Dream, Create, Inspire

Peru Hop has been amazing. This bus company is like a tour company which runs buses throughout the southern part of Peru. You can get off and stay as long as you want then hop again. There is massive communication as people are coming and going. They pick you up and drop you off at your designated locations and it helps if those places are on their lists, but they will always find a way to get you. You can change plans as long as you give them 12 hr. notice.

They coordinate tours at the same time and communicate with you regarding pick ups and drop offs. They make it soo easy and you feel utterly safe. The guides are on the bus with you coordinating everything. They speak English and Spanish.
The first ride was great … until we had to stop and then had to follow to the police station.

We found out something was wrong with the paperwork so we had to wait there a while…. but they had a plan. Another bus would pick us up. So, yes, in about 30 minutes another bus came. When we walked around the bus to get in… low and behold we saw a broken window!

They said… don’t worry, just sit in back of the bus. Evidently the bus ran into somethings on the way over here. Well, we had a free air-conditioned! After that everything ran pretty smoothly, except for traffic and 30 minutes waits while they closed the roads due to working… but all the massive coordination went very smoothly. I made it all the way from Lima with stops and stays in Paracas, Huacachuna, Nasca, Arequipa and Puno to Cusco. Smooth sailing all the way.

The people you meet…
Meeting great people off and on the bus at different places. It was great. As one said even though we meet maybe once or twice we have an affect in our lives. We cross paths maybe momentarily, but the effect can last a lifetime. What a joy meeting people of all ages who are traveling for a variety of reasons. Many solo travelers and we identify together. Some traveling for only 2 weeks and some for as long as a year.

I’ve met digital nomads, people in between jobs, others taking time off and others, like me, in their retirement ages. All, though, having the same gusto to life, finding a joy in exploring places and meeting people and having new experiences. It makes this world seem so very much smaller. The local people I meet along the way work very hard and I admire their dedication and diligence to live their lives to the fullest in spite of, what we would call hardships.
Peru Hop was awesome. The guides on board assisted with lodging and tours. They made sure you were dropped off and picked up at or near your lodging. Can’t say enough about the guides… even got to celebrate one’s birthday.

Thanks Peru Hop for giving me a memorable trip to the southern part of Peru.

Rich with history and full of ruins to remind us of the past.  Many stones left in place, which the Spaniards could not take down nor replicate.

The Spanish influence of catholicism is left partially intact, but Inca battles to remain leave etched in our minds.
The Temple of the Sun is one such example.  The Spaniards built a church over their temple, but they couldn’t destroy the beauty nor the magnificence of their Temple.

The churches are beautiful intertwining  Inca, Spanish and baroque. 

The streets are lined with old inca walls replaced with Spanish attempts at reproducing the walls. 
The rock streets and alleyways scream ancient times. 

Inside the church is the statue of black Jesus.  He was white, but the candlelight smoke turned him black. 

The Inca worshiped the sun, moon and earth.  The Condor represents the heavens, snake represents knowledge and the underworld and the puma represents abaptabilty and strength.
Those symbols you can see in the paintings and etched in the designs. 

I had no real conception on how the islands on Lake Titicaca would be.  The Uros Islands are floating islands made out of reeds.  Every 20 days or so they need to replace some of the reeds.  Only 5 or 6 families live on each island. There are over 100 floating islands on Lake Titicaca.   We landed on one such island.

The ground was soft and a little wobbly.  There are huts made out of reeds that families live in.  They sleep on the ground.  They have solar panels for electricity and live very simply. 

Much of their livelihood is made by selling their wares and hosting tours.  They live off the sea and the reeds that grow in the Lake as well as supplies brought in from Puno. 

We also visited the islands of Taquile and Amantani.  Both are mountain islands and we trekked up each one. 

We hiked up to the temple and watched the sunset.

On Taquile we had a homestay for one night.  mama fed us mostly quinoa soup and carrots, potatoes, rice and cheese.  Very simple food, but sufficient. After dinner we went to a party.  Mama surprised us by dressing us in traditional wear.  We looked a little strange. 

Then the party was over and trekking back to sleep for an early morning boat ride to Amantani.  

Arrival on Amantani meant another hilly trek to the plaza.  We got our passport stamped then watched traditional dancing. 

For lunch we had fried trout, rice and vegetables.   The trout was good. 

Then back on the boat to Puno.  Lake Titicaca is huge.  Covering 8300 square km, lake Titicaca is the highest navigable body of water in the world.  There are many stories of the lake, including the story of the lost city deep in the waters.

All said and done… Lake Titicaca is a memorable place and it’s people are genuinely living life at its simplest.

Deeper that the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon is impressive and is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Close to Arequipa, I took the bus to Colca Canyon. Also in search of the Andrean Condor I was not disappointed.

In the Inca culture the Condor is sacred and represents the heavens. The puma represents strength, adaptability and the middle world of earth. The snake represents knowledge and the underword.

We can appreciate the beauty of this country. Notice the snow capped mountains in the back.

A very beautiful city in Peru.  Loved the Plaza de Armas and all the excitement around it.
Went on a walking tour visited a Alpaca farm and the churches and cathedrals.  Ended up on a rooftop for the sunset. 

One of the most exciting this I did in this city was the rafting.
Never been white water rafting before and I asked the young strong men to do the hard work for me.  Putting on the wetsuit, helmet and life jacket I felt alittle constricted to say the least. 

Well, getting into the boat was not too much trouble. The guide explains that he would give directions for paddling like forward, backward, stop, inside and outside.  Inside meaning to drop to the bottom of the boat and outside to go back to the side where we are suppose to be.  Well easy enough, but sliding inside is alittle difficult with my knees not able to bend fully. I try the best I can.

Anyway… off we go… what a ride!

Omg… I thought I might fall out, but I held on as tight as I could!  We go through level 1, 2, 3 and 4.  Me, not knowing what that means, but I do know that 4 is the biggest number!

Finally to some calm water.  Then they ask if anyone wants to jump from the rocks.  First I said no, but as I watched, I realized it was not high.  I’ve jumped off much higher places in Alaska and in Hawaii, so I said “I’m going” and climbed out and made my way to the top. 

On the count of 3… I’m off.  With the life jacket and helmet coming up and swimming was difficult, but the guide just grabbed me and threw me into the boat like a 200 lb halibut. 

Oh … that was fun.  I really liked that… very exhilarating. 

Don’t know if I’ll ever do it again but it was great.  The guide was a pro and did everything for us. I know I wasn’t much help.