Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Huaraz
I took an overnight bus last night to Huaraz. The bus ride was a little rough even though I got a semi-cama. It didn't help that they played two movies! I just wanted to sleep.
Huaraz is at an altitude of 3,031 meters (about 10,000 ft)! The interesting thing was that most of the bus ride was flat but the last couple of hours (the only ones during which I was sleeping) we did almost all of the ascent. When I woke up I really felt the altitude. I'm glad I took some decamethasone before leaving. It felt like something was holding back a more full-on altitude sickness.
Huaraz is actually quite a dirty city. I knew it wasn't going to be the most beautiful city ever since most of it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1970 but I was actually kind of suprised by how dirty it was. It's still pretty in its own way since it's nestled in the hills. I like it here. It kind of reminds me of Sarajevo, one of my favorite places of all time.
The river I'm NOT going to go rafting in!
Also, it's interesting to note that the people here speak Quechua (the indigenous lanuage) in addition to Spanish. About 45% of Peruvians are purely indigenous (Lonely Planet - Peru) which is very high compared with other countries in Latin America. About 13% of the population speaks Quechua (wikipedia).
This is a photo of a typical indigenous outfit (from wikipedia, I didn't want to hassle anyone for a photo of themself).
Leaving Huanchaco
After a few days of resting in Huanchaco it was time to move on. It was sad because I don't think that I have ever liked a hostel so much nor have I stayed at a single one so long, around 6 nights.
Next I am planning to go to Huaraz, a small town in the Andes where you can go on treks through the Cordilleras Blancas
Here's some more shots of Huanchaco. It's such an awesome place
Update
Lots of things have happened lately, I'm going to just briefly summarize them:
Getting sick
Something I ate made me incredibly sick. It was either the lunch at Otra Cosa or the fish that we ate that night (since I started to get sick late that night/early next morning). I don't think that fried fish and rice would make me sick so I'm guessing it was something in the food I got from Otra Cosa. Either way, to make a long story short it kept getting worse and worse until the point where I needed to see a doctor. I took a taxi from Huanchaco (small beach town we were at) to Trujillo (big city 20mins away) and went to see a doctor at the Clinica Peruano-Americano (Peruvian-American Clinic). Since I was vomiting pretty hard and losing water fast the doctor hooked me up to an IV to give me water and medicine and kept me there in a hospital room for two nights. Thanks to Sweeney for all of his help and for getting a picture of me passed out in the hospital bed (below)
Sweeney left
Chris had to fly back on the 9th so he left toward the end of my hospital stay. It was great to hang out with him and it was unfortunate that he spent a bunch of the time we had together taking care of me! He's a great friend.
Huanchaco
I went back to the hostel that I was at (Naylamp). I can't say enough good things about Hostal Naylamp. The lady in charge, Ivonne, helped me so much when I got sick. They also have a restaurant right there so while I was resting for a couple of days I just ate there. The food is great and I knew that it was clean so it was the perfect place to recover.
Here's the campground part of it we stayed at the first night
The vibe in the courtyard at Naylamp
Some of my buddies at Naylamp (Gene, don't know his name, Jaime, Paúl, Me, Milagros, Ivonne, Andy)
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Waking up in Trujillo
We woke up around 6:30am when the bus arrived in Trujillo. Despite the fact that I randomly woke up in the middle of the night with my mind racing (mostly about the awesome trip ahead of me!) for a couple of hours, the bus ride was perfect. I'm really exicted about being able to overnight so much of my travel here. In Europe, we would overnight trips like the bus ride to Prague or the train ride to Belgrade, both maybe six hours, practially upright or crunched in a train cabin. You would end up only getting a couple hours of sleep. It was pretty pretty much pulling an all-nighter which I don't like to do unless I have to. When you borrow sleep from your body you have to pay it back at a high rate of interest.
When we got into Trujillo we were starving so we went and ate breakfast...actually two breakfasts
Breakfast in Peru is quite light.
Next, we hopped in a taxi and went to Huanchaco. It's a small town about 20 minutes outside of Trujillo. Trujillo seemed all right, but Huanchacho sounded like a nicer beach town.
We checked into a place called Hostal Nylamp. They only spots left were for camping. Not ideal but they did provide the tent and it was cheap. The camping area was pretty nice
Next I went and took a swim at the awesome beach while Chris went for a run. It's a very nice beach and the water isn't too cold.
After swimming we walked around a little and ate some food at a place called Otra Cosa nearby. I mention it by name because it will be important later. Stay tuned. (These posts are backdated as usual).
