Andean Adventure - Monday, April 24, 2017 - Happy Birthday Dad! - Day Ten -Puno to Lima

On the bus at 5:30 for a little over an hour drive to  the airport at Juliaca. We arrived in Lima at 10 am. and back to the hotel just after 11:00. Hopefully Ron will feel better once we're back at sea level. We walked to Larco Mar, which is a mall right on the ocean. It was about a 15 minute walk from the hotel. We had lunch at Tanta, a restaurant recommended by our tour guide, and then walked the mall. We then headed to El Parque de Amor about 10 blocks down on the ocean. We checked out the statue and then made our way back to the hotel. We showered and got ready for our Farewell Party. We already had received gifts from our guide, an Incan cross - a Chakana- and a framed picture of our group at Machu Picchu. We went to a restaurant a short distance from the hotel and had a room all to ourselves. Ron had the Peruvian soup, which had potatoes, corn, fava beans and shrimp and I had ceviche. For the second course he had fish and I had lomo saltado, a beef dish. For dessert we had picarones, Peruvian donuts covered with "maple syrup". We said our good-byes to Juan, our "Guia Extraordinario" and went to bed as we had another early wake up call tomorrow to start the trip home.

This whole trip was special. It definitely was a bucket list item for me. It meant so much to see places that I had taught about for many years and finally had the chance to experience in person. Our group was nice and small and we met some wonderful people. Our guide had so much pride and passion that he was able to share with us about his country. Everything about the tour was super organized. Our hotels and food were also excellent and even the weather cooperated.  We couldn't have asked for a better time! Gate 1 really does it right! Good-bye Peru.

Views from Lima

View from Larco Mar

Larco Mar Mall

Lunch at Tantas

My lunch date is feeling better now that he's at sea level

El Parque de Amor

El Parque

They have a ways to go on their locks

Restaurant for our Farewell Dinner

Some of our group

Lori

Lomo Saltado

Pacific Ocean - Good-bye Peru

Andean Adventure - Sunday, April 23, 2017 - Day Nine - Uros Island, Lake Titicaca

Unfortunately Ron had a bad night. Something Peruvian caught up with him. Not sure what, but that meant he didn't go on the boat ride on Lake Titicaca with us. The trip was amazing. We boarded a small boat and ride out to one of the small Uros floating islands on Lake Titicaca. I always think of Bolivia when I think of this lake but 60% is in the Peruvian area. The Island that we visited was home to 19 people from 4 families. We saw demonstrations on how they made the islands, maintain them and built their homes. We also saw how the women cooked. did handicrafts and we were invited inside their homes. I got to ride on and paddle a reed boat also. It was an incredible experience, I only wish Ron had been able to come. I went back to check on Ron and he was still sleeping. We quickly realized after he got up and dressed that he wouldn't make the soccer game. I went in search of Gatorade for him and put him back to bed. I went to eat lunch and then came back and took a long hot bath, did my nails and tried to blog. At 5:00 we met with the group to share our experience of the trip overall. We went to get something to eat. I had quinoa salad and Ron chocolate cake. He didn't want anything else yet. In bed by 8:00 as we have a 4:30 wake up call tomorrow.

Views of Lake Titicaca

A map of the lake

A hotel on the lake

This is like the boat we were on 

A welcome to the Floating Island of Uros

There are 90 floating islands

A beautiful day on Lake Titicaca

A reed boat

Greeting is as we land

A map of the floating islands

Notice the solar panel next to the reed hut - That Lori btw

Inside their home

The president of the island lives in a round hut

That's David, the island president, showing us how they build the islands

Adding reeds to the island

Ducks are a food source for the islanders

White fish also

Showing us other foods - ie potatoes, corn

The women with their handicrafts

Modern conveniences

A view of the island

Paddling a reed boat

Saying good-bye to our island

View of Puno from Lake Titicaca

The Harbor

The Cathedral in Puno - they had parades while we were there

Feeling the effects of altitude - 12,500 feet above sea level

The Cathedral

The pedestrian walkway

Lunch on my own - Ron wasn't up to it

Andean Adventure - Saturday, April 22, 2017 - Day Eight - Cusco to Raqchi to Puno

Up and on the bus by 7:30 headed to Puno. We will be at our highest altitude at 12,500 feet. We made a stop along the way at a panaderia for some Chuta, a huge round loaf of bread. We learned about the history, education etc. we watched a movie about Peru, Nebraska where true Peruvian came to share their food, dance, games, music etc. Our second stop was Raqchi, another Incan ruin. It is astonishing how some of these building have survived this long. Those that the Spanish didn't destroy. Our next stop was La Rays. Just a pull off with bathrooms and vendors. Ron bought a pair of baby alpaca slippers. Our last stop before Puno was Pucara. Another bathroom and opportunity to shop.  We arrived in Puno at about 5:00 and had the rest of the evening. We walked to the town square only one block from our hotel and looked around. Then we stopped for another light supper- soup and bread. We definitely could feel the altitude so we were in bed by 8:00. Have to be ready for Lake Titicaca tomorrow!!!!!

Views on the Road to Puno

Stopping at the bakery for Chuta bread

A mural at the bakery

Our group buying Chuta bread

 Views of Raqchi

The Church

What the site looked like before the weather and Spanish destroyed it.

Views from the bus to Puno

The city of Juliaca -  where the airport is

The University

Made it to Puno after a 6 hour drive

Our first glimpse of Lake Titicaca

Our hotel in Puno

The Royal Inn at Puno -  just a block from the main square and 2 blocks from a pedestrian street with shops and restaurants

The stadium - we were going to go with a few couples to see a soccer game but that was the day Ron was sick