Hi everyone,
After leaving Rio de janerio we flew back to Buenos Aires for a couple of days before heading off to Uruguay. We spent the day in Colonia, which is the most beautiful old Portugese/Spanish village on the other side of the river to Buenos Aires. It was a warm sunny day and Alicia, Rob and I strolled along the streets, ate a fantastic BBQ washed down with "vino" on the shores of the beach and just had a wonderful day.
The next day we spent having lunch in BuenosAires with a friend from Black Rock. What a small world...
The time has now come to head back home. Our flight from BsAs was to leave at 2.00am but was delayed 5 hours. When we arrived in New Zealand it was delayed another 2 hours. From the time we woke up that morning to the time we arrived in Sydney we had been on the go for 24 hours.
We spent the night with our dear friends in Sydney then Peter drove us home to Benalla. We are now upacking then looking forward to another sleep.
We do hope you enjoyed reading our travels as much as we enjoyed telling you of our great adventure.
We now close this Blog and will be in touch with you in a few weeks.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Goodbye Rio
Hi everyone,
It was so sad to leave Rio de Janerio. We spent 4 beautiful days in Buzios, as I said in my last blog, then 4 days in Rio. What a great place. We did an Island hop around the south coast of Rio in this huge yatch.... and Rob was not even the slightest bit sick.. he loved it.
Our hotel was right on the Ipanema beach front and we were 14 storeys up. Just wanted to look out the window at the sights.
We strolled along the beaches of Ipanema and Cococabana, sipped pina coladas on the sand, went to this wonderful Carnivale show, which was spectacular. The costumes were out of this world.... typical Mardi Gras!
During the show, the MCee thanked all the different nationalities in the audience and we were the only Aussies there. Guess what.... we had to go up on stage and sing Waltzing Matilta and kangaroo hop..... Cassie and Chris... do not be embarrased by your parents, it was all fun and everyone was clapping and cheering.
We took the cable car to the top of the mountain.. called Sugarloaf.... and WOW what a view... couldn´t believe that Rio was so BIG.
Oh well, it is now back to normal.
Tomorrow we are off to Uraquay and then on Friday evening we head home to Sydney. It has been a most wonderful trip, but we feel that three months was a little big too long. We are really looking forward to seeing our friends and family.
Love to you all. Maxine and Robert. xxxx
It was so sad to leave Rio de Janerio. We spent 4 beautiful days in Buzios, as I said in my last blog, then 4 days in Rio. What a great place. We did an Island hop around the south coast of Rio in this huge yatch.... and Rob was not even the slightest bit sick.. he loved it.
Our hotel was right on the Ipanema beach front and we were 14 storeys up. Just wanted to look out the window at the sights.
We strolled along the beaches of Ipanema and Cococabana, sipped pina coladas on the sand, went to this wonderful Carnivale show, which was spectacular. The costumes were out of this world.... typical Mardi Gras!
During the show, the MCee thanked all the different nationalities in the audience and we were the only Aussies there. Guess what.... we had to go up on stage and sing Waltzing Matilta and kangaroo hop..... Cassie and Chris... do not be embarrased by your parents, it was all fun and everyone was clapping and cheering.
We took the cable car to the top of the mountain.. called Sugarloaf.... and WOW what a view... couldn´t believe that Rio was so BIG.
Oh well, it is now back to normal.
Tomorrow we are off to Uraquay and then on Friday evening we head home to Sydney. It has been a most wonderful trip, but we feel that three months was a little big too long. We are really looking forward to seeing our friends and family.
Love to you all. Maxine and Robert. xxxx
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Change of plans in Sth America
Hi all,
During our week in Buenos Aires, Alicia took us to many places that we had not visited before. We saw the beautiful sights around Belgrano. This suburb is very close to the city and is very much like South Yarra back home. The streets are beautifully cobblestoned with huge trees and magnificent homes. We also witnessed Alicia´s great nephews baptism, which was an honour. It is very much like the services at home. We met many of her relations including her 89 year old mother who is very sprightly for her age. We also went to Agustins birthday party and again met many other relations. We really do feel part of this family and hope one day they can visit Australia.
There has been a very cold Winter chill here. We had planned to go north to Cordoba and Mendoza, but it started to snow so we decided to go somewhere warm, so here we are in Rio de Janerio.... yes that´s right... RIO. We arrived here on Monday and caught a bus for a 3 hour trip to Buzios. This facinating fishing village was made famous by Bridget Bardot. During the day all the tourists and village people, all go to the beach and around 5pm when the sun goes down, they all disappear to there homes or hotels, change and head for the night spots. Well this was an experience we will never forget. What a great 4 days we had here. First of all we had to shop for summer clothes as we only have hiking gear and winter gear. I loved it.
We went on a boat cruise around all the small bays, swimming off the boat and drinking wine and eating prawns. What a life!!
The fish restaurant are amazing, thank god I can now eat after one month of rice and water. The good thing about that was that I lost 5 kilos.
Today we had to leave this beautiful oasis and we are now in Rio de Janerio. Sadly it is misty, raining but still warm. Hopefully tomorrow we will see the sun and beaches.
Next week we are back in Bs. As for a week before heading to Sydney. The time has just flown but we are really getting tired of airports, buses and living out of suitcases.
We cannot wait to see Australian shores again.
See you all soon. Love always. Maxine and Robert. Here we are known as Roberto and Macini.
During our week in Buenos Aires, Alicia took us to many places that we had not visited before. We saw the beautiful sights around Belgrano. This suburb is very close to the city and is very much like South Yarra back home. The streets are beautifully cobblestoned with huge trees and magnificent homes. We also witnessed Alicia´s great nephews baptism, which was an honour. It is very much like the services at home. We met many of her relations including her 89 year old mother who is very sprightly for her age. We also went to Agustins birthday party and again met many other relations. We really do feel part of this family and hope one day they can visit Australia.
There has been a very cold Winter chill here. We had planned to go north to Cordoba and Mendoza, but it started to snow so we decided to go somewhere warm, so here we are in Rio de Janerio.... yes that´s right... RIO. We arrived here on Monday and caught a bus for a 3 hour trip to Buzios. This facinating fishing village was made famous by Bridget Bardot. During the day all the tourists and village people, all go to the beach and around 5pm when the sun goes down, they all disappear to there homes or hotels, change and head for the night spots. Well this was an experience we will never forget. What a great 4 days we had here. First of all we had to shop for summer clothes as we only have hiking gear and winter gear. I loved it.
We went on a boat cruise around all the small bays, swimming off the boat and drinking wine and eating prawns. What a life!!
The fish restaurant are amazing, thank god I can now eat after one month of rice and water. The good thing about that was that I lost 5 kilos.
Today we had to leave this beautiful oasis and we are now in Rio de Janerio. Sadly it is misty, raining but still warm. Hopefully tomorrow we will see the sun and beaches.
Next week we are back in Bs. As for a week before heading to Sydney. The time has just flown but we are really getting tired of airports, buses and living out of suitcases.
We cannot wait to see Australian shores again.
See you all soon. Love always. Maxine and Robert. Here we are known as Roberto and Macini.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Photos at last......
Here are a few photos. The photo of me with the llama is on the way to the glacier at Huaraz. Robert said to tell you all that the llama is on the right.
The water in this lake is crystal clear and the colour is magnificent. The other photo is also of me with the sunset in the background... this was taken in the desert when we stayed at the Huacachina oasis. YES, there is an oasis in Peru. The other photo of all the children was the last day in Chapuca when all the children and mothers gave us a farewell party.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Last week in Peru
Hi everyone,
Tonight we leave Peru after 2 months of travelling this great country. We still have another 3 weeks of our holiday to spend in Argentina and Uraguay.
Since our last blog a week ago, we were going to travel north to the beaches but we were told the weather was not good, so we headed to the Cordilleo Ranges where the snow capped mountains are white all year round. We travelled by bus for 8 hours through desert, beaches, mountains, farming land and snow areas, to a place called Huaraz. This is a beautiful town and full of hikers, trekkers and mountain climbers. In 1970 there was a tremendous earthquake which killed 70,000 people in Huaraz and the sourrounding districts. It is so sad to see the devastation of entire towns and villages. One town called Yugay was rebuilt further down the valley but the original town has been left as a huge cemetry with 18,000 people buried under the stone rocks and rubbish. You can see the remains of an old bus sticking out of the ground and the tops of palm trees that were buried also.
