Fog rolling in from the ocean to Lima. Note the highway next to the beach (it's there, hidden by the fog). |
Yes, you can burn if suntanning on the foggy beach. |
Surfing is popular in Lima, when there is no fog. |
Hey, someone forgot to put the maple leaf in the middle of this flag! Or it could be Peru's flag... |
The first delay of many with airlines due to the constant fog in Lima. This was only a short 8 hour wait today. |
Welcome message on the side of a mountain, Cuzco, elevation 3300m. |
Night shots of Cuzco. |
Freshly-dyed llama wool. |
Spun llama wool. |
Weaving carpets. |
Children playing. Note the building blocks behind made of mud and straw. |
Terraced fields up the mountain and a small village. |
There's terraced fields everywhere and they are only accessible by foot. |
Popular 'frog' game where brass pucks are tossed and you score points for getting them into the holes or the frog's mouth. |
Pets to North Americans, dinner to South Americans. |
Corn and potatoes are staples of the Peruvian diet. Corn is also fermented into an alcoholic drink. |
Why would anyone in their right mind build a storage building on the side of a mountain?! |
Football is very popular in South America; we North Americans call it "soccer". |
More fields, this time not terraced up the side of a mountain. |
Vendors make their last sales prior to the start of the Inca trail. Walking sticks go for about US$1. |
We started at Km 82 for the Inca trail. Machu Picchu is at Km 112. |
Trail porters check in at the start of the trail. They are strictly limited to 25 Kg and will be weighed in and checked along the trail. |
The first day of hiking is relatively flat and we pass a few ruins along the way. |
Stopping at a stream to cool off. |
Campground for the first night. Porters set up your tents and feed you 3 meals a day plus snacks. |
Tent overlooking the start of the climb to Dead Woman's Pass. |
View from the top of Dead Woman's Pass (because it looks like a dead woman), elevation 4200m and the highest point on the trail. We hiked up from the lowest point you can see. |
Lunch siesta after the pass. Still one more pass to go today, although it won't be as high. |
More ruins along the way and an excuse to stop hiking for a while. |
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The smoothness of the rocks indicate the importance of the structure. Also the forest quickly takes over the rocks if they are not maintained and cleared regularly. |
On the second day we move from desert-like conditions to rainforest. That's bamboo surrounding the trail. |
Sunrise over the campground on day 3. |
It is strange to be in the rainforest and be able to see arid mountains and then snow-capped peaks. |
Overlooking the back side of Machu Picchu mountain (bottom right corner). |
More ruins along the trail. They sure liked building terraces on the side of mountains. |
Beware of the Spectacle Bear (=Paddington Bear) that lives in the forest. |
View from the ruin down to the river and train track, which is the only other way to get to Machu Picchu (no road access). |
Squash plants are everywhere and are native to South America. |
That sure most of been a lot of work to build. |
Houses at another ruin along the way. |
Due to a landslide along the trail just before Machu Picchu, we hiked down to the train track and stayed the night at Aqua Calientes, a small town at the base of Machu Picchu. |
Here comes the train. I made sure to put some coins on the track just before the train came by. Note what the porters carry: this one has the camp stools on his back. |
Just before sunrise at Machu Picchu. |
You can take some interesting photos in the fog. |
The fog was actually appreciated in the morning. |
Machu Picchu at sunrise and Wayna Picchu (small mountain) in the background. |
Garden at Machu Picchu; the soil was brought here from the rainforest. |
Llamas roam the grounds, likely for the tourists to take pictures of them and to keep the grass short. |
View of Machu Picchu from the steep hike up to Wayna Picchu. From Aqua Calientes you can take a bus up to Machu Picchu (30 mins and a lot of hairpin turns) or hike (60 mins). |
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Now off to the rainforest. This is a termite nest in a tree. |
Giant spider web maintained by many spiders. It will capture large prey like birds. |
Poor nutrient soils mean the trees need to stabilize with many base roots. |
A tree that moves? The walking palm can move up to 10 cm/year by sending down new roots in the direction it wants to travel and by disconnecting roots behind its walking direction. |
A boat ride in an oxbow lake. |
Let's just see what fish live in this lake... |
Tropical fish in the lake. |
Giant fig tree. Note the root structure. |
Cut down tree with the neat root structure. |
Capybaras are the world's largest rodent and live on the riverbank. They are mainly eaten by Caimans (similar to crocodiles and alligators). |
Our rainforest cabin. No electricity, so candles and torches are used at night. There was hot water heated by solar panels. |
What's the difference between a moth and a butterfly? Moths land with wings open, Butterflies shut theirs. |
Banana boat. |
Freshly-picked bananas. |
Starfruit. |
Palm tree with rather sharp thorns. |
Dragonblood tree. Apparently the sap can instantly stop bleeding and will also help reduce fresh scars. |
More bananas. |
Opening of a cocca fruit. |
So this is where chocolate comes from! |
Night time caiman hunting. |
Leaf-cutter ants carry cut leaves for 100's of m and then grow mold on them to eat. |
Pyranha! |
Those teeth are sharp, but primarily to chew fruits and nuts that fall into the water. A pyranha diet is about 80% vegetarian. |
I caught a pyranha too! |
Lunch always tastes better when wrapped in a banana leaf! |
Discarded stuffed rabbit at the airport. |
Well that's a very cool pet! |
While waiting for our flight back to Lima (another 8 hour delay), meant some dancing and games with kids to kill time. |
