Friday, December 16, 2011

Machu Picchu to La Paz Bolivia 16 12 11


An early morning start out to Machu Picchu  by train from Ollantaytambo , all be it may a single carriage . It was very comfortable little train , we even got served drinks and nibbles for the 1.5hr trip 


Looking out the window on our way to MP 


End of the line at Aguas Calientes , next its on a bus up to Machu Picchu 


Ther first thing we did was walk up to the Sun Gated , Its about an hrs return walk, all up hill on the way up  . Its  the gateway to Machu  Picchu when you come in from the Inka Trail 4 day walk .
 Back in the Inka days , it was how they knew when the winter solace was reached . The sun shone through the gate and onto a stone down at a temple in  Machu  Picchu , so meaning that winter had reach its zenth . The photo above is on the walk up to the gate . 


Reaching the Sun Gate , and it was a hell of a walk


Me , Terry and Dave after reaching the gate , see in the back ground Machu Picchu . We were a bit unlucky because the clouds never cleared ,  we could not get the fantastic view back down to MP . Ruth and I walked the trail about 8 to 10years ago and were lucky to have seen the view back down , fantastic !!


On the way back down I got a Terry to take my picture ; great side ways shot , Terry


First good site of  MP on the way down from the sun gate




Same as above 







Same as above MP 


The Inka bridge 
If the Inkas were invaded they could remove the planks . Amazing feat if you look hard you can see that it is build on the side of a mountain



One of the most sacred places in MP


Back at Ollantaytambo , looking back up the the Inka ruins 


We had a walk around the old Inka village of Ollantaytambo , just a couple of local kids 



Just a few locals in the main square


On our way back to Cusco we went up to yet more Inka ruins ( Pisaq). While we were there  a group that had come  from Puno to do some sort of dance at the Ruins  


They even asked us to dance with them , then it was photo time on the bikes . This happens a lot when we stop , we get the same question 
How much does it cost ? 
Where are you from ?
How fast does it go? 
Where are you going  ?

The people must thing I understand Spanish  , for when I answer 
Buggered if I know , or some times I say bloody heaps 
New  Zealanda , and they go oh Zealanda  ( they have no idea where that is anyway )
Then I say Bloody fast 
And last I say To the end of the world 
They all nod and go oh !! like they understand what I am saying 

Quite funny really because I only think that is what they are saying . A local told me way back that , that is what you will be asked by everybody .  



What a happy little kid on da Tiger 



One of the dancers from Puno on Terrys bike 


Sacred Valley
 of the Inkas 


Pretty Typicial houses of the Farming Villages 


As Above


Heading to Puno , we are about 3800mts above sea level most of the way 


Just before Puno we got hit by a huge hail storm , and had to wait it out in a petrol station 


Puno 
It was pretty cold there and quite a nice town 


Leaving Puno for the Bolivian Border , the border was a very easy crossing and took us bugger all time to cross 


Copacabana which is just inside the Bolivian border


Leaving Copacabana for the ferry , looking back onto Lake Titicaca


Terry and Bob  on the ferry 


Next it was Daves and my turn 


Then it was into La Paz 

La Paz is like a soup bowl , we rode on a flat plan for about 200kms , then  you come to a  big hole in the ground , like a soup bowl ,with La Paz inside it . The top is at 4000mts above seas level and the bottom is 3800mts , with huge mountains all around  . It was a hell of ride in the traffic to get down to the centre, it is just bedlam  


La Paz 




Dave and I outside San Pedro Prison , it is right in the middle of La Paz . It is one of the South Americas most notorious , and is know as one of the biggest Coccine Manufactures in Bolivia . A good book to read on this prison is called Marching Powder 


Streets of La Paz for the next 6 Pics , I would say one of the most colourful cities in the world  





A shop in the witches market , they sell heaps of strange stuff  (below)


I have always liked  Bolivia for its colour  , the people seem a lot happier this time , and  again not as many beggars on the streets as there was last time we were there .
I say again come and visit these countries , they are just great and lots of fun . The people again are fantastic and just love to talk to you, even if you speak not a work of Spanish 

Dont forget to look at Daves Blog 
www. granfuga.blogspot.com 
he does a great blog 

3 comments:

  1. some of those people need to go an see that dentist u went 2, their teeth need some work, have u broken any more of yours, have u seen santa ova there at all, some of those bolivians dress like him. The roads look pretty good so far, hows the food, do they hav mc d's there?we checked out the apartment, ruth has done well, u an gareth will be able to chew da fat together seen as u r not far away, had anotha leak at comons but found out what da problem has been, da drain on da deck blocks up wen it rains an it ova flows, got builder on toit, we all good here,kels is goin to stay with ruth couple days, help her eat that christmas cake xxw&d

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Rog, Was sure we'd posted comment few days back but sometimes hard to get it to show. all good here. Can't wait to talk to see what Spotwalla has shown us.Looks like you been going up & down the same road!!At Putosi did you go down silver mines? Close to where Che Guevara's died and Butch Cassidy ah? Your making all Johns reading come to life. Kids on a high with 2 sleeps to go. Keeping an eye on skype. take care. J & S XX

    ReplyDelete
  3. HI Rog,Merry NZ Xmas for tomorrow. Can't wait to talk and see what all those spotwalla zig zags are about. Owen & Michelle hit cows on way home from Taupo last night.He had stitches in leg and bit battered but Michelle ok. They were riding to Wanganui with us Box Day but bike munted. ChCh bad again too. Poor things.Liquifaction etc. take care Love XX J & S

    ReplyDelete