We spent one day horse riding starting at a little village called Olleros and continuing on for four hours into the high mountains through many rural farming villages. The weather started off fine and sunny but as we climbed into the higher ranges, the wind was blowing directly off the snow capped mountains and glaciers and luckily we had our coats and warm Peruivan hats.
This was a fantastic day and was followed by a picnic in the nearby pine forest with our guide.
Another day was spent at the ruins of Chavin which precede Muchu Picchu by 1,500 years. This site was the original place for Peruivan culture.
We also visited many pottery factories and would love to bring some home in a crate.... maybe another time.
We finally caught up with Harry Hilderbrand. Harrys father is the chemist in Benalla and Harry is the second in charge of Markham College here in Peru. He has been living here in Peru for 11 years with his wife and new baby son and we spent the morning talking of his experiences organising the students at his school who raised money and helped rebuild the villages effected by the earthquake in 1997 which killed 500 people in the town of Chinca, south of Lima.
We have visited many wineries here in Peru. Some of them still use the old method of stamping the grapes and use equipment that is over 500 years old to process the wine.
Until next time, hope you are all well and we look forward to seeing many of you next month.
P:S. We have been receiving a few Facebook messages on our email, but unfortunatley our Facebook is down at the moment and we cannot reply. Please wait till we get home and we can fix things up.
Love to you all. Maxine and Robert. xxxxx
Tonight we leave Peru after 2 months of travelling this great country. We still have another 3 weeks of our holiday to spend in Argentina and Uraguay.
Since our last blog a week ago, we were going to travel north to the beaches but we were told the weather was not good, so we headed to the Cordilleo Ranges where the snow capped mountains are white all year round. We travelled by bus for 8 hours through desert, beaches, mountains, farming land and snow areas, to a place called Huaraz. This is a beautiful town and full of hikers, trekkers and mountain climbers. In 1970 there was a tremendous earthquake which killed 70,000 people in Huaraz and the sourrounding districts. It is so sad to see the devastation of entire towns and villages. One town called Yugay was rebuilt further down the valley but the original town has been left as a huge cemetry with 18,000 people buried under the stone rocks and rubbish. You can see the remains of an old bus sticking out of the ground and the tops of palm trees that were buried also.
We spent one day horse riding starting at a little village called Olleros and continuing on for four hours into the high mountains through many rural farming villages. The weather started off fine and sunny but as we climbed into the higher ranges, the wind was blowing directly off the snow capped mountains and glaciers and luckily we had our coats and warm Peruivan hats.
This was a fantastic day and was followed by a picnic in the nearby pine forest with our guide.
Another day was spent at the ruins of Chavin which precede Muchu Picchu by 1,500 years. This site was the original place for Peruivan culture.
We also visited many pottery factories and would love to bring some home in a crate.... maybe another time.
We finally caught up with Harry Hilderbrand. Harrys father is the chemist in Benalla and Harry is the second in charge of Markham College here in Peru. He has been living here in Peru for 11 years with his wife and new baby son and we spent the morning talking of his experiences organising the students at his school who raised money and helped rebuild the villages effected by the earthquake in 1997 which killed 500 people in the town of Chinca, south of Lima.
We have visited many wineries here in Peru. Some of them still use the old method of stamping the grapes and use equipment that is over 500 years old to process the wine.
Until next time, hope you are all well and we look forward to seeing many of you next month.
P:S. We have been receiving a few Facebook messages on our email, but unfortunatley our Facebook is down at the moment and we cannot reply. Please wait till we get home and we can fix things up.
Love to you all. Maxine and Robert. xxxxx
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Discovering the ruins in Peru
My, hasn´t time flown. We have now been travelling for 2 months and are starting to feel a little weary.
Our two days in Machu Picchu were awesome. This is our second visit to this lost city and it was still as inspiring as our first trip 10 years ago. We noticed quite a big difference in the village below MP called Aguas Calientes. The streets are now formed and many of the restaurants have improved their standards. We stayed one night here in a hostel. It was very clean, comfortable and only 60 soles per night ... that would be $27.50 Aus. We met some Aussies in Cusco and the same couple were in Aguas Calientes, so we had another long chat over a drink. We also met a couple from Hampton and they knew customers in our shop at Black Rock. We made plans to have dinner with them that night at our hotel in Ollantaytambo. This we did and we had a great evening. It is such a small world talking to this wonderful couple as we had so much in common.
The next day was the longest walk I think I have ever done. 4 hours through valleys, farm lands, Inka terraces, through creeks to a height of 14,000ft. At the end of this walk which we were totally exhausted, we came across a secluded area of another lost city. There was no one else there, besides a few locals farmers which we started to converse with and we handed out chocolate to the children. It was well worth the climb and on the way back it took only 2 hours as we had some help from the local children who showed us a short cut down this goat track and across the terraced hills.
The next day was a transport strike in and around Peru, due to overcrowding of buses and taxis and the government are going to clamp down on them. Because of this strike we had to get to Cusco a day earlier and find accomodation near the airport. This accom. was very basic... and I MEAN BASIC....... only 20 soles a night ie. $8.00 Aussie. In the morning we only had to cross over the road to the airport and had to wait seven hours for our flight to Lima. When we arrived in Lima we found the strike had been cancelled. Oh the joys of travelling.
At our hotel in Lima we now have 4 lots of luggage stored there as well as luggage in Buenos Aires. We will need a crate to come home with!!!!!
The next day I was still quite ill after not eating for 10 days.... only eating dry biscuits and drinking gaterade.... all due to food poisoning in Cusco. Rob was getting quite concerned so off to the Anglo Americano Hospital in Lima I went . After many tests and consultations they found NO parasite... much to my relief.... and now I am on quite a lot of medication and starting to feel better.
We have now travelled south to ICA. A city about four and a half hours from Lima. We are based here for four nights and are doing many sights such has the Nasca Lines, Ballestas Islands, Paracas...a small fishing village and National Park.
The Nasca Lines were great. We flew up in a light aircraft.... 6 seater.... and the pilot would circle each set of lines twice ,which have been inscribed in the soil for over 600 years. These lines depict animals, birds etc and are hundreds of meters long and wide. To follow the mystery - look up www.nasca.com
The Ballestas Islands are islands full of many varieties of bird life, seals and all marine dwellers. This boat trip took about two hours from the coast and luckily the conditions were perfect because of Robs motion sickness. Then onto a fish restaurant in the National Park. One of the best fish restaurants in the world... and we mean that. They bring in the fish, scallops, prawns, squid, etc to your table on the beach and you select what you would like and cook it before your eyes.
On the way back to ICA, we stopped at Pisco where the earthquake struck in 2007. The devestation here was unbelievable. It was so sad to drive through the ruins and empty blocks where once were shops and houses. A lovely old church... approx 300 yrs old.... had collapsed and 400 people inside were killed.
People are still living in tents made out of plastic sheeting and bamboo.
Our hotel here in ICA... is in a beautiful oasis. Actually it is 5 mins out of ICA. You cannot believe it until you see it. This oasis in the middle of the desert, surrounded by palms, sand dunes, hotels and restaurants. The sand dunes around the oasis are 400 mt. high.
We have been in the sand dune buggy and Rob went sand board riding. YES that´s right. Down the sand on a board on his stomach and I have film to prove it....
The buggys are so powerful they race across the sand dunes at up to 80 km a hour. We did this for one hour and then sat on top of the sand dunes and watched the sun set.
Many pictures taken here, but I have left the cord back in Lima and cannot put them on the blog yet.
This is our last day here before we start back to Lima. Bye everyone.
From NANA AND PAPA TO BE. WOW!!!