Some Americans (the girls) we met who were volunteering in Peru with the Presbyterian church. They were just passing through before going back to the US. The other guy is Andy. He was also staying at Nylamp. Nice guy.
Next we went back to the beach to check out the awesome sunset, which I have to admit, is second to the ridiculous, fire-in-the-sky Arizona sunsets. I don't know if you can beat those.
We met a pretty cool guy at the beach named Bart who's also staying at Nylamp. He's an actor in Spain and so he came to get away for a month. I think that he might be kind of a big deal there and doesn't want to get bothered everywhere he goes. We took some pictures of the beach and then got some food.
When we got into Trujillo we were starving so we went and ate breakfast...actually two breakfasts
Breakfast in Peru is quite light.
Next, we hopped in a taxi and went to Huanchaco. It's a small town about 20 minutes outside of Trujillo. Trujillo seemed all right, but Huanchacho sounded like a nicer beach town.
We checked into a place called Hostal Nylamp. They only spots left were for camping. Not ideal but they did provide the tent and it was cheap. The camping area was pretty nice
Next I went and took a swim at the awesome beach while Chris went for a run. It's a very nice beach and the water isn't too cold.
After swimming we walked around a little and ate some food at a place called Otra Cosa nearby. I mention it by name because it will be important later. Stay tuned. (These posts are backdated as usual).
Some Americans (the girls) we met who were volunteering in Peru with the Presbyterian church. They were just passing through before going back to the US. The other guy is Andy. He was also staying at Nylamp. Nice guy.
Next we went back to the beach to check out the awesome sunset, which I have to admit, is second to the ridiculous, fire-in-the-sky Arizona sunsets. I don't know if you can beat those.
We met a pretty cool guy at the beach named Bart who's also staying at Nylamp. He's an actor in Spain and so he came to get away for a month. I think that he might be kind of a big deal there and doesn't want to get bothered everywhere he goes. We took some pictures of the beach and then got some food.
Ghost picture! (Chris, Bart, Me)
While we were eating, we saw this cool parade-like thing in the street. It has something to do with the three wiseman and the week after Christmas...not totally sure. I didn't totally understand what the waiter was saying. I'll post the video once I find a really fast internet connection.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Day in Lima
Chris and I got up a little late. I was pretty tired since I had to take an overnight bus to Chicago the night before leaving for my 8:30 flight out of Chicago.
We decided that we would head up to the north coast of Peru so after eating some lunch, we went to the bus station to book a ticket for Trujillo, the largest city on the coast.
Notice anything funny...look at how many milileters each is :)
We bummed around Lima for most of the day until it was time to take the bus (10pm overnight bus).
Lima
Plaza in Miraflores, Lima
The coast of Lima.
Getting some cerviche, a common Peruvian seafood dish
The bus we took (Cruz del Sur) was incredibly nice. Far nicer than anything that I've ever taken in the U.S. or Europe. Chris said that most buses in Peru are overnight buses since it's a pretty big country and if you're on a bus for a while you're going to be sleeping anyway.
The seats were semi-camas (semi-beds) and reclined most of the way.
We decided that we would head up to the north coast of Peru so after eating some lunch, we went to the bus station to book a ticket for Trujillo, the largest city on the coast.
Notice anything funny...look at how many milileters each is :)
We bummed around Lima for most of the day until it was time to take the bus (10pm overnight bus).
Lima
Plaza in Miraflores, Lima
The coast of Lima.
Getting some cerviche, a common Peruvian seafood dish
The bus we took (Cruz del Sur) was incredibly nice. Far nicer than anything that I've ever taken in the U.S. or Europe. Chris said that most buses in Peru are overnight buses since it's a pretty big country and if you're on a bus for a while you're going to be sleeping anyway.
The seats were semi-camas (semi-beds) and reclined most of the way.
Arriving in Peru!
I got into Lima, Peru around 11:30 on 1/5 and met Chris in the airport. We grabbed a taxi and went to the hostel, which (I wish I had a better picture to show it) was pretty much just someone's house. Here's one picture (below). By the time we got out to find food it was pretty late...1 am or so and the only thing still open in Miraflores (the suburb of Lima we were staying in) was McDonalds! Oh well, McDonalds is better in other countries anyway...still trying to figure that one out. More to come...
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Balaton and Pécs Trip: Day 3 (Pécs)
Flea Market
The first place we went this morning was to a flea market that Sarah had heard was really cool. It was pretty awesome. I still can’t believe some of the things you could buy!
