9-24 )Wed
They told us breakfast didn´t open until 5 a.m. but when we arrived some people head already eaten. This was the best )breakfast included) of the whole trip but we didn´t get to enjoy it because we were supposed to be in the bus line at 5Ñ10. By the time we arrived there must have been at least 100 people already in line.
People want to arrive at Machu Picchu to see the sun come up and also to try to get a ticket to climb Waynapiccu, a very tall straight up mountain to the side of the lost city. They only allow 400 to climb a day. 200 at 8Ñ00 and 200 at 10Ñ00.
After we had our ticket punched we entered Machu Picchu. It was an awesome sight. We´ve all seen pictures but they don´t do it justice. It was incredible. Thankfully it is lower than Cuzco so we didn´t have to worry about altitude. The first thing we did was walk to the other side of the complex to try to get our ticket to climb Waynapiccu.
There was already a line when we arrived. We got so mad because people kept butting in line. Barbara told one guy off. We did manage to got a ticket for the 10:00 climb.
We walked around until 8:20 when we met our guide. There were about 10 people in our English speaking group. The guide was excellent and very funny. We finished the tour around 10:30. We went back to the main gate and got our passport stamped with a Machu Picchu stamp.
We made our way over to Wayanapiccu and signed in for the climb at 11:25. We could go anytime between 10 and 1:00. You have to sign in and include your passport number. That way they can account for everyone being off the mountain. Barbara walked about 5-8 minutes and decided it wasn´t for her so she went back. I pressed on. A few people signed in after I did but they soon passed me. It was a hard steep climb. In some places there was a cable to hold onto but they were few and far between. In some places you had to raise your leg almost to your chest to step up onto the next rock. Thank goodness I had my trekking pole with me. I needed if for balance and to push myself up. The people coming down would encourage me. They´d say, you can do it, go slowly, only 15 to 20 minutes to the top. After I´d gone another 20 minutes someone else would say, only 20 more minutes to the top. In some places the trail was very narrow and in other places it was a sheer drop. Naturally there were no guard rails. Near the top was a large flat area to stand and look out, the drop was straight down. The view from the top was magnificent. You could look down on the lost city of MP, see the bus road winding up the mountain, the train station in Aguas Calientes and the river far below. It usually takes an hour to climb but it took me and hour and a half.
As I got ready to start down a few drops of rain began to fall. This really scared me because I knew how slippery the rocks would be and how dangerous but it didn´t last long.
It appeared that I was the only one left on the mountain. I couldn´t hear anyone like I had previously. The trail wasn´t well marked. At one point I had to make a decision to go right or left. I chose right because it looked steeper down the direction I was trying to go. I had to crawl over a log stairway which I knew I hadn´t done on the way up but I thought this must just be another way down. As I continued I noticed there was a lot of yellow moss growing all over the side of the mountain. I knew I hadn´t seen that on the way up. I came to a place where I could see through the jungle and realized I could no longer see MP, my goal. I didn´t know whether to go back up or continue down. I realized I was lost. I knew I need to be at the entrance to MP by 3:00 in order to catch the 5:00 train. I wasn´t scared about being left on the mountain because I had registered but I was terrified of missing the train. I sat down on a rock right where I was and started yelling HELP. After yelling several times I heard some yell, where are you? If I knew I wouldn`´t be yelling HELP. After that I didn´t hear anything else. I began yelling again. Finally walking towards me was a Chinese guy )from Chendu= who now lives in Canada and some Preuvian guy who didn´t speak any English. You can´t imagine how happy I was to see them. I told them I was lost. They said I was n the other side of the muntain. They were on their way out so the three f us went together. We wnet back to the place where I had turned right instead of left. If I had gone about 20 feet that way I would have seen MP and known I was on the correct path. I was so happy when I got to the registration booth and signed myself off the mountain. I was filty from head to tow. My hands were a combination of black and amber color from grabbing onto rocks and the cable. After washing in the bathroom at the entrance and thanking Chris, from Chendu, profussely I got on a bus 3¨;00 down the mountain to Aguas Calientes. I met Barbara in the hotel. We went for a quick pizza before walking down to the train station.
We pulled out at 5¨_03 due to arrive back in Cuzco at 9;00. Sitting with me were the mother and daughter from Alaska. They were both sick. Next to me was a black girl from Paris traveling by herself. The four seats faced eaqch other so we were knee to knee with no way to stretch out our legs. As we progressed on down the track the light began to flicker then they went out and the train was at a complete stop for about 25 mintues. They said they were having mechanical problems. Fianlly wieth a lot of jerking and bumping we got going. We arrived at a station with thing still not under control It was more with the lights and banging. We asked how much lnger till Cuzco - an hour and a half. Out the window on the platform was a woman holding a sign saying to take the bus to Cuzco for 6 soles and arrive in 15 mintues at the town square. More than half the train jumped off and got on the bus. That´s exactly what we wanted to do but we had a van and driver waiting for us at the train station with no way to contact him. We had no choice but to stay on the train.
After leaving the station we went about 5 minutes and stopped out in the middle of a field. They said they were going to bring in a new engine. Everyone was so mad. The Spanish women were really giving the workers an ear full. We finally got going again - we would go forward and then backwards traversing the switch backs. Barbara was scared we didn´t have any breaks and that we would be a backwards runaway train.
We arrived in Cuzco at 11;00. Our driver was there and took us to our hotel. We had to wake the girl to let us in. This time our room was on the 3rd floor with no lift. We had to shower and get packed to go to Puno in the morning.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
9-23 (Tuesday)
We got up around 5 .am. to prepare for today´s journey. We hauled our suitcases downstairs to store them and paid our bill. We had just started walking down the hill to check out a new hotel when our van arrived. I had the driver stop by the old hotel to see if they had found my medicine. They hadn´t.
We arrived at the station along with all the other tourists heading to Machu Picchu. We boarded the backpackers train for our four hour ride to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night before going on to MP the next day.
The train would go forward for awhile and then back up. It did four different switch backs. We had breakfast on the train (not included!) The two guys from Seattle that we saw at dinner last night were right across the aisle from me.
We saw trekkers from the window and learned that the Inca Trail had been closed for a few days due to a fire on the mountain. We could see where it was all scorched. It reminded me of our trek in Irian Jaya. There was an active fire where we were trekking that time.
In our car were two girls and a guy from London who had been in the Great Amazon Race. They told us that an American team from California won the race by two hours. They said that was unheard of. That team made a long skinny raft instead of a short wide one.
After arriving in Aguas Calientes we walked around the town, shopped and Barbara had a beer. We sat outside for a long time. It was really nice.
Tomorrow we climb!! We´ll be leaving the hotel at 5:30 so we can see the sun come up over Machu Picchu. By the way, we love our hotel here. It is super!!
We got up around 5 .am. to prepare for today´s journey. We hauled our suitcases downstairs to store them and paid our bill. We had just started walking down the hill to check out a new hotel when our van arrived. I had the driver stop by the old hotel to see if they had found my medicine. They hadn´t.
We arrived at the station along with all the other tourists heading to Machu Picchu. We boarded the backpackers train for our four hour ride to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night before going on to MP the next day.
The train would go forward for awhile and then back up. It did four different switch backs. We had breakfast on the train (not included!) The two guys from Seattle that we saw at dinner last night were right across the aisle from me.
We saw trekkers from the window and learned that the Inca Trail had been closed for a few days due to a fire on the mountain. We could see where it was all scorched. It reminded me of our trek in Irian Jaya. There was an active fire where we were trekking that time.
In our car were two girls and a guy from London who had been in the Great Amazon Race. They told us that an American team from California won the race by two hours. They said that was unheard of. That team made a long skinny raft instead of a short wide one.
After arriving in Aguas Calientes we walked around the town, shopped and Barbara had a beer. We sat outside for a long time. It was really nice.
Tomorrow we climb!! We´ll be leaving the hotel at 5:30 so we can see the sun come up over Machu Picchu. By the way, we love our hotel here. It is super!!
9-22 (Monday)
After breakfast we packed up, checked out and hauled all our stuff down the hill to the new hostel. Thank goodness it was down, we could NEVER have pulled our stuff up hill.
We walked down to the Plaza de Armas with its two extraordinary churches, the Cathedral and the Jesuit Iglesi a de la Compania. We shopped around the square and took pictures.
We went back to the pharmacy and bought more altitude pills to take with us to Lake Titicaca. I tried to get more cash our of the ATM machine but was refused. PANIC! I went to another machine and no problem. I guess the 1st machine was out of money.
We went into the Cathedral for a look around. It was fabulous.
When we came out we heard chanting and a lot of noise. It was the start of some demonstration. We went into a restaurant and sat upstairs on the balcony so we could observe what was happening. Several thousand people must have gathered around the square with banners, sign and speeches. Apparently they were demonstrating against the government. It lasted about an hour. We walked down some of Peru´s oldest streets. We saw a woman weaving belts. Barbara bought the entire weaving apparatus from her including the rusty nail with which she had it attached to the floor. It´s authentic! We walked on to the Temple of the Sun where we also took the tour. Barbara bought a carving of Christ to help a boy´s carving school.
It was getting cold and dark so we went back to the hotel to get ready to leave for Machu Picchu in the morning.
We went out to dinner (chicken which we split) where we met a couple of guys who just arrived from Seattle. They´re going to Machu Picchu in the morning. We stopped and did a short internet.
We don´t like our new hotel! It has hot water but not in the sink for washing our clothes. I had to wash my shirt in the shower! The shower curtain was too short and water got all over the floor. The window was at the head of the bed and the cold air came right in on me. I turned around with my head at the foot of the bed. the blanket was so heavy you could hardly lift it. The wheel fell off the heater that we rented! I was super stressed when I realized I left my sleeping pills in the last hotel.
When we got in bed we were bitching about the "tourist ticket" we bought for $45 and only used twice. I thought we paid $22 but that was the day I was so out of it with altitude sickness that I didn't´t know what I was agreeing to. On the internet tonight we found out we could have changed our La Paz/Lima ticket for $6.44 instead of buying a new one for $144.
We started laughing our heads off when we agreed that we would try to find another hotel when we get back from Machu Picchu.
