Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Last Stop: Santiago
We are on our way home but decided to break the trip at Santiago mainly due to flight schedules but also to make the final leg a little easier!
We checked into our hotel and strolled up to Plaza De Armas, the main square. It is a happening place with music and people, with the colonial buildings looking great as the lights came on.
Just time for a few photos, take in the music and as the locals finished their ice cream and coffee, we settled down for a very nice last night dinner and some good Chilean wine.
Next stop Sydney.
The Main Administrative Offices
Post Offices used to be such grand buildings.
The Cathedral
The fountain in the main square
Gail with the Jacarandas in flower.
Lots of music and dancing
One of the interesting sculptures in the square. We may stroll up and see it all again in the morning light but depart the hotel by about 10.00 am.
We checked into our hotel and strolled up to Plaza De Armas, the main square. It is a happening place with music and people, with the colonial buildings looking great as the lights came on.
Just time for a few photos, take in the music and as the locals finished their ice cream and coffee, we settled down for a very nice last night dinner and some good Chilean wine.
Next stop Sydney.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Pre Inca Pyramids in Lima
On our final day we visited two great archaeological sites in Lima. Our first was an easy walk from our hotel to the Huaca Huallamarca. We were greeted at the entrance by the hairless Peruvian dog.
The museum had an interesting display dating from the Lima people from 200BC to 200AD along with the other periods.
A female Mummy dating from about 1200 AD. There were 4 children also found along with pots, textiles and other items.
Mummy and headdress from 1300 AD
Mask used in burial rituals
The Funerary bundle. These had a false head, a wooden nose, a red face, hair of vegetable fibre and cotton fibre for clothes. The outer layer has been replaced. Dates from 1200 AD.
As we walked up the ramp from the museum to the actual site we were greeted by Hugo. Just a few hairs on his head! The site had great objects in place rather than all off at a distant museum. There was a ticket seller, two armed guards, a gardener, a toilet attendant, the dog and the two of us!
Funerary bundle in situ.
A wonderful archaeological site.
Like a family plot!
Juxtaposition of the old and new Lima.
Gail at the pyramid. It is made of mud bricks and dates from 200 BC.
An overview of Huallamarca.
The pyramid was in use for a range of purposes. Originally religious but later as a cemetery and for use as housing and administration
The periods covered were the Lima people from about 200 BC to 200 AD , the Wari from about 500 AD to 900 AD, the Senorio Yshmay from 900 t0 1470 and finally the Inca from 1470 to 1532. It must have been just too large for the Spanish to build a church over it!
We walked through the parks and then went by taxi to Huaca Pacllana another Pre Columbian pyramid.
The scale of this was immense. You can only visit with a guide as restoration work is underway.
It has been eroded over time but is still imposing.
They used figures to demonstrate aspects of the site. Man making bricks.
The tour took us to the top of the complex.
Figures making offerings.These are from Yshmay people.
Yshmay figure from attached museum.
Object from Lima period.
There was a restaurant on site but we went to the one outside that was half the price and still had a great view.
The museum had an interesting display dating from the Lima people from 200BC to 200AD along with the other periods.
The pyramid was in use for a range of purposes. Originally religious but later as a cemetery and for use as housing and administration
The periods covered were the Lima people from about 200 BC to 200 AD , the Wari from about 500 AD to 900 AD, the Senorio Yshmay from 900 t0 1470 and finally the Inca from 1470 to 1532. It must have been just too large for the Spanish to build a church over it!
We walked through the parks and then went by taxi to Huaca Pacllana another Pre Columbian pyramid.
The scale of this was immense. You can only visit with a guide as restoration work is underway.
Fight of the Condor
It was a long time to wait for Condor sightings. Some days there are none. We filled in time with this video.
Last time we posted a video it did not seem to open so will include a still. If you can open please post instructions.
The movie
The still
Duelling Condors soar over the canyon
Flight of the Condor
From Colca Canyon we went high into the mountains to where the Condor soars. This mighty bird has a wingspan just below the Wandering Albatross and longer than the North American Bald Eagle.
We were rewarded with sightings of this endangered bird by sitting and watching for hours.
Us at the Condor spot.
A juvenile sits and watches.
...and takes flight.
The mighty Condor.
We were rewarded with sightings of this endangered bird by sitting and watching for hours.
Start of the Amazon
Most of our time in South America has been centered on the mighty Amazon River. As a kind of finality we came to the river's source. A few years ago they discovered a new tributary that increased the length to make it longer than the Nile. It is indeed the mightiest of all.
From this watershed, water flows to the West into the Colca River and on to the Pacific. From the far side of the range the water flows East and makes its way into the Amazon and the Atlantic.
It is for the river and was for us quite a journey.
It is for the river and was for us quite a journey.
Colca Canyon
Our lodge at Colca Canyon is set on the floor of the canyon on a snow fed river away from the dust of the desert. The hot springs and thermal baths provide relief for bodies tied from the rigours of travel! Yes we have been doing it tough...while you are in your AC comfort!
The lodge is owned by a company that has large alpaca ranches and is luxurious as it comes around this part of the world. We had no wifi or AC but it is a beautiful setting.
Approaching the lodge there were active volcanoes.
In part the slopes are terraced for farming but other areas have sheer cliffs. As you drive around these areas, centimetres from the edge, there are no guard rails.
Doing it tough at the thermal pools.
There is an alpaca herd at the lodge. This is a wasis a type of alpaca considered sacred and it does not have a haircut.
One of the llamas. They are larger and have a raised tail.
Yes we walked around after a soak in the thermal pool and when we walked back we had another dip.
We did venture out to look at the local towns. Gail gets up close to a baby alpaca.
We could not decide which alpaca to buy!This was in the small town of Yanque.
Looking down on the canyon.
Gail and Rob at the Canyon.
Looking down on the lodge. From here it was a hair raising trip to the comfort of the lodge.
The lodge is owned by a company that has large alpaca ranches and is luxurious as it comes around this part of the world. We had no wifi or AC but it is a beautiful setting.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Crossing the Atacama Desert
We travelled from Lake Titicaca to the Colca Canyon. ( Before we visited Arequipa)
The trip was over high plateaus and mountains. There were Vicunas,Pink Flamingoes, and the domesticated animals of the high Andes.
The high Lake Lagunillas at 4,413 metres. Later we crossed over the high pass at about 5,000 metres. This is just below the level of the Everest Base Camp. We have crossed Everest off the list of places to visit. Simply not enough oxygen!
The trip was over high plateaus and mountains. There were Vicunas,Pink Flamingoes, and the domesticated animals of the high Andes.
Pink Flamingoes. Who would expect to find them in the High Andes!
A Vicuna grazing. This is a protected species.
Vicunas of the Atacama desert.
Alpacas, Andean Geese and Flamingos on a desert soak fed by melting snow and ice from the high Andes.
Gail and Rob holding each other up at the top. About 5,000 metres.
Volcanic ash cliffs
Worshipping the Mountain Gods
Where there is moisture and grass you will see Alpacas.
The Atacama is a land of stark contrast, harsh conditions and beauty. We drove on to the Colca Canyon.
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