Backpacking through South America!
 |
Leaving our motor home at the dock in Colon, Panama, we pack our bags for a new experience.
Click on the images for full size and use the browser back button to return here
Flying to Ecuador and standing on the Equator! |
The Silverstream was going by ship from Panama straight down to Sydney, Australia where we would meet up again in three weeks. So after a brief stop in Bogotá we took a flight to Quito the capitol of Ecuador.
|
After the heat and humidity of Central America it was lovely and fresh in the cool mountain air as we toured this interesting city.
Using the excellent bus service we visited Mital Mundo! |
Here we are holding hands across the Equator- Jim in the Northern hemisphere while Dot is in the Southern -cool or what?
|
No problem logging onto satellites here!
The GPS gave a great readout!
|
The locals come here to try out some great things to do that can only be done at 00.00.00 |
They sing and dance and this Maypole is right on the yellow line!
|
The old town of Quito is a World Heritage Site and full of fine old buildings.
|
One of the churches has the most magnificent golden interior-no photos allowed-sorry! Sadly the streets are choked with noisy traffic and some of the old buildings are suffering-the local Mayor will not comply with the Unesco conditions and ban traffic. |
We walked around the steep streets-the city is high up in the Andes. |
Quito is one of those cities that has an interesting mix of the old and new-trendy coffee houses-European cars and native Indian ladies wearing traditional dress.
|
The main Plaza is home to the President and so it is heavily guarded with toy soldiers,
and very military looking police.
|
This is the police car!
Now it was time to go to the Terminal Terreste (bus station) to catch the bus to the coastal town of Guayacil.
|
Back on the Pacific coast in the heat and humidity! |
Guayacil was a complete surprise-the largest city in Ecuador with fine colonial buildings and a great promenade beside the River Guayas
Another first as we rode in a Lada taxi!
|
Good museums and information all along the pedestrian walkways-we had a few lovely days strolling in the sunshine.
In the city centre park we studied the Iguanas who live there!
|
This big sailing ship, built in Bilbao, Spain is now a training ship for the navy.
We enjoyed the spectacle as the sailors tried to hoist a huge flag! |
Off on the bus for the long ride south to Lima, Peru. |
The cheapest and easiest way to travel in South America is on the long distance buses. Comfy reclining seats, a great view and basic meals of chicken and rice are provided as you pass through towns and villages.
|
The coastal scenery changed from tropical to a dry desert with extensive irrigation that helps agriculture.
|
The capitol, Lima was shrouded in coastal fog and the beach below Miraflores cliffs did not look inviting but some hardy surfers were out on the waves.
|
In the city centre outside the Presidential Palace they were changing the guard to the strains of a brass band.
|
The main Plaza was surrounded by Spanish style buildings with a Moorish influence.
We only had one day to explore the city before catching yet another bus south to Nasca. |
Here we took to the skies to view the greatest unsolved mystery on Earth!
|
Straight lines, huge animal designs and lots of questions! |
Looking down onto the barren landscape it is hard to imagine how these lines were made.
Mostly by lots of people walking and turning the larger darker stones to expose the lighter earth beneath. |
A hundred different explanations as to why the lines were here-only one seemed to be realistic but still we wondered at the spectacle.
This map shows the location of all the symbols clearly visible from the air. |
The complex animal designs are like a children's puzzle and the Indians walked along the lines from a starting point to the finish to ask the gods to send much needed water down from the hills.
|
Back onto yet another bus for the journey south to Aeroquip where we arrived at this modern terminus.
The next part of the journey was across the high Andes with snow capped mountains and deep blue lakes!
|
What spectacular scenery as the road climbed and climbed-we were glad not to be driving across the Alto Plano!
The passengers on this bus were shaken and stirred when the bad road got the better of the bus driver. |
Up here the Indian tribes look after the herds of Alpacca, Vincuna and Llamas.
Small farms with dry stone walls seemed to belong to another time. |
At Juliaco the streets were crowded and traffic diverted.
In this town the taxies are just bicycles!
|
A big street carnival was in progress with bands and dancers from the different communities.
The costumes were bright and colourful!
|
As in many countries the women still wear the traditional clothes while the men prefer famous name sports wear!
