Gringitas Blog on RealTravel

Coroico journal: Coroico

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:51:22 GMT

Went to Coroico for a few days to chill out and catch some sun.

The journey there on "the worlds most dangerous road" was not so relaxing though!

Villa Tunari journal: Villa Tunari

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:11:45 GMT

Visited the Inti Wara Yassi Animal Refuge. The monkeys were fab - climing all over you and searching your pockets.

Buena Vista journal: Buena Vista (Parque Nacional Amboro)

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 12:58:17 GMT

Did a 3 day tour to Amboro National Park.

If crashing through the jungle, scrambling over rocks and wading through water up to your arse is your thing go here - if you prefer a nice peaceful walk while enjoying nature don't!

Tiahuanaco journal: Tiahuanaco

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 12:47:17 GMT

Inca ruins (yes more). Includes the sun gate which allegedly the incas used to travel to other places - ha ha all a bit Stargate if you ask me. It´s fenced off now so I didn't get to try it.

La Paz journal: La Paz

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 16:56:59 GMT

La Paz is a really nice city - quite sophisticated and european looking.

Happened to be here in time for a festival. Provcessions all day right in front of my hostel. The costumes are fantastic.

Madidi National Park journal: Madidi National Park

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 16:38:20 GMT

From the dizzy heights of La Paz to the Amazon Basin - eventually.

The flight from La Paz to Rurrenabaque was cancelled 3 days running (it´s only a tiny 20 seater plane and can't fly very high so if it's cloudy no flight). Felt like I was in groundhog day going to and fro from the airport each day!

It was worth the wait though. Stayed in an ecolodge called Chalalan. It's a beautiful place and you are treated like royalty.

Saw loads of monkeys and birds, a few caymans and turtles, a couple of tarantulas and a snake - urgh!

Had a party night, chewing coca leaves and ...

Copacabana journal: Fantastic pepper steak, hot wine and a log fire - what more could you want!

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 16:27:16 GMT

Colca Canyon journal: Colca Canyon

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 16:11:01 GMT

This Canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and is very lush and green. It was spectacular.

Went to a mirador to watch condors (big ugly vuture type things).

Oh and we stopped at a village on the way there to watch some kids dancing specially for the tourists - they certainly have got the hang of tourism in this country, everywhere we stopped there were locals all dressed up with alpacas and cute kids in tow selling hats, gloves, jumpers etc.

Chivay journal: Chivay

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:16:27 GMT

Stopped on the way for a cup of Mate de Coca (for the altitude). There was a sugar crazed alpaca at the cafe that attacked anyone leaving the building who was bearing chocolate!

Went to some hot springs - bliss.

Went to a cheesy tourist show in the evening with traditional music and dancing. I had an alpaca steak. Was quite tasty but I have to admit I felt a little guilty as they are kinda cute beasties (I draw the line at eating guinea pig though - even if they are furry rats and not in the least bit cute).

Chivay is bloody cold (I've gone soft with all the heat in ...

Huacachina journal: Huacachina

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 13:37:44 GMT

Huacachina is an oasis in the desert. A few hostels and a couple of restaurants around a green lake (supposed to have curative properties but I didn't fancy my chances). Nice place to chill out though.

Went on a sand buggy ride down large dunes at top speed. Passed on the sand boarding as I didn't fancy breaking my bones.

Nazca journal: Nasca

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 13:23:28 GMT

Took a flight over the Nasca lines in a tiny plane (only 3 plus pilot). The lines are ancient and noone is sure what they are for. My favourite theory is that they were there to guide the shaman when he went on his drug induced "journeys". One of the designs is said to be a shaman with huge eyes (caused by the hallucogenic plants they drink). The lines don't look so big and impressive when you fly way above them plus the flight made me feel very sick (in fact I was when I got back to the hostel).

Then went on a tour to a cemetery, pottery workshop and gold workshop. Very ...

Guatemala City journal: General Impressions of Guatemala

Tue, 30 May 2006 12:20:55 GMT

I found it a bit tiring travelling round Guatemala. The constant battle to not be shoved onto the wrong bus and overcharged by unscrupulous bus companies. There are shuttle services to the main tourist places but they are much more expensive than chicken buses and I guess much more likely to get held up by bandits.

There is a lot a violence in Guatemala, many people carry guns and the newspapers are full of murder stories everyday (I know a lot of it is sensationalism).

Antigua journal: Antigua

Tue, 30 May 2006 12:11:27 GMT

Back to Antigua to organise my flight to South America.

I could have seen more of Guatemala but I was ready for a change.

