Havana, Havana I left my heart in Havana
I think I left my heart in Palm Springs. There was just something about that place that felt right. Maybe it was the architecture, I am not sure. But we did leave a little tiny bit of our heart in Palm Springs. We are driving to LA LAX its about a 2 hour drive from Palm Springs on so many different freeways that get us to returning the car and airport hotel.
Next morning up bright and early 5am we are flying to Cancun Mexico just for one night, another airport hotel. We are flying with Delta to Cancun actually a better airline than United I thought. The hostesses were great even the check in was friendly just felt like a better experience all round. It was a 5 hour flight too. Airport hotel is fine modern clean and has a pool. What more do you need for 18 hours. Next morning back up again 5am to get to the airport as we are flying to Cuba. Getting the visa was so simple a guy just standing at the line up to checkin, to easy. Unfortunately our luggage has grown from 3 to 5 we have had to buy clothing and shoes for Peru coming up in 8 days time. It takes up so much room all this required outdoorsy clothing. So we could only check in one bag each. Rest of bags comes on board but how come when you get to the door of the plane they can take your carry on for no cost and stow it in the hold. If you wanted to check it in it would have been US $55. Baffled by that but worked well in our favour anyway. It’s only an hour flight to Havana, Cuba.
We are met by our guide for the 10 days Carlos. We exchange some currency, Euro is better or Canadian dollar. We are staying in Casa Particular which in lay men terms is a house which has some rooms.They have a licence to rent out. Sometimes they live there sometimes not. The one we are staying in Havana is Bao Bao the lady doesn’t actually live there but has people who stays there the whole time ,unlocking the door and can be of assistance if you need. If you could speak Espanol. Which we know a few words to get us by. But not to have a conversation.
So here we are in Havana. Carlos fills us in and where to eat and points us in the general direction of the main square. We have the afternoon to wonder and generally get the feel of the place. And not get lost. Old Havana is generally a grid so not to bad. It kind of reminded us of Palermo in Italy a little with the buildings in disrepair and a mixture of the modern 5 star hotel popped in amongst the old and falling down. There is lots of scaffolding up as its the 500th birthday of the founding of Havana coming up in 16 days. So some buildings of character and significance and getting some paint splashed on them to brighten them up the most recent restoration is the Capitolio building it was modelled on the white house. This one has a gold on the dome part of the building. II does look amazing.
Music is coming from any space that has a speaker its booming from the tiny spaces that are the locals homes. Bars everywhere one across form our place of where we are staying. Authentic 1950’s cars parked on the streets which are used for taxis or shared cars. Street art on the buildings. Buildings are looking in very bad disrepair too. We are staying in old Havana. We wonder up the street for lunch to a place on the corner that is quite popular on the square/piazza. We know that anything on a square will be a total rip off for us as tourists. But we eat there as we are enticed by the busy vibe of the place. They have fantastic things all over the walls and the music, the Cuban music it just fantastic. We are seated we order our first and by far of many mojito we consume like water. Cause its seems we can buy a mojito so much easier than water. Our first was a mojito with a beer in it, very usual but a speciality of the house. We order fish and salad and fries. Let’s just say I don’t think we will be eating fish at all again. It was very tough like they had cooked the bejesus out it, of course rice and beans unfortunately beans had pork in it. Coffee is great here in Cuba. That American stuff is so bad so over that filtered brown water. The square is alive with bands playing in every restaurant in the evening. It was once one band stopped for a second the next would take up that small silence that lingered for a moment. They are all so good. Everyone seems so talented and have a great singing voice.
We have a guided walk with Carlos the next day walking the streets looking at this and that. The age of that building there that church over there. Where Ernest Hemingway drank at at this bar. How the mojito was founded by the man in this bar all so very fascinating too but that man seemed to have got around the world and lived in hotels a lot,He did live in Havana for almost 30 years he also did buy a house after his wife of the time was not happy living in a hotel anymore. A place called Finca Vigia just out of Havana where he wrote most of his books. I am pretty sure we had a drink In Venice at a bar on the corner St Marks Square, where he would drink at a bar and write his poetry or books it was a Prosecco with peach drink. Not sure of the name it will come to me after I have written this. Back in the 1930’s the mafia had built a hotel on the water front Hotel Nationale. We saw where the revolution happened with Fidel Castro, Where he gave his speech . How the water front was defended. Back in the early days of pulling a chain across the harbour so no-one could enter. A cannon was fired at 9pm every night to let know that the chain was going up and it still does today not the chain but the cannon.
