So it is done, we went to the place with the ruins got very wet and since then I have written the words so many times it is making me dizzy.
After the early start (hostel owner got up and made us breakfast!) we arrived and headed straight to the second mountain called Waynapicchu, an Irish guy in Arica had suggested it was worth the walk which turned out to be 1.20hrs up really steep steps during which time I was convinced that I was going to die. When we finally got to the top dripping in sweat and minus half the clothes we started in the view was worth it, the sheer scale of MP is insane the pictures that advertise it make the whole thing look a lot smaller than it really is. Thankfully as I had thrown my I’m scared of falling card on the table during the way up Ben decided to produce his not wanting to go near the edge to take pictures of the fantastic drop :)
Once we had taken pictures and felt a little less knackered we decided to make the ‘climb’ back down the mountain not hill a bloody sheer drop cliff mountain!
When we got down we decided to walk around the actual ruins taking time to admire the views and take the same pictures every tourist in the history of MP has taken. It was just brilliant the only bad point was the rain really but once there you forgot it cost a blinking fortune and just thought, I get why they want to bleed everyone dry.
Just after normal lunch time we realised we hadn’t eaten anything in around 8 hours and decided that it was time to say goodbye to MP and hunt down some food. We went outside and there was your usual cafe selling over priced food but then in Peru over priced food is just normal UK prices (maybe even less). After the welcomed fuel we decided that we had the strenght to walk down from MP to the bottom where you catch the train, this took 2 hours and consisted on a million steps but the views again were amazing.
By the time we got down we were both drenched from head to toe, but MP was probably one of the high lights of the trip and to anyone travelling to this side of the world a must see!
Our coach from Cusco (the main town) to Lima to catch our plane took an mind blowing 22 hours, we decided to go 1st class (more room) and the woman behind the desk only charged us for children seats so it cost 130 sol (£30).
We are now in Lima waiting for our taxi to take us to the airport, its been a good day of relaxing and investigating where to stay in Central America. Yesterday we decided to walk to the beach and back which took over 3 hours and my only advice is if coming to Peru don’t bother finding the beach!
Miss everyone at home but really pleased we are all staying in contact.
Love C xxx
Since last writing on here a lot has happened, we left Iquique after a very drunken night at the hostel celebrating a girl called Jessie’s birthday (messy pictures to feature on Flickr when Ben gets around to it). We travelled to Arica after this to spend a few days exploring and letting Ben surf a wave called El Gringo which I have been told is very famous! We tried a local delicacy which like most in Chile involves hotdogs it was basically hotdog and cheese surrounded by waffle mixture on a stick (sound disgusting but was actually quite nice). On Sunday 5th April we planned to do the big trip into Peru this consisted of a taxi across the border, showing our passports about 20 times, getting to Tacna and buying coach tickets to a place called ariquipa (6hrs) getting there and buying tickets for Cusco (the place near machu picchu) of which there were only 2 left and they just happened to be in 1st class. My tip if ever coming to peru is spend the extra £5 to get first class because they are like massive armchairs and the food is nicer :) So after another 10 hours (about 24 in total) we arrived in Cusco to our hostel, the next mission was getting our tickets and transport on MP, thanks to an Irish man we met in Arica we had a map listing the cheapest way to do it, where each place was etc. We walked to the train station and bought our tickets, booked a hostel and then bought our tickets to get in, all in all it will cost about £80 each which we are really please with as the 1 day tours are about 200 dollars. We are now in Ollantytamba a small town built on the original foundations of an Inca settlement which is very beautiful, we are getting the 5.37am train to Machu Picchu tomorrow and its looking like everything is planned well :) We are flying out of Peru on the 14th of April heading for Panama to start the Central America part of the trip, from all the people we have spoken to we have a massive treat in store. I can’t believe we have been gone now for 6 weeks though its flying by fast and at the same time it feels like a lot more than 3 weeks since we left the caribbean. Anyway hope everyone is well, we will try and put lots of pictures up soon, maybe when we have a good internet connection in Lima. Love Charlie xxx
I survived…just the 17/18 hour bus journey from La Serena to Iquique it was uncomfortable, hot and very boring a bit like an aeroplane really (shows national express up anyway!)
So we arrived in Iquique and headed straight to the beach were I sat and Ben surfed, he was so happy to finally get some waves as he calls it. There was no surf in the Caribbean and he has been desperate for some since we left England.
Iquique is a strange place, its quite a large city really all set around a coastline of surfer heaven, the hostel we are staying at is really nice its clean, the staff are friendly and we are chatting to people and Ben has found a surfing buddy. We have decided to stay here a week to take some time to get our next journey sorted. The next stage is to keep heading north towards the Peru border, cross over and then head towards Machu Pichu which will definitely be amazing.
Anyway I still miss everyone and am really pleased to hear you are having some good weather :)
Speak to you soon.
Charlie xxx
Since my last entry we have arrived in Antigua enjoyed the most beautiful beaches ever (see the flickr pictures), I have been bitten to pieces by mosis but am noow recovered, have done a mammoth plane journey of 4 flights and 22 hours, spent 2 days in Santiago Chile enjoying the weather and seeing the sights (to be recommended) and I am now in a place called La Serena about 350 miles north of Santiago waiting for an 18 hour bus journey to Iquique were we will be staying for about a week…relaxation at last.
The trip so far has obviously had its ups and downs (literally if refuring to the boat travel!) but Ben and I are really enjoying seeing the sights and he is very excited about finally getting to the surf and making the most of the pacific coastline.
Hope all is well with everyone back home you will be please to hear that whilst you have all had nice sunny weather we have swapped with England and my jumpers had to come out over the last few days! When its sunny my freckles increase at a rapid rate and I think the tan will get a bit stronger :)
Miss you all and wish you could all be here with us, if you want to leave a message on skype it would be great to hear voices :)
Love Charlie xxx