After breakfast we packed up, checked out and hauled all our stuff down the hill to the new hostel. Thank goodness it was down, we could NEVER have pulled our stuff up hill.
We walked down to the Plaza de Armas with its two extraordinary churches, the Cathedral and the Jesuit Iglesi a de la Compania. We shopped around the square and took pictures.
We went back to the pharmacy and bought more altitude pills to take with us to Lake Titicaca. I tried to get more cash our of the ATM machine but was refused. PANIC! I went to another machine and no problem. I guess the 1st machine was out of money.
We went into the Cathedral for a look around. It was fabulous.
When we came out we heard chanting and a lot of noise. It was the start of some demonstration. We went into a restaurant and sat upstairs on the balcony so we could observe what was happening. Several thousand people must have gathered around the square with banners, sign and speeches. Apparently they were demonstrating against the government. It lasted about an hour. We walked down some of Peru´s oldest streets. We saw a woman weaving belts. Barbara bought the entire weaving apparatus from her including the rusty nail with which she had it attached to the floor. It´s authentic! We walked on to the Temple of the Sun where we also took the tour. Barbara bought a carving of Christ to help a boy´s carving school.
It was getting cold and dark so we went back to the hotel to get ready to leave for Machu Picchu in the morning.
We went out to dinner (chicken which we split) where we met a couple of guys who just arrived from Seattle. They´re going to Machu Picchu in the morning. We stopped and did a short internet.
We don´t like our new hotel! It has hot water but not in the sink for washing our clothes. I had to wash my shirt in the shower! The shower curtain was too short and water got all over the floor. The window was at the head of the bed and the cold air came right in on me. I turned around with my head at the foot of the bed. the blanket was so heavy you could hardly lift it. The wheel fell off the heater that we rented! I was super stressed when I realized I left my sleeping pills in the last hotel.
When we got in bed we were bitching about the "tourist ticket" we bought for $45 and only used twice. I thought we paid $22 but that was the day I was so out of it with altitude sickness that I didn't´t know what I was agreeing to. On the internet tonight we found out we could have changed our La Paz/Lima ticket for $6.44 instead of buying a new one for $144.
We started laughing our heads off when we agreed that we would try to find another hotel when we get back from Machu Picchu.
9-21 (Sunday)
I felt 100% better this morning but Barbara was still suffering. We had breakfast at the hotel. The snotty girls were there waiting to leave on their trek.
We were so happy that we weren´t being picked up until 9 a.m. We didn´t have to get up at the crack of dawn after both of us had been sick.
We had hired a private car and driver to take us to the Sacred Valley.
After first stopping at the side of the road at a tourist trap (we didn´t buy anything) we went on to Pisca to the market which is only open on Sunday, Tues, and Thurs. We did drop a couple of coins here. We saw lots of men and women dressed in their native costumes. They were very colorful. We went on to Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and then across the high plains to Chinchero. This was the driver´s home town so his little boy, who had been staying with his grandparents, rode back to Cuzco with us. Barbara was still suffering this morning with altitude.
On our way to dinner we saw another hostel. We decided to go in and check it out. It was about $30 instead of the $50 we´re paying so we decided to move tomorrow in the morning. The Corihuasi where we´re currently staying has wooden floors and you can hear every stop the people above us take. When they take a shower or flush the toilet it sounds like the water is running right down our walls.
I felt 100% better this morning but Barbara was still suffering. We had breakfast at the hotel. The snotty girls were there waiting to leave on their trek.
We were so happy that we weren´t being picked up until 9 a.m. We didn´t have to get up at the crack of dawn after both of us had been sick.
We had hired a private car and driver to take us to the Sacred Valley.
After first stopping at the side of the road at a tourist trap (we didn´t buy anything) we went on to Pisca to the market which is only open on Sunday, Tues, and Thurs. We did drop a couple of coins here. We saw lots of men and women dressed in their native costumes. They were very colorful. We went on to Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and then across the high plains to Chinchero. This was the driver´s home town so his little boy, who had been staying with his grandparents, rode back to Cuzco with us. Barbara was still suffering this morning with altitude.
On our way to dinner we saw another hostel. We decided to go in and check it out. It was about $30 instead of the $50 we´re paying so we decided to move tomorrow in the morning. The Corihuasi where we´re currently staying has wooden floors and you can hear every stop the people above us take. When they take a shower or flush the toilet it sounds like the water is running right down our walls.
9-20 (Saturday)
We were up at 4 a.m. to get ready for our 5 a.m. pick up to the airport. We went around to several hotels and picked up others. We got to the airport before the ticket counter opened but we were first in line!
We flew into Lima and literally had to run for our flight to Cuzco. First we had to stand in a long line to pay our departure fee and then run along the tarmac to the plane. We were the last ones on. Our luggage didn't´t make the fight but it came in on the next flight about 5 minutes later. There was a guy from the hostel to pick us up. Two snotty girls from San Diego were in the van with us. It was a long way to the hotel but it was in a good location, about a block or two from the city center. The hostel was rather basic but quaint. At least we had a bathroom that we could turn around in. They gave us cocoa tea as soon as we arrived to help with altitude sickness.
We had a lot of organizing of our future plans to do. We walked down the narrow cobble street towards the square. We saw a cute restaurant and stopped in for lunch. When we go to the square we ran in to check our email to see if we had a message from a hotel we´re trying to book in Puno. We walked down to the LAN office and booked a flight from Cuzco to Lima ($144.) We have a flight from La Paz to Lima but because of the unrest there we´re not going. They are charging Americans $140 just to cross the border.
On the way back to the hostel we stopped at a pharmacy and I bought some medicine for my stuffed up nose. We went to a travel agency to book our trip to Machu Picchu, our trip to Lake Titicaca and our trip tomorrow to the Sacred Valley. It was here that I got hit with altitude sickness. I went over and stretched out on a bench in the office while Barbara did all the work. I was so sick I couldn´t walk back to the hotel. Barbara ran back to the pharmacy and bought some pills for altitude sickness. Valentine, a guy from the agency, flagged a taxi. He and Barbara helped me into the hostel. I was freezing. I crawled under four wool blankets with my clothes on including a sweater and my fleece. I drank some more cocoa tea and took a pill. I told Barbara she´d better put the trash can near the bed. It wasn´t long before I tossed my cookies three times. Barbara had the staff come in and turn on the heart because I was shaking. By this time she had altitude sickness but only the headache. I got up around 10 p.m. and put on my jammies.
We were up at 4 a.m. to get ready for our 5 a.m. pick up to the airport. We went around to several hotels and picked up others. We got to the airport before the ticket counter opened but we were first in line!
We flew into Lima and literally had to run for our flight to Cuzco. First we had to stand in a long line to pay our departure fee and then run along the tarmac to the plane. We were the last ones on. Our luggage didn't´t make the fight but it came in on the next flight about 5 minutes later. There was a guy from the hostel to pick us up. Two snotty girls from San Diego were in the van with us. It was a long way to the hotel but it was in a good location, about a block or two from the city center. The hostel was rather basic but quaint. At least we had a bathroom that we could turn around in. They gave us cocoa tea as soon as we arrived to help with altitude sickness.
We had a lot of organizing of our future plans to do. We walked down the narrow cobble street towards the square. We saw a cute restaurant and stopped in for lunch. When we go to the square we ran in to check our email to see if we had a message from a hotel we´re trying to book in Puno. We walked down to the LAN office and booked a flight from Cuzco to Lima ($144.) We have a flight from La Paz to Lima but because of the unrest there we´re not going. They are charging Americans $140 just to cross the border.
On the way back to the hostel we stopped at a pharmacy and I bought some medicine for my stuffed up nose. We went to a travel agency to book our trip to Machu Picchu, our trip to Lake Titicaca and our trip tomorrow to the Sacred Valley. It was here that I got hit with altitude sickness. I went over and stretched out on a bench in the office while Barbara did all the work. I was so sick I couldn´t walk back to the hotel. Barbara ran back to the pharmacy and bought some pills for altitude sickness. Valentine, a guy from the agency, flagged a taxi. He and Barbara helped me into the hostel. I was freezing. I crawled under four wool blankets with my clothes on including a sweater and my fleece. I drank some more cocoa tea and took a pill. I told Barbara she´d better put the trash can near the bed. It wasn´t long before I tossed my cookies three times. Barbara had the staff come in and turn on the heart because I was shaking. By this time she had altitude sickness but only the headache. I got up around 10 p.m. and put on my jammies.
9-19 (Friday)
We had arranged a half day tour this morning. with Bedder. He picked us up at 8:15. We gave him all the money up front and told him if he could bargain for lower prices than he estimated he could keep whatever was left over.
The first place we went was the Beliem Market. Just like so many of the foreign markets they had an assortment of fruits, veggies and of course the recently slaughtered animals. Beliem City or section is very poor. It is also know as the floating city because when the river rises during the winter the houses are on huge logs and they float. Some are just built on stilts. Sometimes the people have to move to the second story because the ground floor will be under water. We hired a canoe and went up river for a ways to see how the people live. Outside their houses and built over the river is their toilet with tarps for privacy.
We went back to the hotel Victoria and picked up the Peruvian couple and their two children who had been at the lodge with us. We went to the harbor where we got in a bigger boat. We went up river stopping where a native family lived to observe some of their animals: turtles, snakes, a baby sloth and lots of monkeys swinging around in the house. We went on the the Butterfly and animal farm. This farm was started 26 years ago by a woman from Austria. She was our personal guide. We saw lots and lots of different kinds of monkeys, boas, and ant eater, a tapir, beautiful butterflies and a jaguar. One monkey, Tony, fell in love with Barbara. He wrapped his tail around her neck, sat on her head and groomed her hair. Tony was very jealous and when I walked over to tell Barbara something Tony went nuts and tried to bite me.
One the way back from the river we were in a motorcycle taxi (the same as a tuk tuk if you´ve been to Bangkok) when we ran out of gas. The cycle driver behind us with the family pulled next to us with his tuk tuk and put his foot on our bumper. He pushed us like this all the way to the gas station. It was so funny.