Our two days in Machu Picchu were awesome. This is our second visit to this lost city and it was still as inspiring as our first trip 10 years ago. We noticed quite a big difference in the village below MP called Aguas Calientes. The streets are now formed and many of the restaurants have improved their standards. We stayed one night here in a hostel. It was very clean, comfortable and only 60 soles per night ... that would be $27.50 Aus. We met some Aussies in Cusco and the same couple were in Aguas Calientes, so we had another long chat over a drink. We also met a couple from Hampton and they knew customers in our shop at Black Rock. We made plans to have dinner with them that night at our hotel in Ollantaytambo. This we did and we had a great evening. It is such a small world talking to this wonderful couple as we had so much in common.
The next day was the longest walk I think I have ever done. 4 hours through valleys, farm lands, Inka terraces, through creeks to a height of 14,000ft. At the end of this walk which we were totally exhausted, we came across a secluded area of another lost city. There was no one else there, besides a few locals farmers which we started to converse with and we handed out chocolate to the children. It was well worth the climb and on the way back it took only 2 hours as we had some help from the local children who showed us a short cut down this goat track and across the terraced hills.
The next day was a transport strike in and around Peru, due to overcrowding of buses and taxis and the government are going to clamp down on them. Because of this strike we had to get to Cusco a day earlier and find accomodation near the airport. This accom. was very basic... and I MEAN BASIC....... only 20 soles a night ie. $8.00 Aussie. In the morning we only had to cross over the road to the airport and had to wait seven hours for our flight to Lima. When we arrived in Lima we found the strike had been cancelled. Oh the joys of travelling.
At our hotel in Lima we now have 4 lots of luggage stored there as well as luggage in Buenos Aires. We will need a crate to come home with!!!!!
The next day I was still quite ill after not eating for 10 days.... only eating dry biscuits and drinking gaterade.... all due to food poisoning in Cusco. Rob was getting quite concerned so off to the Anglo Americano Hospital in Lima I went . After many tests and consultations they found NO parasite... much to my relief.... and now I am on quite a lot of medication and starting to feel better.
We have now travelled south to ICA. A city about four and a half hours from Lima. We are based here for four nights and are doing many sights such has the Nasca Lines, Ballestas Islands, Paracas...a small fishing village and National Park.
The Nasca Lines were great. We flew up in a light aircraft.... 6 seater.... and the pilot would circle each set of lines twice ,which have been inscribed in the soil for over 600 years. These lines depict animals, birds etc and are hundreds of meters long and wide. To follow the mystery - look up www.nasca.com
The Ballestas Islands are islands full of many varieties of bird life, seals and all marine dwellers. This boat trip took about two hours from the coast and luckily the conditions were perfect because of Robs motion sickness. Then onto a fish restaurant in the National Park. One of the best fish restaurants in the world... and we mean that. They bring in the fish, scallops, prawns, squid, etc to your table on the beach and you select what you would like and cook it before your eyes.
On the way back to ICA, we stopped at Pisco where the earthquake struck in 2007. The devestation here was unbelievable. It was so sad to drive through the ruins and empty blocks where once were shops and houses. A lovely old church... approx 300 yrs old.... had collapsed and 400 people inside were killed.
People are still living in tents made out of plastic sheeting and bamboo.
Our hotel here in ICA... is in a beautiful oasis. Actually it is 5 mins out of ICA. You cannot believe it until you see it. This oasis in the middle of the desert, surrounded by palms, sand dunes, hotels and restaurants. The sand dunes around the oasis are 400 mt. high.
We have been in the sand dune buggy and Rob went sand board riding. YES that´s right. Down the sand on a board on his stomach and I have film to prove it....
The buggys are so powerful they race across the sand dunes at up to 80 km a hour. We did this for one hour and then sat on top of the sand dunes and watched the sun set.
Many pictures taken here, but I have left the cord back in Lima and cannot put them on the blog yet.
This is our last day here before we start back to Lima. Bye everyone.
From NANA AND PAPA TO BE. WOW!!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Travellers in Peru enter into a new phase
Hi everyone,
We have now finished with our volunteer work and the children and mothers gave us a party we will never forget. There would have been around 80 children in this very small room. There were games, songs, dances and wonderful food prepared by the mothers and children.
One game was very memorable.... two children had a handful of shaving cream and had to say a Spanish word in English. We knew what was coming...... Rob and I had to stand in the middle of the room and say what the English word was in Spanish. Rob was the one with the shaving cream smothered down his face..... I always wanted to do that!!!
The next day we travelled back to Lima for a couple of nights to rest and organise the next stage of our adventure.
We flew LanChile from Lima to Cusco with one big hiccup. Our travel agent in Huancayo wrote the wrong time for departure on our ticket and we missed the plane. LanChile where very good and put us on the next flight. At first they were going to charge us but realised it was not our fault.
When we arrived in Cusco where were totally stunned by the change in this city from 10 years ago. It was full of up market shops ie. clothing, restaurants, jewellery etc. and tourists from all over the world as the Festival of the Sun was in full progress. This festival is an annual event depicting life as it was 500 years ago in the Inca time. It was very colourful with dances and Inca rituals over 2-3 days. There was also the sacrifice of a llama on the ceremonial stonework table by the kings of all the different Inca tribes. They killed the llama, cut out its stomach, liver, heart etc then pulled out these organs and put them on the burning fire, then tasted these in front of 25,000 people.
That night we caught up with our friend Andres.... he was our guide 10 years ago and we have always kept in touch. He now owns a restaurant in Cusco and was having a BIG party that night. He was so thrilled to see us and were invited to this party as his personal guests. One condition was that everyone wear WINGS, so we had to find the costume shop and buy some wings. Rob had white swan wings with a gold halo over his head and Maxine had pink butterfly wings with matching wand and hair band. The party was outrageous with gold and silver painted nymphs, doing acrobatic moves from the ceiling, strobe lighting everywhere and the loudest DJ we have ever heard. In the middle of the dance floor was a five metre high silver painted angel... the name of the restaurant is the Fallen Angel.... look it up on the Internet!!!!
We spent a few hours there before heading back to our hotel for an early morning departure to Ollantaytambo.. where we are now about one and a half hours drive from Cusco towards Mucchu Picchu.
This town is amazing too. It is as though the Inca people 500 years ago, have just got up and walked away and left it. The streets are so narrow with cobble stones and irrigation systems running beside the footpaths and in between the houses. Once again there are tourists everywhere.
Our hotel, which is absolutely quite unique, has the front door on the platform of the railway station. There are only trains during the day so very quite at night. It is run by an English couple and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is painted white and Spanish influence. We will be here for 4 nights before heading back to Lima.
Until then, it´s bye from the Peruvian travellers. Photos next time.
Maxine and Robert.
We have now finished with our volunteer work and the children and mothers gave us a party we will never forget. There would have been around 80 children in this very small room. There were games, songs, dances and wonderful food prepared by the mothers and children.
One game was very memorable.... two children had a handful of shaving cream and had to say a Spanish word in English. We knew what was coming...... Rob and I had to stand in the middle of the room and say what the English word was in Spanish. Rob was the one with the shaving cream smothered down his face..... I always wanted to do that!!!
The next day we travelled back to Lima for a couple of nights to rest and organise the next stage of our adventure.
We flew LanChile from Lima to Cusco with one big hiccup. Our travel agent in Huancayo wrote the wrong time for departure on our ticket and we missed the plane. LanChile where very good and put us on the next flight. At first they were going to charge us but realised it was not our fault.
When we arrived in Cusco where were totally stunned by the change in this city from 10 years ago. It was full of up market shops ie. clothing, restaurants, jewellery etc. and tourists from all over the world as the Festival of the Sun was in full progress. This festival is an annual event depicting life as it was 500 years ago in the Inca time. It was very colourful with dances and Inca rituals over 2-3 days. There was also the sacrifice of a llama on the ceremonial stonework table by the kings of all the different Inca tribes. They killed the llama, cut out its stomach, liver, heart etc then pulled out these organs and put them on the burning fire, then tasted these in front of 25,000 people.
