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Showing posts with label Machu Picchu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Machu Picchu. Show all posts

Friday, July 10, 2015

South America - Trienta y cuarenta - the tour of never say never! - the final

South America
29 March - 05 July 2015

It's a wrap
As has become standard for me when I've ended a trip I've taken to doing a last summary or a 'greatest hits' review whenever I managed to complete the final entry on the 'how, why, when and whatever else may have been alcohol related' blog series of my most recent escapades. Sticking with tradition and therefore adopting the same template that I've used in the past, see also;
I therefore bring you the close out of our South American experience which now continues within the new life of my blog, known by the name, Life in a Year Full of Saturdays. The South American tour was a while in the making, going from the original Europe-Morocco-South America adventure of 2010, there was still A LOT left unfinished and a lot left to see.

In previous tour there had always been one perspective, but now, and moving forward, there's going to be a whole lot more room for two. So lets commence!


South America - 'The Final'

Favourite place
All the usual questions here are going to be in two versions, Inga & Henry. So lets go.

Henry's favourite places

1. Buenos Aires - (Argentina) - It's probably not even fair to compare anymore, Buenos Aires is going to come out on top in any list that I put together. A home away from home that always feels special to me. It's not a stretch to say that this place has changed my life.


Buenos Aires - Argentina

2. El Chalten - Ruta 40 - Torres del Paine (Argentina / Chile) - This area is special. Vast, expansive, stunning scenery, it has an abundance of natural beauty that simply cannot be overstated. I often sit back and think of places like Mont Fitzroy, Torres del Paine and the surrounding areas, both desolate and engaging. Simply stunning.



El Calafate - Argentina

Mont FitzRoy - El Chalten - Argentina

Ruta 40 - Argentina


Torres del Paine - Chile

3.  Cartagena - (Colombia) - 'The queen of the Caribbean', old colonial architecture, cobble stone alleyways, terraces filled with bougainvillea. Warm, sultry evenings, the sounds of the Caribbean filling the night as you sit atop the city walls, drinking your favourite cocktail. There's not too much bad about that.



Cartagena - Colombia

Cartagena - Colombia

4. Havana - (Cuba) - The Malecon, old American muscle cars, cigars, rum and salsa. Havana is not just a place but a feel, and you definitely feel it when you're here.



Havana - Cuba

Havana - Cuba

5. Brazilian beach life - This is a tough one because there are so many places, from Rio de Janeiro, to Jericoacoara, to Paraty. The beach lifestyle, the culture and the mood just encapsulates you.



Rio de Janeiro - Brasil

Inga's favourite places


1. Rio de Janeiro - (Brasil) - Sun, sand, golden beaches, caipirinhas, fitness bunnies and the mighty Copacabana. On a beautiful sunny day there's no place quite like it.


Rio de Janeiro - Brasil

2. The beaches of Brasil - It's hard to pick out just one from a raft of potentials, from Paraty to Jericoacoara, Ilha Grande, Ipanema - the coastal lifestyle is a pure joy, and its different to Australia. There's much more of a vibe, much more of an orientation to beach lifestyle and culture that makes it unique and special.



Copacabana - Rio de Janeiro - Brasil



3. El Chalten - (Argentina) - The mountains surrounding this little town are beautiful, especially in those transition months. The smoking mountains of Mont Fitzroy are is rugged, spectacular and dramatic as any. To me, and I think to Inga, they are more impressive than those of Torres del Paine. It's a close run thing between the two, but if there had to be a winner then Mont Fitzroy wins, just.



 Torres del Paine - Chile
El Calafate - Argentina

4. Havana - (Cuba) - Havana Club, siete anos, the warm Caribbean sea, the music and the cigars. Again, this is a place that has a presence, you can feel it when you're here - its much more than a destination



Havana - Cuba

Havana - Cuba

5. Buenos Aires - San Telmo - (Argentina) - It was the first stop on our journey, the first part of Buenos Aires that Inga saw, and a place where I think I may have had a little influence over in terms of my own excitement and love for this part of the world.



Buenos Aires - Argentina


Most Surprising


1.  Elqui Domos - Pisco-Elqui - (Chile) - The valley itself is beautiful but you don't really come here for that, its the lack of humidity and 'dry air' that delivers such an incredibly rich and magnificent night sky that leaves you in awe. Along with that there's also https://milodge.com/en/#  - here  'astronomical domes' have been created on the hillside of the valley that allows you to lay in your bed and stare out into the universe. Inga and I spent a couple of nights here, laid out on the roof of our building, surrounded by the mysteries of the universe above our head. Definitely the most surprising stop.