We have a little hour long tour around Havana in one of those huge American 1950’s convertible cars very much a tourist thing but had to be done and it’s was bloody hot. The sun pelting down cruising the streets. We also went to an African/Cuban neighbour hood where they play music and dance we are crowded into what seems someones back yard. We watch for a while as the music is played and a guy is dancing’s to the rhythms. All sounded fantastic but wow, hot and sweaty dripping down your brow and back we didn’t stay long.
We are leaving La Habana and heading to the Vinale’s is where they grow the tobacco for the world famous Cuban Cigars. We do go to a farm that grows the tobacco but wrong season the shed isn’t full of leaves and there is no crops in. It takes about 3 months to grow then you pick the leaves. Top leaves for the very best of best cigars then it goes down the scale in quality middle and final bottom leaves. We saw a guy roll a hand made cigar. We also got one to have a puff on. It was fun but what I did find interesting the cigars do not have any nicotine in them that part of the leaf is removed after the leaves have been matured in different flavours and spices. When the cigar rolling guy lit our cigar he dipped the end that you put in your mouth in honey. So we didn’t buy any not knowing if we could bring them back home. You could buy 14 for about 50cuc which is about $72 Aussie dollars about $5 each. The town we stayed in was nice had 2 really nice restaurants.
On to the next destination The Bay of Pigs on our way there we drive past Australia, I know your saying, what the!!!. The sugar mill was and is called Central Australia. Fidel Castro had a base there for some time apparently. We are staying in a small villages town type place, right on the beach we are thinking that should be good it reads well but no the water is reddy brown from the mangrove swaps that flank it either side. Not very inviting what so ever Tony did go for a dip but me, no way. The place we staying in has nice simple fish and crab dish but the most disturbing of the whole 24hours that we are there is the dogs. Bitches that are on heat and the male dogs yelping and growling and the getting stuck together in the act of mating then crying and whimpering. All too much for us we wanted to leave but we are stuck here.No pun intended.
We leave there thank goodness and are heading Cienfuegos Now it’s not short distances at all these destinations we are going. In our yellow taxi with Carlos. We arrive at the Casa Particular house of Garcia. Friendly man and very proud of his offerings of rooms etc but for us its a bit of an eye roll especially when the air conditioner is noisy and very old and it very hot at night. It’s only for one night. Suck it up sunshine, I tell myself. We are going for stroll around the streets .Very French influenced apparently can’t see it myself. It was founded in 1819. Dinner was close at an Italian influence restaurant it was tasty food I must say we did try the fish again as we are on the sea it was good with shrimp. So dinner was a winner.
Off we go again this time to Trinidad not far at all we arrive by lunch time but of course we need to do a stroll around town with the ever knowledgeable Carlos. Trinidad was founded 5 years before Havana in 1514 so it is another UNESCO world heritage site like old Havana. Very colourful buildings I must say the rich certainly was there at one stage going by some of buildings and roads are cobblestone. It’s so, so very hot here in Trinidad. Like everywhere. The buildings are all in good condition too. We did go into a store to get some water. There was nothing in there Pringles and rum no food at all, well real food. We did go to a store in Vinales and the same nothing in there the shelves are bare. We are told that everyone has a ration cards or slips and they get rice, beans, sugar and some spices with that. The rest I guess they buy on the black market. From just observing the young and fashionable they all seemed to the latest look about them with the mobile phones. Meals for them is usually black beans rice which are combined and meat mainly pork or another animal product. Vegetable eaten seasonally like the avocado season was coming to an end. Which is nothing wrong with that it is better to eat seasonally anyway.
Tony & I must have eaten something not so good we spent one day sleeping and feeling bad. We are thinking its the cheese. I had cheese in an omelette and Tony had a pizza on the same day. What is strange we had eaten a pizza in Havana and all was good not a problem.
We are heading back to Havana by the way of Santa Clara where Che Guevara is buried. By the way Che isn’t his name its a nick name like dood, mate, man. His memorial/museum is interesting to see. Here we are back in Havana one more night of mojito and music. As we are driving along the road that is beside the port we noticed an oil tanker there. Now the Trump administration has put an embargo on US ships used to carry oil here. They have used one from another country which increases the price of the petrol. Just like the planes will cease flying from Miami by the end of the year. So the Cubans living in America will have to come via Mexico which will cost so much more. Same with the cruise boats aren’t allowed to stop here. But we did see on cruise ship from Germany.
