Week 35, Part 1. Ancient Cultures

So rains started and had to leave mountains, but before I could leave Huaraz, I needed to visit Chavin: ruins of old civilization that existed long before Incas and spread its influence all over Peru, but disappeared few centuries before Inca's invasion.
This week proved to be very educational: I managed to visit another center of another pre-Inca culture the next day, but in a completely different place

Week 35, Part 2. La Costa Peruana

After a month in Huaraz I finally made my way to the coast. I did not want to go: I would prefer to cross the border through mountains as it is less touristy. But there were 2 reasns why I should go
1. There are 3 parts of Peru: la selva, la sierra y la costa, all very distinct with different people living there. Needed to see all of them.
2. Liza, Russian girl I met in Huaraz was about to leave Mancora for Ecuador.

А Перу Танцует Кумбию

Я, наконец, выбралась из Перу. После Боливии оно мне очень не нравилось. Первые 6 недель. Из Уараза я бы не уехала, если бы не погода... Теперь у меня (как то обычно бывает) ломка: я хочу обратно, в горы, к индейцам и детям, которые думают, что я мужик.
С Перу у меня сложились сложные отношения: мне так не понравился юг, что я хотела быстро проскочить север и бежать в Эквадор. Север был прекрасен-чудесен, заберите меня обратно.
Перу, как и Боливия, страна индейцев. Жизнь индейцев мало чем изменилась со времен Инков: в рацион добавился рис (который везде!) и в одежду элементы испанского костюма. Они все также едят куев (морских свинок - они, кстати, пришли к нам отсюда), похлебки из овощей и киноа и картофель, живут колхозами, перевозят грузы на животных через горы. Правда, теперь на ослах и мулах, а не на ламах.

Sad News

Today is 8 months since I left UK. That is how my shoes looked on my last day in Huaraz. I left them there hoping to come back.

Week 34, Part 2. Balconies Of Chacas

After coming back from the trek I headed to Chacas, where, I was told, Italian community lives.

Week 33-34. Into The Wild

I think I lost count of weeks... oh well.

Week 32. Vallunaraju

What makes me pay loads of money to wake up at midnight and climb for hours in the dark on the glacier without knowing where final destination is? Well, I guess it is this:

Week 31. Best Decision Ever

8 days, 8 high altitude passes, 120 (ish) km, 7 nights in a tent wrapped in liner, fleece and 2 sleeping bags - this is Huayhuash trek, considered (by local papers at least) as one of the most beautiful treks in the world. It was absolutely amazing and stunningly beautiful.

Week 30. Русские В Городе

И я снова в горах! Как я смогу из них выбраться, я не знаю.
Уараз - самое прекрасное место в Перу! Первый город, который мне понравился с первого взгляда. Окруженный горами, усаженный цветами в многочисленных парках, полный улыбающихся (и почти недоставучих) людей. Город, как и деревни вокруг, выглядит обеспеченным и организованным: то ли близость Лимы повлияло, то ли более теплый, чем в Куско, климат.

Week 29. Up The Amazon

I did not want to go to Iquitos: it is off track and I spent way to much time in Peru than I planned. But Iquitos is the Amazon, where the great South American river starts, so I bought return ticket from Lima.

Week 28. Lima

Lima surprised me. It shocked me. I am in love with this city, but at the same time I want to escape.

Week 27. Arequipa And Colca Canon

Arequipa looks much less touristy than Cusco: no 'masajes, miss', to annoying tour agents (well, almost). The city center is very pleasant with colonial type buildings. After spending a day in Arequipa in preparation, we have left for trekking in Colca canon.

Week 26 Continues. Machu Picchu

Saturday, 26/07. 6 months of travel

The reason I cam to South America:
1. Uyuni (checked!)
2. Machu Picchu
It took me exactly 6 months to get to Machu Picchu. On 6-month anniversary of my trip I climbed the mountain where Incas built the town where they did not live.

Week 25-26. Trekking The Andes

For the next two weeks I was offline: I did 2 5-days treks: around Ausangate mountain and Salkantay to Machu Picchu! I did it the way round: first Ausangate, then Machu Picchu. Do not ask me if there was a logic here, I just found a group (and the trek that does not end up in MP is hard to find in Cusco), so I went for it first.
As I am reeeeeaaaaaaallllyyyyyyyy late with this blog few next posts are going to be in English to save time.

Week 23-24. Jungle Bells

Oooooh, I am soooo behind with this journal. The thing is most of those weeks I did not have internet, so I have an excuse. I will do one post to quickly describe what was happening.