That night we caught up with our friend Andres.... he was our guide 10 years ago and we have always kept in touch. He now owns a restaurant in Cusco and was having a BIG party that night. He was so thrilled to see us and were invited to this party as his personal guests. One condition was that everyone wear WINGS, so we had to find the costume shop and buy some wings. Rob had white swan wings with a gold halo over his head and Maxine had pink butterfly wings with matching wand and hair band. The party was outrageous with gold and silver painted nymphs, doing acrobatic moves from the ceiling, strobe lighting everywhere and the loudest DJ we have ever heard. In the middle of the dance floor was a five metre high silver painted angel... the name of the restaurant is the Fallen Angel.... look it up on the Internet!!!!
We spent a few hours there before heading back to our hotel for an early morning departure to Ollantaytambo.. where we are now about one and a half hours drive from Cusco towards Mucchu Picchu.
This town is amazing too. It is as though the Inca people 500 years ago, have just got up and walked away and left it. The streets are so narrow with cobble stones and irrigation systems running beside the footpaths and in between the houses. Once again there are tourists everywhere.
Our hotel, which is absolutely quite unique, has the front door on the platform of the railway station. There are only trains during the day so very quite at night. It is run by an English couple and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is painted white and Spanish influence. We will be here for 4 nights before heading back to Lima.
Until then, it´s bye from the Peruvian travellers. Photos next time.
Maxine and Robert.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Huaytapallana Glacier tour
Today, Thursday 18th there was no school lessons as the children want to clean the room for the BIG party tomorrow. It will be quite an emotional day as it will be hard to say goodbye to these wonderful people.
Ely and Nilton took us to the Huaytapallana Glacier. We travelled by taxi...no ordinary taxi.... a very old Toyota Carollo wagon, rusted, no heater,no suspension and a faulty back hatch and let in all the fumes. In Australia you would travel these roads by 4WD, but not here.....the roads were full of potholes, deep grooves, bad bridges made of rocks, poles etc, ice covered areas and only one car wide, but it was worth every minute to see this magnificent glacier.
Firstly we had to have the traditional ceremony. We had to drink this very potent drink, face the sun and suck coco leaves, smoke the traditional cigarette....7 puffs only and thank the god of the mountain. This will bring you goodluck, health and well being. It is taken very seriously and we respected their tradition.
There were many llamas along the track and they are so tame that we patted them. Lunch was fresh trout straight from the river with rice and potatoes. When we get back home, rice, potatoes and corn will be off the menu for quite some time.
At the base of this glacier the height was 4,900 metres and we could see the top of the mountain which is another 1,000 mt high. Because of our aclimitisation in Chupaca area, it did not effect us at all. Thank goodness.
We walked around the lake till we reached the glacier. Sadly there will be no photos as the batteries ran out in the camera, on the way to the top, but it is all on film.
Until next week. bye all.
Ely and Nilton took us to the Huaytapallana Glacier. We travelled by taxi...no ordinary taxi.... a very old Toyota Carollo wagon, rusted, no heater,no suspension and a faulty back hatch and let in all the fumes. In Australia you would travel these roads by 4WD, but not here.....the roads were full of potholes, deep grooves, bad bridges made of rocks, poles etc, ice covered areas and only one car wide, but it was worth every minute to see this magnificent glacier.
Firstly we had to have the traditional ceremony. We had to drink this very potent drink, face the sun and suck coco leaves, smoke the traditional cigarette....7 puffs only and thank the god of the mountain. This will bring you goodluck, health and well being. It is taken very seriously and we respected their tradition.
There were many llamas along the track and they are so tame that we patted them. Lunch was fresh trout straight from the river with rice and potatoes. When we get back home, rice, potatoes and corn will be off the menu for quite some time.
At the base of this glacier the height was 4,900 metres and we could see the top of the mountain which is another 1,000 mt high. Because of our aclimitisation in Chupaca area, it did not effect us at all. Thank goodness.
We walked around the lake till we reached the glacier. Sadly there will be no photos as the batteries ran out in the camera, on the way to the top, but it is all on film.
Until next week. bye all.
Tour of the glaciers
Wed. 10th June.
Today Rob and I went to San Jeronimo. This is a very small town, about 45 ks from Chupaca and is a mining district for silver. There are many jewelley shops selling silverware and filagree. Boy, did Maxine have a great time in them.
After lunch is was back to teaching the children. The lessons are Mon to Fri, commencing at 3.30pm till around 6.pm. By the time we arrive home... usually around 7pm.... we have a light dinner of soup or pasta and head off to bed.
Things will have to change when we are home in Benalla. Imagine going to bed at 8.30pm.
Our spanish lessons are going rather well, but we still have a little trouble understanding the Peruvians when they speak as they speak rather quickly and we can only get in a few words. At least we know what they are talking about.... no secrets anymore.
Sat. 13th June.
Saturday is usually sleep in morning... but with the animal market just down the road, trucks, animals, dogs, farmers etc, all pass by our window, so we are up around 7am.
Today we went into the main town of Huancayo and bought the medicines for Merado. That night he came for tea and what a lovely lad he is. With all the problems he has with his skin, he can still find the time to study hard and hopes to make university next year on a scholarship. His hands, arms, legs, back and bottom are so blistered it is so unbelievable. He was quite emotional when we gave him 3 months supply of creams etc.
Today Rob and I went to San Jeronimo. This is a very small town, about 45 ks from Chupaca and is a mining district for silver. There are many jewelley shops selling silverware and filagree. Boy, did Maxine have a great time in them.
After lunch is was back to teaching the children. The lessons are Mon to Fri, commencing at 3.30pm till around 6.pm. By the time we arrive home... usually around 7pm.... we have a light dinner of soup or pasta and head off to bed.
Things will have to change when we are home in Benalla. Imagine going to bed at 8.30pm.
Our spanish lessons are going rather well, but we still have a little trouble understanding the Peruvians when they speak as they speak rather quickly and we can only get in a few words. At least we know what they are talking about.... no secrets anymore.
Sat. 13th June.
Saturday is usually sleep in morning... but with the animal market just down the road, trucks, animals, dogs, farmers etc, all pass by our window, so we are up around 7am.
Today we went into the main town of Huancayo and bought the medicines for Merado. That night he came for tea and what a lovely lad he is. With all the problems he has with his skin, he can still find the time to study hard and hopes to make university next year on a scholarship. His hands, arms, legs, back and bottom are so blistered it is so unbelievable. He was quite emotional when we gave him 3 months supply of creams etc.
Monday, June 15, 2009
2nd attempt.....
Some children receiving their Australian gifts.
Maxine, Ely, Robert, Nilton and little Andre on our way to the Jungle.
A few photos of our time in Chupaca
All the instructions are in Spanish, so here we go.... hope you find them interesting.
One photo is of Morado.. the boy who has the skin problem. He is a lovely boy and his hands, arms, back and bottom are always in pain. The skin peels off constantly.
Another photo is of the book case being carried into the school room.
Their is also a photo of a Peruvian mother and her children. They are very poor and we gave her some clothes that were donated.
This is our last week here in Chupaca and it will be very hard to say goodbye.
One photo is of Morado.. the boy who has the skin problem. He is a lovely boy and his hands, arms, back and bottom are always in pain. The skin peels off constantly.
Another photo is of the book case being carried into the school room.
Their is also a photo of a Peruvian mother and her children. They are very poor and we gave her some clothes that were donated.
This is our last week here in Chupaca and it will be very hard to say goodbye.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A day in the town of Chupaca
Afer another night of deep sleep owing to the altitude, we woke to the sun filtering through our bright orange terylene curtains and the sound of roosters, pigs, cattle and the usual barking dogs. After showering in luke warm water (we have no actual hot water system) we came back to our room to read and study our Spanish before our breakfast. We sit on our small balcony which overlooks a small courtyard to catch the morning sun.
Breakfast consisted of tea, bread, one fried egg and 2 saveloys (which were left over from last night). At 9.00am our Spanish teacher, Miguel, arrived for a two hour lesson. Everything went okay but at the end of consistent reading and speaking Spanish, we feel washed out.