Then we have a huge flight to Lima to start a 20 day journey through Peru and Machu Picchu. But first a little luxury stop in Cancun. Back through customs was to funny. The customs officer standing there not even in any sort of uniform picks up my passport and starting playing with photo moving it around like its a toy of sorts and having a little giggle like a girl. So I laugh to and they say from Australia, kangaroo and the whole thing and start laughing. Gracias I say even that brings the house down, Welcome to Mexico.
Hola, Cancun some luxury after Cuba is needed for us both it might sound lame but we happen to be both really sick. With stomach problems that need time and tablets to eliminate the excessive visits to the loo. Need we say more. We are staying at this amazing resort Nizac very nice but very expensive to eat but you gotta eat don’t you, its a given part of the day. We have a room over looking the ocean the weather isn’t that good for par taking in beach activities either, raining and grey skies . Sleeping and getting better is our main aim of the next day. The room is gorgeous the shower is unreal and the bed is so so comfortable after staying in casa particulars were its is a little on the basic side . One place got bitten by bugs of some sort. The joys of travelling.
Off to Lima a 5 hour very bumpy flight to Lima. We have a day or so in Lima we are staying Mireflores good spot. First on the agenda is stock up on some phamarcy items and some little bit and pieces at the supermarket . We walk to the waterfront well the cliff that over looks the Pacific Ocean we saw surfers out surfing small but constant waves. I think the water is very cold too. What we did notice walking around is how super clean Lima is the streets and swept to perfection. We saw public seats being scrubbed and just all looked so clean. In the afternoon we have a guided city tour to the old part of Lima the building have the influence of the French building you would see in Paris. The squares have very regal building surrounding them it all looked very impressive but when we got to the square were the parliamentary palace was it was cordinated off by riot police with all the gear on. We found out there was a protest and those guards didn’t want them coming anywhere near the palace and the official buildings in that square. All they were protesting about was more pay for workers that work in the public Hospital for god sake. They were moved on the another place where no one could hear them that should. They tried. Lima was a good city. But we are off to Puerto Maldando on the edge of the Amazon
Puerto Maldando took a while to get to as we our flight was via Cusco we couldn’t get off the plane so we wait nearly 2 hours waiting for the plane to repaired it seemed. As I saw some guy in hi-vis fixing something with some tape. Now thats a bit of worry. We landed finally and with some others we board a long boat and we off down the Amazon river to Hacienda Concepeion. Its an eco lodge. As we travelling down the Amazon river the current is very fast and large amounts of trees and branches float by but the driver of the boat navigates past these obstacles with great easy.
We finally arrive and met by the lovely staff and taken straight to the the main building were we eat our meals and the most importatanly the bar is. We are all starving as we left Lima at 6am and its now 3.30pm. The food is so good and a great choice the staff are very lovely. We meet after we are allocated our lovely little hut but the power is out is goes off for a few hours in the afternoon. Tonight we have a night adventure to look for caiman (alligator type creature) We did see a few but quiet small. But we saw that is the main thing. The weather in the evening is balmy as we are at the beginning of the rainy season. Dinner is so good and spoilt for choice too. Up early next morning 5am wake-up call. We are going down river to a lake to spot some creatures of the jungle. It has been absolutely pouring all night and when we wake it still is. Yeah….
We go down river about 20 mins to a staircase landing and start walking along a boardwalk to the lake about 4kms in the pouring rain. Then we get in canoes and our guide Hosta and 2 other couples Julie and Josephine form California and NYC state and David and Norma from Sydney. Sitting in the wet canoe seats is joyous so wet bum, now. We do spot some birds the Stinky birds and Caiman and some small bats and some other birds. Some Howler Monkeys too but cause its raining the animals hide and aren’t very active but even though it was raining it was a great morning to be had. After lunch after getting some dry clothes on we are off back up the river For an ariel walk in the canopy. 180m up wonderful views and walking across the sky bridges was fantastic and bouncy and such wonderful views, loved it. Back for dinner and happy hour. We also did a nature walk around the grounds of the eco lodge sea some critters. Another adventure was to a farm and another walk around the other side of the lodge and a paddle on the lake that is adjoins the lodge that mainly had stinky birds. We did see an Otto. For us its fantastic as that is not an animal we have in Australia. We also saw an Otto before at the lake a giant Otto it was so funny we could see it slip streaming under the water then it popped up right next to the canoe with this face that was smiling with these sharp pointy teeth it was hilarious would have been fabulous to capture a photo.
