Posts Tagged With: Perú

Lima, Peru & Mancora Beach

Posted on May 5, 2014 by valarieivester

We stayed over night in Lima on our way to Mancora Beach in tge Miraflores area. Highly recommended staying here! Beautiful and full of life.

Visit Parque de Amor with it’s colorfully decorated tiles surrounding the park. This beautiful park is home of many professions of love written in tile for the world to see.

Our over night visit was fun but on to Mancora!

MANCORA, PERU

When you arrive the only way to get around are these tuk tuk taxis that are pretty much 3 wheeled golf carts!

Jorgie is loving them!!!

We were thrilled with Kimbas Bungalows!!! What a break from the normal backpackers hostel but still within the budget!!! Highly recommend….its gorgeous;)

We immediately hit the beach for sun and relaxation!!

There’s nothing quite like posing for a selfie and then finding a tongue about to find its way to your face!! Jorgie almost got thrown into the water;)

Making our way to the pier….

Uuuummmm…..so I see all the boats…..but where are the fishermen?

Bring on the drinks!!

All in all….this picture pretty much sums up Mancora. This place is made for lazy days, cold drinks, and little clothing;)
We have spent the most time in Peru…..but Ecuador is a mear 8 hour bus ride up the road….it’s time to add more miles to these shoes;)

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: beach, beach bums, budget, bungalows, lazy, Lima, Mancora, Miraflores, Parque de Amor, Perú, see, south America, travel | Leave a comment

A Little Girls Dream

Posted on April 18, 2014 by valarieivester

I remember being 8 or 9 years old and sitting on a red bean bag when I first saw Machu Picchu. I was reading a National Geographic book, you remember, those ones with the yellow cover in school, and I distinctively remember being in awe. I remember sitting there thinking how awesome it was and how I just knew I wanted to see it. When Jorgie and I started planning this trip we asked each other, if we only got to see one thing…one thing we couldn’t leave without seeing, our #1 place, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
For him, it was Rio. For me it was getting to see Machu Picchu;)
I won’t ramble on any more, nor will I write much more like I tend to do in other posts. I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking and I won’t dare filter any of the photos….. I want to share Machu Picchu exactly the way I got to see it. 😉

There are several ways you can get to Machu Picchu, we chose the scenic route, The Perú Rail;)

You can pay $10 USD to ride a bus up to Machu Picchu…we opted to take the free hike, cause you know, we are in shape;) Baaaaad Mistake!!

It just keeps going up and up….

And up….

You have to climb literally up the mountain!

Finally we have arrived!!!

Gotta get the passport stamp…

Then celebrate the ridiculous hike that was up a mountain with a Snickers bar….DON’T JUDGE US! 😉

When I was little, this place just seemed so much bigger than me…bigger than anything I’d be able to do or see… and here I am, the same girl…now barely a woman, but feeling so close to that 8 year old girl sitting on a bean bag. This place TRULY deserves it’s title as one of the SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD!!!

OFCOURSE….I get photobombed by an alpaca;)

YOU HAVE TO COME SEE IT….You just have to;)

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: alpaca, Breathless, dream, Machu Picchu, Perú, Seven wonders of the world, south America, travel | 7 Comments

Cusco, Peru

Posted on April 18, 2014 by valarieivester

Leaving Virginia and her family was hard but the city of Cusco awaits us;) After a long bus ride we arrive at our hostel early, 5:30 am to be exact, but check in wasn’t until 11am, so what’s a girl to do?
THIS…

NOTE: Looking homeless always gets you in your room faster;)
Clearly, Jorgie hasn’t gotten to that point of desperation that would allow someone to believe that the floor as your bed, your scarf as your cover, and your mochila as your pillow are perfectly acceptable means of rest. 😉 He opted to sit at the table and watch as I lay, FAST ASLEEP.
Thank you, to the gentleman who refused us a room, that later decided that a homeless looking traveler laying on the floor of the breakfast area wouldn’t be good for business…“ROOMS READY MA’AM”

VALARIE: 1
HOSTEL NAZI: 0 😉

Plaza de Armas is the center of town and hosts many visitor friendly things like banks, ATMs, restaurants, nightlife, and KFC…yes, there is a Kentucky Fried Chicken here as well….so odd;)

It still doesn’t get old seeing beautiful churches;)

You can’t see in the pictures but Plaza de Armas background is a landscape of mountains;) GORGEOUS!

