We just spent 2 wonderful days on Lake Titikaka, which separates Bolivia and Peru in the small towns of Copacabana, Bolivia and Puno, Peru.
We travelled to Copacabana from La Paz and after a day of looking around this small tourist spot we took a boat trip the next day to the Isle of Sol. This is a historic destination for the people of South America as this is stated as where the Inca´s originated from before movingto Cusco. We took a 11k walk from the North to the South of the Island and the scenery was again magnificent. The walk also served as a good warm up for the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu, which we start the day after tomorrow.
After a great day on the island we travelled the next day the short trip across the border into Peru and into Puno.
Puno has a beautiful central plazza and is also famous as the Urso people live on ´floating islands´made from reeds. We visited the islands and spent time with the people, who welcomed us into their homes and shared with us their customs and how they make the islands.
We´re now in Cusco - the final city of tour with Dragoman - where we will start and finish the Inca trail.
We are both looking forward to the Trek and Machu Pichu very much and at this moment are both feel in great shape for the 3-4 days of trekking.
Saturday 28 March 2009
Saturday 21 March 2009
Potosi, Bolivia
We visited the mines in the mining town of Potosi in Bolivia today and met and talked to a small number of the 2000 miners still working in these fascinating mines.
Potosi is stated to be ovr 4000m above sea level and you can certainly feel the difference in breathing at this altitude. It was once one of the richest cities in South America as it was the center for silver mining for the Spanish.
The mines today have very little silver left but has high deposits of zinc and tin.
We entered the mines today in a small group with a fantastic guide who introduced us to several miners working there today. They work for very long periods i.e. over 30 hours in one shift and due to the conditions within the mine they have an amazing diet of coca leaves, 96 percent alcohol and cinnamon flavoured cigarettes to ensure their energy levels remain high and they do not fall asleep.
We presented gifts to the miners and chatted a little through a translator - Tennille even got a ride on one of their trains going back into the mine.
It was another amazing experience during our time in Bolivia and one that really brought home to us again how amazingly lucky we both are.
Potosi is stated to be ovr 4000m above sea level and you can certainly feel the difference in breathing at this altitude. It was once one of the richest cities in South America as it was the center for silver mining for the Spanish.
The mines today have very little silver left but has high deposits of zinc and tin.
We entered the mines today in a small group with a fantastic guide who introduced us to several miners working there today. They work for very long periods i.e. over 30 hours in one shift and due to the conditions within the mine they have an amazing diet of coca leaves, 96 percent alcohol and cinnamon flavoured cigarettes to ensure their energy levels remain high and they do not fall asleep.
We presented gifts to the miners and chatted a little through a translator - Tennille even got a ride on one of their trains going back into the mine.
It was another amazing experience during our time in Bolivia and one that really brought home to us again how amazingly lucky we both are.
Wednesday 18 March 2009
Bolivia
We arrived in Bolivia over the weekend and we have been blown away by how beautiful this country and its people are.
The border crossing from Argentina was largely uneventful although the amount of activity at the border with Bolivian's carrying large quantities of goods back across the border literally on their backs. It was quite amazing to see.
We stayed for 2 night in the town of Topiza in a great hotel and went on a triathlon tour for the free day we had there. We are so glad we did - the morning was spent in the Northern and Southern parts of the town as we explored the magnificent red rock formations that surround Topiza. After a great local lunch of tomales we then took the jeeps to 3800m and rode mountain bikes downhill for about an hour on some crazily winding roads - it was a great experience. We then took a 2 hour ride on horses through the canyons as dusk came in.
It's pretty cold here during the evenings due to the high altitude and the change from the heat of the day can come upon you pretty quickly. Neither of us have suffered much from altitude sickness although we have been drinking litres of water every day.
We travlelled from Topiza to Uyuni today through some amazing mountains and desert plains - we even stopped to help dig a truck out of a sandy river crossing and all felt extremely proud at being able to do so.
The people in Bolivia are much like Argentina and Brazil - really friendly and in Bolivia the locals still wear traditional dress every day - the woman wearing fantastic colours and bowler hats that are really cute.
We are here for 2 nights before travelling to Postina and then La Paz - we visit the salt flats tomorrow which will be a major highlight of the trip.
Bolivia is a beautiful country with amazing landscapes - we hope the photos do it justice.
p.s. photos are a bit hard to download at the Internet shops and now that we have reached almost 800 we may have to wait until back in NY or Europe before posting the best ones.
The border crossing from Argentina was largely uneventful although the amount of activity at the border with Bolivian's carrying large quantities of goods back across the border literally on their backs. It was quite amazing to see.
We stayed for 2 night in the town of Topiza in a great hotel and went on a triathlon tour for the free day we had there. We are so glad we did - the morning was spent in the Northern and Southern parts of the town as we explored the magnificent red rock formations that surround Topiza. After a great local lunch of tomales we then took the jeeps to 3800m and rode mountain bikes downhill for about an hour on some crazily winding roads - it was a great experience. We then took a 2 hour ride on horses through the canyons as dusk came in.
It's pretty cold here during the evenings due to the high altitude and the change from the heat of the day can come upon you pretty quickly. Neither of us have suffered much from altitude sickness although we have been drinking litres of water every day.
We travlelled from Topiza to Uyuni today through some amazing mountains and desert plains - we even stopped to help dig a truck out of a sandy river crossing and all felt extremely proud at being able to do so.
The people in Bolivia are much like Argentina and Brazil - really friendly and in Bolivia the locals still wear traditional dress every day - the woman wearing fantastic colours and bowler hats that are really cute.