Our hot and steamy stay in jungle has come to an end. We loved having the howler monkeys in the trees the little critters that looked like guinea pigs on steroids roaming around. By the way those guinea pig looking animals the locals eat them.The beautiful tropical flowers. As its rainy season too the river had risen maybe a metre while were there for the 3 nights but over the whole rainy season the Amazon river will rise by 6-8 metres or even more. We are off to Cusco for 4 nights a short little 40 mins flight.
What a beautiful looking city Cusco is. Our hotel is amazing and we are given a suite . Thank-you very much. We went straight out and went for a walk around and came across the Plaza de Armas. But first warmer clothes are needed after hot and sweaty Amazon jungle. There are ladies dressed in the traditional costumes carrying baby llamas and little girls as well. You can take a photo with them and give them a few Sols (Peruvian money) of course I do they are so super cute the baby llamas. We have found some delicious food so fresh and tasty. Great vegetarian restaurants. Indian food too. Funky cafes that sell great coffee and cakes. Little things which have made there way into my bag. Just small things. wink, wink….
We have a city tour happening it was interesting taking us to some Inca sites and the view from the hill above were the White Christ is. Kinda a smaller version of the one in Rio. We also went to some museums etc all very interesting hearing how the Spanish came to Peru. Mainly it was rape and pillage and convert . The woman the gold and the people.
We also had a tour to the Scared Valley first we went to the highest point Chinchero at 3700m it was great village where all the houses are made from mud bricks. The had the best market with all the ladies selling their wares it was so colourful and lively could have bought a few things that is for sure. You could see the snow capped mountain of the Andes mountain range so very stunning. We also went to Ollantaytambo to see the Inca terraces and where they started building a sun worshipping temple but never finished as the Spanish arrived on the scene. They also have these walls that are made of stone that are so perfect it is wonder how this was made. all very fascinating. It was great day with our guide all very interesting and the information was just enough not bordering on over information. We met our guide last night for the 4 night 3 day hike up to Machu Picchu. We can only take up 5kgs in a bag that we are given to fill with warm clothes etc the porters carry 25kg each that is a substantial weight to carry each.There is 6 adventures in our group and 8 porters. We start early tomorrow morning it sounds like a lot of hard work. On day also we are going up to the highest. point of 4200m. Dead Woman’s Pass but the hi-light will be seeing Machu Picchu early in the morning so keep the eye on the prize.
Well, we are up early and are picked up for the two hour drive to Ollantaytambo were we start our 4 day 3 night trek on the Inca Trail at the 82km mark. In our group is only the 6 of us we have Andreea & Tristan from the UK also Trevor & Lee-anne from Australia. We have Freddie our guide. A chef a Sous Chef and the other porters take the camping equipment, food and what else is needed, 8 in total.
We walk and walk along a river, its hot the first day. We walk up the valley where to our surprise a site has been all set up.A dining tent with a table cloth and cutlery and chairs. A cooking tent. Where you wouldn’t believe a 3 course meal is being prepared. We have warm water to wash our hands one for each person. A toilet tent as well. So the bush toilet doesn’t seem that necessary . We have first glamorous lunch it’s very tasty. Every meal a soup is made as the Pervians are big on soup. Lunch is an appetiser then soup then an another dish with coca tea to finish. So with full bellies we keep walking to our camp site for the night. We have bought walking sticks but haven’t felt the need to use them yet. We arrive at a beautiful spot in a village for our first night. We haven’t really been going up yet, just following the river we do come across one of the many Inca ruins and terraces they are just amazing. It does start raining and its cold. Each night when we arrive a the campsite the tents are set up the kitchen tent is set up and dinner is cooking. The dining tent is set up too. We would usually arrive around 4pm and by 5pm afternoon snack had been prepared with tea. Dinner would be at 6.30pm another 3 course dinner with desert. We are tucked up in bed by 7.30pm totally exhausted.
Next morning we are woken at 5.30am with a warm cup of coca tea bought to our tent as well as warm water to have a freshen up. Breakfast is usually quinoa porridge and either omelette or some other treat that the chefs is making. This was like this every morning. When it was raining and pouring still bought to our tents with some warm water.