At 11.15am we caught a taxi to the main city of Huancayo (about 30 mins away, the cost being 40 cents each). We went straight to the new big shopping centre with a huge supermarket. To watch the Peuvian people in such a complex, we realise how lucky we are. They are amazed at the size of the building and the vast array of goods, most just stand in awe. Also the escalators... most are very wary to step on them.
Anyway, after getting a few nessecities and a cup of coffee (they really don´t make coffee like us Aussies) aaah... for a latte, we caught another taxi back to Chupaca for lunch at 1.15am. It consisted of rice, potatoes, a SMALL piece of chicken along with fruit juice and tea.
After lunch we cannot wash any dishes as between 11am and 5 pm the water is cut off everyday. I don´t know why because tthere are 2 rivers running through the town. From 2.15 to 3.30pm we read and prepare our lesson for the afternoon school day.
At 3.40 we don our back packs, each loaded with books, raincoat (we haven´t had to use these yet) scarves, jumper, jacket, camera , water and miscellaneous items and wait out the front for a taxi to take us to the main taxi centre in Chupaco. Cost 8 cents.
Elly, Antonio, Maxine and I wait here for Nilton who will arrive shortly. HERE HE COMES!!!
Arriving in a 1984 Nissan taxi station wagon with a steel book case on top , tied to the roof. We were able to donate 2 steel bookcases with doors approx 2 metres high, along with 50 English-Spanish dictionaries from donations we bought from Australia.
We all got into the taxi , the driver, Antonio, and another passenger in the front, Maxine, Ely, Nilton and myself in the back seat. We drove through villages for 20 mins along very steep gravel roads until we reached the school of Alanya, we then proceeded to unload the book case The children from this school had begun the trek to the school of Andamarka about 5 km away, another 600 metres further up in the mountains. After travelling about 1 km we came across the children walking along the road (not much better than a goat track). After much exciement at seeing the 5 teachers in the taxi with the driver and still the extra passenger, the taxi came to a stop and YES... 18 children piled into the taxi ie. 25 people in this small station wagon for 4 kms.
On stopping in the village square, I bundled Maxine and one child out of the taxi to capture the unloading of all the passengers on film with so much laughter.
Unfortunately at this school of Andamarka, the local government have taken our run down dilapidated room off us, so we have to have lessons outside in the village square. Maxine and Nilton teach 5-6years, Rob and Elly teach 3-4 and Antonio teaches kindergarden. It is all extremely difficult but fun.
With Alanya and Andamarka schools combined on this day we had 34 children.
On finishing the lessons, the years 1-6 played sport while Antonio continued with the kindy.
Nilton grabbed an Aussie football, donated by Russell from Moyhu P.S. via Wangaratta, and the game began. Not quite Aussie rules but so much fun. While the game was in progress, Maxine and I had a good chance to have a personal chat with Elly. On mentioning to her about the presence in every village square of old fashioned loud speakers, she told us that during the 1980´s and early 90´s they were erected to warn the people when the local guerilla movement was nearby. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as this has never been mentioned by anyone. I knew who she was talking about... The Shinning Path Guerillas - a maoist group, more fierce than the present day insurgents. I have read they were responsible for 20,000 deaths of government people and farmers. Her family have witnessed mass executions and she herself has seen bombs go off in Huancayo.
As the setting sun glistened in the moisture of her reddened eyes, I thought it was time to move on.
Before long, it was quite dark (about 6pm) with a full moon rising, so it was quite light.
We headed back to Alanya school with 18 children for the 5 k walk (no taxis this time of night). The little ones are really struggling. The bigger children knew the short cuts ie. back aneways, over earthen walls and along concrete walls only a shoewidth wide. All along the way they would disappear into the darkness to their individual homes.
Maxine had another near miss when a wild dog went for her. It was a wonder you couldn´t hear her scream back home.
Back down in the village we were ab le to get a taxi and head home. Dinner that night was soup and bread.
DEFINITIONS.......
taxi..... very old cars, very dirty with dust everywhere.
roads..... all unmade, except around the village squares.
school..... dilapidated old buildings consisting of earthen floors, with plastic and hay lined ceilings. Some have electricity, no running water or toilets.
Cheers everyone, kind regards, Robert. (with the help of Maxine´s typing)
Breakfast consisted of tea, bread, one fried egg and 2 saveloys (which were left over from last night). At 9.00am our Spanish teacher, Miguel, arrived for a two hour lesson. Everything went okay but at the end of consistent reading and speaking Spanish, we feel washed out.
At 11.15am we caught a taxi to the main city of Huancayo (about 30 mins away, the cost being 40 cents each). We went straight to the new big shopping centre with a huge supermarket. To watch the Peuvian people in such a complex, we realise how lucky we are. They are amazed at the size of the building and the vast array of goods, most just stand in awe. Also the escalators... most are very wary to step on them.
Anyway, after getting a few nessecities and a cup of coffee (they really don´t make coffee like us Aussies) aaah... for a latte, we caught another taxi back to Chupaca for lunch at 1.15am. It consisted of rice, potatoes, a SMALL piece of chicken along with fruit juice and tea.
After lunch we cannot wash any dishes as between 11am and 5 pm the water is cut off everyday. I don´t know why because tthere are 2 rivers running through the town. From 2.15 to 3.30pm we read and prepare our lesson for the afternoon school day.
At 3.40 we don our back packs, each loaded with books, raincoat (we haven´t had to use these yet) scarves, jumper, jacket, camera , water and miscellaneous items and wait out the front for a taxi to take us to the main taxi centre in Chupaco. Cost 8 cents.
Elly, Antonio, Maxine and I wait here for Nilton who will arrive shortly. HERE HE COMES!!!
Arriving in a 1984 Nissan taxi station wagon with a steel book case on top , tied to the roof. We were able to donate 2 steel bookcases with doors approx 2 metres high, along with 50 English-Spanish dictionaries from donations we bought from Australia.
We all got into the taxi , the driver, Antonio, and another passenger in the front, Maxine, Ely, Nilton and myself in the back seat. We drove through villages for 20 mins along very steep gravel roads until we reached the school of Alanya, we then proceeded to unload the book case The children from this school had begun the trek to the school of Andamarka about 5 km away, another 600 metres further up in the mountains. After travelling about 1 km we came across the children walking along the road (not much better than a goat track). After much exciement at seeing the 5 teachers in the taxi with the driver and still the extra passenger, the taxi came to a stop and YES... 18 children piled into the taxi ie. 25 people in this small station wagon for 4 kms.
On stopping in the village square, I bundled Maxine and one child out of the taxi to capture the unloading of all the passengers on film with so much laughter.
Unfortunately at this school of Andamarka, the local government have taken our run down dilapidated room off us, so we have to have lessons outside in the village square. Maxine and Nilton teach 5-6years, Rob and Elly teach 3-4 and Antonio teaches kindergarden. It is all extremely difficult but fun.
With Alanya and Andamarka schools combined on this day we had 34 children.
On finishing the lessons, the years 1-6 played sport while Antonio continued with the kindy.
Nilton grabbed an Aussie football, donated by Russell from Moyhu P.S. via Wangaratta, and the game began. Not quite Aussie rules but so much fun. While the game was in progress, Maxine and I had a good chance to have a personal chat with Elly. On mentioning to her about the presence in every village square of old fashioned loud speakers, she told us that during the 1980´s and early 90´s they were erected to warn the people when the local guerilla movement was nearby. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as this has never been mentioned by anyone. I knew who she was talking about... The Shinning Path Guerillas - a maoist group, more fierce than the present day insurgents. I have read they were responsible for 20,000 deaths of government people and farmers. Her family have witnessed mass executions and she herself has seen bombs go off in Huancayo.
As the setting sun glistened in the moisture of her reddened eyes, I thought it was time to move on.
Before long, it was quite dark (about 6pm) with a full moon rising, so it was quite light.
We headed back to Alanya school with 18 children for the 5 k walk (no taxis this time of night). The little ones are really struggling. The bigger children knew the short cuts ie. back aneways, over earthen walls and along concrete walls only a shoewidth wide. All along the way they would disappear into the darkness to their individual homes.
