Lima to Ollantaytambo Peru 9 12 11

Lima Peru 

A great city , Ruth and I  had 3 days there  about 10 years ago and it has changed so much  .When we were there it was  madness , now it seems  very western (all be it in the centre only  ) . But I loved it and would go back no problem . 

Lima 

Bob , he complained that he was not in the blog 

After Lima we went on down to Pisco and out to the Islas Ballestas  , which are just off the coast from Pisco , they call them the Poor mans Galapagoes . The wildlife out on the island is unbelievable , just millions of Birds and seals . In fact there are so many birds that they harvest the bird shit every 5 years  for fertiliser. Once years ago it was one of Peru's  biggest income earners.

This is on a hillside on the way to the islands , which can only be seen from the sea . Nobody knows how long it has been there or who put it there . It never rains here ,so once you desturb the sand it stays as is forever  

Out at the Island 

Out at the island, see the face . Well you have to have a good imagination . This is what the tour guy pointed out to us . You have to have a good imagination in South America .

Seals out at the islands 

Then it was on to the Oasis Huacahina  just outside of Ica , south of Pisco  Peru ,not far from the coast , for the night . This is a real Oasis just like you ever thought an Oasis would ever be . Surrounded by huge sand dunes , palm  trees , all that was needed was for it to be in the Middle East .A great  place for the night .

The Oasis at Huacahina 

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This is a Sponsors  shot  Zengotita Cigars , the best Cigars in the world  

Don't I look the part ,Hemingway eat your heart out 

Heading to Nasca and the Nasca Lines  , all sand and great roads 

On the way to Nasca 

At the Nasca Lines  we took a flight over the Lines . And it was a hell of a flight (very bumpy ), Dave and Terry were air sick . Still it was worth a look .

From Nasca heading to Cusco , more sand and great roads , we never made it all the way to Cusco (660km ) . So we stayed in Abancay ( just a service town )  on the way and only had a ride of 200kms the next day . The ride into Cusco was another day of Mountain climbing , just up and down Mountians all day . The highest we got to was 4,700mts above sea level , and we spent most of the day well above 3,000 mts .

On the way to Cusco 

On the way to Cusco, we never saw any llamas until we were well above 3000mts  

More Mountains to climb 

And more  Mountains 

We are at around 4700mts here and Bob needed a rest , well more like a sleep  

Bob really needed this rest , I think the altitude may have had a hand  

4700mts  is quite high , considering New Zealands highest Mountian is only 3700mts

Looking back on Abancay and heading to Cusco , we stayed there for the night . It was just a service town for the locals , quite nice  

More Mountains on the way to Cusco and look at the road . I thought I would save petrol so I coasted down this lot {just for fun ). But on the first corner I neally came off , I got half way round and just about feel over . I never had any power to pull the bike back up , as I was playing Moto GP , without the motor running ,( as I do a lot on these roads , but with the motor running . My poor boots are taking a hammering ) . You cant help it they are fantastic roads  . Still  you still have to be very careful , you never know what is coming around the corner . On this hill I came around one corner and there was a truck passing another truck on a blind corner , on another a pig laying on there road . 

Shit and more windy roads , I'm loving it , it is just so great here . Im in love with this place  

Finally we arrived in Cusco .

 Cusco is the Tourist Meca for South America a great place (come here ,you will love it )

Cucso's Main Square 

The best Cafe and Resturant ever, Jacks Cusco , Ruth and I went there last time we were in Cusco . The first thing I did on arriving was head straight there , for the best coffee and food in South America . 

Up on the Mountain above Cusco to see  the Inka Ruins called Saqsaywaman.

Look at the size of the Rocks next to Dave  .  They were all dragged  from about 4 kms away . Not on flat ground but over Mountains . I think the biggest was around 90 tons 

This is where we stayed in Cusco (the Casa Granda Hostel , cheap but good , I think it cost us about $12 us a night each  ) . There were 4 other guys doing the same trip on Motor bikes there as well . One guy on a 250 Yamaha , that we met way back some where . Also a guy on a Sports Bike a Honda VFR   

A local Weaver , look how happy she is , this is how most of Peruvians are 

Bob at some ruins in Cusco , these are some of the most remarkable ruins in Cusco . Look at how the blocks fit and they never had any metal tools to shape  them  

Heading  to Ollantaytambo through the Sacred Valley of the Inka's .just another fantastic  ride  

Outside our hotel in Ollantaytambo ,  its a bloody nice one too 

Up at the Inka ruins just above Ollantaytambo , Terry trying to rearange the blocks. The ruins at Ollantaytambo are some of the best around , other than Macha Picchu .Ollantaytambo was the last stand of the Inkas , it  took 70 years to build this lot  (so they say )  

Looking down on to the Sacred Valley just above Ollantay

 The veiws down here are fantastic and hard discribe , you just go, look at that all day  .

 So all I can say is come to Peru are have a look . It is a fantastic Country with so much to offer  . 

So far Peru is the best ever and so safe ,  the people are so great and friendly ,  it is not an expensive  country to travell in . In fact quite cheap , so come before it all changes because it is changing real quick . I was here about 10 years ago and I can tell you it has changed a lot in that time (for the better )

Inka Ruins above Ollantaytambo

Some of the locals at Ollantay , look at the smiles 

Looking back onto Ollantaytambo

Next stop Machu Piccau 

AS far as the bike is going , im still having problems with the fuel . When i get shit petrol the bike will not idol ,  it is a real pain in the arse .

We are hoping to get to Sucre Bolivia  for Xmas and to the bottom by the end of January .