We walked to town to have lunch at 3:30. We ate at little place right on the town square. I had a lot of food left over so I asked the waitress if I could give it to a couple of boys who were watching us. A man also came and made the motions of begging for food. The waitress took my food and some from other people and split it three ways. She gave a plate to each of the boys and one to the man. I think he was either mentally unstable or drunk because he threw his plate into the street. One of the boys ran and picked it up.
We went back to the grocery store. One the way we stopped in a hardware store where I bought a "tube" to put one of my necklaces in.
When we got back to the hotel we walked across the street and did email. It must have been way over 100 degrees in there with no fan. I was soaking wet when I left.
We showered, washed our hair and repacked to leave at 5 in the morning for Cuzco.
We had arranged a half day tour this morning. with Bedder. He picked us up at 8:15. We gave him all the money up front and told him if he could bargain for lower prices than he estimated he could keep whatever was left over.
The first place we went was the Beliem Market. Just like so many of the foreign markets they had an assortment of fruits, veggies and of course the recently slaughtered animals. Beliem City or section is very poor. It is also know as the floating city because when the river rises during the winter the houses are on huge logs and they float. Some are just built on stilts. Sometimes the people have to move to the second story because the ground floor will be under water. We hired a canoe and went up river for a ways to see how the people live. Outside their houses and built over the river is their toilet with tarps for privacy.
We went back to the hotel Victoria and picked up the Peruvian couple and their two children who had been at the lodge with us. We went to the harbor where we got in a bigger boat. We went up river stopping where a native family lived to observe some of their animals: turtles, snakes, a baby sloth and lots of monkeys swinging around in the house. We went on the the Butterfly and animal farm. This farm was started 26 years ago by a woman from Austria. She was our personal guide. We saw lots and lots of different kinds of monkeys, boas, and ant eater, a tapir, beautiful butterflies and a jaguar. One monkey, Tony, fell in love with Barbara. He wrapped his tail around her neck, sat on her head and groomed her hair. Tony was very jealous and when I walked over to tell Barbara something Tony went nuts and tried to bite me.
One the way back from the river we were in a motorcycle taxi (the same as a tuk tuk if you´ve been to Bangkok) when we ran out of gas. The cycle driver behind us with the family pulled next to us with his tuk tuk and put his foot on our bumper. He pushed us like this all the way to the gas station. It was so funny.
We walked to town to have lunch at 3:30. We ate at little place right on the town square. I had a lot of food left over so I asked the waitress if I could give it to a couple of boys who were watching us. A man also came and made the motions of begging for food. The waitress took my food and some from other people and split it three ways. She gave a plate to each of the boys and one to the man. I think he was either mentally unstable or drunk because he threw his plate into the street. One of the boys ran and picked it up.
We went back to the grocery store. One the way we stopped in a hardware store where I bought a "tube" to put one of my necklaces in.
When we got back to the hotel we walked across the street and did email. It must have been way over 100 degrees in there with no fan. I was soaking wet when I left.
We showered, washed our hair and repacked to leave at 5 in the morning for Cuzco.
Monday, September 22, 2008
9-18 (Thursday)
We got to sleep in this morning but we were awake by 6:00. Last night we were laughing so hard because I broke the toilet seat. Today you had to balance on on it to keep from falling on the floor.
After breakfast we took a boat across the rive to an island where we did a jungle walk. We were wearing high rubber boots provided by the hotel. We trudged through water and mud. One of the interesting things we saw were the leaf cutter ants carrying leaves to their nest. at one point there was a big Tarzen type vine that we all took turns swinging on. It was so much fun. We turned around at the giant lily pad pond.
When we got back to the lodge it was time to clean up, pack up and have lunch before saying goody-by. We paid our bar bill and then tipped freddy. When I gave him my money I also gave him a big hug. That sent him over the moon. He was staying behind with Erwin who had paid for a four day program.
We boarded the boat which was already full for our trip up river and back to civilization. Everyone got off in Iquitos except the four remaining from our original group. We went on with our new guide, Bedder Cheviez, to the Borna Village. It was kid of a touristy things: they were dressed in native costumes, the chief had his face painted and they did a little dance for us before we were expected to buy some of their wears. I bought two necklaces that I lover. Now I´m happy.
We checked into our new hotel, the Acosta, then did a little work on the internet. We decided not to go to La Paz in Bolivia because of all the trouble and rioting that is going on. We were only going there to get a flight to Lima. We´re hoping to change our ticket.
Tonight we walked to La Mason down by the river for dinner. We had a hard time finding it. One person would send us one way and the next person the other. Finally two guys from an office escorted us to the door.
Outside we talked to a professor from some college who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. Inside there was only one person, David, from Ireland. We went over to his table to find out what dish he recommended. He was having gator chips. We invited him to eat with us and we also ordered the gator.
After dinner we walked back to the grocery store for some water, soda and laundry soap. It was about 9:00 when we got back to the hotel - just in time to do laundry! I have a sore throat and can hardly breathe.
We got to sleep in this morning but we were awake by 6:00. Last night we were laughing so hard because I broke the toilet seat. Today you had to balance on on it to keep from falling on the floor.
After breakfast we took a boat across the rive to an island where we did a jungle walk. We were wearing high rubber boots provided by the hotel. We trudged through water and mud. One of the interesting things we saw were the leaf cutter ants carrying leaves to their nest. at one point there was a big Tarzen type vine that we all took turns swinging on. It was so much fun. We turned around at the giant lily pad pond.
When we got back to the lodge it was time to clean up, pack up and have lunch before saying goody-by. We paid our bar bill and then tipped freddy. When I gave him my money I also gave him a big hug. That sent him over the moon. He was staying behind with Erwin who had paid for a four day program.
We boarded the boat which was already full for our trip up river and back to civilization. Everyone got off in Iquitos except the four remaining from our original group. We went on with our new guide, Bedder Cheviez, to the Borna Village. It was kid of a touristy things: they were dressed in native costumes, the chief had his face painted and they did a little dance for us before we were expected to buy some of their wears. I bought two necklaces that I lover. Now I´m happy.
We checked into our new hotel, the Acosta, then did a little work on the internet. We decided not to go to La Paz in Bolivia because of all the trouble and rioting that is going on. We were only going there to get a flight to Lima. We´re hoping to change our ticket.
Tonight we walked to La Mason down by the river for dinner. We had a hard time finding it. One person would send us one way and the next person the other. Finally two guys from an office escorted us to the door.
Outside we talked to a professor from some college who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. Inside there was only one person, David, from Ireland. We went over to his table to find out what dish he recommended. He was having gator chips. We invited him to eat with us and we also ordered the gator.
After dinner we walked back to the grocery store for some water, soda and laundry soap. It was about 9:00 when we got back to the hotel - just in time to do laundry! I have a sore throat and can hardly breathe.
9-17 (Wednesday)
We got up at 5:30 to be ready to leave on the boat at 6a.m. We were "birding" along the edge of the Amazon. We were near a large island that Freddy (our guide) said he has seen shrink as much as 20 meters in 10 years.
When we got back to the hotel we had a wonderful breakfast. We started on later on a jungle walk in the rain. I had my poncho and umbrella. Can you imagine anything more weird? We saw the kind of plant that the natives use for their toilet paper. We saw some very dangerous ants. Then all hell broke loose with the weather. We made our way back to the lodge to hunker down. The main reason they return to the lodge during a storm when there is wind is because all the rain makes the root system vulnerable and something could fall on you. According to Freddy a tourist was hit on the head by a falling limb and killed.
While we waited out the rain we looked at Margareta, the pet spider and I wrote in my journal. A new batch of tourist arrived. After lunch we all went down to wave good-by to Hashemet who was going back to Iquitos and then on to Lima tonight.
Barbara later came to where I was writing and informed me that Freddy, who has two gold front teeth wanted to know if I was single and told her I made his heart pound. That reminded me of the 26 year old no tooth guy from Wadi Rum (Jordan) who wanted to sleep with me in the desert.
It finally stopped raining late in the afternoon and we took a boat to a sugar cane distillery. From there we walked over to where they sell the stuff plus other handicrafts. I didn´t buy anything. Salvador from our group bought some jungle viagra and we all teased him.
Lastly we went to a small village. There was a kindergarten, elementary school and secondary school. There probably weren´t more than 200 kids in all three schools if that many. The people there were also selling but it wasn´t high pressure.
We went back to the lodge to prepare for a night walk (6:30) into the jungle. We got on our swamp boots (provided by the hotel),ponchos and headed out with our flashlights. We couldn´t get over how much of the river bank had fallen in just today. At one place we saw a giant tree that had been claimed by erosion. We sloshed through much and walked along board paths. We saw a giant frog sitting on a log. We saw a praying mantes, a poisonious salamander, leaf cutter ants and spiders. At one point we all turned off our torches. You couldn´t see your own hand in front of your face. We made a big circle and ended up back at the lodge in time for dinner (7:30) The sky was very clear and the stars bright tonight so we were hoping for better weather in the morning.
We got up at 5:30 to be ready to leave on the boat at 6a.m. We were "birding" along the edge of the Amazon. We were near a large island that Freddy (our guide) said he has seen shrink as much as 20 meters in 10 years.
When we got back to the hotel we had a wonderful breakfast. We started on later on a jungle walk in the rain. I had my poncho and umbrella. Can you imagine anything more weird? We saw the kind of plant that the natives use for their toilet paper. We saw some very dangerous ants. Then all hell broke loose with the weather. We made our way back to the lodge to hunker down. The main reason they return to the lodge during a storm when there is wind is because all the rain makes the root system vulnerable and something could fall on you. According to Freddy a tourist was hit on the head by a falling limb and killed.
While we waited out the rain we looked at Margareta, the pet spider and I wrote in my journal. A new batch of tourist arrived. After lunch we all went down to wave good-by to Hashemet who was going back to Iquitos and then on to Lima tonight.
Barbara later came to where I was writing and informed me that Freddy, who has two gold front teeth wanted to know if I was single and told her I made his heart pound. That reminded me of the 26 year old no tooth guy from Wadi Rum (Jordan) who wanted to sleep with me in the desert.
It finally stopped raining late in the afternoon and we took a boat to a sugar cane distillery. From there we walked over to where they sell the stuff plus other handicrafts. I didn´t buy anything. Salvador from our group bought some jungle viagra and we all teased him.
