South America 9.27.03 Colca Lodge & Puno, Peru
For the last week we have heard rumors that there is trouble in Bolivia. First I heard from a travel agency in Arequepa that our plan to take a bus from Puno, Peru to Bolivia might not be possible, demonstrations in Bolivia protesting fuel. Then on our bus trip to Colca Canyon from Arequipa we met a 60 year old lady from CA who had just completed a two year assignment with the Peace Corp in a small town outside of Sucre, Bolivia. She had more info, something about two leaders in the Lake Titicaca region who had their followers out demonstrating. She had to add to our fears by saying 7 people including a young girl had died in the demonstrations. She then added that it was her understanding that the poor people of Peru in the Puno region were also demonstrating. OK, ok. Then on the trip back from the Canyon we had a young Irishman who had just left Bolivia say, no way. The reason he had ended up in Arequipa was it was the only way he could get by bus from Bolivia to Peru. As you can read, lots and lots of info but really nothing definite.
When we got back to Arequipa we dumped dirty close in the middle of the room, I gather them up, took a left out of the hotel to a laundry and told them we needed these cloths tonight. They said to come back at 9 tonight and they would be ready. Getting clean cloths is always in our thoughts, 3 pair of socks and underwear only go so far in a week! Not to mention that our levis had gotten muddy on a self guided tour while at the Colca Lodge. I am sure if we had use the recommended guide by the hotel we would not have gotten muddy but I know we would not had the great time discovering the valley and a small village on our own.
Next back to the hotel and a quick shower. Then Nancy and I head out to the travel agency. We sat down with the agent who said, No buses to Bolivia. I then asked if we could take a boat from Puno to Isla de Sol, Bolivia. After several calls, No. At this point we became flexible, time for an alternate. Nancy and I had about 3 alternates and alternate number one is now in the works. After our time in Puno and Lake Titicaca we will take a bus back to Cusco and catch a plane from Cusco to La Paz, Bolivia. It is only the roads between Peru and La Paz that are blocked and can not be traveled.
I am writing from Puno. We had a new travel experience today. We took a first class bus from Arequipa to Puno. This is bus travel in style. It is a double decker bus, tinted windows, soft and reclining seats, crackers and soft drinks for a snack, two movies, and Nancy said the cleanest public restroom in our travels. We were traveling through the high desert. High in 13,000 to 15,000 feet with 20,000 feet peaks in the foreground. The bus was an hour and half late in leaving but it was a truly enjoyable trip. Even the end of the trip when two German skin heads with motorcycle jackets and shorts weighing in at about 250 sat in the public area of the bus which was located just in front of us. I was very impressed when one of the two men started singing along with Simon and Garfunkel song, The Sound of Silence. It was not what I expected to say the least.
Nancy agrees that I am starting to learn the ropes of travel. Where to spend an extra dollar or two to make a trip much easier. Such as having someone meet us at the bus station and take us directly to our hotel. When walking and needing directions, stop a teenage girl. She will most likely know some English and unlike a boy will not try to become your guide. Pay the extra 50 cents to have the taxi take you into the parking lot of the bus terminal and then pay another 50 cents to have a porter take your backpacks to the counter. The porter will put you at the front of the line. Etc., etc., etc.
A young lady from Paris that was on our Galapagos trip just walked in and said, hi. She is headed back to Cusco, no Bolivia. She then brought us up to date on the French and English government thoughts on travel to Bolivia, do not! Said 5 policemen were killed today in a bombing attach. I do not do bombs and bullets! We will meet for drinks in an hour. But in the mean time, Chile here we come. Rumor has it that these problems in Bolivia usually last about a month and therefore we will try Bolivia after Argentina. Be flexible!
Our two nights in Colca Lodge we spent 30 minutes in the hot pools. This was very relaxing but what was fantastic was looking up into the sky. I have never seen the milky way, what a sight! It is amazing. You are looking at what appears to almost a cloud stretching across the sky but there are bright stars shinning through this cloud and you know this is not possible. I was thrilled with the view and it was all I could talk to Nancy about while we were in the water both nights.Hope my next chapter is more interesting.
I will write about Muchu Picchu.
Sorry for the lack of puncuation but the keys do not match the quotation, semi colon, etc.
Tom South America
When we got back to Arequipa we dumped dirty close in the middle of the room, I gather them up, took a left out of the hotel to a laundry and told them we needed these cloths tonight. They said to come back at 9 tonight and they would be ready. Getting clean cloths is always in our thoughts, 3 pair of socks and underwear only go so far in a week! Not to mention that our levis had gotten muddy on a self guided tour while at the Colca Lodge. I am sure if we had use the recommended guide by the hotel we would not have gotten muddy but I know we would not had the great time discovering the valley and a small village on our own.
Next back to the hotel and a quick shower. Then Nancy and I head out to the travel agency. We sat down with the agent who said, No buses to Bolivia. I then asked if we could take a boat from Puno to Isla de Sol, Bolivia. After several calls, No. At this point we became flexible, time for an alternate. Nancy and I had about 3 alternates and alternate number one is now in the works. After our time in Puno and Lake Titicaca we will take a bus back to Cusco and catch a plane from Cusco to La Paz, Bolivia. It is only the roads between Peru and La Paz that are blocked and can not be traveled.
I am writing from Puno. We had a new travel experience today. We took a first class bus from Arequipa to Puno. This is bus travel in style. It is a double decker bus, tinted windows, soft and reclining seats, crackers and soft drinks for a snack, two movies, and Nancy said the cleanest public restroom in our travels. We were traveling through the high desert. High in 13,000 to 15,000 feet with 20,000 feet peaks in the foreground. The bus was an hour and half late in leaving but it was a truly enjoyable trip. Even the end of the trip when two German skin heads with motorcycle jackets and shorts weighing in at about 250 sat in the public area of the bus which was located just in front of us. I was very impressed when one of the two men started singing along with Simon and Garfunkel song, The Sound of Silence. It was not what I expected to say the least.
Nancy agrees that I am starting to learn the ropes of travel. Where to spend an extra dollar or two to make a trip much easier. Such as having someone meet us at the bus station and take us directly to our hotel. When walking and needing directions, stop a teenage girl. She will most likely know some English and unlike a boy will not try to become your guide. Pay the extra 50 cents to have the taxi take you into the parking lot of the bus terminal and then pay another 50 cents to have a porter take your backpacks to the counter. The porter will put you at the front of the line. Etc., etc., etc.
A young lady from Paris that was on our Galapagos trip just walked in and said, hi. She is headed back to Cusco, no Bolivia. She then brought us up to date on the French and English government thoughts on travel to Bolivia, do not! Said 5 policemen were killed today in a bombing attach. I do not do bombs and bullets! We will meet for drinks in an hour. But in the mean time, Chile here we come. Rumor has it that these problems in Bolivia usually last about a month and therefore we will try Bolivia after Argentina. Be flexible!
Our two nights in Colca Lodge we spent 30 minutes in the hot pools. This was very relaxing but what was fantastic was looking up into the sky. I have never seen the milky way, what a sight! It is amazing. You are looking at what appears to almost a cloud stretching across the sky but there are bright stars shinning through this cloud and you know this is not possible. I was thrilled with the view and it was all I could talk to Nancy about while we were in the water both nights.Hope my next chapter is more interesting.
I will write about Muchu Picchu.
Sorry for the lack of puncuation but the keys do not match the quotation, semi colon, etc.
Tom South America
posted by Rambling Tom at 5:58 PM
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