Nazca Lines

Our final destination in the land of Peru was the city of Nazca and a trip to the Nazca Lines. The lines were created by a group of Pre-Incan people who lived in this area of Peru. Very little is known about the people and about the lines. The "Lines" are designs created by these people that are only able to be seen by plane. So we took a little 40 minute flight in a tiny 5 seater plane to see them.
Some interesting facts about the lines are: since they were created in a desert (one of the driest in the world) the lines have been incredibly preserved; some of the creatures the pictures are of would have been impossible for the ancient peoples to have actually seen, i.e. a whale, martian, shark, monkey, etc., which intrigues scientists as to how they were created and why.

Can you spot the following pictures in the photos below? Spider, Monkey, Hummingbird, and a Martian?
These were our clearest photos. I happened to become a little airsick from the whole experience (40 minutes in a tiny plane rotating from side to side so that each window on the plane could see), so Jesse was our official photographer. After the flight, we visited the small museum in town dedicated to this Pre-Incan civilization and realized that not much is known about this culture. More research is needed to really explain why and how the people created such enormous (many over 200 meters long) pictures in the sand.

Arequipa and Colca Canyon

After Lake Titicaca, we descended down a bit from the altitude to the city of Arequipa and the nearby Colca Canyon. We were interested in the Colca Canyon especially because it is one of the deepest canyons in the world and home to Andean condors, which depending on which source you use, is either the largest or second largest flying bird in the world.
Above, a view of part of the canyon where people have lived since Pre-Inca times. Below, Sara, sticking her head out of our tour van.
We were very lucky that day, because not only were the condors out, but they were out in full force. We got to see full grown adults and some juveniles spread their wings.
The Canyon had some very interesting flora, including some beautiful flowers. Jesse, being the photographer that he is, took the picture below with the butterfly.
The three girls on the trip, Sara, myself and Amy, with the beautiful backdrop of the canyon.
Downtown Arequipa, home to the Incan child sacrifice mummy Juanita (pictures weren't allowed, but you can Google it for pictures, pretty amazing stuff), beautiful white architecture, a convent, and some awesome restaurants. We left Arequipa a little bit early to get to Nazca (post to follow)but felt that if we returned, there was definitely more things to do in Peru's second largest city.

LakeTiticaca and the Uros Islands and Taquile Island

After the trek, we headed on an overnight bus ride to Puno, which is on the coast of Lake Titicaca, which is the largest navigable lake in the world which also constitutes the border between Peru and Bolivia. We stuck to the Peruvian side and took a day tour to the Uros Islands and Taquile Island which are out in the lake.
The Uros Islands are actually not really islands, but floating islands made of reeds that grow in the lake. The Uros people started making these islands before the Inca empire started. The islands are anchored down to prevent movement and the people spend their whole lives on the island only going to the mainland to trade for goods they can't get on the islands.
Everything the people use for their day to day living come from the reeds, they even eat part of the reeds (we tried them, it tasted like chewy water). To earn extra money, the indigenous people have started making crafts to sell to tourists. The people certainly know how to make as much money as they can in the tourist industry as shown below with Sara dressed in the traditional dress.
We were able to walk around the island, see the goods that were for sale, and see a small demonstration on how the island is built.
The next place we went to on our island tour is Taquile Island, which is an actual island in the Lake. Here a different group of people who speak Quechua (the same language as the Incans) life. The island was actually quite hilly and we took a quick hike across the island, saw an indigenous dance, which Jesse was included in, ate some lunch, and enjoyed the scenery.
While the tour we took was very touristy, some might saw exploitative, we did enjoy seeing a wonderfully different culture set in the Andes Mountains.

Machu Picchu

On day four of the hike, we woke up to rain pitter-pattering on the tent. It was a bit disappointing, but we got ourselves up and ready to go for the day. We still had a few hours to hike before we got the Machu Picchu. We hiked through the rain for two hours before we got to the Sun Gate. The Sun Gate is the first place where you can see Machu Picchu from the trail. When we arrived, we were surrounded by clouds... however... after a few minutes, the clouds separated and we were able to see.
Here is some information about Machu Picchu. The site was basically unknown to the world before 1911 when it was discovered by Hiram Bingham. Bingham was looking for the Lost City of the Inca's, and although this wasn't what he was looking for, he did find something incredible. The words Machu Picchu mean "Old Peak" in Quechua, is actually the name of the mountain behind the site. It is thought to have been built around 1450, during the height of the Incan Empire. It was built as a religious, sacred site, therefore, commoners did not know that it existed. There are, of course, many different theories about what the site was used for, but most scholars agree with it being a religious place.