Lastly we went to a small village. There was a kindergarten, elementary school and secondary school. There probably weren´t more than 200 kids in all three schools if that many. The people there were also selling but it wasn´t high pressure.
We went back to the lodge to prepare for a night walk (6:30) into the jungle. We got on our swamp boots (provided by the hotel),ponchos and headed out with our flashlights. We couldn´t get over how much of the river bank had fallen in just today. At one place we saw a giant tree that had been claimed by erosion. We sloshed through much and walked along board paths. We saw a giant frog sitting on a log. We saw a praying mantes, a poisonious salamander, leaf cutter ants and spiders. At one point we all turned off our torches. You couldn´t see your own hand in front of your face. We made a big circle and ended up back at the lodge in time for dinner (7:30) The sky was very clear and the stars bright tonight so we were hoping for better weather in the morning.
Friday, September 19, 2008
9-16 (Tuesday)
I got up at 6 a.m. thinking it was 7:00. It started POURING when we woke up. We had breakfast in the hotel. It was there that we met and talked to a professional photographer from Florence, Italy. He was working on his third book. This one was going to be about global warming. He and his buddy had hired a private plane to fly them over the Amazon and then on to a jungle lodge ($600) While I was waiting to have breakfast I could see Barbara talking to the desk clerk. When she came into the dining room she said she hoped I didn't mind but she got us booked into the Acosta Hotel. Apparently they had had a cancellation since last night. I didn't mind at all even though the location isn't as good as the Safari. We also had not seen the rooms. One good thing was that they take us to the airport. I did tell her I thought it was only fair that we go to the Safari when we get back and tell them we arent' coming.
As we were waiting in the lobby to be picked up we met a girl from Ft. Lauderdale who was telling us that her purse was stolen when she was in a restaurant a couple nights ago. She not only lost her money but her passport. She has to wait until she gets to Lima to go to the embassy and get another one. This is the second robbery we have heard about in two days.
She was in Iquitos with three guys from Florida to participate in the Great Amazon River Race. Two of the men were from Orlando. Ones name was Dave Knoki (something like that) and he lives on Lake Adair in College Park. I didn´t meet the other one because he hadn´t come downstairs.
We went out and got on the bus to take us to the river in the rain. First we stopped by the Acosta to pick up some people and we ran in to check out the rooms. They were about equal to the Safari but much older. We agreed to take it on Thurs and Fri nights. We went to another hotel to pick up someone else. There were 6 of us total.
The men loaded the boat with our luggage while we waited out of the rain. Finally we went to the river's edge and boarded. It was a fairly long ride down river to our jungle lodge, I would guess about an hour and a half. For half of the way it rained and we had the plastic siding down. As soon as it quit up went the siding and we were cold. After 20 minutes of traveling Barbara said it felt like a half a day.
We had a "welcome' drink *o.j. and then checked into our rooms. We looked around the lodge and took pictures. At 1230 we h a lovely lunch> chicken, rice, pork, hearts of palm, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans onions and fruit.
We took the boat down river again where we saw pink dolphins. The guide whistled to get them to surface. From there we went piranha fishing. I caught a silver one and the red one which is the most dangerous. It was a lot of fun.
There were six in our group who started out together and have remained > Salavador from Barcelona *no English, Erwin from Holland *he did a volunteer project for 3 weeks in Brazil watching river otters - he only saw one. Hasheme from Japan a student, and Sunghe a girl from Korea - she is an environmental engineer who volunteered the last two years in Peru. Now she's finished and on her way home in October.
Before dinner tonight we took the boat down river with our flashlights in hand to see if we could spot any interesting night life. That excursion was a wash out except for the river rat we saw swimming and then limb up on shore.
The electric was only on from 6-10 at night. We took showers *the water was hot but would suddenly go cold and back and forth. It was so nice listening to the night sounds instead of the TV. The thing that wasn't that great was crawling into a bed that felt wet. This is how it is in a rainforest.
I kept thinking about the woman from Columbia who was held hostage for 7 years and the 3 Americans for 5.
I got up at 6 a.m. thinking it was 7:00. It started POURING when we woke up. We had breakfast in the hotel. It was there that we met and talked to a professional photographer from Florence, Italy. He was working on his third book. This one was going to be about global warming. He and his buddy had hired a private plane to fly them over the Amazon and then on to a jungle lodge ($600) While I was waiting to have breakfast I could see Barbara talking to the desk clerk. When she came into the dining room she said she hoped I didn't mind but she got us booked into the Acosta Hotel. Apparently they had had a cancellation since last night. I didn't mind at all even though the location isn't as good as the Safari. We also had not seen the rooms. One good thing was that they take us to the airport. I did tell her I thought it was only fair that we go to the Safari when we get back and tell them we arent' coming.
As we were waiting in the lobby to be picked up we met a girl from Ft. Lauderdale who was telling us that her purse was stolen when she was in a restaurant a couple nights ago. She not only lost her money but her passport. She has to wait until she gets to Lima to go to the embassy and get another one. This is the second robbery we have heard about in two days.
She was in Iquitos with three guys from Florida to participate in the Great Amazon River Race. Two of the men were from Orlando. Ones name was Dave Knoki (something like that) and he lives on Lake Adair in College Park. I didn´t meet the other one because he hadn´t come downstairs.
We went out and got on the bus to take us to the river in the rain. First we stopped by the Acosta to pick up some people and we ran in to check out the rooms. They were about equal to the Safari but much older. We agreed to take it on Thurs and Fri nights. We went to another hotel to pick up someone else. There were 6 of us total.
The men loaded the boat with our luggage while we waited out of the rain. Finally we went to the river's edge and boarded. It was a fairly long ride down river to our jungle lodge, I would guess about an hour and a half. For half of the way it rained and we had the plastic siding down. As soon as it quit up went the siding and we were cold. After 20 minutes of traveling Barbara said it felt like a half a day.
We had a "welcome' drink *o.j. and then checked into our rooms. We looked around the lodge and took pictures. At 1230 we h a lovely lunch> chicken, rice, pork, hearts of palm, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans onions and fruit.
We took the boat down river again where we saw pink dolphins. The guide whistled to get them to surface. From there we went piranha fishing. I caught a silver one and the red one which is the most dangerous. It was a lot of fun.
There were six in our group who started out together and have remained > Salavador from Barcelona *no English, Erwin from Holland *he did a volunteer project for 3 weeks in Brazil watching river otters - he only saw one. Hasheme from Japan a student, and Sunghe a girl from Korea - she is an environmental engineer who volunteered the last two years in Peru. Now she's finished and on her way home in October.
Before dinner tonight we took the boat down river with our flashlights in hand to see if we could spot any interesting night life. That excursion was a wash out except for the river rat we saw swimming and then limb up on shore.
The electric was only on from 6-10 at night. We took showers *the water was hot but would suddenly go cold and back and forth. It was so nice listening to the night sounds instead of the TV. The thing that wasn't that great was crawling into a bed that felt wet. This is how it is in a rainforest.
I kept thinking about the woman from Columbia who was held hostage for 7 years and the 3 Americans for 5.
9-15 (Monday)
We got up at 5 a.m. to catch a cab at 6:00. We had a slight difference of opinion about our cab ride. Barbara thought we should go with the cab company the hotel recommended for 80 pesos and I thought we should take a metered cab. I felt the pressure because she relucently agreed to go in the metered one.
When I hailed the cab I made sure he understood where we were going. Then I asked him if he had enough petrol. He said, [si[ but I ran over to his side of the car and checked his gauge.
He did a good job of driving until we got about 2/3 of the way to the airport and he appeared to be falling asleep. We tried to talk to him to wake him up. He cracked the window and let in some cold air. The metered cab worked out just fine. It cost 63 pesos, the hotel wanted 80 and when we first arrived we paid 90.
We requested 2 aisle seats on our flight. The girl assured us we got them. When we got on Barbara was in the middle. she was furious. Right before we took off the guy to her left got up and moved to the back with his friends. WE were in a row of three so we had an empty seat between us. It was a four and a half flight from Buenos Aires to Lima. We had breakfast, slept, read and I loaded pictures into my computer.
We had almost 4 1/2 hours in LIma before our flight to Iquitos. We had to go through customs, immigration, claim our bags and recheck in. We also had to pay a departure fee even though we weren't going international. We ate lunch, looked in the stores and waited.
When we finally took off the plane was making a terrible noise but we went anyway. Once we got in the air it stopped.
Iquitos (the only major city that can only be reached by air) was about like Florida when we landed: hot, sticky and a light mist. We met two embassy gus when we got off the plane. they had come in to see an American who was in jail. Barbara said it was a sex charge. The single one of the two was so good looking. He had trained as a Seal. The other one had trained as a special forces ranger.
There was a van from the hotel to pick us up. Some guy grabbed our luggage and pointed it out. We thought he was the driver or hotel worker. It turns out he was just there to collect tips.
In the van was a couple from Ireland who had been traveling since the beginning of July. She was robbed on the bus from Puno to Cuzco. They thought they were on the tourist bus but it was the local. Her passport, money and journal were all gone. We got to the hotel Victoria Regia around 7 p.m. After checking in we walked to town to the grocery store. As we were walking we stopped at a pharmacy and I showed the guy a rash I had under my arm. He gave me some medicine and told me to use it twice a day.
When we got back to the hotel I tried to talk to management about giving us a discount after we got back from the jungle. He gave us one but it wasn't enough so we{re going to have to move.
Clever, the guy who sells jungle lodge tours, came over and gave us the low down on a lodge owned by our hotel. We gave him $180 US each. We were to be picked up at 8:30 in the morning.
Around 8:30 p.m. we set out walking to try to find a new hotel. We walked to the Acosta where we wanted to stay but the woman said they were full for Thurs and Fri nights. We walked on down the street looking at a couple here and there. We finally met a young guy in one of the places that offered to take us to the Safari Hotel that he thought we might like. It had a great location, and was fairly new. We told them we{d take the room for Thurs. and Friday nights. At the time I didn't know that Barb was was less than enthusiastic about it.
We went on back to our hotel to pack a small bag for the jungle the next day, shower and go to bed. I was so tired I didn't finish packing but went right to bed.
