Friday, June 25, 2010

Scabies Getting Worse

Iguazu La Paz

After a new border crossing, the most ridiculous of all: not computerized, you do not look at our bags ... we arrive at La Paz. The city is built on an elevation of 800 meters, or the richest live down. Up on a plateau over 4,000 meters, lies the suburb of El Alto (800000 inh.) Completed the construction parpaigns apparent. Suddenly, the whole city is pink except the large buildings constructed at the bottom.
The city is filled with activity, with people everywhere and minibuses, and we're staying near the Cathedral San Francisco's tourist district.
We can get lost in the steps, and we climb up a watchtower from where one has a panoramic view over the city surrounded by snowy peaks.








We assume also a day Tiwanaku, on the plateau. This former capital of the Tiwanaku civilization, was looted, but we can still explore the ruins. This civilization before the Inca realm, and we think that its decline is due to a flood the plateau in the extension of Lake Titicaca.
Among others, we could see the door of the Sun, which makes us think of Tintin!







Back in La Paz, before taking different paths: Mathieu remains in Bolivia towards Potosi, while Thomas hand to Iguazu before returning to France.

Primer Melting Annealing Calculator



When we arrived in Cusco, we decide to go to Machu Picchu because it was accused of strikes, and we must go the day before.



We take the alternative path expensive to train (the line the world's most expensive per kilometer!): Departure from Cusco in a van toward Santa Maria. Ten minutes after departure, we hang another van, but we can leave without stopping until ... next collision. This time, we go right into the back of a pickup, and the driver has dropped a few notes before leaving. It will be noted later that the tires were smooth complement! A franchising
neck has more than 4000 meters, and arrive in Santa Maria, or you take a taxi to Santa Teresa.
beautiful landscapes observed a 4 on the back seat, before arriving in Santa Teresa, or there is another colectivo to Hydroelectric. This
road was completely destroyed by floods early this year, and there was not long ago we had to cross some passes with a zip!


The road was engulfed by the flood


Once arrived in Hydro, which is nothing but a hydroelectric power plant and station, we catch up with the railway that it runs for 2 hours to reach Aguas Calientes, the town of Machu Picchu.

The following day, up at dawn to climb the 1,700 steps at night which lead to the entrance of Machu Picchu. It is possible to climb to the summit of Wayna Picchu (the mountain behind the photo), but space are limited and that's why people come as soon as possible at the entrance. We arrived the first two!
After an hour of waiting, finally we enter the site, and even after seeing the pictures dozens of times, we remain amazed at the beauty of the site! We can explore it before the crowd and see the various temples (Temple of the Condor, the Temple of three windows), and the area of the observatory. There are also other areas, including that of farmers with crops on the terrace.
Historians still do not know really why Machu Picchu was built and deserted.







The temple to the three windows

The central

Terraces

Temple of the Condor

Tour

Inca Wall

Then we can finally go to the top of Wayna Picchu, from where it has an incredible view over Machu Picchu. Looks like he was laying on top of mountains!


From Wayna Picchu

Finally, after our picnic (the only restaurant Site obviously exorbitant practice ...) we descend to Aguas Calientes for a well deserved nap.


Place of Aguas Calientes

The next day we left along the railway, but you learn to Hydro that the strike is that day! So we start to walk back to Santa Teresa, before finding a taxi that brings us to destination. Here we find our driver to go and that brings us to Santa Maria. Fortunately, everyone is not on strike, yet the strikers blocking the road ...
There is a taxi to Santa Maria, who manages to get past the first block by taking back roads. We arrive at the pass, regularly stopped by removing branches and stones along the road, but the driver was not very serene. Indeed, the strikers have a habit of caillasser the buses daily to strike ...
We arrive around the second was blocked by rolling on the railway, but it remains blocked at third. Despite hours of negotiations, we can not pass, and therefore we expect the nightfall. Blockers do not give in and light fires, but we finally found a small path, narrower than the car, allowing us to leave.
Finally, we arrive in Cusco early evening.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Replica Iron Man Costume

Cusco Machu Picchu - Arequipa

Arrive in Cuzco at sunrise, and the first test: climbing the hills the city with our backpacks, has more than 3000 meters!
Cusco is the ancient Inca capital, what we see around the city: old doors, old walls ... But the Spaniards have also left their legacy, with many cathedrals.
We arrived a week before the feast of the Sun, a large celebration or Peruvian across the country come to meet. Suddenly, we were treated to many fashion shows each day (schools, universities, military), probably in anticipation of the big day.


Plaza de Armas

View from the terrace of the hostel

Defile




after a visit to Machu Picchu (section aside), we explored the valley of the Incas: many cities in and around Cusco, the Inca ruins of rich: Pisac and Ollantaytambo, which keeps the Inca city plan, which the temple has not been completely destroyed because it was not finished!






Pisac



Ollantaytambo



Finally, it was distant from the center of Cusco to the ruins of Tambomachay, Puka-Pukara and Sacsahuaman.



Tambomachay


Inca Walls has Sacsahuaman


We decide to leave before the feast of the Sun, the city is already becoming crowded with tourists. So we are in the direction of Bolivia and La Paz.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Bes Installatie Java Failed

Vallée des Incas - Canon de Colca

Depart from Iquique, Gaudelin always in the direction of Arequipa, while 3 buses a day and travel time to cross the border and multiple identity checks on the road.

In Arequipa, found Camille, who had crossed to San Pedro and we were ahead, and explores the center of town around the Place des Armes. Many cathedrals, marches, all dominated by snow-capped volcanoes over 5800 meters.











The cuy, local specialty, better known among us as guinea pigs


Taxis Arequipa


We then left all 4 for a day half of the hike in the Colca Canyon . For that, we had the chance to be good advice, especially we are not going through an agency. After 6 hours of bus, we arrived the first evening Cabanaconde , or it was very well greeted by the Catalans. It turns out that at that time there was a religious festival, and we could watch the fireworks at night!



The next day we finally share in the valley towards an oasis located at the bottom. On the way, we travel through magnificent scenery, and it passes through some small mountain villages. Not more than twenty families live there, supplied by mules, and living through the export of cactus fruit.
We finally arrived in the early after-noon at the oasis, or a hot water naturally flows. So we have to bathe before going to bed with the sun, since there is no electricity!












The next day, climb up rough Cabanaconde before a meal of steak deserves alpaca, and back to Arequipa.


With Camille (left) and Gaudelin (Right)





Finally, before leaving town, we visited the monastery, colorful. It is a city within a city, with its own streets and lived a dozen or religious. Even today, some is still used.



view of the convent, with Misti in the background







We start now both in the direction of Cuzco. Camille by climbing on top of Misti, while Gaudelin hand to La Paz.