Anapoima in Pictures
SUMMARY: Profile and pictures of Anapoima, an upscale pueblo an hour south of Bogota.
You HAVE TO See Machu Picchu!
SUMMARY: I finally go to Machu Picchu. You must put Machu Picchu on your life’s to-do list. Pictures at the end.
So the ladies from the tourist agency were able to save my Machu Picchu trip after The Cusco Incident. Thank God because Machu Picchu was the most spectacular scenery I’ve seen in my life. The view above Rio de Janeiro from Christ the Redeemer previously held the title, but was dethroned by Machu Picchu. … Read more
Contributed Story: Pooping and Machu Picchu
SUMMARY: Stephen Loase, lead singer of Lonely Mattress Salesman, goes to Machu Picchu and poops his brains out. With pics.
Special undies
Before the trip, I went to REI for camping equipment. I bought a fleece, backpack, and a very special item: a $25 pair of special underwear you can wear for 4-5 days that doesn’t absorb odor/moisture. Happiness Level: A+
Cocoa Tea
We arrive in Peru. Upon arrival I notice the slight elevation sickness that everyone talks about so I drink the forbidden Cocoa Tea (made from pre-Cocaine leaves), which is supposed to dull the pain. Instead of the euphoric, drug-leaf-ridden tizzy I was hoping it would put me in, it made my stomach do jumping jacks while my upper intestine fell asleep with the door shut. Happiness Level: A- … Read more
Mounting Misti
SUMMARY: I describe climbing El Misti, the 5800m (19,100ft) volcano and highest point in Arequipa. With a sprained ankle, BITCHES! Pictures included.
I climbed Misti over the weekend. El Misti is a 5800 meter volcano visible from anywhere in Arequipa. Actually, at 5822 m (19,100 ft), it is one of the highest points in Peru.
The guides’ fees were 35 soles ($11) per person. A group of thirty – including our group of a dozen – met in Plaza de Armas at 7:30am on Saturday. From there, the guides contracted a bus to drive us as close to the mountain as the bus carrying thirty could drive along the unpaved road. At that point, we got off the bus with all our stuff and started our journey. Stuff to carry includes warm clothes, food, water, a tent and sleeping bag. Climbing Misti is a two-day affair and requires spending the night at the halfway point. … Read more
Colca Canyon
SUMMARY: I describe my trip to Colca Canyon with pictures at the end.
Rosa and I planned to see Colca Canyon in the province of Arequipa. Initially, it was going to be a romantic weekend just the two of us. Then we were going to go with another couple: Rosa’s best friend, Jessica, and her new fiance, Anthony. Anthony couldn’t find tickets so I enlisted the help of Beto. Beto bought eleven tickets and added seven more trekkers, including himself. So we were eleven altogether: Me, Rosa, Jessica, Anthony, Beto, Karen, Emilio, Patricia, Giancarlo, Cesar, and Rocio. Ironically, I was the only one who knew everybody in the group. We all got wasted until 4am Saturday night so the early Sunday morning departure was hell.
The altitude in Colca is ridiculous, higher than any of these other ridiculously high altitudes in Peru. Colca Canyon is technically deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but the walls aren’t as clearly defined or vertical so it’s less recognized and the pictures are less canyon-esque. The bus made five or six stops on the way, making a three-hour drive into a six-hour drive. On one stop near a flock of llamas, I asked the tour guide if there was enough time for whichever males may be so inclined to have sex with one. Nobody laughed. Nobody. Blank stares. Oh well, you can’t be funny all the time. … Read more