Elqui Domos - Elqui Valley - Chile

Pisco-Elqui - Elqui Valley - Chile

Elqui Valley - Chile

Elqui Valley - Chile




The coolest place for a night out


1.   Buenos Aires - (Argentina) - There's an abundance of everything,places to eat, bars, things to do, etc. What makes it so special however is that this is not a state where Grandma's rule the roost, if you want to grab a meal at 2am then of course you can do it. The frustration I always encountered in Australia is that come 11pm on a Saturday you encounter the inevitable 'Oh sorry, kitchen is closed, but hey, there's a Macca's nearby". Seriously, protect your night economy by actually having an economy. BA has that covered.


2. Rio de Janeiro - (Brazil) - Lapa, Ipanema, Copacabana, the party keeps rolling on way after the sun has gone down. It won't take too long to find a place to get a drink, something to eat and party on until the early hours.


3. Havana - (Cuba) - Music, great vibes, fun people. What this place doesn't have in terms of the 'newest' or 'latest and greatest', it makes up for in passion, spirit and energy. There's always a party, just pick up a bottle of rum and let the party find you.


Best drinks 


Henry's favourites


1. Malbec - Argentina - Red wine is synonymous with Argentina, more so its the Malbec that is the red wine of choice. Robust tannins, an inky dark red colour, full bodied, it just pairs so well with meat (beef specifically), it's a match made in culinary heaven. The wines out of Mendoza are glorious and that just places a full stop on the need to benchmark any more than that.





2. Pina Colada - Malecon - Havana (Cuba) - Hotel Terral - Without question, the best pina colada I've had anywhere. Sweet, rich, cold, delicious. Every single time, as great as the last one, and can I add, not only on this occasion. I have been their subsequent to this occasion and they were just dynamite!


3.  Sakeirinha - Ilha Grande - (Brazil) - any of the beach front bars - This is your Brazilian-Japanese fusion style drink and it is glorious. It's a simple drink, lime pieces muddles with sugar, add ice and then your choice of sake until it floats. It's that simply. Unique, smooth, delicious and a great slant on the traditional caipirinha


4. Caipirinha - Copacabana - Rio de Janeiro - (Brazil) - there are so many beach bars and so many beach peddlers that you are almost forced to drink them. Literally like rocket fuel, they pack a mean punch, just lime, sugar and cachaca its all it takes to set you free.


5. Negroni - Tortoni's - Buenos Aires - (Argentina) - This drink feels like home. The Negroni is not native to Buenos Aires, although it is Italian and there are enough Italians in Buenos Aires for it to be an honorary city of that country. Tortoni Cafe is an institution in Buenos Aires, literally the most famous cafe in the city. Most people come in for ia cafe cortado and medias lunas, but out drink of choice is simple but delectable, gin, campari and vermouth rosso in equal parts, serve chilled with a twist of orange peel....yum!




Inga's favourites


1.  Negroni - Tortoni's - Buenos Aires - (Argentina) - There are drinks that just remind you of places, no matter where you are, that drink will take you back to that one spot, at that time and be in that moment.  No matter where we have Negroni's in future it will always be this place that she thinks of.


2.  Caipirinha - Copacabana - Rio de Janeiro - (Brazil) - This drink goes hand in hand with beach life and culture. I know how Inga feels about Rio and I know that the caipirinha is ubiquitous with the Carioca lifestyle.


3.  Havana rum 7 years - Havana (Cuba) - this drink is a real 'drinkers drink', which is probably why I didtn't get into it as much as Inga. I tread on the feminine side of alcohol while she takes the male side. Quite often in bars we take great pleasure in ordering drinks and watching the bartender hand them to us whilst we instantaneously swap them over in front of their eyes, always makes for a laugh.





4. Daiquiri - El Floridita - Havana (Cuba) - The daiquiri's here are mass produced and therefore you'd expect the quality to be average but somehow they're not. Not only that but when the music is playing, you have a cigar in one hand and a daiquiri in the other, everything feels pretty damn good.





5.  Malbec - Argentina - Again, a drink that typifies Argentina and this varietal is just Buenos Aires distilled in a drink for us.


Can you believe it moments?


1. Urban Rush - La Paz - (Bolivia) - When you're standing at the top of a 16 storey building, perpendicular to the wall, having just empty space in front of you and a burgeoning city like La Paz, well, your reality take a might shift. 