Maxine had another near miss when a wild dog went for her. It was a wonder you couldn´t hear her scream back home.
Back down in the village we were ab le to get a taxi and head home. Dinner that night was soup and bread.
DEFINITIONS.......
taxi..... very old cars, very dirty with dust everywhere.
roads..... all unmade, except around the village squares.
school..... dilapidated old buildings consisting of earthen floors, with plastic and hay lined ceilings. Some have electricity, no running water or toilets.
Cheers everyone, kind regards, Robert. (with the help of Maxine´s typing)
Monday, June 8, 2009
The jungle troupers in Peru
Boy oh boy what a jam packed week we have had.
Thurs. 4th June. Today was the day to deliver one of the book cases to the village school called Alayna. Ely, Nilton, Antonio, Rob and myself organised a taxi... which is a small station wagon..... and tied the metal bookcase on top. The roads to the villages are BAD.... nothing more than animal tracks. Here we are with 7 adults in this tiny car holding onto ropes to make sure the book case does not come off. After unloading it we picked up 18 children and loaded them into the back of the taxi and took off to the next school. 25 PEOPLE ON BOARD. This is all on film... very funny.
Fri. 5th June. Ely Rob and I took 12 of these village children into the main town of Huancayo to see a film. This time we travelled by two taxis. These children have never ever seen the large town of Huacayo ... let alone a huge shopping centre and cinema. The expressions on their faces is something we will never forget. They could not believe the escalators, the toilets and the urinals in the boys toilet and the hand dryers. They kept wanting to wash their hands and use the dryers. After the film, which was a first for them all .... a cartoon which was all in Spanish but we could understand most of it..... we took them to Burger King and they had a hamburger and Pepsi... another first. We all returned to the village at 7.30pm and had to travel home along these animal tracks. It is really a fantastic experience.
Sat. 6th June. We woke up at 5.am to catch a bus for 4 hours to Tamar where we had breakfast. This town is the flower capital of Peru. Hidden in a small valley surrounded by huge mountains. We took a taxi to Gruta de Huagapo where we did cave climbing. No helmets or safety equipment supplied, only one rope that the guide uses to help us up or down the sides of the cave. This cave supposedly travels to Macchu Picchu.... because many years ago dye was put in the water and was found in Macchu Picchu.... 350 k away.
We travelled for 300 metres inside the cave.
Outside the cave are trout farms..... the family that owns the restaurant there, have there own trout farm and kill the fish in front of you when you order your lunch. The food was divine. Back to Tamar for a 2 hour trip to a beautiful waterfall. Yet another hours climbing.
We were so tired we headed to our hotel in La Merced... a jungle town and very very humid.
Had a typical Peruvian dinner and then crashed.
Sun. 7th June.
Here we go to the jungle...... Very humid day. For breakfast we walked to the market, sat on stools and had the most delicious fruit drink, empanads etc. The fruit market in Melbourne is very small compared to these markets. Every farmer from the villages are selling their fruit and vegs.
Next stop was an Indian village where we had to dress up, put on the face paint and dance while the Head Indian spoke of the wonders of natural medicine which they grow themselves and sell.
Then on to two more waterfalls..... oh for a rest........ lunch was not served till 4.00pm. This was the most fantastic lunch. All the fish are caught on the spot and melt in the mouth. The restaurant was right on the hugh Chapapmayo River so our next excitement was a journey in a long boat up the river at 6.pm ... dusk. The long boat is a huge canoe with an outboard motor on the back, and I am sure there was more water in the boat than in the river. ha ha.
The bird life was beautiful. saw no snakes or spiders thank goodness.
Back to our hotel for a rest before our 5 hour journey home to Chapuca. This bus left the depot at midnight and we arrived home exhausted and slept in till 10am Mon.
Whilst boarding the bus out in the dark street, three men encircled Rob and I. Nilton could see what was happening and came in beside us. One of these men tried to open the pocket of Robs hiking pants and Rob heard the valcrose open. Thank goodness because his wallet was in there. He immediately pushed the mans hand away and Nilton pushed us into the bus.
Another day in the life of the Roach adventures, but we love every minute of it.
We will definately send photos next time. I am about to buy a USP so I can save the photos and send them to you. Our internet at the house was down this morning so I couldn´t send the photos and this internet cafe is not up to date with mod cons.
We met some great South African and German young people. They are also doing volunteer work in Peru but with other organisations. It was great to be able to speak English again.
We seem to bump into them all the time in the supermarket or at the village plaza.
That´s all for now. Hope you are all well. Rob and Maxine. xxxx
Thurs. 4th June. Today was the day to deliver one of the book cases to the village school called Alayna. Ely, Nilton, Antonio, Rob and myself organised a taxi... which is a small station wagon..... and tied the metal bookcase on top. The roads to the villages are BAD.... nothing more than animal tracks. Here we are with 7 adults in this tiny car holding onto ropes to make sure the book case does not come off. After unloading it we picked up 18 children and loaded them into the back of the taxi and took off to the next school. 25 PEOPLE ON BOARD. This is all on film... very funny.
Fri. 5th June. Ely Rob and I took 12 of these village children into the main town of Huancayo to see a film. This time we travelled by two taxis. These children have never ever seen the large town of Huacayo ... let alone a huge shopping centre and cinema. The expressions on their faces is something we will never forget. They could not believe the escalators, the toilets and the urinals in the boys toilet and the hand dryers. They kept wanting to wash their hands and use the dryers. After the film, which was a first for them all .... a cartoon which was all in Spanish but we could understand most of it..... we took them to Burger King and they had a hamburger and Pepsi... another first. We all returned to the village at 7.30pm and had to travel home along these animal tracks. It is really a fantastic experience.
Sat. 6th June. We woke up at 5.am to catch a bus for 4 hours to Tamar where we had breakfast. This town is the flower capital of Peru. Hidden in a small valley surrounded by huge mountains. We took a taxi to Gruta de Huagapo where we did cave climbing. No helmets or safety equipment supplied, only one rope that the guide uses to help us up or down the sides of the cave. This cave supposedly travels to Macchu Picchu.... because many years ago dye was put in the water and was found in Macchu Picchu.... 350 k away.
We travelled for 300 metres inside the cave.
Outside the cave are trout farms..... the family that owns the restaurant there, have there own trout farm and kill the fish in front of you when you order your lunch. The food was divine. Back to Tamar for a 2 hour trip to a beautiful waterfall. Yet another hours climbing.
We were so tired we headed to our hotel in La Merced... a jungle town and very very humid.
Had a typical Peruvian dinner and then crashed.
Sun. 7th June.
Here we go to the jungle...... Very humid day. For breakfast we walked to the market, sat on stools and had the most delicious fruit drink, empanads etc. The fruit market in Melbourne is very small compared to these markets. Every farmer from the villages are selling their fruit and vegs.
Next stop was an Indian village where we had to dress up, put on the face paint and dance while the Head Indian spoke of the wonders of natural medicine which they grow themselves and sell.
Then on to two more waterfalls..... oh for a rest........ lunch was not served till 4.00pm. This was the most fantastic lunch. All the fish are caught on the spot and melt in the mouth. The restaurant was right on the hugh Chapapmayo River so our next excitement was a journey in a long boat up the river at 6.pm ... dusk. The long boat is a huge canoe with an outboard motor on the back, and I am sure there was more water in the boat than in the river. ha ha.
The bird life was beautiful. saw no snakes or spiders thank goodness.
Back to our hotel for a rest before our 5 hour journey home to Chapuca. This bus left the depot at midnight and we arrived home exhausted and slept in till 10am Mon.
Whilst boarding the bus out in the dark street, three men encircled Rob and I. Nilton could see what was happening and came in beside us. One of these men tried to open the pocket of Robs hiking pants and Rob heard the valcrose open. Thank goodness because his wallet was in there. He immediately pushed the mans hand away and Nilton pushed us into the bus.
Another day in the life of the Roach adventures, but we love every minute of it.
We will definately send photos next time. I am about to buy a USP so I can save the photos and send them to you. Our internet at the house was down this morning so I couldn´t send the photos and this internet cafe is not up to date with mod cons.
