About this Collection

Unlike our other travel blogs, this is a collection of images that we took way back in 2012 on our second 'adventure' after retirement. It's here so that we have a complete collection of our trips on the travelling blog collection. The posts are, therefore, a collection of images taken from the photobook that we produced after the trip before the idea of a live blog occurred to me; this is why all the posts have the same, far more recent, date stamp.

To fit in with the usual blog presentation, the last event is first, so to read the adventure from the beginning, should you be that crazy, start at the end and choose the next post at the bottom of the page.

The start is HERE!

Paracas, Nazca Lines, Ballestas Islands & Home

Travelling to Paracas in a luxury coach, we discover relics and remains of the ingenious Pre-Incas. The intriguing Nazca Lines are seen from observation platforms as recent air accidents render this activity out of bounds: pity.

We finish with a visit to the Ballestas Islands by high speed boat, smelling the guano from afar.

We have time to reflect on this brilliant adventure in our luxury hotel; a reward for some pretty intense travelling that we accept with gratitude.

The volcanic desert, colca canyon

Crossing the volcanic desert at around 5000m we see the high altitude-living Vicuña as we head for Colca Canyon to see the wonderful condors rising on the thermals at Condor Cross.

Arequipa

 A beautiful town. The Ice Maiden is kept here; this was an emotional visit for us as she was believed to be sacrificed in the high mountains. Controversially, her body was recovered and is maintained here in Arequipa.

Probably, equally controversially, the features of the Ice Maiden have been cleverly reconstructed to resemble the original young girl. Here's a link

Lake Titicaca, Uros Islands, Taquile Island

From the train, we head to Lake Titicaca with the Uros Islands followed by the unique culture of Taquile Island and its surrounding area, including the restored pre-Inca funerary towers.

Cusco, Alto Plano

 Returning to Cusco, elated and high on cocoa leaves, we join a wonderful festival before heading across the Alto Plano on the luxurious Andean Explorer. The luxury, dancing and consuming of pisco sours can't erase the uneasy guilt as we pass through towns where life and work is hard.

Machu Picchu

 A lifelong ambition for us both - but particularly Sue. Absolutely breath-taking (no pun intended).

Lima, the Jungle & Cusco