We are here for 2 nights before travelling to Postina and then La Paz - we visit the salt flats tomorrow which will be a major highlight of the trip.
Bolivia is a beautiful country with amazing landscapes - we hope the photos do it justice.
p.s. photos are a bit hard to download at the Internet shops and now that we have reached almost 800 we may have to wait until back in NY or Europe before posting the best ones.
Saturday 14 March 2009
Salta Rafting
We had an awesome time white water rafting and flying down zip lines in the mountains near Salta in NW Argentina.
We rode the zip lines on Thursday night and spent Friday the 13th on the rapids. They were grade 3 so the guide had to spin us around a few times but everyone had lots of fun and the views were fantastic.
The camp site was infested with mosquitos though so we left early and are now in Salta city.
We´ll cross the border into Bolivia tomorrow, which everyone is looking forward to as we head toward the Salt Plains...
We rode the zip lines on Thursday night and spent Friday the 13th on the rapids. They were grade 3 so the guide had to spin us around a few times but everyone had lots of fun and the views were fantastic.
The camp site was infested with mosquitos though so we left early and are now in Salta city.
We´ll cross the border into Bolivia tomorrow, which everyone is looking forward to as we head toward the Salt Plains...
Friday 13 March 2009
Iguazu Falls
We arrived in Salta yesterday after spending 2 wonderful days at Iguazu Falls.
Iguazu sit on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay and the water falls rival Victoria Falls in Africa as the worlds largest. The power and force of nature here is breathtaking and all photos are hard pushed to do justice.
We spent the first day on the Brazilian side where we took a helicopter ride above the falls before walking the length of the nature park overlooking the falls. However, the panoramic views from the Argentian side were spectacular and we spent day 2 walking the length of their naturist park with the center piece if the devils throat lookout point. We also took a raft trip that takes you into the falls themselves which was excilerating.
We have bush camped for 2 days since then with no real facilities and we are now in Salta rafting and canopying riding.
Iguazu sit on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay and the water falls rival Victoria Falls in Africa as the worlds largest. The power and force of nature here is breathtaking and all photos are hard pushed to do justice.
We spent the first day on the Brazilian side where we took a helicopter ride above the falls before walking the length of the nature park overlooking the falls. However, the panoramic views from the Argentian side were spectacular and we spent day 2 walking the length of their naturist park with the center piece if the devils throat lookout point. We also took a raft trip that takes you into the falls themselves which was excilerating.
We have bush camped for 2 days since then with no real facilities and we are now in Salta rafting and canopying riding.
Thursday 5 March 2009
Pantanal
We have just finished a superb 3 day trip to the Southern Pantanal that brought us much closer to a variety of hawks, storks, camen and the beautiful ocelot - now nicknamed barney
The 3 days were action packed with a boat trip on arrival, horse riding, canoeing, night safari and a day safari. The Pantanal Wetlands are home to a magnificent array of birds as well as jaguars, ocelot and caiman - a member of the croc family
The boat trip also enabled us to fish for piranha, which was great fun
The horse riding was cool with a close up visit from an ant eater and the canoeing allowed us to get eye to eye with a caiman - tennille being closer at the front of the canoe
The night safari was hot and humid however we were lucky to spot a young ocelot - small cat - in a tree that made the night thoroughly worthwhile
The food at faz San francisco was fantastic and I filled up on the beef
We are now in Bonito for 3 days before we head to the falls
We cycled 14k today and swam with fish - more snorkelling tommorrow
Both having the best time!!
The 3 days were action packed with a boat trip on arrival, horse riding, canoeing, night safari and a day safari. The Pantanal Wetlands are home to a magnificent array of birds as well as jaguars, ocelot and caiman - a member of the croc family
The boat trip also enabled us to fish for piranha, which was great fun
The horse riding was cool with a close up visit from an ant eater and the canoeing allowed us to get eye to eye with a caiman - tennille being closer at the front of the canoe
The night safari was hot and humid however we were lucky to spot a young ocelot - small cat - in a tree that made the night thoroughly worthwhile
The food at faz San francisco was fantastic and I filled up on the beef
We are now in Bonito for 3 days before we head to the falls
We cycled 14k today and swam with fish - more snorkelling tommorrow
Both having the best time!!
Monday 2 March 2009
Parity and Going into the Pantelan
Wheels are rolling on our Dragoman tour and we´ve already enjoyed a great boat trip around the islands off Parity before a couple of long drives as we enter the Pantelan area in Southern Brazil.
There are 20 people on our trip plus our 2 guides and everyone has been really nice so far - and you pretty much have to get on with things together as there is plenty to do when we make camp, cook, etc. and also lots of spare time when you make long drive days getting from one place to another.
We took a great boat trip around the islands off Parity, which is just south of Rio and this allowed us to chill out after our time in Rio.
A couple of long drive days have followed as well as camp nights as we entered the Pantenal area of Brazil.
We meet a guide today who will take us on day and night safari´s - looking forward to the wildlife and pics.
There are 20 people on our trip plus our 2 guides and everyone has been really nice so far - and you pretty much have to get on with things together as there is plenty to do when we make camp, cook, etc. and also lots of spare time when you make long drive days getting from one place to another.
We took a great boat trip around the islands off Parity, which is just south of Rio and this allowed us to chill out after our time in Rio.
A couple of long drive days have followed as well as camp nights as we entered the Pantenal area of Brazil.
We meet a guide today who will take us on day and night safari´s - looking forward to the wildlife and pics.
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