Quite an awesome place. I only bought one thing. It is a portable fork, spoon and knife set. This is nice for when you are traveling and you need utensils.
Lazy Day
Today was kind of a lazy day. We were still tired from the biking and just wanted to enjoy the nice weather. We grabbed some coffee from the McCafe at McDonalds and lay around in the city square. We eventually got up and walked around the rest of the city. Later, we just got ice cream and hung out outside until it was time to take the train back to Budapest.
An awesome weekend!
This weekend was a lot of fun. It was great to see the countryside and Hungary outside of Budapest. Lake Balaton is beautiful and Sarah and Elin are awesome girls who are always fun to be around!
The first place we went this morning was to a flea market that Sarah had heard was really cool. It was pretty awesome. I still can’t believe some of the things you could buy!
Quite an awesome place. I only bought one thing. It is a portable fork, spoon and knife set. This is nice for when you are traveling and you need utensils.
Lazy Day
Today was kind of a lazy day. We were still tired from the biking and just wanted to enjoy the nice weather. We grabbed some coffee from the McCafe at McDonalds and lay around in the city square. We eventually got up and walked around the rest of the city. Later, we just got ice cream and hung out outside until it was time to take the train back to Budapest.
An awesome weekend!
This weekend was a lot of fun. It was great to see the countryside and Hungary outside of Budapest. Lake Balaton is beautiful and Sarah and Elin are awesome girls who are always fun to be around!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Balaton and Pécs Trip: Day 2 (Hévíz and Keszthely)
Jannick knows a lot about about bikes and this morning we were able to fix Elin’s bike tire. It has kind of weird road bike-like tires and it turns out that you are don’t take the tread off when replace the inner-tube.
Hévíz
Jannick and Tiffany brought bikes with them (they are planning on riding back part of the route we took down to Keszthely later today) so we all rode together to Hévíz, a thermal lake a couple of miles out of Keszthely. Hévíz was pretty cool. The lake isn’t hot but the water is comfortably warm. It did smell a little weird but I don’t think that it was because of being unclean or anything. Supposed the water is totally replaced every by the natural springs every 85 hours. Hévíz is also supposed to have medicinal benefits. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hévíz_Spa
Back in Keszthely we picnicked again near Balaton.
Tiffany and Jannick had to leave to start biking so Elin, Sarah and I went and hung out down by the lake until our train left at 5.
Train to Pécs
The train ride to Pécs was really pretty.
Pécs
We got into Pécs around 10 and went to the hostel which was on one of the main streets (Kíraly Utca). It was a very fun and happening area with a lot of outdoor restaurants. Since it was kind of late we just went to get some food, took some pictures and then went back to the hostel.
Hévíz
Jannick and Tiffany brought bikes with them (they are planning on riding back part of the route we took down to Keszthely later today) so we all rode together to Hévíz, a thermal lake a couple of miles out of Keszthely. Hévíz was pretty cool. The lake isn’t hot but the water is comfortably warm. It did smell a little weird but I don’t think that it was because of being unclean or anything. Supposed the water is totally replaced every by the natural springs every 85 hours. Hévíz is also supposed to have medicinal benefits. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hévíz_Spa
Back in Keszthely we picnicked again near Balaton.
Tiffany and Jannick had to leave to start biking so Elin, Sarah and I went and hung out down by the lake until our train left at 5.
Train to Pécs
The train ride to Pécs was really pretty.
Pécs
We got into Pécs around 10 and went to the hostel which was on one of the main streets (Kíraly Utca). It was a very fun and happening area with a lot of outdoor restaurants. Since it was kind of late we just went to get some food, took some pictures and then went back to the hostel.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Balaton and Pécs Trip: Day 1 (The Journey to Keszthely)
Missing the Train
Today started out with me missing the train. I got there as it was leaving. I rode after it on the path next to the tracks but was stopped by some guy working on the tracks and yelled at in Hungarian. I kept riding until a loudspeaker came out of nowhere and started yelling at me again in Hungarian. I went back to the station and got a ticket for an indirect train through Székesfehérvár that left in an hour and would get me to Balatonfüred one hour after Sarah and Elin.