Day 2 was horrendous, walking stick is and has become our new favourite friend to us both. We always had the thought they were for lazy people. But they gave you balance and a little heave up the giant steps or take your weight going down. Today we went up to to 4215m. The original trail the Incas laid down all those centuries ago of stone is very uneven. So most of the time you are looking down trying not to slip or twist your ankle. As we are slogging it out huffing and puffing. The porters are running up those giants steps with the 25kg huge back pack on their backs some are just wearing sandals on their feet or just street sand shoes no fancy outdoor hiking shoes. Just amazing really. We reach the 4215m summit but its pouring with rain and freezing. So no photos moment was had. Need to decend quickly. We bought emergency ponchos at the beginning of the trek but I think I bought a Childs one. Whoops… It covers me enough to keep dry over my rain coat. Tony’s was a adult size luckly. So once you reach the top you definitely have to come down and it’s many steps and we are descending into a very cold and wet valley. It’s pouring so hard and it’s freezing. When we arrive everything is set up again. So we climb into the tent and try and dry off our wet clothes with not much success. That night was so cold. After a warming dinner. We go to our tents lying in the sleeping bag and shivering was not fun, so cold. Day 2 done and dusted, thank goodness.
Day 3 well, we are in the valley and at the bottom, so we have to go up. The side of the hill we could see other porters and trekkers all ready starting early in the morning. The camp site is quite large as per regulations of the Inca Trail 400 people including porters and trekkers are allowed to be on the trail at any one day. Todays up isn’t as intense as day 2 but its still up and still takes your breathe away. The knees and thighs are really starting to feel this hiking gig. As we have never done this before ever. So we get to the high elevation which wasn’t to bad just keep head down watch those feet. But here comes the hi-light of today its 1000m down and down. The scenery and quietness of the mountains is both beautiful and serene. The changing mico climates as we weave our way along the paths that once took the traders of the Incas to other communities to trade and take the news of the day. Is mind blowing and so very interesting as Freddie our guide would tell us stories of the past. We didn’t really come across any animals as such we saw a few hummingbirds could hear more birds in the distance. Our last and final camp site loomed at the end of day down across a valley we just had to get there and it involved going down these steps that are narrow and many though the Inca terraces. We are so glad this day is done. Our tents are set up on a terrace we had the best room with a view that looks over towards the next days adventure to our final destination Machu Picchu. On our last dinner together our chief and porters make us this cake it was amazing how did they do that? to celebrate the end of this hike of all hikes. As next morning we are to be woken at 3.30am to start the journey towards The Sun Gate of Machu Picchu.
Day 4 Woken at 3.30am but wouldn’t you know it its pouring with rain again its pelting down but we have to pack up our belongs get some tea and toast to get us to lunch. The porters have to get everything packed and start heading down the valley were the train is, to go back to Cusco if they miss this one the next one isn’t till 9pm that night. So they are running in the rain with plastic sheeting covering their huge back pack to make it in time. The paths are saturated with the water running down them. We wait for about an hour until 5.30am when the check point is open. The other hikers are lining up to pass through too. While the remaining porters are collecting the garbage as the site is to be left as you found it. The garbage is actually weighed just as at the beginning everything was weighed. It makes all the hiking companies accountable for aspects of everything that is bought into the national park which is fantastic.
We are hiking the last 2 hours the path is narrow and very wet and muddy and undulating. Its a single line path to get to the gate. But there is always the ones that have to get there a minute or two ahead of the pack can’t understand that thinking but hey life is made up of many different walks of life. As we have been walking the 3 days there have been groups we pass then they pass us some are the super fit running like they are on a mission to keep up with the porters. Ahhh…. let them be, I hope they took some photos and just stood there and took it all in, the beauty of nature.
As we hiked closer and closer and literally crawled up the final set of steps we are here. We have made it, we walk though the The Sun Gate which incidentally is just a name that it was given. They aren’t sure why it was there and its actual purpose. It was just amazing to see this ancient and spectacular city. Even though the cloud hid it from view it was such a vision and thank-god we have finished it has been a very hard and amazing journey. As we make our way down to the city Freddie gives us tour and more information and theories of why this city was built and its purpose. So our day started pouring with rain and ended sunny and 28 degrees. I am glad its done our legs are tired and sore. After our tour around the ancient city we board the bus on a winding trail down to Agues Calientes at the bottom. We have a celebration lunch with a beer or two and wait to catch our train back to the beginning. Then another 2 hour bus ride to get back to Cusco and a hot shower.
We are back in Cusco for one more night to enjoy this fabulous city wash some stinky clothes and eat some delicious food.