Calle Hatunrumiyoc has a famous 12 angled stone that is HUGE!!

I look little standing next to it;)

Me and the ALPACA
Ps…Jorgie ate a steak of alpaca for dinner. Poor little alpaca

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: alpaca, Calle Hatunrumiyoc, Cusco, hostel living, Perú, Plaza de Armas, south America | 4 Comments

The End To Our Time With Virginia & Her Family

Posted on April 8, 2014 by valarieivester

Once we arrived we were honered to have dinner with the whole family. Since the table area was small, Daniel, Virginia’s dad, and her were the only ones other than Jorgie and I at the table. Her brother Alex, and mother Augustina ate at another table in the kitchen. We feasted on potatoes and rice and veggies. All I kept thinking was to her, she must be thinking that this is a simple meal for us, but if she knew how much this girl LOVES rice, and this boy LOVES potatoes, she would know how grateful we were. Afterwards, we were excited to know that the town was throwing us a fiesta and we need to go right after dinner. We had the ultimate honor of going to this party dressed in the traditional clothing that any wonan and man our age would go to a party in.

Being dressed by Mamá Augustina was something that I will never forget;)

Watching her dress Jorgie is now a memory I will cherish forever. Watching him, allowing her to adorn him, with all the respect he had to give as a man, was something I so rarely get to witness from a man, was breathtaking. He stood humble, but strong, and that moment alone made me feel differently for him….I’m not sure I was supposed to get all of this from that moment, but I will never allow it to leave me.

We are now ready to PARTY!! JORGIE, ME, & VIRGINIA;)

As soon as we showed up, the music started and dancing, and celebration was in order;)

Virginia immediately grabbed Jorgie and started dancing!!

I got my dancing in too!!

I had a great time!!!!

With all the celebrating, we had enough time to capture the moment;)

The morning we were leaving Virginia didn’t let us leave with an empty stomach!

A hearty breakfast and boiling tea was how we left Virginia’s home.

It amazing to think that all the meals that I have told you about were all prepared in this very humble kitchen with no working stove. Wgat an amazing woman.

As we walked to the dock to say goodbye, all I could think about was that Virginia and I were practically the same age…how different my life would’ve been had I been born into this.

As we said our goodbyes and deepest thanks for an amazing time and hospitality, we boarded the boat with a new appreciation for all that we have and for the hospitality of a family that for a short moment, felt like ours.
THANK YOU VIRGINIA & FAMILY!

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Family, grateful, homestay, Lake Titicaca, learning, Perú, south America, travel | 11 Comments

Our Stay with Virginia Part 2!

Posted on April 6, 2014 by valarieivester

I’m glad that Virginia ordered rest because we were going to climb Mount Pachatata. This is one of two sacrimonial pilgrimages these people do a year. Every 3rd Thursday in January everyone in the village makes the trek, half go to Pachamama, and the other go to the higher of the two, Pachatata. We were going to clumb Pachatata ofcourse;) We were told this hike would take us 45-60 mins.

Along the way we see a burro!! Honestly, I have no idea why I love burros soooo much but I do;) I think it’s the stubbornness, but I want one, or six;)

One thing we didnt consider….we are walking straight up and the altitude is getting us!!! This is kinda hard!!!

