En Perú

[Maria David]

Those photos look good - they take me back to the time when I was there 18mths ago. You can get in a lot of museums/ruins for your money. Coricancha museum tells you about the history. Also at the various ruins a local is only too happy to give you a history lesson for a couple of soles.

If you like your authentic peruvian markets try chinchurro (can't remember the spelling).

Also, Ollantaytambo village (half way to Machu Picchu) is quaint and buzzing. My recollection of that was us going to a petrol station and seeing a llama in the queue of cars waiting to take a drink out of one of the owners big vats !

Re biking, it'd be difficult to get in much road cycling as their use of the word "road" (carretera) is very open to description - you wouldn't want to use your prized Pinarello round there ! Mountain bike all the way !
It'll be great fun though. I did a ride on a mtb - great fun. If it's downhill, they'll probably take you up really high (above 4,000m) and then let you roll back down toward sacred valley (below 2,000m) - the contrast in flora is very impressive.

Palace fan in Peru ! Things seem so much more glamorous when you're so far away Btw, that's the best way to get chatting to a Peruvian (in fact any S. American) when you're over there - football. You might even want to take up the sport - forget cycling !

Que lo pase bien !

Maria
http://2wheelchick.blogspot.com/

[George]

Senorita de los Milagros is the locally born saint and protector of Pisaq, and images of this heavily bearded figure can be seen throughout the Sacred Valley.

She was born in 1398, a simple peasant girl, but soon developed a reputation as a devout mystic who would regularly fall into a deep trance and have visions, many of them involving naked men.

Devotion to Saint Milagros reached a peak early last century when a statue of her outside Pisaq apparently began to weep.

Thousands of believers braved the hazardous journey and the high ticket prices to make a pilgrimage through the Sacred Valley to visit this holy shrine, and numerous miracles were attributed to this saintly image.

Crowd numbers dropped off in the 1980's when scientific investigations revealed that the statue's tears were triggered by a coin operated pump but, even today, worshipers still visit this blessed monument.

Dios le bendiga......

[huw williams]

This is a man who REALLY needs to get back out on his bike

[Alan M]

Thanks Maria and George for your informed comments and to other for bothering to respond!!!. Downhill is all arranged for Sunday probably as you dexribed Maria with sto offs at Maras and Moray. sorry canñçt do football but I see Argentina did OK!!

hasta pronto

Alan

[Alan M]

This has been updated and you can find the links above. Just had really great weekend with a 35 km walk rising above 4900M and then to some hot springs.

cheers All, take care

Alan

[George]

The waters of Lares Balinearios are surprisingly hot due, in part, to its use as a cooling pond for a nearby coal generator.
As the Swiming and boating centre of Southern Peru Lago Titicaca draws thousands of holiday makers every season.
The lake, like most of the region's charm is artificial and was formed in 1953 when plans to dredge the mighty Rio Urubamba went spectacularly wrong and a dam wall was inadvertantly created.
Sadly drought - coupled with increased irrigation demands from local farmers - has seen water levels drop alarmingly in recent years, so much so that the "Lakeside Camping Park" is technically now 3km from the waters edge.
Despite this there is still much to see and enjoy at this popular, semi aquatic destination.

[Alan M]

Thanks George - not sure if I will go as far as the lake but may give rafting on the river a go but at the moment the supposed rainy season does not exist yet and today is dry, sunny and 25C

[Alan M]

Hi

Heading towards my final 2 weeks in Perú so I need to find some bike rides to get my legs back into shape. There are some more updates below and a bit of cycling interest but not much. I will update on Machu Pichu in the next few days and with some cautionary tales. Looking forward to being back for Cristmas but not relishing the cold.

Glad the forum is back - I missed it for a while

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tizer/
http://malarkeyenperu.blogspot.com/

Enjoy your Christmas drinks later this week

Cheers

Alan

[Andrew G]

I've finally had a chance to read through and catch up on all your exploits Alan. Very interesting reading and a real education too. Great photos, the countryside is stunning, although I also like the jaunty angle you wore your sombraro at .

They say everyone has a book in them, and with the fascinating travels you've done I'm sure you could easily knock out a few volumes, always a good read.

It's chilly and keeps raining here so you're not missing any great cycling weather. You may have lost a bit of form when you get back but we'll all be down with some lurgy or other anyway.

[Andrew G]

I've finally had a chance to read through and catch up on all your exploits Alan. Very interesting reading and a real education too. Great photos, the countryside is stunning, although I also like the jaunty angle you wore your sombraro at .

They say everyone has a book in them, and with the fascinating travels you've done I'm sure you could easily knock out a few volumes, always a good read.

It's chilly and keeps raining here so you're not missing any great cycling weather. You may have lost a bit of form when you get back but we'll all be down with some lurgy or other anyway.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Great write ups Alan. I can;t confess to any local knowledge, unlike George who's been EVERYWHERE, keep it going.

[Alan M]

Thanks for the feedback guys - still warm here!!

Here is some more stuff about Machu Pichu last weekend


http://www.flickr.com/photos/tizer/
http://malarkeyenperu.blogspot.com/

take care

Alan

[Alan M]

Almost Christmas in Perú but sadly I wont be here!!

This is another mass mail out, possibly with some duplication so
sorry
if you receive it twice.

I have been here nearly 7 weeks and have enjoyed the experience –
most
of the information, in case you are interested is included in a blog
with some photos which is here http://malarkeyenperu.blogspot.com/

There are some further photos here http://www.flickr.
com/photos/tizer/
and I try to keep both up to date in case you want to check them
again.

I would of course be delighted to hear from anyone or you may wish to
add comments to the blog or photos. Either way it is great to feel
that
I am in contact while being so far away and I hope to see many of you
around or after Christmas time.

Additionally I can pick up messages by Face book at http://www.
facebook.com/profile.php?id=505260077 and I can make phone calls to
land lines via skype. My name on Skype is alanmalarkey

Good wishes to all and pass this on to anyone you feel may be
interested.

Take care


Alan

[Alan M]

I leave Cusco Monday afternoon arriving home Tuesday evening. I hope to see some of you the following Saturday and I am bracing myself for the shock of winter.

There are some new posts on the links above in case you are interested.

Hasta luego

Alan