Kent A. Barry

Wrapping Things Up

I guess I should confirm that I got home safely.

I have added a bunch more pictures to the page, including Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, the Inca Trail(with Manchu Pichu), and some miscellaneous pictures from here and there. I will try to add some descriptions over the next while, but that is pretty much all there is.

I am not going away, you can keep up with me on my new page kentabarry.com

Chao,

Kent

Nazca... wait it's Ica

I took the night bus from Arequipa to Nazca, but I must have been asleep for the 5 am stop.  the bus attendants were very sorry for not waking me up... 2 and a half hours later and in the next city.  the only thing I missed was having a crazy Peruvian fly me over the Nazca Lines.

Instead I was in Ica, where I had a crazy Peruvian drive me over the local sand dunes in a dune buggy.  I think the dune buggies got more air than the flight ever would have!

They stopped for a while so we could sand board down the dunes.  It was a lot like snow boarding, but when you wipe out you eat sand instead of snow.  And the sand seems to get everywhere... everywhere!

The Colca Canyon

Couldn't get through Arequipa without doing a tour of the Colca Canyon.  The second deepest Canyon in the world.

They have a nice spot where you can sit and watch the Condors riding the morning thermals.  They practically fly up to you.

And as usual they have ladies selling junk to tourists.  I am going to miss them...

Arequipa

Areuipa is a nice place.  A cool desert town.  And they sell cheap(fake) CD's.  Five soles is a deal, any way you look at it!

The city has a nice monastery and a lot of casinos(Nevada Rules) within five blocks of the monastery.  And I got so nice pictures to post.  Pictures of the monastery, the casinos weren't that exciting.

The monastery opened to the public in 1970.  I think it was because most of the nuns broke out to go hit the slots...

The Inca Trail to Manchu Pichu

The most popular thing to do in Peru is to visit Manchu Pichu, and the second most popular thing to do is to hike The Inca Trail to Manchu Pichu.

They don't allow people to hike the trail on there own these days.  You have to go with a guide on the trail.  The basic package offered is a guide and porters; who set up the tents, cook great food, and carry everything but your sleeping bag and personal things.

The trek takes 4 days and follows old Inca stone paths that lead through many Inca ruins before you get to Manchu Pichu.  It is a nice hike, but don't expect to ever be alone.  The trail always seems to be packed with people and porters...

Cuscu, Peru

Cusco is know as the heart of the Inca Empire and does have a lot of amazing ruins, from the Inca days, in and around it.  And because of this there seems to be more tourists than Peruvians in Cusco at any time.

In Cusco it is actually hard to speak Spanish to anyone.  Everyone wants to learn Spanish so they can cash in on the tourists.

Nice place to visit, happy to be leaving.

Lake Titicaca

I spent some time around Lake Titicaca. It is basically a big damn lake. It is at a high altitude, so it is always cold around the lake...

Not a great place for skinny dipping!

La Paz, Bolivia

After a long flight I am back in Bolivia and its Capital city of La Paz.  La Paz is a city that has been jammed into a Canyon.  Being in the canyon gives the city a beautiful setting, but must be a pain in the ass for the people that have to live here.

Every street in La Paz seems to be going uphill.  Even if you turn around and back the way you came you are going uphill.  And to beat that the city is at 2600 meters so oxygen is at a minimum.  It seems that most people make up for this by walking slowly.

Their short legs may be slowing them down as well...

Still Certifiable...

While in Taganga, Colombia I decided to get my Open Water Scuba Diving Certification.  Some friends were doing it, it sounded like fun, and it is supposed to be one of the cheapest places in the world to dive.

I was amazed at how easy it was.  Learn about the equipment and some simple rules and techniques for safety and emergencies.  Then it is just a matter of floating and kicking your feet every once in a while.

Who knew?

Cartagena, Colombia

The city of Cartagena is based around an old walled city which was used to protect the Spanish Gold shipments from the Pirates of the Caribbean.  The old city is still mostly intact and has been turned into a tourist area.  they also added Boca Grande a touristy beach area that isn't that great.

The heat is incredible.  After spending a month in the high Andes where it never gets above 20°C... and including the fact that I am from Alberta, I wasn't ready to deal with the heat at first.  Even at night it never seemed to cool down.  I was lucky the hostel had a air conditioned dormitory.