Copan journal: Copan

Tue, 30 May 2006 12:09:44 GMT

The town of Copan Ruinas is small , very pretty and colonial.

The ruins aren't as big and impressive as Palenque or Tikal but it has the best preserved stone carvings and was still very interesting.

Tikal journal: Tikal

Tue, 30 May 2006 12:05:04 GMT

Stayed at El Remate as it´s nearer to the ruins and much nicer than Flores.

Tikal was everything I hoped it would be. Huge temples looming up out of the jungle. Loads of animals and birds. Amazing! We took a guided tour as it would be very easy to get lost in the jungle as the paths aren't marked that clearly (actually the guide acosted us as we were heading in the direction of crocodile territory)!

I can recommend Cesar - very good guide. Although he did tell us a gruesome story of a lady who died a couple of weeks ago when she fell down from one of the temples (one of the ...

Palenque journal: Palenque

Tue, 30 May 2006 11:57:43 GMT

Stayed in El Panchan in the rain forest. Hot and humid but very green.

Went on a tour to Misol Ha, Aguas Claras and Agua Azul. Beautiful waterfalls and turqouise pools.

Went the ruins at Palenque.

Coatepeque journal: Finca La Florida

Tue, 30 May 2006 11:52:55 GMT

Went to volunteer at this Finca as it has a very interesting background.

A group of campesinos at a neighbouring farm grew tired of working for little or no money and decided to occupy La Florida as it had been abandoned for 8 years (the previous owners had gone bankrupt). A long battle ensued with the government (they are not very sympathetic to campesino rights and have taken much of their land from them). They finally won the right to buy the finca for $800,000 and have 8 years to pay the loan back. They have put a lot of work into cleaning up the land as much of it was overgrown ...

Xelacan journal: Xela

Tue, 30 May 2006 11:51:03 GMT

I liked Xela a lot. There's not an awful lot to do if you aren't studying or volunteering but it's a nice place to chill out for a while as there's loads of restaurants etc for the students. And there's a big shopping mall with a GAP - woo hoo retail therapy!

I was there for Easter (Semana Santa) so saw loads of processions in the week leading up to Easter Sunday. Celbrated Easter with Cuba Libres and a barbecue as there are no chocolate eggs here!

Central America / Caribbean journal: Central and South America

Tue, 30 May 2006 11:51:03 GMT

And a bit of Mexico too!

Arequipa journal: Arequipa

Tue, 30 May 2006 11:49:14 GMT

Arequipa is a lovely colonial city.

Took a tour to a mill (saw my first alpaca and some other beast I can't remember the name of), and a colonial mansion (Mansion del Fundador).

Went to Convent Santa Catalina - a little citadel in the middle of the city. Fantastic colourful colonial buildings and cobbled streets.

Went to Museo Santaurios Andinos to see the frozen remains of Juanita. She was an Inca noble woman who was sacrificed at the age of 12 on the summit of a mountain to try and calm an erupting volcano (the Incas thought the volcanoes were gods). She and the ...

Pisco journal: Pisco

Tue, 30 May 2006 11:44:34 GMT

Arrived in Pisco and was going to stay in Hotel Pisco. Somebody warned me on the way there that people have had things stolen from there. I thought he was just trying to get me to stay in one the hostels he was promoting. When I got to Hotel Pisco the guy in charge was very stoned or drunk not sure which. There was also a sign warning not to leave valuables in the room. Looks like the other guy was telling the truth. Made a hasty exit.

Pisco is not nice really. Went on a tour of the Islas Ballestas (loads of birds and sea lions) and Paracas National Park (desert basically). The ...

Lima journal: Lima

Tue, 30 May 2006 11:43:04 GMT

Got picked up at the Airport by someone from the hostel. This was great as the taxi drivers descend on you like a pack of wolves! Was a little concerned when in one area the guy locked all the taxi doors but all was well.

Lima is huge. I don´t really like big cities.

Stayed in Miraflores which is a very nice area if a bit pricey. Went to the Larcomar Centre - posh shops and a good cinema. Saw the movie Da Vinci Code. Who the hell had the bright idea of casting Tom Hanks as the lead!

The Parque de Amor is very nice (full of snogging couples of course).

San Cristobal journal: San Cristobal

Mon, 29 May 2006 18:21:28 GMT

San Cristoabl is a very beautiful colonial city.

Went to the Museum of Mayan Medicine - loads of plants I've never seen or heard of!

Went to Canyon Sumidero saw a couple of crocs.

San Juan Chamula - went to see a very interesting church. There was pine needles all over the floor, the air was dense with insense, there were candles everywhere and the people were drinking fizzy drinks to drive out evil spirits.