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 

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 

More 

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 .