flygirl

Congrats ncounty, and Happy Birthday!

I never did follow up with photos/report... haven't even sorted all the photos yet to be honest. I am soooo behind.

ncounty

Thanks flygirl! My cats and other things have absorbed all my time since I got back as well, lol. I am at an airport in Vegas right now, in fact. I saw Gladys Knight in concert last night, with one Pip. It was fabulous.

If it makes you feel any better, I just got out the pictures and details of the trip.... I haven't posted my personal adventures yet, that would be so time consuming. Don't let that overwhelm you, but post your report at your own time. You'll need your next vacation just to catch up on pics of your last one, lol.

cybor

How did I miss this wonderful report and photos.
Passing on to some friends.

ncounty

Thanks Cybor! It was a very memorable and special trip, a perfect way for me to turn 50.

ncounty

Wow, I can't believe I never posted my pictures of Machu Picchu itself in my trip report on MP!

Here is a link, it starts with my hotel in Olly and goes through the MP experience with my climb up MP mountain itself:

http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/z...achu%20picchu/

mlgb

Thanks ncounty, those pics of MP mountain are scary! And would you believe I also own a pair of the exact same inappropriate footwear.

ncounty

Unbelievable, mlgb! those were my normal walking around shoes, and in my self-imposed very limited space, I chose silly high heels (which I wore only one night just to wear them) as my second pair of footwear.

mlgb

Mine have not been anywhere near as adventurous, but I saw people at Machu Picchu in far sillier footwear. At least ours have a nice grippy sole.

Mathieu

Ncounty, I only just found your trip report and really enjoyed it. I especially appreciated all the sundry information you offered, such as pricing and see that prices have increased only marginally from when I was there. I did the MP climb in 1994, spending 3 weeks in Peru (first 9 days roughing it out on an awe-inspiring journey through the Amazon, then 7 days in the Andes and MP) and your writing brought back fond memories. MP still remains one of the most beautiful and humbling experiences of all my trips. Your pictures are wonderful too, and being the foodie that I am, reminded me of the lovely food (such as the quinoa soups and grilled meats and fish enjoyed there) that I enjoyed and others that I must try if I return there again.
I collect ethnic hats and came back with 7 new ones from that trip alone ! The people are the friendliest and your pics of the colourful clothing, fabrics and handicrafts reminded me of some wonderful times spent there. It still have a black Alpaca sweater that I wear 'til today.
Thanks again for the terrific report and pics.

M

ncounty

Thanks Mathieu! Beautiful and humbling is such a great description of Peru. Your adventure sounds fantastic; I would love to return to do an even more adventurous trip in the near future. It IS a foodie's paradise, isn't it? I have a great picture of the golden orange quinoa soup with grilled trout and Inka cola that takes me right back to Amantani island on Lake Titicaca. I didn't even make it to Chinatown in Lima which is reported to have some of the best Chinese food in the world.

I also came back with about 9 hats! .... reminds me, I have to wear them.

colduphere

You guys are pros. I am coming back with huge bruises from a mountain biking accident and no hats. Next time I'll eat more.

ncounty

Oh no, cold! I hope you didn't have any serious injuries.

Mathieu

lol, Cold, but I'm sorry to hear of the biking accident. Hope you weren't hurt too badly and it didn't impede your enjoyment of your adventure, except for a few moments if any. Next time, (ad)venture forth with us ! I'd seriously love to lead or be a part of a small group of Fodorites on a trip somewhere like France or the Caribbean - places I've been to often and can guide through. Theres a small group of Toronto Fodorites who I know well who do some wonderful trips to amazing places (not together), and its always fun to follow them on their day to day adventures, thanks to today's social media and technology. It's just like being there sharing the trip with them.

Yes ncounty, Peru (and indeed all of S. America) has so much to offer in the way of seeing and doing (and eating !) for very reasonable prices. I'd return without hesitation but theres so much of the world yet to see.

My Amazon adventure was an amazing experience. Not for the faint of heart I'll say, and I did prep for fitness beforehand and try to be mentally prepared for all the bugs and insects and creatures you come across (poisonous frogs the size of your thumbnail, frogs that spend their entire life in the tree canopy, frogs that make a sound like barking dogs as a defence tactic, lichens that glow in multi-luminous colours in the dark, lighting up large patches of the forest..).
One time we waded almost chest deep through a thick slimy bog just to see a rare Huatzin bird that dates back to prehistoric times, and then emerged covered with leeches stuck to our clothing.... Lying hot and exhausted but happy in hammocks, swimming in water in which we could see piranha (just so I could say I did !), watching pink dolphins swimming alongside our canoe, trading the shirt off my back with a local indian in another canoe for his authentic blow gun which I still have...I loved it all, but then I was younger too, lol ! We always had a dry and decent place to sleep at night and good simple food and drink wherever we camped or lodged. It was amazing.
On that trip I had a ticket to Bolivia as well but never made it there, opting to stay longer in Peru instead. Now I wish I had gone after seeing your beautiful pics. Ah well, next time. So much world, so little time.

ncounty

What an amazing description, Mathieu! I will add the Amazon to the so much world, so little time to see. Have you been to Nepal? Your adventure reminds me of my travels there; it was so vivid and other worldly.

You should organize a fodorite adventure trip and lead it!

Mathieu

Hi ncounty,

Yes, the Amazon trip truly opened my eyes to the wonder of nature and the amazing world we live in. I was spurred to do it because of all the destruction to the Amazon basin that I was reading about at the time. It's still going on and its sad to think that all that may be lost someday due to greed, mismanagement and money.

No, I haven't been to Nepal but I'd really love to. Its on the list. Have you done it, or plan to ? I'm just starting to read 'Three Cups of Tea' which ties together two beautiful stories of the human spirit in the area.
Truthfully, 2012 was the year that I'd hoped to climb a mountain. Been thinking about it for some time and had pegged Kilimanjaro, but due to my work and schedule, it's not going to be possible this year unfortunately, so maybe next.

There are a few trips that I think it would be nice to do with a bunch of like-minded Fodorites. Hopefully, we'd all come back in one piece, lol !

ncounty

I did do Nepal, Mathieu, when I was 28 on a solo trip around the world. It was a goal to circumnavigate the globe. It was a spectacular and grand adventure. Stunning and fantastic in an otherworldly way. I did not climb any mountains there though so I have that to look forward to; at the very least a good sized trek!

I think I heard about that book from my seat mate on the train ride to Agua Caliente/MP. It sounds intriguing.

gruezi

ncounty,

got curious about your trip after reading cold's trip report...

Really enjoyed your photos and as someone who travels solo alot loved that this is how you chose to celebrate 50 years!

This looks like a trip I would enjoy but the heights do frighten me. I love hiking, but if the edge is a shear fall to the end it is not for me...

Thanks for sharing this trip with us.

gruezi

ncounty

Thanks Gruezi! It was a spectacular way to turn 50, in many ways. I could not believe I climbed that mountain looking down on clouds and Huaynu picchu, but it pales in comparison to Cold's trip! As does my TR.... he is hitting it out of the ballpark. Pull up a chair next to me and I'll get the popcorn while we wait for the rest of his adventures.