This is my blog for my trip to Taiwan. I'll be posting my journal here from November 1 to November 17, 2017 so check back and join me on the trip ! - Bill Wilson
May 24, 2006
Cuzco - The city of the Incas
Hi All,
Wow its been a busy few days. After the city of Puno and tours around Lake
Titicaca in southern Peru, I took a bus from Puno to Cuzco, the capital of
Peru. The bus went across the Andes Mountains and included a tour stopping at
five locations along the way, all day from 7:30AM to 6:00PM. It was a great
tour, a couple sites included museums with artifacts from the ancient peoples
in the area along the Andes Mountains.
One site was the city of Rouchi, including an amazing ancient Inca city
including large circular rock corn storage buildings, residential homes and a
large temple, all built around 1400AD.
My place in Cuzco is in San Blas, the older part of Cuzco. Up on the hill above
the city. Its age is shown by the narrow streets, barely enough room for one
car to travel down the cobblestone surface and high walls. Its fun to see the
big tour buses navigating the road. I got a taxi from the bus depot after the
tour..all he could say about my location was : "Arriba..Arriba!!" (up there
up there). My hotel, a B&B is run by a French mountain guide. Great guy, great
stories about life in Cuzco. He indicates the same problems with permits and
officials as we have in California in trying to remodel an old home into a B&B.
Everything is on "Peru time"..sounds like "Baja time" back home.
This city is remarkable. Its Plaza de Armas, or main square is very large and
bordered by two huge cathedrals. Today there was a parade for all the local
school children, all in cute costumes, parading in the main square. This was
their big day.
The Bus tour I took yesterday was in the sacred valley east of Cuzco and
included several small cities. I got to see the morning market in Pisco, and
and amazing sun temple in the city of Ollantantambo.
Tomorrow I'm off to trek the Inca trail for 4 days, so won´t be back here till
the 28th...I´ll share some pictures from the trail then if time permits.
The people here are wonderful. Restaurants are great. Local food consists of
soups with potatoe and carrots, Alpaca meat broth. Alpaca meat, chicken and
vegetables.
Will see you after the Inca Trail. Will try to upload some more pictures
Take care,
Bill
May 21, 2006
Lake Titicaca - Visit the Local Peoples
I'm in Puno, gateway to exploring Lake Titicaca. This was a birth of cultures in
the area covering Boliva, Peru. Ancient peoples were here before the Incas came
in 1400. Its an interesting city on the lake.
But left Arequipa Saturday morning, amazing flight to the city of Juliaca, an
hour or so north of Puno. I had arranged a private tour of an ancient Inca
burial ground on the way down to Puno. It was great, greeted at the airport
with a sign BILL WILSON. Young man, Giespe, with full uniform on. I was wisked
off in private car, with private guide and driver. Sylvia my guide, cute
Pervian and native of Puno, and Driver. Sylvia took me over dirt road about 15
minutes to the site called Sillustani. It is an ancient burial site for the
Incas and Kolla peoples who predated the Incas. Incredible Inca carved stone
structures, that housed mummified bodies. The leaders selected the best of
their wives and friends for a sacrificial death..then mummified and buried as a
gift to the gods. Sillustani means running your finger nail thru a crack in the
stone, thats how good the masons were. It was amazing but only the begining of
my look at Inca carved rocks. After the tour I was dropped off at my B&B style
hotel.
The second phase of the tour was all day today. Private guide again, boat trip
out to see the Uros people who live on floating reed Island. yes they float.
About 2 meters thick of reeds layed out. There are about 24 island, 1000 people
and each island has large families. They live off tourist trade, except for 5
islands that are still private.
Took a ride on floating reed boat.
Then an hour boat ride out to Taquille island. A steep long hike about 500 m up,
aand at 12,000 feet altitude its a trip!! Took me about a day to get
acclimitized..light head ache.. but locals told me to drink Mate de coca..thats
right coca leaf tea. It does the trick
I was with 3 other tourist, from Alanta Georgia. We visited a private village,
only us 4, it was wonderful. Saw how they lived, ground quinoa grain, and had
lunch with them The Taquille people wear the native dress all the time.
Then boat ride back and tour of city and stop by market. Tomorrow I take all day
bus along the Andes to Cuzco. Will be there a few days before going on 4 day
Inca Trail trek. Talk to you again from Cuzco. I'll try to attach some pictures
again
Bill