9-15 (Monday)
We got up at 5 a.m. to catch a cab at 6:00. We had a slight difference of opinion about our cab ride. Barbara thought we should go with the cab company the hotel recommended for 80 pesos and I thought we should take a metered cab. I felt the pressure because she relucently agreed to go in the metered one.
When I hailed the cab I made sure he understood where we were going. Then I asked him if he had enough petrol. He said, [si[ but I ran over to his side of the car and checked his gauge.
He did a good job of driving until we got about 2/3 of the way to the airport and he appeared to be falling asleep. We tried to talk to him to wake him up. He cracked the window and let in some cold air. The metered cab worked out just fine. It cost 63 pesos, the hotel wanted 80 and when we first arrived we paid 90.
We requested 2 aisle seats on our flight. The girl assured us we got them. When we got on Barbara was in the middle. she was furious. Right before we took off the guy to her left got up and moved to the back with his friends. WE were in a row of three so we had an empty seat between us. It was a four and a half flight from Buenos Aires to Lima. We had breakfast, slept, read and I loaded pictures into my computer.
We had almost 4 1/2 hours in LIma before our flight to Iquitos. We had to go through customs, immigration, claim our bags and recheck in. We also had to pay a departure fee even though we weren't going international. We ate lunch, looked in the stores and waited.
When we finally took off the plane was making a terrible noise but we went anyway. Once we got in the air it stopped.
Iquitos (the only major city that can only be reached by air) was about like Florida when we landed: hot, sticky and a light mist. We met two embassy gus when we got off the plane. they had come in to see an American who was in jail. Barbara said it was a sex charge. The single one of the two was so good looking. He had trained as a Seal. The other one had trained as a special forces ranger.
There was a van from the hotel to pick us up. Some guy grabbed our luggage and pointed it out. We thought he was the driver or hotel worker. It turns out he was just there to collect tips.
In the van was a couple from Ireland who had been traveling since the beginning of July. She was robbed on the bus from Puno to Cuzco. They thought they were on the tourist bus but it was the local. Her passport, money and journal were all gone. We got to the hotel Victoria Regia around 7 p.m. After checking in we walked to town to the grocery store. As we were walking we stopped at a pharmacy and I showed the guy a rash I had under my arm. He gave me some medicine and told me to use it twice a day.
When we got back to the hotel I tried to talk to management about giving us a discount after we got back from the jungle. He gave us one but it wasn't enough so we{re going to have to move.
Clever, the guy who sells jungle lodge tours, came over and gave us the low down on a lodge owned by our hotel. We gave him $180 US each. We were to be picked up at 8:30 in the morning.
Around 8:30 p.m. we set out walking to try to find a new hotel. We walked to the Acosta where we wanted to stay but the woman said they were full for Thurs and Fri nights. We walked on down the street looking at a couple here and there. We finally met a young guy in one of the places that offered to take us to the Safari Hotel that he thought we might like. It had a great location, and was fairly new. We told them we{d take the room for Thurs. and Friday nights. At the time I didn't know that Barb was was less than enthusiastic about it.
We went on back to our hotel to pack a small bag for the jungle the next day, shower and go to bed. I was so tired I didn't finish packing but went right to bed.
9-15 (Monday)
We got up at 5 a.m. to catch a cab at 6:00. We had a slight difference of opinion about our cab ride. Barbara thought we should go with the cab company the hotel recommended for 80 pesos and I thought we should take a metered cab. I felt the pressure because she relucently agreed to go in the metered one.
When I hailed the cab I made sure he understood where we were going. Then I asked him if he had enough petrol. He said, [si[ but I ran over to his side of the car and checked his gauge.
He did a good job of driving until we got about 2/3 of the way to the airport and he appeared to be falling asleep. We tried to talk to him to wake him up. He cracked the window and let in some cold air. The metered cab worked out just fine. It cost 63 pesos, the hotel wanted 80 and when we first arrived we paid 90.
We requested 2 aisle seats on our flight. The girl assured us we got them. When we got on Barbara was in the middle. she was furious. Right before we took off the guy to her left got up and moved to the back with his friends. WE were in a row of three so we had an empty seat between us. It was a four and a half flight from Buenos Aires to Lima. We had breakfast, slept, read and I loaded pictures into my computer.
We had almost 4 1/2 hours in LIma before our flight to Iquitos. We had to go through customs, immigration, claim our bags and recheck in. We also had to pay a departure fee even though we weren't going international. We ate lunch, looked in the stores and waited.
When we finally took off the plane was making a terrible noise but we went anyway. Once we got in the air it stopped.
Iquitos (the only major city that can only be reached by air) was about like Florida when we landed: hot, sticky and a light mist. We met two embassy gus when we got off the plane. they had come in to see an American who was in jail. Barbara said it was a sex charge. The single one of the two was so good looking. He had trained as a Seal. The other one had trained as a special forces ranger.
There was a van from the hotel to pick us up. Some guy grabbed our luggage and pointed it out. We thought he was the driver or hotel worker. It turns out he was just there to collect tips.
In the van was a couple from Ireland who had been traveling since the beginning of July. She was robbed on the bus from Puno to Cuzco. They thought they were on the tourist bus but it was the local. Her passport, money and journal were all gone. We got to the hotel Victoria Regia around 7 p.m. After checking in we walked to town to the grocery store. As we were walking we stopped at a pharmacy and I showed the guy a rash I had under my arm. He gave me some medicine and told me to use it twice a day.
When we got back to the hotel I tried to talk to management about giving us a discount after we got back from the jungle. He gave us one but it wasn't enough so we{re going to have to move.
Clever, the guy who sells jungle lodge tours, came over and gave us the low down on a lodge owned by our hotel. We gave him $180 US each. We were to be picked up at 8:30 in the morning.
Around 8:30 p.m. we set out walking to try to find a new hotel. We walked to the Acosta where we wanted to stay but the woman said they were full for Thurs and Fri nights. We walked on down the street looking at a couple here and there. We finally met a young guy in one of the places that offered to take us to the Safari Hotel that he thought we might like. It had a great location, and was fairly new. We told them we{d take the room for Thurs. and Friday nights. At the time I didn't know that Barb was was less than enthusiastic about it.
We went on back to our hotel to pack a small bag for the jungle the next day, shower and go to bed. I was so tired I didn't finish packing but went right to bed.
We got up at 5 a.m. to catch a cab at 6:00. We had a slight difference of opinion about our cab ride. Barbara thought we should go with the cab company the hotel recommended for 80 pesos and I thought we should take a metered cab. I felt the pressure because she relucently agreed to go in the metered one.
When I hailed the cab I made sure he understood where we were going. Then I asked him if he had enough petrol. He said, [si[ but I ran over to his side of the car and checked his gauge.
He did a good job of driving until we got about 2/3 of the way to the airport and he appeared to be falling asleep. We tried to talk to him to wake him up. He cracked the window and let in some cold air. The metered cab worked out just fine. It cost 63 pesos, the hotel wanted 80 and when we first arrived we paid 90.
We requested 2 aisle seats on our flight. The girl assured us we got them. When we got on Barbara was in the middle. she was furious. Right before we took off the guy to her left got up and moved to the back with his friends. WE were in a row of three so we had an empty seat between us. It was a four and a half flight from Buenos Aires to Lima. We had breakfast, slept, read and I loaded pictures into my computer.
We had almost 4 1/2 hours in LIma before our flight to Iquitos. We had to go through customs, immigration, claim our bags and recheck in. We also had to pay a departure fee even though we weren't going international. We ate lunch, looked in the stores and waited.
When we finally took off the plane was making a terrible noise but we went anyway. Once we got in the air it stopped.
Iquitos (the only major city that can only be reached by air) was about like Florida when we landed: hot, sticky and a light mist. We met two embassy gus when we got off the plane. they had come in to see an American who was in jail. Barbara said it was a sex charge. The single one of the two was so good looking. He had trained as a Seal. The other one had trained as a special forces ranger.
There was a van from the hotel to pick us up. Some guy grabbed our luggage and pointed it out. We thought he was the driver or hotel worker. It turns out he was just there to collect tips.
In the van was a couple from Ireland who had been traveling since the beginning of July. She was robbed on the bus from Puno to Cuzco. They thought they were on the tourist bus but it was the local. Her passport, money and journal were all gone. We got to the hotel Victoria Regia around 7 p.m. After checking in we walked to town to the grocery store. As we were walking we stopped at a pharmacy and I showed the guy a rash I had under my arm. He gave me some medicine and told me to use it twice a day.
When we got back to the hotel I tried to talk to management about giving us a discount after we got back from the jungle. He gave us one but it wasn't enough so we{re going to have to move.
Clever, the guy who sells jungle lodge tours, came over and gave us the low down on a lodge owned by our hotel. We gave him $180 US each. We were to be picked up at 8:30 in the morning.
Around 8:30 p.m. we set out walking to try to find a new hotel. We walked to the Acosta where we wanted to stay but the woman said they were full for Thurs and Fri nights. We walked on down the street looking at a couple here and there. We finally met a young guy in one of the places that offered to take us to the Safari Hotel that he thought we might like. It had a great location, and was fairly new. We told them we{d take the room for Thurs. and Friday nights. At the time I didn't know that Barb was was less than enthusiastic about it.
We went on back to our hotel to pack a small bag for the jungle the next day, shower and go to bed. I was so tired I didn't finish packing but went right to bed.
9-15 (Monday)
We got up at 5 a.m. to catch a cab at 6:00. We had a slight difference of opinion about our cab ride. Barbara thought we should go with the cab company the hotel recommended for 80 pesos and I thought we should take a metered cab. I felt the pressure because she relucently agreed to go in the metered one.
When I hailed the cab I made sure he understood where we were going. Then I asked him if he had enough petrol. He said, [si[ but I ran over to his side of the car and checked his gauge.
He did a good job of driving until we got about 2/3 of the way to the airport and he appeared to be falling asleep. We tried to talk to him to wake him up. He cracked the window and let in some cold air. The metered cab worked out just fine. It cost 63 pesos, the hotel wanted 80 and when we first arrived we paid 90.