We met some great South African and German young people. They are also doing volunteer work in Peru but with other organisations. It was great to be able to speak English again.
We seem to bump into them all the time in the supermarket or at the village plaza.
That´s all for now. Hope you are all well. Rob and Maxine. xxxx
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Another week on Peruvian food
This past week we have worked with the children each day... Mon to Fri. We teach them all about the parts of the body, what you can buy in a supermarket, the meanings of words showing the opposites .... all in English. It really helps us with our Spanish. Each Friday we have sports and Rob loves being the umpire for the Aussie rules... a mixture of all football games... I think. I hate playing the volley ball as my arms ache for days.
Every two months the children with the highest marks get a gift. Last Friday we had to wrap up about 20 gifts and distribute these to the children. The look on their faces are something we will always remember.
Over the past week Rob and I have been cooking some of he meals. We have done scrambled eggs, Italian pasta, plain meat and vegs and fruit cocktail .... many fruits done in the blender. Nilton and Ely just love the food... I guess it is just different to them. Poor little Andre.... their 5 year old son.... was not too sure of it.
In Huancayo.... about 20 mins drive from here, they have built a large modern shopping centre and supermarket. The local people are absolutely amazed by it. The children just look at the elevator and watch people go up and down. Next week we are taking 16 children from the poor villages to this centre as there is a cinema and they have never seen the large town, not to mention a cinema.
Last night we went to a typically Perivuan cafe and Rob and I had our first taste of ox heart kebabs. Very nice but Rob could not come at the tripe. ugh....
That is all for now. I will try a few photos later.
Maxine and Robert. xxx
Every two months the children with the highest marks get a gift. Last Friday we had to wrap up about 20 gifts and distribute these to the children. The look on their faces are something we will always remember.
Over the past week Rob and I have been cooking some of he meals. We have done scrambled eggs, Italian pasta, plain meat and vegs and fruit cocktail .... many fruits done in the blender. Nilton and Ely just love the food... I guess it is just different to them. Poor little Andre.... their 5 year old son.... was not too sure of it.
In Huancayo.... about 20 mins drive from here, they have built a large modern shopping centre and supermarket. The local people are absolutely amazed by it. The children just look at the elevator and watch people go up and down. Next week we are taking 16 children from the poor villages to this centre as there is a cinema and they have never seen the large town, not to mention a cinema.
Last night we went to a typically Perivuan cafe and Rob and I had our first taste of ox heart kebabs. Very nice but Rob could not come at the tripe. ugh....
That is all for now. I will try a few photos later.
Maxine and Robert. xxx
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Guinea Pig on the Menu
The days are very warm in Chupaca Peru.. usually 26 cel. We are in Tshirts during the day but the nights are a little cooler.
Sat. 23rd we visited a village called Jauja. This town was originally the capital of Peru during the Spanish rule in the 1600´s. Lima is now the capital. The buildings are very old and the streets are so narrow. We continued on to ¨ Lagune de Paca¨ .... a beautiful lake.... to watch the local festival where the people prepare a Patchamanka, which is like a hungi in the ground. Then we went to a local restaurant overlooking the lake for lunch.
This is were Rob and I had our first meal of Guinnea Pig. It is very much like duck. ... not a lot of meat but a lot of bone and a little greasy, also very sweet. We also had fresh trout fillets ...the best we have ever tasted in our life.
We then went back to Jauja to see another local street festival. Here they plant huge trees that they have just cut down from nearby, and decorate them with balloons,blankets, bags anything colourful and transplant them in the local square. Between two of the trees there was a duck sitting in a basket hanging between two of the trees. Later on the trees are cut down and the locals run and catch all the decorations for luck. There is a band playing and the locals are dressed in traditional costumes and dance around the trees. While they were dancing, a few locals grabbed hold of us and we had to dance with them all. This music didn´t stop for at least half and hour and we were worn out. We really had a great day.
Sun, 24th
Today after a sleep in we went into Huancayo with Nilton and Elly and brought 50 books for the children of Esperanza. The books were mainly dictionaries and history books and bought with the donations that were given do us prior to our trip. Only one book case was ready to take so we hailed a taxi, put down the back seat of this small station wagon, laid the steel bookcase down with it hanging out the back and Rob and Nilton had to squash in alongside it lying down whileMaxine was lucky to have the front seat.
Mon. 25th.
Went back to Huancayo today to by bookcases for all these books. Once again from donations.
We have been having traditional Peruvian food all the time. ie. a lot of potatoes, corn, eggs, rice and bread. Trying hard to lose weight but it is almost impossible.
In the afternoon it was the first day we went to the schools. Rob went to one school while I went to another. The children were so happy to see us again. On the way home Rob had 11 people in his small 1980 Nissan with a bag of potatoes on the roof, and I had 10 people in mine.
Tues. 26th.
Today we started Spanish lessons. This will be 2 hours , 3 times a week. It is most helpful when you live with the Spanish speaking family. In the afternoon we went back to the schools for more lessons with the children and watched this magnificent light show of thunder and lightning.
This school is 650 meters higher than yesterday´s school which would take us to 3,800 metres high. Rob and I have been having a few light headaches and blood noses but otherwise all okay.
In this town of Chupaca I think the dogs outnumber the people. All night long they bark and bark and Rob said the dog next door will soon be baited.
We are thoroughly enjoying our time here with the children and looking forward to each and every day.
Will keep you posted next week. Maxine and Rob.
Sat. 23rd we visited a village called Jauja. This town was originally the capital of Peru during the Spanish rule in the 1600´s. Lima is now the capital. The buildings are very old and the streets are so narrow. We continued on to ¨ Lagune de Paca¨ .... a beautiful lake.... to watch the local festival where the people prepare a Patchamanka, which is like a hungi in the ground. Then we went to a local restaurant overlooking the lake for lunch.
This is were Rob and I had our first meal of Guinnea Pig. It is very much like duck. ... not a lot of meat but a lot of bone and a little greasy, also very sweet. We also had fresh trout fillets ...the best we have ever tasted in our life.
We then went back to Jauja to see another local street festival. Here they plant huge trees that they have just cut down from nearby, and decorate them with balloons,blankets, bags anything colourful and transplant them in the local square. Between two of the trees there was a duck sitting in a basket hanging between two of the trees. Later on the trees are cut down and the locals run and catch all the decorations for luck. There is a band playing and the locals are dressed in traditional costumes and dance around the trees. While they were dancing, a few locals grabbed hold of us and we had to dance with them all. This music didn´t stop for at least half and hour and we were worn out. We really had a great day.
Sun, 24th
Today after a sleep in we went into Huancayo with Nilton and Elly and brought 50 books for the children of Esperanza. The books were mainly dictionaries and history books and bought with the donations that were given do us prior to our trip. Only one book case was ready to take so we hailed a taxi, put down the back seat of this small station wagon, laid the steel bookcase down with it hanging out the back and Rob and Nilton had to squash in alongside it lying down whileMaxine was lucky to have the front seat.
Mon. 25th.
Went back to Huancayo today to by bookcases for all these books. Once again from donations.
We have been having traditional Peruvian food all the time. ie. a lot of potatoes, corn, eggs, rice and bread. Trying hard to lose weight but it is almost impossible.
In the afternoon it was the first day we went to the schools. Rob went to one school while I went to another. The children were so happy to see us again. On the way home Rob had 11 people in his small 1980 Nissan with a bag of potatoes on the roof, and I had 10 people in mine.
Tues. 26th.
Today we started Spanish lessons. This will be 2 hours , 3 times a week. It is most helpful when you live with the Spanish speaking family. In the afternoon we went back to the schools for more lessons with the children and watched this magnificent light show of thunder and lightning.
This school is 650 meters higher than yesterday´s school which would take us to 3,800 metres high. Rob and I have been having a few light headaches and blood noses but otherwise all okay.
In this town of Chupaca I think the dogs outnumber the people. All night long they bark and bark and Rob said the dog next door will soon be baited.
We are thoroughly enjoying our time here with the children and looking forward to each and every day.
Will keep you posted next week. Maxine and Rob.