2. Machu Picchu - (Peru) - the first time we laid eyes on this majestic place it felt altogether unworldly. The sun was still on its way up, the clouds were still re-arranging themselves around the moment, but in the moment we found that break we very quickly recognised why this place has moved into the elite list of the new 7WorldWonders





3.  Salar de Uyuni - (Bolivia) - Speaking of unworldly, this place is exactly that. I wasn't quite sure why the tour operators wanted to be on the flats for dawn but when we got there it all made sense. With the sun rising and the moon setting, the large cracked plates of the salt flats spread out in all directions. The silence that held this view was just beauty on a completely different scale. 






4. Torres del Paine - (Chile) - The whole region around Torres del Paine is so incredibly beautiful. Each place unique in what it can offer, its diversity of vistas, both dramatic and glorious. A part of the world that still doesn't quite get the attention that it deserves.








5. Flying over Rio de Janeiro - (Brasil) - Witnessing the spectacular Rio from the air is a whole other experience. Not many people get to fly around Cristo, I've been lucky enough to have done it twice now, and when that helicopter moves behind the statue, around its outstretched arms, the whole glorious city is unfurled right in front of you, the beaches, the bay, Sugarloaf, seriously breathtaking - that's not an overstatement.







Best Accommodation


1. Pan Americano - Buenos Aires - (Argentina) - I've always wanted to stay here, so it was a hell of a way to celebrate my 40th birthday. Occupying pride of place on Avenida 9 de Julio, the views from our room across the heart of Buenos Aires was absolutely priceless. The hotel itself was very good but nothing can take away from having a sweet room with the right view to match.


2. Elqui Domos - Pisco-Elqui Valley - (Chile) - A fabulous location that allows you to take in full wonders of the universe that surrounds you. We didn't stay in the domes themselves but did have a platform above our apartment/building where we could lay out our mattresses and sleep under the stars. I've not slept under the stars too many times and certainly not in an environment where I can see the universe so clearly. 


3. Casa Canabal Hotel Boutique - Cartagena - (Colombia) - There's something Moroccan in terms of the architecture here, terrace on the rooftop, open courtyard in the centre of the building, not so surprising when you think about it. There's a long Spanish history here and I'm sure the Spanish brought with them Moorish elements in terms of architecture and design. The environment is of course perfect for these style of buildings and this hotel was exquisite.


Most random but still cool moments


1. Inga arriving at Ezeiza Airport - Buenos Aires - (Argentina) - On a trip that had many, many awesome moments, the very start, when Inga walked through the arrival doors was pretty darn cool. It has been 6 months since we had seen each other, and now, meeting again on the other side of the world after months of planning was the best

2. Out in the fields - La Paz (Bolivia) - we opted for a bus from Uyuni up to La Paz. Coming into the city we encountered a protest which blocked the main roads in, so our bus driver took to the potato fields in order to find a covert way into the city. Travelling across random farm land I recall stopping alongside a random farmer and the driver asking if there was anyway he knew of how we could get into La Paz. From every perspective I'd imagine the situation would have looked a little bizarre.


3. Joining a random cross-fit group - Buenos Aires (Argentina) - We were walking through Puerto Madero one evening and stumbled across a sizeable cross-fit group going through their paces. We stood a few metres away, essentially copying the moves and exercises that the group was going through, that was until the trainer asked us 'gringo's' to join in...so we did.

4.  200 yr old ice with your whiskey - Perito Moreno - El Calafate - (Argentina) - After climbing all over Perito Moreno our group stopped on the glacier and were treated to glasses of whiskey with ice carved right out of the glacier. The ice may not have been 200 yrs old...but...there's no-one to say that its not wither


5. Cigars, daquiries and bailando, El Floridita - Havana - (Cuba) - There we were, sitting in El Floridita, cigars in hand, daquiries on the table and the local band launches into Bailando. I'm not sure what it was but everything seemed to be right, everyone in the joint appeared to be in a great mood and at the end of the song the applause was totally unexpected - so much so that you could visibly see the look of amazement on the faces of the band.

Un-coolest moment


1.  Rio Galeao Tom Jobim airport - Rio de Janeiro - Brasil - Inga and I were just about to jump on a flight to Buenos Aires, and we were sitting in the departure lounge, it was there that I discovered that my credit card had been severely compromised. In the last week my card had been fraudulently utilised to the tune of $12,000! Oh yeah! It's a completely sickening feeling, even more so when in that exactly moment there's nothing that you can do to resolve the matter. I flew to Buenos Aires with what felt like a brick in my stomach. On the 'up' side, b
ecause there is an upside to the story, when I contacted my bank back in Australia they managed to work through the issue with me and ended up refunding all monies lost...PHEW

Top 5 Photos

1. Puerto Natales  - (Chile) - I'm sure there's been a lot of photos taken of these old posts in Puerto Natales. Inga took this shot and I just love the way it draws you out into the water and to the mountains beyond.