We requested 2 aisle seats on our flight. The girl assured us we got them. When we got on Barbara was in the middle. she was furious. Right before we took off the guy to her left got up and moved to the back with his friends. WE were in a row of three so we had an empty seat between us. It was a four and a half flight from Buenos Aires to Lima. We had breakfast, slept, read and I loaded pictures into my computer.
We had almost 4 1/2 hours in LIma before our flight to Iquitos. We had to go through customs, immigration, claim our bags and recheck in. We also had to pay a departure fee even though we weren't going international. We ate lunch, looked in the stores and waited.
When we finally took off the plane was making a terrible noise but we went anyway. Once we got in the air it stopped.
Iquitos (the only major city that can only be reached by air) was about like Florida when we landed: hot, sticky and a light mist. We met two embassy gus when we got off the plane. they had come in to see an American who was in jail. Barbara said it was a sex charge. The single one of the two was so good looking. He had trained as a Seal. The other one had trained as a special forces ranger.
There was a van from the hotel to pick us up. Some guy grabbed our luggage and pointed it out. We thought he was the driver or hotel worker. It turns out he was just there to collect tips.
In the van was a couple from Ireland who had been traveling since the beginning of July. She was robbed on the bus from Puno to Cuzco. They thought they were on the tourist bus but it was the local. Her passport, money and journal were all gone. We got to the hotel Victoria Regia around 7 p.m. After checking in we walked to town to the grocery store. As we were walking we stopped at a pharmacy and I showed the guy a rash I had under my arm. He gave me some medicine and told me to use it twice a day.
When we got back to the hotel I tried to talk to management about giving us a discount after we got back from the jungle. He gave us one but it wasn't enough so we{re going to have to move.
Clever, the guy who sells jungle lodge tours, came over and gave us the low down on a lodge owned by our hotel. We gave him $180 US each. We were to be picked up at 8:30 in the morning.
Around 8:30 p.m. we set out walking to try to find a new hotel. We walked to the Acosta where we wanted to stay but the woman said they were full for Thurs and Fri nights. We walked on down the street looking at a couple here and there. We finally met a young guy in one of the places that offered to take us to the Safari Hotel that he thought we might like. It had a great location, and was fairly new. We told them we{d take the room for Thurs. and Friday nights. At the time I didn't know that Barb was was less than enthusiastic about it.
We went on back to our hotel to pack a small bag for the jungle the next day, shower and go to bed. I was so tired I didn't finish packing but went right to bed.
9-15 (Monday)
We got up at 5 a.m. to catch a cab at 6:00. We had a slight difference of opinion about our cab ride. Barbara thought we should go with the cab company the hotel recommended for 80 pesos and I thought we should take a metered cab. I felt the pressure because she relucently agreed to go in the metered one.
When I hailed the cab I made sure he understood where we were going. Then I asked him if he had enough petrol. He said, [si[ but I ran over to his side of the car and checked his gauge.
He did a good job of driving until we got about 2/3 of the way to the airport and he appeared to be falling asleep. We tried to talk to him to wake him up. He cracked the window and let in some cold air. The metered cab worked out just fine. It cost 63 pesos, the hotel wanted 80 and when we first arrived we paid 90.
We requested 2 aisle seats on our flight. The girl assured us we got them. When we got on Barbara was in the middle. she was furious. Right before we took off the guy to her left got up and moved to the back with his friends. WE were in a row of three so we had an empty seat between us. It was a four and a half flight from Buenos Aires to Lima. We had breakfast, slept, read and I loaded pictures into my computer.
We had almost 4 1/2 hours in LIma before our flight to Iquitos. We had to go through customs, immigration, claim our bags and recheck in. We also had to pay a departure fee even though we weren't going international. We ate lunch, looked in the stores and waited.
When we finally took off the plane was making a terrible noise but we went anyway. Once we got in the air it stopped.
Iquitos (the only major city that can only be reached by air) was about like Florida when we landed: hot, sticky and a light mist. We met two embassy gus when we got off the plane. they had come in to see an American who was in jail. Barbara said it was a sex charge. The single one of the two was so good looking. He had trained as a Seal. The other one had trained as a special forces ranger.
There was a van from the hotel to pick us up. Some guy grabbed our luggage and pointed it out. We thought he was the driver or hotel worker. It turns out he was just there to collect tips.
In the van was a couple from Ireland who had been traveling since the beginning of July. She was robbed on the bus from Puno to Cuzco. They thought they were on the tourist bus but it was the local. Her passport, money and journal were all gone. We got to the hotel Victoria Regia around 7 p.m. After checking in we walked to town to the grocery store. As we were walking we stopped at a pharmacy and I showed the guy a rash I had under my arm. He gave me some medicine and told me to use it twice a day.
When we got back to the hotel I tried to talk to management about giving us a discount after we got back from the jungle. He gave us one but it wasn't enough so we{re going to have to move.
Clever, the guy who sells jungle lodge tours, came over and gave us the low down on a lodge owned by our hotel. We gave him $180 US each. We were to be picked up at 8:30 in the morning.
Around 8:30 p.m. we set out walking to try to find a new hotel. We walked to the Acosta where we wanted to stay but the woman said they were full for Thurs and Fri nights. We walked on down the street looking at a couple here and there. We finally met a young guy in one of the places that offered to take us to the Safari Hotel that he thought we might like. It had a great location, and was fairly new. We told them we{d take the room for Thurs. and Friday nights. At the time I didn't know that Barb was was less than enthusiastic about it.
We went on back to our hotel to pack a small bag for the jungle the next day, shower and go to bed. I was so tired I didn't finish packing but went right to bed.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
9-14 (Sunday)
The alarm went off at 6:00 but I had been awake since 4:30. We went to breakfast three times before it was open. We gulped down our food and then went out to grab a cab to the Buquebus where we would take a hydrofoil to Uruguay. We got a metered cab for about $5.
We ran upstairs to immigration only to find out we hadn´t checked in. They sent us back downstairs where we checked in and got our documents. Back upstairs we went to have our passports stamped a couple of times.
Sacramento or Colonia as it is known is in the southwest corner of Uruguay. It is about an hour across the Rio de la Plata (river) from Buenos Aires by hydrofoil.
The Portuguese founded the area in 1680. In 1995 it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
We walked to the Visitor´s Center with a couple and their son from Houston. They were worried about what might have happened to their new house during hurricane Ike. Their son is working with the Peace Corp in Paraguay.
It was so cold on the boat and when we got off. I kept thinking the sun was going to break through and sure enough it did.
The town is very small so we didn´t have any trouble covering all the sights. We saw the City Gate, the Street of Sighs (an old Portuguese street with the original cobble stones. It has houses on both sides belonging to the first colonial period.) The Plaza Mayor: created during the foundation of the city. It´s the larges open space in the area. It was originally used for military maneuvers. The Lighthouse which was begun in 1845 and completed in 1857. The original ruins of the Viceroy´s House. The Basilica of the Holy Sacrament with its two bell towers. The 1866 wharf.
We shopped and Barbara bought her mate (pronounced ma-tay cup and straw plus two boxes of mate. I bought a mate spoon and a Christmas ornament. We had lunch at a darling restaurant. We split a meal of chicken with mushrooms and ham and some delicious potatoes. The whole meal was fabulous.
We walked all over town one final time looking at the colonial building and houses. We hurried on to the Buquebus station at 3:00 for our 4:00 departure. the station was packed. At least the boat was warmer going back to Buenos Aires.
The alarm went off at 6:00 but I had been awake since 4:30. We went to breakfast three times before it was open. We gulped down our food and then went out to grab a cab to the Buquebus where we would take a hydrofoil to Uruguay. We got a metered cab for about $5.
We ran upstairs to immigration only to find out we hadn´t checked in. They sent us back downstairs where we checked in and got our documents. Back upstairs we went to have our passports stamped a couple of times.
Sacramento or Colonia as it is known is in the southwest corner of Uruguay. It is about an hour across the Rio de la Plata (river) from Buenos Aires by hydrofoil.
The Portuguese founded the area in 1680. In 1995 it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
We walked to the Visitor´s Center with a couple and their son from Houston. They were worried about what might have happened to their new house during hurricane Ike. Their son is working with the Peace Corp in Paraguay.
It was so cold on the boat and when we got off. I kept thinking the sun was going to break through and sure enough it did.
The town is very small so we didn´t have any trouble covering all the sights. We saw the City Gate, the Street of Sighs (an old Portuguese street with the original cobble stones. It has houses on both sides belonging to the first colonial period.) The Plaza Mayor: created during the foundation of the city. It´s the larges open space in the area. It was originally used for military maneuvers. The Lighthouse which was begun in 1845 and completed in 1857. The original ruins of the Viceroy´s House. The Basilica of the Holy Sacrament with its two bell towers. The 1866 wharf.
We shopped and Barbara bought her mate (pronounced ma-tay cup and straw plus two boxes of mate. I bought a mate spoon and a Christmas ornament. We had lunch at a darling restaurant. We split a meal of chicken with mushrooms and ham and some delicious potatoes. The whole meal was fabulous.
We walked all over town one final time looking at the colonial building and houses. We hurried on to the Buquebus station at 3:00 for our 4:00 departure. the station was packed. At least the boat was warmer going back to Buenos Aires.
9-13 (Saturday)
We got off to a better start this morning since we didn´t have to go through the bank nightmare. We found an ATM machine at the park when we were leaving yesterday.
We got to the bus station in time for the 8:10 departure. It took about 30 minutes to get to the park depending on how many people we had to pick up along the way.
It was clear but cold this morning. We both had on our fleece jackets. Barbara was going nuts because it was so cold but I kept assuring her it was going to warm up which it didn´t the sun came out and it was a beautiful day. We took the train to Garganta del Diablo (the Devil´s Throat.) You get off the train and walk about 15-20 minutes. What a sight! All of these waterfalls are absolutely mesmerizing. The best part was that the sun was out so our pictures were much better than yesterday. We walked to some other areas of the park that we missed yesterday. After we had lunch at our favorite fast food place we decided to split up. Barbara wanted to go into town and I wanted to stay and take more pictures.
I walked back to some of the places we had been yesterday and retook some pictures. At one point along the walkways I saw several coati´s (a raccoon type animal with a long nose and long tail.) I also got pictures of a rainbow over the falls. As I was leaving the park I saw a large lizard/iguana looking animal sunning himself beside the path.