I don’t have an excuse. I have a problem. I am sick of being late for everything. It’s not fair to everyone who is a victim of my tardiness. It’s personally embarrassing and obscures my better qualities from people who don’t know me well. I can’t tell you how stupid I felt watching the train leaving with Sarah and Elin and without me. So I am saying it here-this is the end. I’m done with my “show up late for things” lifestyle. It would be ridiculous to say that I will never ever be late for something again in my life. I know that it will happen. But I am done with being a “late person.” I know that I have said this before but I mean it this time. I’m actually a little glad I missed the train because I know that this will be the catalyst for a change in my life. Though Sarah and Elin weren’t really mad at me, I was furious at myself and was quite embarrassed. Seriously, it will be different from now on.
Biking to Keszthely
When I got in at 10 we started biking toward Keszthely. One of the early stops we made was in Tihany. The view there was beautiful.
At first the trail was pretty close to Lake Balaton but after a while it went way out into the country. It was a little hilly but not too bad. Plus the weather was great so we had a picnic.
Most of the day was spent just riding bike. It was a really long but fun ride and the countryside was absolutely gorgeous.
About 6 or 7 miles outside of Keszthely Elin’s front tire went flat. I tried fixing it but couldn’t get the tread off. Ya, I know, I wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders this weekend...maybe it is time for a little break from so much traveling (this being the 7th weekend in a row). Anyway, luckily there was a family nearby that had a truck and was able to fit the bike in it. They drove both Sarah and Elin’s bike to Keszthely. Very nice people! Elin and I rode to Keszthely and got in around sunset. After riding all over the whole town trying to find the hostel (and getting directions from several people pointing in several directions) we all met up again. Jannick and Tiffany took the train to Keszthely and met us at the hostel.
After cleaning up and relaxing a little (we probably rode around 45 miles or so) we went to an outdoor pizza/bar place. Lake Balaton is mainly a summer vacation place for Hungarians and Germans so there are a lot of outdoor areas to eat and drink. Also, many of the people who live there speak German because of all the German tourists in the summer. I think that, without really thinking too much about it, we came at the perfect time. It wasn’t that crowed since it was just April but the weather was still great (70-75 degrees).
Today started out with me missing the train. I got there as it was leaving. I rode after it on the path next to the tracks but was stopped by some guy working on the tracks and yelled at in Hungarian. I kept riding until a loudspeaker came out of nowhere and started yelling at me again in Hungarian. I went back to the station and got a ticket for an indirect train through Székesfehérvár that left in an hour and would get me to Balatonfüred one hour after Sarah and Elin.
I don’t have an excuse. I have a problem. I am sick of being late for everything. It’s not fair to everyone who is a victim of my tardiness. It’s personally embarrassing and obscures my better qualities from people who don’t know me well. I can’t tell you how stupid I felt watching the train leaving with Sarah and Elin and without me. So I am saying it here-this is the end. I’m done with my “show up late for things” lifestyle. It would be ridiculous to say that I will never ever be late for something again in my life. I know that it will happen. But I am done with being a “late person.” I know that I have said this before but I mean it this time. I’m actually a little glad I missed the train because I know that this will be the catalyst for a change in my life. Though Sarah and Elin weren’t really mad at me, I was furious at myself and was quite embarrassed. Seriously, it will be different from now on.
Biking to Keszthely
When I got in at 10 we started biking toward Keszthely. One of the early stops we made was in Tihany. The view there was beautiful.
At first the trail was pretty close to Lake Balaton but after a while it went way out into the country. It was a little hilly but not too bad. Plus the weather was great so we had a picnic.
Most of the day was spent just riding bike. It was a really long but fun ride and the countryside was absolutely gorgeous.
About 6 or 7 miles outside of Keszthely Elin’s front tire went flat. I tried fixing it but couldn’t get the tread off. Ya, I know, I wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders this weekend...maybe it is time for a little break from so much traveling (this being the 7th weekend in a row). Anyway, luckily there was a family nearby that had a truck and was able to fit the bike in it. They drove both Sarah and Elin’s bike to Keszthely. Very nice people! Elin and I rode to Keszthely and got in around sunset. After riding all over the whole town trying to find the hostel (and getting directions from several people pointing in several directions) we all met up again. Jannick and Tiffany took the train to Keszthely and met us at the hostel.
After cleaning up and relaxing a little (we probably rode around 45 miles or so) we went to an outdoor pizza/bar place. Lake Balaton is mainly a summer vacation place for Hungarians and Germans so there are a lot of outdoor areas to eat and drink. Also, many of the people who live there speak German because of all the German tourists in the summer. I think that, without really thinking too much about it, we came at the perfect time. It wasn’t that crowed since it was just April but the weather was still great (70-75 degrees).
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