2. Torres del Paine - (Chile) - An extraordinarily beautiful natural environment, dramatic, imposing and beautiful. Again, a very difficult place to take a bad photo, this one is our favourite from a bunch of very good ones.



3. Salar de Uyuni - (Bolivia) - it's otherworldly. Standing out on the salt plains before sunrise was like nothing else I've experienced. It's the closest feeling I'll ever have to standing on another planet. Aside being bitterly cold, which the photo doesn't capture, it does capture the large plates of cracked salt sailing off into the distance and the beautiful colours of the morning sky with the moonlight being extraordinarily reflected off the plains.



4. Iguazu Falls - Iguazu - (Brasil / Argentina) - Powerful, energising & mesmerising, the falls are an incredible sight and not one photo does them justice. Still, there's something about rainbows and water that just works, right!?



5. View from Sugarloaf - Rio de Janeiro - (Brasil) - Sugarloaf has got to be one of the greatest vantage points in Rio. The way that the urban sprawl flows like water through the weakest points of the mountains is impressive. Standing up there, waiting for the lights of the city to flick on is an experience and this photos captures the state of transition from day to night.





Travel breakdown

Total number of flights

Henry: 22
Inga: 19

Total flying hours

Henry: 72
Inga: 68

Total time spent in airports - 'Enough to know that in Brasil there needs to be more access to caipirinhas to prevent people from losing their minds'


Total distance flown

Henry: 51,406 kms
Inga:  48,518 kms

Total number of bus rides - 12

Average number of cocktails per day - 7.2

And there we have it, the wrap of an almighty tour whose genesis really came in the instant when I realised that my wallet had disappeared back in La Paz in 2010. There was a lot left to do and so much that I missed that I knew I'd return, it just mattered on timing and a little bit of luck.

So where to know? Well, life had changed for me in the last few months, quite dramatically. I was about to move to Belgrade to start a new life. What I didn't know was coming was the amount of travel that we'd be undertaking in the next 3 years, it almost became ridiculous...but the experiences we were to have, well, there's no price you could ever place on those.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Machu Picchu - the Old Mountain


Machu Picchu (Peru)
15 May 2015


Machu Picchu was the capital to which the Incas escaped when Pizarro came rolling into their world during the year of 1532. Over time it become the ' Lost City of the Incas' as it only became known to us Westerners after Hiram Bingham received a few insightful directions from local farmers and stumbled across a site that had been retreating into the jungle for the better part of 400 years.

The 'Old Mountain' sits high in the Andes mountains, occupying a magnificent perch above the Urabamba valley. With the fall of the Incan empire this city (or estate) of magnificence covered itself in a magic cloak and hid in plain sight for some time until it was pulled out of the trenches.


To steal a line from the Lonely Planet guide, '...It's the most famous archaeological site on the continent, a must for all visitors to Peru. Like the Mona Lisa or the pyramids, it has been seared into our consciousness, though nothing can diminish the thrill of being here'. It's the reason that relatively lazy tourists will wake up at 3am in the morning and prepare themselves to watch the sun rise over this awe inspiring site. There's an inherent sense of wonder, reverence, incredulity. For a lot of people its a once in a lifetime experience and the pinnacle of their journey, not just to Peru or South America, but indeed anywhere.




Machu Picchu - Peru

In the same fashion both Inga and I were raised by our intrusive alarms at around 3am, giving us enough time to get ready, obtain our entry tickets and walk the 15-20 mins out of town to the park entrance. Walking along in pitch black we were assisted by the more prepared gringos who has brought flash lights or head lamps for the morning journey. As these beams of light bounced on the road both in front and behind us, we managed to be guiding relatively safely to the park entrance, where a relatively long queue had already formed prior to opening.





This immediate group was formed by either the most energetic, the most frugal or the most naïve. Generally it was for those that didn't want to put the either the $12USD one way or $24 USD return fare to the entrance gates of Machu Picchu. For me, I had not choice. I had a Latvian with me that was extremely energetic, frugal, a touch naïve and also looking for an opportunity to encompass defacto exercise into their sightseeing. This translated into a relatively fast paced and taxing climb from park entrance to gate entrance. A solid 50min stair climb at somewhere above 2000mtrs - no expresso needed this morning, this was more than enough of a wake up call. Never the less our ascent was impressive. Not impressive enough to have beaten the hoards that had taken the minivan option to get up, which essentially was our goal too, but impressive enough to have made it past most of the 4:30am hikers.