Friday, May 22, 2009
We are now in Peru
We hope you enjoyed our photos of Buenos Aires. We thank you Alicia for all the guided tours you gave us. We left Buenos Aires at 8.30pm last Tuesday evening and arrived in Lima Peru at midnight. A taxi was there to pick us up and take us to our hotel for two nights. Wednesday we mainly slept all morning and then toured Miraflores on the coast of Lima.
The following day we travelled to Huancayo by bus. This trip took 7 hours but it went very quickly. A very comfortable bus and good food. We were met at the bus depot by Nilton and Elly, the organisers of the Peru Luz Esperanze, our volunteer group. Since last year, Nilton and Elly have moved to a smaller house. It is a lot smaller BUT warm showers... thank goodness.
Today we went to one of the schools and the children were so happy to see us again. They decorated the front gate with streamers and balloons and gave us flowers, home made cards, notes and made biscuits and drinks .....a party we will never forget. We then had a sports afternoon and thanks to Russell who gave us many footballs, the children were so excited. Rob tried to teach Aussie Rules as much as he could, but they just wanted to kick and tackle each other.
Thank you for your comments .... for those of you who did not realise it... you can click on comments and type a note back to us.
Will be back at the computer next week. Bye to you all.
The following day we travelled to Huancayo by bus. This trip took 7 hours but it went very quickly. A very comfortable bus and good food. We were met at the bus depot by Nilton and Elly, the organisers of the Peru Luz Esperanze, our volunteer group. Since last year, Nilton and Elly have moved to a smaller house. It is a lot smaller BUT warm showers... thank goodness.
Today we went to one of the schools and the children were so happy to see us again. They decorated the front gate with streamers and balloons and gave us flowers, home made cards, notes and made biscuits and drinks .....a party we will never forget. We then had a sports afternoon and thanks to Russell who gave us many footballs, the children were so excited. Rob tried to teach Aussie Rules as much as he could, but they just wanted to kick and tackle each other.
Thank you for your comments .... for those of you who did not realise it... you can click on comments and type a note back to us.
Will be back at the computer next week. Bye to you all.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Some photos of our trip
Hello everyone. Rob and I have left our apartment in BA and are now at Alicia's home. Tonight at 8.30 pm we head off to Lima to start our adventure. I am now going to attach a few photos.
The first photo of Rob and I was taken at the airport.
The second photo was at the Museum of the Arts in Tigre. We are with Alicia and Lucrecia. This was a magnificent building and so big that we couldn't get it all in the photo. The third photo was taken at San Telmo with all the colourful houses built in the 1600's and have been painted in so many different colours. This place is a haven for tourists. While you sit and eat your lunch the tango dancers are all around you and there are so many buskers in the cobblestone streets.
The last photo is Rob talking to the children at the school in Tigre.
Well bye for now and will report later. Love you all.
Maxine and Robert.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
We were about to spend the day with friends for lunch at Martinez (an outer suburb) We were to take the 60 bus to Martinez but we were on the wrong side of the road and the bus went to the inner city. We were so far out that we had to catch two subway trains to Retiro station which is the main station in Buenos Aires. Then we took the train to Martinez. In all it took us an hour and a half to get there, normally a trip of 40 minutes.
The next day we went into the city and had lunch at a Parilla (pronounced pareeja) which is a typical Argentine steak house. Great meat!
Wednesday. ... Alicia took us on a guided tour all around the old part of the city which is full of buildings dating back to the 1500´s and a lot of antique shops. It rained most of the day but that did not deter us. It was a great day and so interesting.
Thursday..... took off again today as the cleaner was coming to the apartment. Went to Palermo and visited the Evita Museum and walked all around the area we stayed last year and spoke to people we met then and they still remember us. Took the subway home only to go one station when all the trains stopped due to a snap strike. We had to take buses and what chaos. They were so packed we were like sardines. We brought gnocci and fresh sauce for dinner and collapsed at home with ´vino´.
Friday... today we went to Tigre (pronounced Teegrey) by train with Alicia. This is about 35 k from the city centre and an area around islands and rivers and the people travel from the islands to the mainland each day for work. It is full of markets and beautiful shops. Rob spoke to the children at the local school of our trip to Peru and about Australia. This was organised through Alicia´s grandson who is in Year 4. The children learn English and this was their English class. It was a great day and we have photos which we hope to add next week.
Went back to the station and walked home through the city about 9.pm
Very tired that night. Will catch up again next week. Bye.
The next day we went into the city and had lunch at a Parilla (pronounced pareeja) which is a typical Argentine steak house. Great meat!
Wednesday. ... Alicia took us on a guided tour all around the old part of the city which is full of buildings dating back to the 1500´s and a lot of antique shops. It rained most of the day but that did not deter us. It was a great day and so interesting.
Thursday..... took off again today as the cleaner was coming to the apartment. Went to Palermo and visited the Evita Museum and walked all around the area we stayed last year and spoke to people we met then and they still remember us. Took the subway home only to go one station when all the trains stopped due to a snap strike. We had to take buses and what chaos. They were so packed we were like sardines. We brought gnocci and fresh sauce for dinner and collapsed at home with ´vino´.
Friday... today we went to Tigre (pronounced Teegrey) by train with Alicia. This is about 35 k from the city centre and an area around islands and rivers and the people travel from the islands to the mainland each day for work. It is full of markets and beautiful shops. Rob spoke to the children at the local school of our trip to Peru and about Australia. This was organised through Alicia´s grandson who is in Year 4. The children learn English and this was their English class. It was a great day and we have photos which we hope to add next week.
Went back to the station and walked home through the city about 9.pm
Very tired that night. Will catch up again next week. Bye.
Monday, May 11, 2009
At last we have conquered the Blog
Hi everyone. Life never stops here in BuenosAires. Our sleep pattern is out of control. We go to bed at around 11.pm and are still wide awake at 3am so we watch a movie till 5am then sleep till 2PM. Today was much better.... we woke up at 9.30am. On arrival at the airport we were conned for the first time ever, by a taxi driver´s tout. We gave him 90 pesos for our fare and within a second he had swapped the 100 pesos for a 10 pesos note and insisted we only gave him 10 pesos, so we had to give him another 100 pesos. We realised later when we were counting our money we were 100 pesos short which is the equivalent of $45 Aus.
The weather has been perfect... around 25 each day and mild nights. We have spent the past few days settling in and going to our favourite coffee shops and markets. Had a great day with our Argintine family over here had an asardo (BBQ) on Sunday evening.
Haven´t heard any news from home as the papers mainly concentrate on America and Europe.
We have taken a few photos but you will have to wait to see these as that will be another experience on how to set it up.
Have been to the Recoleta Cemetry again ... it was Eva Peron´s birthday (Evita) and the flowers were piled high on her tomb (like Princess Diana´s flowers)
The next few days maybe a little wet by the look of the clouds outside. Keep reading our news.... next installment will be in 2 to 3 days.
Love you all. Maxine and Roberto. xxxxx
The weather has been perfect... around 25 each day and mild nights. We have spent the past few days settling in and going to our favourite coffee shops and markets. Had a great day with our Argintine family over here had an asardo (BBQ) on Sunday evening.
Haven´t heard any news from home as the papers mainly concentrate on America and Europe.
We have taken a few photos but you will have to wait to see these as that will be another experience on how to set it up.
Have been to the Recoleta Cemetry again ... it was Eva Peron´s birthday (Evita) and the flowers were piled high on her tomb (like Princess Diana´s flowers)
The next few days maybe a little wet by the look of the clouds outside. Keep reading our news.... next installment will be in 2 to 3 days.
Love you all. Maxine and Roberto. xxxxx
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Packing!
It's almost time for our fourth trip back to South America, we leave next Wednesday May 6th for Sydney and then we will be back in Beunos Aires on Thursday 7th May.
We have booked ourselves an apartment in Congreso, BA (pictured right) for our first two weeks and we are so looking forward to seeing Alicia and the family again. Alicia's daughter Vicky lived with us on exhange in 1991 and our families are great friends.
OK, back to the packing!!!
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