Our guide filled us in on many of the theories and information as well. One of those supports the sacred theory in that the Spanish conquistadores never found Machu Picchu. They traveled all over Peru, conquered the Inca Empire, found most sites and either destroyed them or turned them in Catholic cathedrals, but they never found Machu Picchu nor many of the other sites along the trail. Another idea is that the site was used to keep the "Virgens of the Sun", or young maidens who were destined for life in the religious aspect of society pure from the temptations of daily life.
The two pictures above show some of the landscape around the site. Instead of a grounds crew or lawnmowers, Machu Picchu is home to around 30 llamas who keep the grass around the area neat and trim. It also includes a lot of terracing, which most of these would not have been for farming but for medicinal herbs.
Above, here we are in what was assumed to be the leader's bedroom. It has an attached bathroom behind us. Below, another shot with llamas, because I love them.

The valley.

Here we are, with the famous, postcard picture. Proof, right here, that we made it.
After the hike was done, looking back, it was the most strenuous, arduous, fulfilling, and worthwhile experience I've had. One thing that helped to make it so worthwhile is that I got to experience it with my father and Jess. It was an adventure of a lifetime, and even though 200+ people start the trek every day, we accomplished something great here, and we did it with some outstanding individuals, guides, and porters.

Inca Trail- Day 3

Day three was supposed to be the day of amazing views.. however... we got rain. I should preface by saying we didn't get rain the whole day, we had a few morning hours shower free to see some sites, but then the rain started and lasted long enough to ruin most of the "spectacular" views we were supposed to see. Here are a few pictures from day 3 before the rain set in.

An Incan site along the path.

Can you find Dad in the picture below?Jesse, striking a pose in front of the mountain scenery.

Dad and Sara

Another Incan site along the path.

There were lots of interesting flora along the way, so here's a picture of one of them.

Inca Trail- Day 2

Day 2, the challenging day. The course for the day includes a five hour, 1200m (almost 4000ft) climb to Dead Woman's Pass at 4200m (almost 14,000ft). After that incline, there's a roughly two hour 600m descent to our camp for the second night. This incline was probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Reaching the pass was an exhilarating experience that I've never felt. As I'm writing, I realize that I am at a loss for words to describe, so I'll let some pictures tell the tale.
This picture of Dad and I was taken about 1 hour into the incline.
Snow-capped mountain off in the distance.
LLlllaaaammmmaaaassss!!! Seen in their natural habitat.
A deer we saw about one hour from the top of the pass.
A view of where we came from... way down there!!
Waterfall along the way. There were a few others, but they didn't show up very well on the camera.
Dad and Sara at the top of Dead Woman's Pass; they are waving to Jesse and I as we come up.
Another view of where we came from. It is way down in the valley.
Our group at the pass. We made it!! Below, the post stating where we are and the altitude.
This is a shot of our campsite, right before the clouds moved it. The video below shows how quickly the weather changes in the Andes.

Inca Trail- Day 1

For over a year, Jesse and I have been planning to travel to Peru and hike the Inca Trail. Especially once we got our jobs in Paraguay, it was decided- we are doing it! We got together with some teachers from here, and after discussing it with Dad, he came along too.

We boarded a bus in Cusco and drove for over four hours to get to kilometer 82, which is where the trail begins. I was a little nervous about embarking on such a long hike, because frankly, I've never really hiked before. Looking back, it was one of the best experiences I've ever had.
Our group wasn't very large, just 9 hikers, plus our two guides. We hiked with a couple on their honeymoon from London, and two other Americans who were studying abroad in Buenas Aires.
We started around 10:30 on Friday morning.

Since I have never really been around mountains, I was constantly amazed by the view. For me, hiking along the path and seeing such amazing scenery was almost inspirational. On the right of the picture below, you can see another path, the commercial path, that follows the river to get to Machu Picchu.
Day 1 is called the Easy day. However for me, it wasn't all that easy! There were quite a few uphills and we climbed about 400m to our camp. Along the way, we stopped to view a few Inca sites along the way.
The sites along the way were Inca villages, or stopping points for messengers when they traveled between towns, especially between Machu Picchu and Cusco.
As we hiked, we stopped for lunch. I don't have the words to express our shock and amazement over the quality of our meals. The trail uses porters who carry our tents, food, and their own personal objects. Porters run ahead and have everything set up for us, including a lunch tent, complete with table and chairs, which they disassemble and reassemble for dinner at the campsite.
Jesse, me, and Dad, at one of the fantastic views. We ended the day at the campsite Wayllabamba, where the porters played soccer and we relaxed in the tents.