Peru, South America 2005

 

 

We started our trip on February 28,2005 when Pat came back from N.J after sister’s week to Guyaquil airport Ecuador and Rich traveled by bus from the boat in Ecuador to Guyaquil with our buddies Kevin and Betty from S/V Citation also Scott ,Alysia and her mom from S/V Pure chance. They had worked ahead of time and found a travel agent via other cruisers in Peru and Sharamira of K Pulli Travel and Tour agency made some plane reservations to eventually get us to Cusco town before Machu Picchi ,Peru so we could learn the history and visit other Inka ruins, as well as acclimatize ourselves to the altitude elevation of 9,000 ft. at that point.

March 1 st Happy Birthday to Pat’s brother Terry.

 

We stayed at Hotel Alexander, in Guayaquil, for the price it wasn’t the best especially the pillows, for two days. In the mean time we toured the City. It is a large City with old and new and lots of Police on the streets. However they don’t seem do anything about crimes. One of our friends in broad daylight had teenagers take her gold circle earrings right off her ears from behind in a matter of seconds while the busy street of people were watching. All in all we were all safe but it was invasive and upsetting at the time. We then all took off any dangling earrings and obvious jewelry which most of the guide books recommend. These people aren’t really bad they are hungry.

 

 

 

On Thursday March we all left Guayaquil via the 10:30 bus for Tumbes. Tumbes is a boarder town in Peru. The security on the bus was obvious with the men wearing bullet proof vests. Once again we were all safe and had a good ride with a Spanish sub title movie. Arrived in Tumbes at 4:30 P.M. The taxi wa a Honda cycle with a surrey and held two plus luggage on the ck in the rain. We checked into the Hotel Roma was okay however the town was full of mosquitoes because the Tumbes River runs right thru it. Sooo our impression of Tumbes is lots of Deet spray and Bite relief and glad to hear no known cases at this time of Dengue Fever. (A disease spread by mosquitoes and causes infection with fever and flu like symptoms) The next morning we walked around the town while waiting to go to the airport leaving Tumbes airport at 4:00pm for Lima Peru.

 

Arrived in Lima and was met by Theresa Tevin tour operator, thank goodness. She had arranged for us to stay in Mira Flores out skirts of Lima at Hostal Porta. Very nice colonial and quaint. We ate at a Mexican restaurant called Si Senor which was also good. We didn’t see much of Lima however it looks like a big clean city. Had to be back at the airport early Saturday morning for a 1 ½ hour flight to Cusco the city of Inca Ruins. Busy streets