This past Wednesday, mom and I caught the bus down into Urubamba. I paid the driver a little extra to drop us off right in front of the Llama Pack Hostel. When we got there, there was only one American staying there named Matt. We talked for a bit, and then I saw Coqui and his son Borja in the backyard so I went to go say "hi" to them. We were happy to see one another and reconnect, and I told him all about my amazing time in Huaraz. After moving our stuff into a room, we went downtown to grab some lunch at Kaia Restaurant. We had a good meal and were served by a nice, but very forgetful hippy waiter. Afterwards we went to the Urubamba market and picked up some food and fruits to eat for dinner and dessert.
Thursday, we went to the town of Pisac to visit the ruins. We got there around noon and began the long, 2 and half hour hike up through the incredible archeological sight that seemed to go on and on. In the entrance, there was a man making a beautiful sound on a traditional Peruvian wooden flute, so we decided to tip him a bit. The walk was a bit strenuous for mom, who was still getting used to the altitude, but the area was astounding. It seemed to go on and on, with many different parts to it. Towards the end, it started to get dark, cloudy, and windy, and we almost turned back, but we decided to soldier on through and arrived at the top of the ruins. Right about then, it started to rain so we took a taxi ride back down into the town. In town, we grabbed some good lunch at Ulrike's Cafe, and encountered a German man with his cheeks stuffed like a squirrels with coca leaves. After eating we went to the Thursday market in Pisac and picked up a few gifts and souvenirs.
On Friday we went to Ollantaytambo. First, we checked out the archeological ruins that I had never been inside before (due to their cost), and walked around them for a while. They were actually quite cool up close and I was glad that I had bought my boleto turistico. After spending an hour or two there, we got lunch at La Esquina. The service was a bit slow, as usual, but the food was great, and after our meal the owner, Ryder, gave us complementary cookies. Since it was still early by the time we finished, we decided to hike up the other ruins which I had been to before. It was amazing how easy that hike felt the second time, after being well acclimatized. Finally, we checked out the Cocao Museum in Ollantaytambo. We got a free tour with free samples, learned a lot about chocolate, and decided to have some chocolate fondue as well while we were there (because we're on vacation, after all). Lastly, we went to a local chicheria I had been to before there and picked up some chicha amerilla. Mom was very surprised at the homeyness of the chicheria, with little cuy (guinea pigs) running around on the dirt floor and all, but the chicha itself was top notch.
Today, we woke up early, around 6:30, and headed up to an old Inca experimental agricultural sight called Moray. It was a very neat place, terraced in concentric circles dug into the ground. Apparently they were trying the different effects of temperature, wind, and sun at each level to grow different types of crops that would otherwise not grow in that climate. The sight itself is small, but amazing, and you can really feel a temperature difference as you walk down into the circles. Afterwards, we had our hired taxi driver, Feliciano, take us to the Salineras which were nearby. The Salineras are basically pre-Inca salt harvesting pools which are still used to this day, and whose stark whiteness really stands out among the surrounding landscape. We walked along the salty pools, all the way back down into Urubamba, which took about 45 minutes. From there, we caught a combi back to the center of Urubamba and got some fruit juice smoothies at the market.
Later, around 2 P.M., we joined in on a hike to go see the llamas with Coqui and two other American girls. It was neat because my mom had not seen them yet, and there was also a newborn baby llama there for us two see. We hiked up a little bit up the hill where the future llama park will be, and had a little lunch that Coqui had prepared for us beforehand. We talked about the benefits of llamas, and then hiked back down with Coqui's assitant, Sergio. On the way back to the Llama Pack, it started to rain but only very lightly. Then, the sun broke through the clouds and we got an amazing glimpse at a full on double-rainbow! You don't see something like that everyday.
Tomorrow, we plan on going to Chinchero to check out the archeological sight there and to also buy some stuff at the Sunday market. Monday we head to Santa Teresa, maybe check out a hot springs there, and then walk to Agua Calientes. Tuesday we are going to see Machu Picchu! I am very excited, because it is the must see destination in Peru, and I think it will really wrap my (our) journey up. Talk to y'all on the flip side, Chao!
