What happened to Peru, I ask myself? My last post had us at the end of my short stay in Arequipa, my first stop in Peru. I had heard so much about Peru, that I came with very high expectations. Maybe too high. Depending on which direction people were travelling in, seemed to influence their thoughts on the countries they had visited in South America.
Peru – Great sights, great food
This wasn’t just the case for Peru. Everywhere I went, and the travellers I met, whether they were coming south from Colombia, or north from Chile, people could not say enough good things about the place. Everywhere else it seemed paled into comparison. Bumping into road weary travellers who had come from Bolivia, they told me that anywhere that had a good bus service and decent food was Utopia.
The Best of South America
I had travelled around and up through Argentina, a country that I absolutely love. A couple of weeks in Chile, including a blissful 4 days in Iquique, combined with Argentina probably wasn’t the best preparation for my introduction to Peru. I had become spoiled by two of the jewels of South America. So Peru didn’t make the immediate impression on me that I expected.
Puno – not good for the senses of a tired traveller
And things didn’t get any better when rocking into Puno after a 6 hour bus journey from Arequipa. What a hole Puno is and if it wasn’t for the fact that it nestles the shores of Lake Titicaca, I doubt it would get any visitors at all.
Budget accommodation In Peru at its “best”
I got a taxi from the bus station and joylessly stared out the windows as I was driven to my hostel, Pirwa Backpackers. As with a lot of “budget” accommodation, I got a bad first impression of Pirwa, but the two days I had there were uneventful enough for me to forget my initial negative impression of the place. That said, there were no social areas so I didn’t see any other backpackers, and the breakfast was beyond perfunctory.
Lake Titicaca and the floating villages
But the purpose of my visit was to get out to Lake Titicaca and see the floating villages, which I did on day 2. A half day boat trip ticked all my boxes and I thoroughly enjoyed the excursion, and knowing that this is how the islanders make their money, I had fun bartering with the locals as they displayed their wares. I did think to myself though, “Who would ever buy one of those mobile decorations?”, and I had my answer later that evening when meeting Vix and Hannah for dinner. You dumped them yet girls?
Where has the guinea pig gone? First time eating cuy
Whilst in Puno I also managed to tick off another item off my South American “must do” list. Eat cuy. Or more commonly known at home as guinea pig. I had to admit, it wasn’t a thought I relished but it was something I knew I had to try whilst in Peru so in i walked and order guinea pig and chips. I kid you not. And the all important question. What did it taste like? Yup, you guessed it. Chicken. Seriously!
Time to move on to Cusco – home of the Incas
Another night in the soulless hostel and we were ready to move on. To a place that I was genuinely excited about. Cusco. Home of the Incas and gateway to Machu Picchu. As I boarded the 7.30am Inka Express to Cusco I had the sudden realisation that I was soon going to be visiting one of the greatest places in the world, one that I had thought about for many years.
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