This lady had her hair in magnificent plaits. |
High up in Cusco and on the train to Macchu Picchu |
|
The city of Cusco is at 3400metres nestling in a valley ringed by higher mountains-
it is an awesome setting and very cold at night!
This view is of the main Plaza des Armes. |
Not a minute goes by without someone trying to sell you anything!
Full of tourists from all across the World the city depends on the money they spend and everything is for sale! . In the end we even succumbed to the shoe shine men who did an excellent job on our very dirty shoes! |
We stayed in a fine old Spanish house built around a central courtyard over 450 years ago.
Unfortunately the Spanish builders used stones from the nearby Inca ruins.
These are the ruins of Saqsayhuaman just outside the city. (pronounced "sexy woman".)
|
At the Inca museum we tried to get a feel for the many Indian tribes who live and work in the region.
|
Here they are also keeping alive the traditional weaving skills and preserving the intricate designs.
Dot bought this lovely Chinchew woven belt as a souvenir.
|
Peru were holding elections for a new President and a rally was held in the main square with the platform on the steps of the cathedral!
Dot was surprised to find gardens planted in a very English style.
|
The lost city of the Incas high up in the Andes. |
We caught the 7am train which climbed very slowly out of the valley and followed the river. The journey takes four hours and the track passes through glorious mountain passes.
At the Macchu Picchu Pueblo the streets were crowded with souvenir shops! |
The stalls are full of colourful fabrics.
Visitors have to take the bus up a steep narrow dirt road into the National park and we had our first glimpse of this wonderful place.
|
The location of the city is magical and we would wander around the ruins for many hours.
The buildings are not as grand as the Mayan temples but the site is awe inspiring. |
The clouds on the top of the surrounding peaks gave an extra dimension to the views.
Even the animals living up here were friendly!
|
The Incas channelled water along aqueducts and collected supplies in stone tanks.
The stone altars and astrological rooms are prominent.
|
Just trying to grow enough food to feed all the slaves meant the terraces had to be constructed to face in different directions to take advantage of the sunshine. These steep terraces are a builders nightmare! |
As the rain began to fall it was time to catch the train back to Cusco.
The staff entertained us with a traditional dance and a fashion show of some lovely alpaca sweaters. |
Next day we were off again by bus for the long overnight journey to Bolivia.
Lake Titicaca is the highest lake in the world and watching the sunrise over the water was magical.
|
At the border the crowds were unbelievable.
Chaotic and busy we had to walk through immigration and customs in both countries.
These local Indian ladies are money changers! |
There were stalls selling everything but we passed on the meat!
At last the bus could get through the pedestrians and after a couple of hours we were once again on our way into Bolivia.
|
The Terminal Terreste at La Paz reminded us of an English Railway station.
La Paz is the highest capitol city in the world- in fact it is the highest everything including the luggage on the bus roof!
|
Breathless we walked slowly around the streets!
Deciding that the next journey of 55hours by bus would be too much we changed our plans and flew to Santa Cruz and onto Argentina. |
Tango in Buenos Aires and football fever! |
After the poverty of Bolivia the fine city of Buenos Aires with European style architecture was like another world.
The wide boulevards were tree lined and this one has 12 lanes in each direction!
At last we could eat nice big juicy steaks instead of all that bland chicken! |
Of course we had to visit a football stadium and found the nearby drugstore named after one famous player! Everywhere the flags were on sale to support the national football team in the World Cup.
|
This pink house was the residence of the Governor.
But this Greek temple is the Cathedral!
Inside there were even bigger flags.
|
All the warehouses at the old docks ( looking just like Liverpool) have been restored and are filled with trendy cafes, apartments and bars.
We even found a transporter bridge like the one that used to cross the River Mersey at Widnes.
|
Everywhere we go the cities seem to have animals lavishly decorated by local artists on display.
As you would expect it is cows that decorate the streets of Buenos Aires!
|
There was just enough time to learn to Tango!
Which brought us to the end our brief journey across South America
We had missed the comfort and convenience of our motor home but the poor roads would have made driving hazardous. |
We flew down to Australia and found our motor home waiting at Darling Harbour in Sydney!
Exploring Australia and New Zealand
--------Return to the main index page-------