Thursday, we went to the town of Pisac to visit the ruins. We got there around noon and began the long, 2 and half hour hike up through the incredible archeological sight that seemed to go on and on. In the entrance, there was a man making a beautiful sound on a traditional Peruvian wooden flute, so we decided to tip him a bit. The walk was a bit strenuous for mom, who was still getting used to the altitude, but the area was astounding. It seemed to go on and on, with many different parts to it. Towards the end, it started to get dark, cloudy, and windy, and we almost turned back, but we decided to soldier on through and arrived at the top of the ruins. Right about then, it started to rain so we took a taxi ride back down into the town. In town, we grabbed some good lunch at Ulrike's Cafe, and encountered a German man with his cheeks stuffed like a squirrels with coca leaves. After eating we went to the Thursday market in Pisac and picked up a few gifts and souvenirs.
On Friday we went to Ollantaytambo. First, we checked out the archeological ruins that I had never been inside before (due to their cost), and walked around them for a while. They were actually quite cool up close and I was glad that I had bought my boleto turistico. After spending an hour or two there, we got lunch at La Esquina. The service was a bit slow, as usual, but the food was great, and after our meal the owner, Ryder, gave us complementary cookies. Since it was still early by the time we finished, we decided to hike up the other ruins which I had been to before. It was amazing how easy that hike felt the second time, after being well acclimatized. Finally, we checked out the Cocao Museum in Ollantaytambo. We got a free tour with free samples, learned a lot about chocolate, and decided to have some chocolate fondue as well while we were there (because we're on vacation, after all). Lastly, we went to a local chicheria I had been to before there and picked up some chicha amerilla. Mom was very surprised at the homeyness of the chicheria, with little cuy (guinea pigs) running around on the dirt floor and all, but the chicha itself was top notch.
Today, we woke up early, around 6:30, and headed up to an old Inca experimental agricultural sight called Moray. It was a very neat place, terraced in concentric circles dug into the ground. Apparently they were trying the different effects of temperature, wind, and sun at each level to grow different types of crops that would otherwise not grow in that climate. The sight itself is small, but amazing, and you can really feel a temperature difference as you walk down into the circles. Afterwards, we had our hired taxi driver, Feliciano, take us to the Salineras which were nearby. The Salineras are basically pre-Inca salt harvesting pools which are still used to this day, and whose stark whiteness really stands out among the surrounding landscape. We walked along the salty pools, all the way back down into Urubamba, which took about 45 minutes. From there, we caught a combi back to the center of Urubamba and got some fruit juice smoothies at the market.
Later, around 2 P.M., we joined in on a hike to go see the llamas with Coqui and two other American girls. It was neat because my mom had not seen them yet, and there was also a newborn baby llama there for us two see. We hiked up a little bit up the hill where the future llama park will be, and had a little lunch that Coqui had prepared for us beforehand. We talked about the benefits of llamas, and then hiked back down with Coqui's assitant, Sergio. On the way back to the Llama Pack, it started to rain but only very lightly. Then, the sun broke through the clouds and we got an amazing glimpse at a full on double-rainbow! You don't see something like that everyday.
Tomorrow, we plan on going to Chinchero to check out the archeological sight there and to also buy some stuff at the Sunday market. Monday we head to Santa Teresa, maybe check out a hot springs there, and then walk to Agua Calientes. Tuesday we are going to see Machu Picchu! I am very excited, because it is the must see destination in Peru, and I think it will really wrap my (our) journey up. Talk to y'all on the flip side, Chao!
Hi Jamil, Hi Dena---sorry I can't join you---are you able to visit Amir or me or both on your return--Amir is in Town all this month when do you return and where do you land?
ReplyDeleteKelley
Hey Uncle Kelley, were sorry you can't be here with us! Alas, we are both returning to the States this week. Dena will arrive on the 10th of October and will be landing in Indianapolis. I myself will be landing in Chicago the night of October 12th, and then taking the bus down to Indy. I am not sure about my mom but my schedule is practically free of any commitments and I would love to make it out to NY and visit you both if possible. I will give you a call when I get back to the homeland and perhaps we can work something out. -Love, Jamil & Dena
DeleteSo the great journey comes to a close and another begins! Gimme a call when you get back and we'll set something up--I know Amir will be in the city until November 1-2--then he's off to Montreal and then Hawaii (Shangri-la---literally!)
ReplyDeleteVery true. Awesome, will do! That uncle of mine is always on the move.
Delete