfect… go figure), I will do some writing.  The plan was to go to Cusco in order to get into the Amazon, but I was surprised to discover that Manu NP is closed until April due to the rainy season.  Uh oh!  So, I am currently toying with the idea of jumping to Buenos Aires and then working my way north to Bolivia (also rainy season now) and back to Peru before going to Brazil in May.  This is such a big change in the plan that I need a little time to decide.

I missed Nazca Lines because I got sick in Lima and needed three days to get back to normal and I may go there before flying out of the country.  I hate to miss that site and it does not really fit into later plans.  Cusco will provide a couple of days to get my act together.  I have been traveling the last week with my friend, Mark (met in Mexico City, Puerto Escondido and Cartagena), and we were suppose to go to Manu together.  We may end up splitting up again based on this change in plans.

I just looked up Marlin Lodge in Mozambique and it turns out that the fantastic place I started this adventure at in June of last year was wiped out by the cyclone.  Fortunately, the employees and local residents only had minor injuries.  They will be closed for the next ten months which gives us an idea about how badly the facilities were damaged.  Hopefully, I won’t have to read about other disasters to places I have visited for a while.  I made some stupid remark about earthquakes this past week while trekking in Colca Canyon and the local guide did not find it funny.  The people in Colca live in mud huts beneath giant mountains and cliffs of large boulders and earthquakes are a regular occurence.  A regular deadly occurence.  I’m usually pretty careful about these kinds of comments especially in places living on the edge like Peru.  What might be a way to live with potential disaster in places like California is certainly not humorous somewhere like Peru where natural disasters have been extremely deadly.  I’ll tell you more about this living on the edge in Peru soon…

Absorbing Peru

Sunday, February 25th, 2007

The desire to see as much of Peru as possible is pushing me along.  I think this would have happened in Mexico, Panama and Colombia, but I had places to get to per a schedule and therefore I could not take the luxury of just making it up as I go.  Peru is different because after Jillian left, I no longer have a schedule.  And this is one hell of a great country to find that luxury.  I was suppose to take a week off and in that time I was going to work on photos and video.  I’m very happy with my decision to skip Patagonia thus bringing on a don’t-have-to-be-anywhere mode.  I did some photo work, but the mountain is too high and I found other things to do.  In fact, I did not take a week off other than from the standpoint that I stayed at one place for the whole week in Cajamarca.  It was relaxing, but I did something each day that I was there.  Carnaval was all-consuming for a couple of days and there is interesting colonial and inca places to visit in the city and surrounding areas.  I’m not sure if I will burnout on this leg of the adventure.  I see now that Peru and Bolivia will eat up my schedule into early April.  The next 5-6 weeks will probably not be sedentary ones.  Maybe I will take a fall break in Chile on the coast or in the mountains in early April.  So, I don’t have photos to show yet, but I am making some progress and will chip away at it as I can and as my internet connections are available. 

[read on]

Cajamarca to Trujillo

Saturday, February 24th, 2007
So the 310 kilometer drive which really only covered 120 kilometers from the Andes town of Cajamarca down to coastal city of Trujillo truly was beautiful.  Cajamarca sits in a valley surrounded by mountains.  The mountains are not so impressive ... [Continue reading this entry]

Worst Drivers in the World?

Friday, February 23rd, 2007
I think I already mentioned that the driving in Peru is mighty scary.  That's an understatement.  I now believe that Peruvian drivers will be near the top of the list of bad drivers when I "finish" seeing the world.  My ... [Continue reading this entry]

The Coca Leaf

Thursday, February 15th, 2007
As soon as I hear the term "Common Wisdom" I think ignorance of the masses.  There is so much all of us accept as truth (me being included) without question and it is really a load of crap.  I keep ... [Continue reading this entry]

Lima is a Lemon

Thursday, February 15th, 2007
I went into the central historic section yesterday to see what Lima has to offer.  This is a sprawling, ugly city of eight million.  I think this is the first place on this leg of the trip that I truly ... [Continue reading this entry]

Jesus of the Andes

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
I love churches. Can't say I love the Church, but the buildings and their contents fascinate me.  I am awed by the faith and patience in their God by the builders.  We have a couple of real churches in the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Train from Machupicchu to Cusco

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
Chris would have loved this ride.  I sat in awe for 3.5 hours as we wound uphill from Aguas Callientes to Cusco area through river and farm valleys.  I don't think there is a train ride like it in America ... [Continue reading this entry]

Day Off

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
I took one today.  First time since I was sick in Mexico City.  I didn't do anything.  I have decided to head north from Lima on the 15th to Cajamarca.  It is described as a place that is like Cusco ... [Continue reading this entry]

Pinnacles of Granite

Sunday, February 11th, 2007
Two things escaped me about Machupicchu.  First, I never realized how green and lush the area would be.  I´m thinking 2500 meter altitude and that´s above the treeline.  Not so around the equator and Machupicchu is full of tropical and ... [Continue reading this entry]