Even though I exercise at home my calves are VERY sore from all the walking we did at the falls.
I caught the 3:00 bus back to town and did my email. We had arranged for the airport van to pick us up at 5<:00 for our 7 p.m. flight. At 5:15 Barbara went to the hotel desk to see if they knew why our transport had not arrived. They said the service called and said they would be at the hotel for us at 7:00! We had the hotel call back and tell them our flight was at 7:00. They sent a car for us. When we got to the airport (6:00) our flight had been delayed 30 minutes.
We arrived in Buenos Aires leaving warm weather behind for cold. We hired a cab at one of the stands and paid a flat rate (38 pesos -$14) to the hotel. We had to put up a fuss to get our old room back but we were successful. It was back to the usual routine - washing clothes,showering, and hoping we could sleep.
We got off to a better start this morning since we didn´t have to go through the bank nightmare. We found an ATM machine at the park when we were leaving yesterday.
We got to the bus station in time for the 8:10 departure. It took about 30 minutes to get to the park depending on how many people we had to pick up along the way.
It was clear but cold this morning. We both had on our fleece jackets. Barbara was going nuts because it was so cold but I kept assuring her it was going to warm up which it didn´t the sun came out and it was a beautiful day. We took the train to Garganta del Diablo (the Devil´s Throat.) You get off the train and walk about 15-20 minutes. What a sight! All of these waterfalls are absolutely mesmerizing. The best part was that the sun was out so our pictures were much better than yesterday. We walked to some other areas of the park that we missed yesterday. After we had lunch at our favorite fast food place we decided to split up. Barbara wanted to go into town and I wanted to stay and take more pictures.
I walked back to some of the places we had been yesterday and retook some pictures. At one point along the walkways I saw several coati´s (a raccoon type animal with a long nose and long tail.) I also got pictures of a rainbow over the falls. As I was leaving the park I saw a large lizard/iguana looking animal sunning himself beside the path.
Even though I exercise at home my calves are VERY sore from all the walking we did at the falls.
I caught the 3:00 bus back to town and did my email. We had arranged for the airport van to pick us up at 5<:00 for our 7 p.m. flight. At 5:15 Barbara went to the hotel desk to see if they knew why our transport had not arrived. They said the service called and said they would be at the hotel for us at 7:00! We had the hotel call back and tell them our flight was at 7:00. They sent a car for us. When we got to the airport (6:00) our flight had been delayed 30 minutes.
We arrived in Buenos Aires leaving warm weather behind for cold. We hired a cab at one of the stands and paid a flat rate (38 pesos -$14) to the hotel. We had to put up a fuss to get our old room back but we were successful. It was back to the usual routine - washing clothes,showering, and hoping we could sleep.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
9-12 (Friday)
We had breakfast in the hotel then walked down to the bank so Barbara could change some money. After she waited in line forever they told her they didn´t change money. We walked to another bank on the other end of town (it isn´t very big) and they said they changed money. While she waited in another long line I went back to the hotel to wait on her. When she came walking up I could tell something was wrong. She said when she got up to the teller she was told she had to fill in some paper before getting to the teller. She left with no changed money.
We walked to the local bus station and bought a ticket to Iguazu Falls (15 pesos round trip.) As we were driving out to the falls it started raining. At breakfast I saw a guy in the parking lot selling ponchos so I ran out and bought one for each of us.
We paid our fee (14 for Argentineans and 40 for foreigners.) The park is very well maintained with lots of bathrooms, snack bars and trash cans. The paths are beautiful even though in some places they were slippery today because of all the rain. It would rain, stop, and then rain again.
Some of the metal walkways went over parts of the river. The falls were just magnificent. We walked the inferior trails (isn´t that a funny nameÇ) and the superior trails today also known as the lower circuit and upper circuit.
The upper circuit is a half hour walk along trails with little difficulty because there are no steps. It goes deep into the jungle. All of a sudden you have a breathtaking view of the Falls.
The lower circuit is more difficult because it has stairs. Today was slow because they were wet and slippery. The lower circuit goes all the way down to the river. It was here that we took a boat over to San Martin Island. To get to the top of the island you had to climb 200 stairs. We saw some unusual birds, plant life and different views of the falls.
I would guess we left the park around 4:30 or 5:00 as it was beginning to get dark. We took the bus back to town. Barbara went to take a shower and wash clothes and I went to the net. Tonight we ate in a lovely little restaurant in town and split a beer.
We had breakfast in the hotel then walked down to the bank so Barbara could change some money. After she waited in line forever they told her they didn´t change money. We walked to another bank on the other end of town (it isn´t very big) and they said they changed money. While she waited in another long line I went back to the hotel to wait on her. When she came walking up I could tell something was wrong. She said when she got up to the teller she was told she had to fill in some paper before getting to the teller. She left with no changed money.
We walked to the local bus station and bought a ticket to Iguazu Falls (15 pesos round trip.) As we were driving out to the falls it started raining. At breakfast I saw a guy in the parking lot selling ponchos so I ran out and bought one for each of us.
We paid our fee (14 for Argentineans and 40 for foreigners.) The park is very well maintained with lots of bathrooms, snack bars and trash cans. The paths are beautiful even though in some places they were slippery today because of all the rain. It would rain, stop, and then rain again.
Some of the metal walkways went over parts of the river. The falls were just magnificent. We walked the inferior trails (isn´t that a funny nameÇ) and the superior trails today also known as the lower circuit and upper circuit.
The upper circuit is a half hour walk along trails with little difficulty because there are no steps. It goes deep into the jungle. All of a sudden you have a breathtaking view of the Falls.
The lower circuit is more difficult because it has stairs. Today was slow because they were wet and slippery. The lower circuit goes all the way down to the river. It was here that we took a boat over to San Martin Island. To get to the top of the island you had to climb 200 stairs. We saw some unusual birds, plant life and different views of the falls.
I would guess we left the park around 4:30 or 5:00 as it was beginning to get dark. We took the bus back to town. Barbara went to take a shower and wash clothes and I went to the net. Tonight we ate in a lovely little restaurant in town and split a beer.
Friday, September 12, 2008
9-11 (Thursday)
We had breakfast at the hotel and then decided to go to a public internet because the machine at the hotel was so slow. It was misty but not real cold as we walked to Florida Street.
We left our luggage in the lock up room at the hotel and took a small carry on for two nights. We hailed a cab (with a meter) and Barbara told him the domestic airport. As we were driving I commented that it looked like we were going to the international airport. She said if we weren´t there in 10 minutes we should question the guy who didn´t speak a word of English. As we approached I finally said to him, "no international." He had a horrified look on his face and started jabbering away. Barbara gave him a paper with our information. He pulled over to the side and read it and jabbered some more. Finally he pulled off the main highway and turned around. After we had been driving for an hour I tapped him on the shoulder and said, "pardon." Then I made the motion of driving a car and asked if he was driving us to the airport or to Iguazu FallsÇ He said the airport. Then we began to wonder if he was driving us to the airport in Uruguay. Finally we got to the domestic airport. It cost us a fortune but we felt blessed because he was also driving on a tank that was way below empty.
We got checked in and made it to the gate just fine. Barbara walked away from her carry on bag which I noticed right away so she recovered it. The couple sitting next to me on the plane were from south Florida. They had been in Mendoza.
When we landed the people clapped. Maybe I was missing something although I´m always extremely happy when the wheels hit the ground.
We found transport in a mini van ($5 each) to our hotel, The Liberator. It was a three star place but it was very nice with many tour groups staying there. I had a pool and the weather was hot enough that people were sitting around it. our room was very nice: a king size bed and two twins plus the bathroom was lovely.
We walked around the town and ate dinner outside along the street. We finally had our Argentine beef and it was wonderful. We split a beer. Yum, yum. Before we made it back to the hotel the sky opened up and almost soaked us before we could get back to the hotel.
We had breakfast at the hotel and then decided to go to a public internet because the machine at the hotel was so slow. It was misty but not real cold as we walked to Florida Street.
We left our luggage in the lock up room at the hotel and took a small carry on for two nights. We hailed a cab (with a meter) and Barbara told him the domestic airport. As we were driving I commented that it looked like we were going to the international airport. She said if we weren´t there in 10 minutes we should question the guy who didn´t speak a word of English. As we approached I finally said to him, "no international." He had a horrified look on his face and started jabbering away. Barbara gave him a paper with our information. He pulled over to the side and read it and jabbered some more. Finally he pulled off the main highway and turned around. After we had been driving for an hour I tapped him on the shoulder and said, "pardon." Then I made the motion of driving a car and asked if he was driving us to the airport or to Iguazu FallsÇ He said the airport. Then we began to wonder if he was driving us to the airport in Uruguay. Finally we got to the domestic airport. It cost us a fortune but we felt blessed because he was also driving on a tank that was way below empty.
We got checked in and made it to the gate just fine. Barbara walked away from her carry on bag which I noticed right away so she recovered it. The couple sitting next to me on the plane were from south Florida. They had been in Mendoza.
When we landed the people clapped. Maybe I was missing something although I´m always extremely happy when the wheels hit the ground.
We found transport in a mini van ($5 each) to our hotel, The Liberator. It was a three star place but it was very nice with many tour groups staying there. I had a pool and the weather was hot enough that people were sitting around it. our room was very nice: a king size bed and two twins plus the bathroom was lovely.
We walked around the town and ate dinner outside along the street. We finally had our Argentine beef and it was wonderful. We split a beer. Yum, yum. Before we made it back to the hotel the sky opened up and almost soaked us before we could get back to the hotel.
9-10 (Wednesday)
I felt like a new person this morning. It´s amazing what sleep can do for you.
We had breakfast at the hotel and then walked down Florida Street to the travel agency to pay and pick up our documents for Iguazu Falls.