The next day we are boarding a train to Lake Titicaca.. We have opted to take the luxury Belmond Train. The only other trains we have been on are a little to be desired. in other countries this year. This is amazing right from your arrival at the station to boarding, the food the staff. There is only 14 guests on the train and 25 staff. It was an amazing experience. The train was actually bought in Australia in Townsville in 2013, shipped to Peru. The Indian Pacific train. We arrived at lake Titicaca at about 11.30pm at night after departing Cusco at 11am with a couple of stops along the way. At one point we stopped at the highest point which was 4320m then descend down to 3800m to the lake. When we arrived at the station in Puno at 11.30pm then we slept on the train had the most delicious fresh breakfast and departed to see the floating reed villages on the lake. Mmmmmm …….it was very touristic didn’t really enjoy the whole experience. As most of the community actually live in Puno and come out to the floating reed villages to put on some sort of weird show on. We also went out to another island and had some lunch the lake is huge as it borders with Bolivia.
We are off to the Colca Valley with a small stop at the funerary, early start too. Six hours later we arrive at Chivay. First passing the most spectacular landscape. The journey was not boring at all. Seeing the active Volcanos puffing form a distance. Passing by the highest point of 4910m above sea level. People had piled up stacks of rocks, apparently to make a wish at this highest point. Whatever works for you, I say. We are staying at this lodge down on the river in Chivay. It has hot springs that are at 37-39 degrees. So we definitely went and had a soak in them. Also a hot stone massage. What a treat. So good for those leg muscle that still had a bit of left over soreness form the epic hike to Machu Picchu.
Off again next morning to the Colca Valley or the Valley of the Volcanoes. We are looking for the Condors gliding and floating in the sky searching for some dead treat to feast on. They are truly magnificent birds with their wing span at 310cm. They don’t start to have chicks until they are 10 years old and live to 75 years. They have chicks every 3 years and the chick would stay with the parents until it’s 2 years old. Before finding its own way in life.The whole valley is amazing the arid landscape with the terraces where the local families would grow crops. First with the alfalfa then potatoes followed by quinoa and lastly with corn or maize. So it makes for a green patch work landscape.
We are heading to Arequipa a city of over a million people surrounded by volcanoes . El Misti being the largest of them all. The others are extinct. But El Misti does puff out some steam every now and then. If she erupted it would be goodbye Arequipa. As the city sits at the foot of the volcano. There are only 3 main roads out of the city it would be a certain disaster. So we hope that she sleeps forever. Arequipa is only 80kms form the Pacific Ocean too. The city is very arid and dusty has a history Jeuits being there and an amazing Monastery of Santa Catalina. So very colourful it was huge. Only 20 nuns live there now and have committed to that life style. It has been a great stop in our journey around Peru. What is weird I think that as Christmas approaches the decorations go out of Sant Claus and snowmen and all the paraphernalia that is Christmas, seems so weird but as most are Catholic I guess its the way.
Off to Paracas tomorrow to fly over the Nazcar lines.
Here we are in Paracas in southern Peru over 200kms or 4 hours on a double decker bus which that was a first from Lima. So we flew from Arequipa about 90mins flight then taken to the bus station to board the big bus. Time went past quickly reading . Not a bad journey to the aridness of southern Peru.We are on the ocean looking west. Towards Australia hahahaaaa….. getting closer to home.
We went this morning to do a flight over the Nazca Lines. Picked up and taken to this brand new international airport that really isn’t an international airport. It only has the small planes which are 3 flights a day over the Nazca Lines. Quiet strange everything is there to go but no flights. Maybe adventually. They said they used to have flights from Cusco but they stopped. So we board the plane 12 passages and the pilots on a single engine plane. I do prefer two engines just for the back up feeling if one fails. It was a very loud flight no headphones unless you have your own. We spotted many of the these geoglyphs but not all 300. It was a sight to see how did they do this and why that is the question. It was a little bumpy though as we flew down low to veiw these creations of 2000 years ago. The landscape is very arid then you come across these very green patches with crops of trees or of something else we really couldn’t tell. They were winding down the old river beds towards the ocean. Or just in the middle of no-where with roads leading to them. We were told that there is an abundant underground water to water these trees and crops but what about the quality of the soil. It looked devoid of any nutrients to sustain such huge agricultural practices and towns and the people.
We have a couple of nights here to relax and enjoy looking at the sea before heading back to Lima then onto our next destination. Mexico for the month of December staying with a friend of ours from Adelaide we knew from way back. He has built a resort at Puerto Escondido on the pacific side of Mexico
http://www.sunsetpointresortmexico.com
We are looking forward to chilling out. But first we have a quick couple of nights in Mexico City.
It has been a very busy month of November we have seen and been informed our mind is full of information now, no more room.
Adios Peru and Cuba it has been fun.
tonyandsharon 