Along the way you will see the locals selling arts and crafts that they are crafting right there!! A few, GOD BLESS THEM, are selling water and snacks so you don’t pass out;)

Jorgie making his way up this beautiful mountain;)

We are almost there! (By the look on my face, you can tell, THE STRUGGLE WAS REAL!)

But once you get to the top…the view is 360 degrees of Lake Titicaca! BEAUTIFUL!!

A quick photo because we made it just before sunset. We find a rock and get nestled in for the show;)

Boy is it gorgeous…as the sun sets the air becomes crisp and the warm glow off the horizon lets us know its time to head back;)

Some of the local girls are eager to take a photo!
NOTE: These sweet faces are still trying to sell you a bracelet or craft. Refrain from taking a pic with them unless you are willing to pay for the pic or buy a bracelet.
But really…who would pass up this photo opp?!?
“I’ll take a bracelet” 😉

As the sunsets, we bundle back up and head back down for dinner with our new family. If dinner is anything like lunch was, we are going to be happy campers!!

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Amantani Island, grateful, homestay, humble, Lake Titicaca, learn, Perú, south America, travel | 4 Comments

Do Not Pass This Up! Amantani Island Pt.1

Posted on April 2, 2014 by valarieivester

We made a quick over night stop in Puno, Perú because we had planned on staying with a family on Isla de Amantani for a night. To get there we had to board a small boat and travel 3 hours off the coast of Perú.

When we arrived we were both nervous because other than knowing we were going to stay with a local family and learn about their way of life, we really didn’t know what to expect. We hopped off the boat to meet our family for the next 2 days.

As we exit, we can see that the women are there to greet us and also find out who they will be hosting. We didn’t know it then but we were going to be assigned to Virginia, she’s 3rd from the right;)

Once we knew we were going to be staying with her we walked back to her home. On the way she showed us their church…

This was the road that led to her home.
Fuente de la Eterna Juventud = Fountain of Eternal Youth
I know which road I’m walking down as many times as I can!!!

We arrived to the home that Virginia shares with her parents Augustina and Daniel, along with her brother Alex. Don’t be fooled by the structure, this building is nothing more than a mud/clay house with windows.

She then shows us to our room. This is the view right outside our door…..overlooking Lake Titicaca. Simply amazing;)

The inside of our room is simple but so comfortable;)
Virginia says for us to get comfortable and that she has made us almuerzo. For two weary travelers, a home cooked meal sounds amazing and we are extremely grateful!

She shows us around so we know where we will be staying.

The outdoor baño doesn’t flush but its soooo clean which is more than I can say for half the hostels we have stayed in up to this point;) The bucket next to the toilet is filled with water so you can rinse out the toilet after you use it…..IT’S ABOUT TO GET REAL!! 🙂

She then invites us to sit in her kitchen/dining area. Decorated with beautiful colored tableclothes, I’m a happy guest;)

She serves up the most delicious bowl of Sopa de Quinoa. This dish is a staple for her family and all the Andean people who live on Amantani Island. They grow their own quinoa in the backyard!!

We thought it was enough with the sopa but then she serves us a plate of home grown potatoes, an egg, and a side salad of tomatoes and cucumbers. We are more than full but we indulge and thank Virginia for her work in the kitchen.

AND IT JUST KEEPS COMIN!!!
She ends the meal with a steaming cup of tea and provides us coca leaves and fresh spearmint grown in her garden. (Belly soooo full) I sit back and enjoy the tea.
PS. you haven’t lived if you haven’t had fresh herbs in your tea…MAKE IT HAPPEN;)

As we were sipping our tea…we got guests!!

The familias chickens must have smelled the delicious cooking and wanted in for a taste! Even with my offer to help clean the dishes she wouldn’t hear of it and orders us rest;)

After lunch we had some time to relax before a hike up to Pachatata, one of the islands places of worship. We are already so high up, but Pachatata is going to be even higher and the cold is going to set in.
Augustina (Virginia’s mama) knits hats for a living and offers me one….It was one of the coolest things I have ever bought.