** PERU - IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF VON DANIKEN **
This is the 25 July 2004 Edition of
this page.
CHAPTER SEVEN
CUZCO and LIMA again!!
26th June 2001 (Tuesday)
After an 'early night' lastnight, my tendency OVERNIGHT was to reawaken each hour,
on the hour, until 6am - when I got up, slowly, looking for some items (hankies and films) before going for
a very good breakfast and some walks around the delightful gardens (like tht 'Elise' residence
earlier - but flatter!)
THIS place is an "EX-MONASTERY"!! (So the 'In a Monastery Garden' tune kept running through
my mind!) Although I tried to solve my 'Hankies & film' requirements "in house" with their own
shops, I found the solution in a little shop only 5 yards outside the 'gates' to the left. I managed to
purchase some 'Kleenex' and 'Kodak' there.
Back in the Hotel here in YUCAY, I exchanged $15 (US) for 51 Sols (exactly the same rate as on 19 June -
i.e. at 3.4 sols per $1 (US)!) Then, because the 'calculator display' was getting dimmer, I tried to take the batteries
out for replacing! Then having taken SO LONG to get the thing apart, I realised that there are NO BATTERIES -
and it must be solar powered!! Perhaps I have to leave it exposed to the light for LONGER. Then, in the grounds
of this delightful place, I took further photos to complete the reel - and the first half a dozen shots on the new reel!
I was picked up by my driver in the van (together with our guide) and we made our way to the OLLANTAYTIMBO
Fortress, which was quite nearby, for lunch. Then we scoured the INCA Valley (of URUBAMBA), went up the sacred
INCA steps to the SUN STONE - and a 'very testing' climbing walk.
Following that, we went on to the PISAC Market, where I bought (unusually for me) an earthenware 'carved set of
houses' - a very good bargain for just 20sols. The paint job was terrific, and reminded me of some works that the grown
children of a previous lady friend had painted!
It was a 'fairly full' day in the van today, four stages of which totalled about 70 miles. After the market, we went back over the
hill (severe roadworks present!) to arrive back at the CUZCO hotel again.
Relaxing, TV browsing and card-writing to friends in the UK were my next 'activities'.
27th June 2001 (Wednesday)
In the morning, I had great 'shortage
of breath problems' - with breathing difficulties, first thing. 'Slowly does it' was my theme for the small amount of
breakfast, - just moseying around, later, without too much energy! I prepared, slowly, for the morning's VAN trip.
We were collected by our driver and guide (they are my best friends here) and we also saw JULIO.
Then we went
for a trip around the city, going to a religious complex on the main square before departing on the YUCAY road
for KENKO, some odd pottery places, and SACCSAYYHUMAN (pronounced 'sexy-woman'!) before
progressing to TAMBOMACHY to the North East of CUZCO. This took us up to 17.5 thousand feet (a.m.s.l)
and our return to the hotel. (..after a 40 mile tour).
Then I tried, for ages, in town - to find where POSTAGE STAMPS would be sold! Eventually, I found a place about EIGHT
blocks away. After a characteristic series of guesses, I found and bought a stamp to put on each of my two cards to the UK.
Then I mooched back to the main square, an ice-cream and some relaxation.
Having got my ice-cream and settled down, THOSE unwelcome 'sellers' descended again. After a while, I protested
and walked off - to find a part of a seat in some welcome shade next to a 'couple'! I finished in that place, but not without
some molten chocolate (from my ice-cream) running down onto my light-blue C&W shirt!! I then went back to my hotel-room
to relax, write notes and 'recover'!
Following that, I went for a wander around town, - but in general , I found myself too lethargic! I returned for an 'early night'
- because of an early start tomorrow. However, overnight, I was already waking up 'hourly' - starting at 10.30PM!
( ... to continue in .NAZCA LINES chapter...)
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