Viva los Peruvanos

a travel blog by christyle612

My name is Christy, I will be spending my summer in Peru! With the help of Nexos Voluntarios, my trip begins in Lima for a week then to Cuzco. I am working with an organization called Peru Verde for seven weeks and then traveling for two. My flight leaves the Minneapolis airport at 11:00 am June 11th and if all goes as planed after a layover in Toronto I will arrive in Lima at 12:05 PM the next day. If I would have started packing before today I would have been freaken' out looking at a full backpack… so if I want to have a toothbrush and camera along for the ride I better get back at it.

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Cuzco, Peru

I am out of the jungle and staying at the Frankenstein Hostel. I returned to Cuzco after an 8 hour motorized canoe ride and an 8 hour bus ride. Cuzco is very nice, but a little bit chilly during the night.

I have been to the cathedral and the Inca Museum.

The Cathedral dominates the north-east side of the Plaza de Armas and sits squarely on the foundations of the Inca Viracocha's palace. The Cathedral was begun in 1550 and completed nearly 100 years later, constructed in the shape of a Latin cross.

Yesterday we went to the Sacsayhuaman ruins (right outside of Cuzco) and rode horses!! It was fun.

Sacsayhuaman- ruins of a magnificent Inca fortress overlooking the city of Cusco. The fortress is generally attributed to the period of Inca Pachacuti, the man who essentially founded the Inca empire.

written by

christyle612 on August 7, 2008 from Cuzco, Peru

from the travel blog: Viva los Peruvanos

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Machu, Peru

I am leaving for Machu Pichu today at 8. We are going to spend one night in Aguas Caliente and then do an hour hike to the ruins tomorrow morning. We are taking a bus and a train.

Aguas Caliente

Arequipa, Peru

Colca Canyon

I just got back from the Colca Canyon, I had a great time, the hike ended with a three hour hike uphill. It was amazing, the only way to get to the place where I stayed was to hike in. There is not a road that you can take a car on. I also got to go in some Hot Springs. They were great.

"The City of Arequipa is Peru's second largest, with a population of approximately 700,000. However, it has the feel of a small town, with the centre being compact and containing most areas of interest.

The city is located in the shadow of three giant volcanoes. Chachani, at 6,075m is the highest, but it is the perfectly conical Misti that draws the attention. Although Arequipa is in the middle of a desert, agriculture has ensured that directly around the city there is plenty of greenery. The barren hills clearly visible from the city form a stark contrast with the fields found throughout the city.
The main celebrations in Arequipa occur in August to mark the founding of the city in 1540. Typically, a dance exhibition, Festidanza, with participants from all over South America, happens. There is an enlarged crafts market at the Fundo El Fierro, and there is an interesting general trade exhibition at the FIA. There are also massive rock concerts at the FIA, featuring musicians from all of Peru and Latin America. The night of the 14th there are firework displays all over the city. On the 15th there is a mass ascent of Misti and a parade around the centre."

written by

christyle612 on August 12, 2008 from Arequipa, Peru