The gates to Machu Picchu open at 6:00am. From there it's a free-for-all.



 Machu Picchu - Peru





Machu Picchu - Peru



Machu Picchu - Peru

Tourists swarm. Unknowingly, unwittingly, unfathomably. Everyone aims to get the 'sunrise' photo, perhaps without knowing what 'that' photo should actually look like or where the prime vantage point for 'that' photo is.


Inga & I were of the same elk. Unclear and muddled. We somehow found a spot that provided a well recognised view and stood long enough for the clouds to clear enough to capture something impressive.


...and let me say, Machu Picchu is impressive. It's all sorts of majestic, ethereal & breath taking.


I've seen a lot of impressive places in my time and can say that Machu Picchu only ranks behind Angkor Wat in terms of impact and magnitude. The setting and the associated endeavour for humans of that time to have achieved what they had on this site is prodigious.


Inga and I spent a few hours walking around the site. Absorbing, taking photos, discovering. We then attempted to make our way to the start of the hike of Machu Picchu mountain, which somehow we bypassed and instead made the ascent to the Sun Gate. Impressive in its own right and a view that provides a sense of scale, but, not it was not the hike that we expected, and not the permit that we paid for. We eventually found the entrance to 'Montana'...and here's where my life took a serious turn.





Machu Picchu - Peru




Machu Picchu - Peru


Machu Picchu - Peru

The climb to the top of Machu Picchu mountain is recognised as being challenging. A steady 2.5hr-3hr round trip that when taken at a 'steady pace' will leave you relatively fatigued and craving a soak plus a cold beverage of your choice. There are also closing times for entrance to the trail - allowing for people to get safely up and off the top of the mountain by 2pm. Inga & I had arrived at the trail head at around 11:20am.


We attempted to sign-in for the walk at that time but the guard of all things 'montona' related was going by the book - 'No start times post 11:00am' - we argued of course, we advised that our levels of fitness were very good and that we'd be up and down before most of the people with a 20 min lead on us. This 'discussion' continued for sometime. Indeed I had given up on the idea and was walking away from the trail whilst Inga continued the barrage of assurances that 'we' could do this, and do it within the allowed time.



 Machu Picchu - Peru


Machu Picchu - Peru




Machu Picchu - Peru

By around 11:35am the guard was beaten into submission and we were given the green light. The gates to hell were thus made open.


Now when Inga and I hike we never cruise leisurely, we treat hikes, especially those that rise in elevation, like workouts. This hike was basically a straight climb of 621mtrs landing at the final summit of 3051mtrs. Of course when we launched we also had a point to proof, we attacked it like a damn Crossfit session.




Montana Machupicchu - holy hell, what a climb

I was wrecked!!!!!



This guy - this was the personification of my inner will - it was GONE


It was PUNISHING!!!!!

The backpack that I had on probably had 5-7kg in but it felt as though I was carrying 20kgs. We stormed those stairs like a 2 man battalion on a mission to oblivion. Coming on the back of the 50 min walk in the morning this 1hr 10 stair climb brutalised me. Inga being the little mountain goat that she is skipped away in the last 10-15 mins of the climb and I was left to deal with my exhaustion, stubbornness and jelly legs for the last push.


I have NEVER, EVER, felt that PUNISHED by any form of physical activity before. By the time I made it to metre 3051 my legs had a mind of their own, my shirt was soaked and I needed to be propped up by the 'Machu Picchu Mountain' sign. I was quite literally WRECKED. It's a feeling that I'd never encountered before or since. The view to Machu Picchu was only a secondary concern at this point - the permanent earthquake below my hips was the main thing I needed to contend with.




Machu Picchu - Peru



Machu Picchu - Peru



Machu Picchu - Peru


Machu Picchu - Peru





We were only at the summit for what felt like 15 mins before being told that we needed to make our way down, which we did.


Somewhere around 1:30pm we returned to the gatehouse and encountered the 'Gate-master'. Somewhat smugly we showed her the photos of us at the summit and it was with absolute pleasure that her reactions of disbelief supported what we already knew. We were both STUBBORN & AWESOME in equal parts!



Machu Picchu - Peru


Machu Picchu - Peru

Machu Picchu - Peru



For the rest of the afternoon we made our way through the labyrinth of alleyways, structures and amazing masonry. Inca architecture is a wonder in its own right and the manner by which they managed to design and incorporate the architecture so as to merge ever so seamlessly into their environment is a testament to their ingenuity and genius.


 Machu Picchu is a marvel - and forever will remain one of the highlights of this journey.