Barbara´s friend Mark, emailed her and said we must see Sacramento in Uruguay so we walked down to the river and bought tickets on the fast boat for Sunday. We walked around the Plaza San Martin and then over to the three block shortest street in Argentina, Arroyo, where we saw the very expensive hotel (can´t remember the name right now). I decided we should go in to have a look and use the facilities. The bathroom was VERY nice. We went to the gift shop and spent a long time talking to the clerk and looking at stuff. Barbara wanted to buy a mate "cup" but the woman advised waiting until we get to Uruguay, so she bought a mate book instead. We walked on to the Recoleta cemetery where Evita is buried. We went in the church and took some pictures. Some guy came up to me and told me I wasn´t supposed to take pictures. I informed him that the sign said you could if there wasn´t a service going on and that I had asked the guard and he said it was okay. We went on over to the cemetery. The mausoleums thee are incredible. Those families spent a fortune to intern their dead. We found Evita´s resting place after walking around for about 30 minutes. By this time it was after six so we decided to head back to the hotel and get packed up to go to Iguazu Falls in the morning.
We stopped at a little cafe on Florida Street to have a lite dinner. We had planned to have an Argentine steak tonight but neither one of us was hungry. When we came out of the cafe the vendors were setting up for the night market along the street. We stopped and listened to some singers and to watch the tango dancers. BA is really an exciting, happening city. I call it "lip lock" city because everywhere you look young people have their lips locked together.
I felt like a new person this morning. It´s amazing what sleep can do for you.
We had breakfast at the hotel and then walked down Florida Street to the travel agency to pay and pick up our documents for Iguazu Falls.
Barbara´s friend Mark, emailed her and said we must see Sacramento in Uruguay so we walked down to the river and bought tickets on the fast boat for Sunday. We walked around the Plaza San Martin and then over to the three block shortest street in Argentina, Arroyo, where we saw the very expensive hotel (can´t remember the name right now). I decided we should go in to have a look and use the facilities. The bathroom was VERY nice. We went to the gift shop and spent a long time talking to the clerk and looking at stuff. Barbara wanted to buy a mate "cup" but the woman advised waiting until we get to Uruguay, so she bought a mate book instead. We walked on to the Recoleta cemetery where Evita is buried. We went in the church and took some pictures. Some guy came up to me and told me I wasn´t supposed to take pictures. I informed him that the sign said you could if there wasn´t a service going on and that I had asked the guard and he said it was okay. We went on over to the cemetery. The mausoleums thee are incredible. Those families spent a fortune to intern their dead. We found Evita´s resting place after walking around for about 30 minutes. By this time it was after six so we decided to head back to the hotel and get packed up to go to Iguazu Falls in the morning.
We stopped at a little cafe on Florida Street to have a lite dinner. We had planned to have an Argentine steak tonight but neither one of us was hungry. When we came out of the cafe the vendors were setting up for the night market along the street. We stopped and listened to some singers and to watch the tango dancers. BA is really an exciting, happening city. I call it "lip lock" city because everywhere you look young people have their lips locked together.
9-9 (Tuesday)
We had a 3:30 wake up to meet the taxi at 4:00. Our flight to Buenos Aires didn´t leave until 7:15 but they say you have to be there three hours early and the airport can be a long way depending on traffic. We didn´t expect traffic at that time of morning and there wasn´t a lot. We also didn´t expect that the driver was going to have to stop for gas! The said, "just a little, just a little" but the station was closed. Barbara saw his gauge and said it was way below empty. Wouldn´t you think that´s something you would take care of before picking up your clientsÇ Somehow we made it (I guess it was the fumes.)
We checked our luggage, paid our departure fee ($30.25), ate breakfast at McDonalds and still had time to shop!
The bus we took out to the plane wound through all kinds of cargo. It was like going through a maze. Barbara and I had seats together on the exit but we jumped into empty middle rows so we could lie down. I swear no one was in their assigned seat by the time we landed. They, like we, were moving all over the plane. We landed in Buenos Aires at 11:15. Some guy right near me had on his headphones and sang at the top of his lungs for a great deal of the flight. The rough landing shut him up.
We took a cab from the airport to our hotel, the Gran Hispano, in town ($35.) A real sour puss checked us in. We didn´t like our room because it didn´t have a window even though it had three beds. We changed rooms to one with a balacony and a better bathroom.
Someone at the hotel directed us to a travel agency on Florida Street. We didn´t go to the suggested one because it was so fare away but found another. A great girl who spoke excellent English (rare) helped us arrange a trip to Iguazu Falls for Thursday. I was so out of it from lack of sleep I hardly knew what she was talking about.
We ate dinner (Burger King) and then went back to the hotel. I took a shower and a sleeping pill and passed out.
Okay, a couple of you commented about me saying we went to China. That is just an expression meaning we traveled a long way. I said that when we went to the Nazca Lines. Something about going to China and back. I did not go to China, I just meant it was a loooooong way.
We had a 3:30 wake up to meet the taxi at 4:00. Our flight to Buenos Aires didn´t leave until 7:15 but they say you have to be there three hours early and the airport can be a long way depending on traffic. We didn´t expect traffic at that time of morning and there wasn´t a lot. We also didn´t expect that the driver was going to have to stop for gas! The said, "just a little, just a little" but the station was closed. Barbara saw his gauge and said it was way below empty. Wouldn´t you think that´s something you would take care of before picking up your clientsÇ Somehow we made it (I guess it was the fumes.)
We checked our luggage, paid our departure fee ($30.25), ate breakfast at McDonalds and still had time to shop!
The bus we took out to the plane wound through all kinds of cargo. It was like going through a maze. Barbara and I had seats together on the exit but we jumped into empty middle rows so we could lie down. I swear no one was in their assigned seat by the time we landed. They, like we, were moving all over the plane. We landed in Buenos Aires at 11:15. Some guy right near me had on his headphones and sang at the top of his lungs for a great deal of the flight. The rough landing shut him up.
We took a cab from the airport to our hotel, the Gran Hispano, in town ($35.) A real sour puss checked us in. We didn´t like our room because it didn´t have a window even though it had three beds. We changed rooms to one with a balacony and a better bathroom.
Someone at the hotel directed us to a travel agency on Florida Street. We didn´t go to the suggested one because it was so fare away but found another. A great girl who spoke excellent English (rare) helped us arrange a trip to Iguazu Falls for Thursday. I was so out of it from lack of sleep I hardly knew what she was talking about.
We ate dinner (Burger King) and then went back to the hotel. I took a shower and a sleeping pill and passed out.
Okay, a couple of you commented about me saying we went to China. That is just an expression meaning we traveled a long way. I said that when we went to the Nazca Lines. Something about going to China and back. I did not go to China, I just meant it was a loooooong way.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
9/7 (Sunday)
We were awake before our 4 a.m. call. It was a lot warmer in our room last night after we closed one of our windows that we had left open the night before!
Last night we had KFC delivered to our room. My current convertor either blew a fuse or died. I was asking Kimberly, from Texas, where I could get another one. She showed me hers which she got at Radio Shack in Lima. It was a monster of a thing ($30) and weighed more than my little computer. She offered to let me keep it until we leave in Oct. I took her up on it because there was no way I would be able to charge my camera or computer. She said the reason she got that monster was because there are a lot of power surges in Peru and that can hurt your equipment. She´s leaving for the states tonight and won´t be back until May so I´ll leave it at the hotel for her.
Our driver, Vicente, called for us right " 4:30 and we were on our way in the pitch black and mist. Once we dodged the pot holes of Lima we were on decent roads for a good stretch of the way they even had four lanes.
Our first stop about 8:30 was at the Paracas Peninsula which is a National Reserve. We took a two hour boat ride first stopping to see El Candelabro, a huge hillside etching of a chandelier that has mysterious origins. The wind and surf have sculpted odd shapes and tunnels into the rock. Because of the warm winds and cool ocean no rain falls on Paracas. This area has one of the world´s largest collections of seabirds (about 200 species) including the Andean Condor, 2 types of sea lions, a rare otter and the endangered Humboldt penguin.
Hundreds of thousands of birds were roosting all over the rocky islands covering them with guano (also known as poo poo.) It has 20 times more nitrogen than cow poo and thus is highly coveted. Between 1850 and 1870 Peru had a guano rush. They dug nearly 20 million tons of the stuff off the islands lowering the height by as much as 30 meters!
We saw cormorants, boobies )not the blue footed ones pelicans, seagulls, penguins and Inca terns. the sky and rocks were thick with them. I told barbara not to open her mouth if she looked up. she didn´t open her mouth but still took a direct guano hit on top of the head. She resorted to wearing a plastic bag on her head.
By 10-30 we were out of there and continuing on our way to Nazca. By this time the sun had finally come out and we were cruising along until we had to stop and change a tire. We were on the Pan American Hwy between Lima and Argentina and it was filled with big rigs going over the mountains. It was one hairpin curve after another.
We passed through lots of desert land and small villages. the boss called at 1'00 and said we had a 1`30 ``fly time`` We hurried on. The driver was a nervous wreck and driving like a bat out of hell when it became apparent we weren´t going to make the 1'30 time. We arrived about 1'40 which pushed our fly time back to 2`10. We got in a 6 passenger plane with five other people. The man sat in front with the pilot, Barbara and I behind them and the wife and daughter behind us. The wind was blowing fairly hard so I expected it to be bumpy but it wasn´t. We followed a clockwise path beginning with the lines of the whale etched into the desert. Some of the line formations you can see are_ the dog, monkey, condor, spider, humming bird, astronaut and parrot among others. The pilot would tip the wing all the way to one side for the people on the left to see then come around and tip to the other side. Before we took off he pointed out the barf bags in the pocket in front of each seat. About half way through the flight I thought I smelled something. When we landed Barbara informed me that the girl behind me had used her bag!
We hadn't had anything to eat since before 8 a.m. so I was once again light headed and ready to faint. We went to a very nice restaurant in Nazca for lunch dinner.
We hit the road back to Lima at 5 p.m. Thank goodness there was still light when we were behind all the trucks crossing the mountain. I felt sorry for the driver because he was driving right into the sun and it was a bright one.
We finally made it back to Lima by 11 p.m. We were all exhausted especially the driver. Our journey took much longer than it took for me to fly from Orlando to Lima.
We were awake before our 4 a.m. call. It was a lot warmer in our room last night after we closed one of our windows that we had left open the night before!
Last night we had KFC delivered to our room. My current convertor either blew a fuse or died. I was asking Kimberly, from Texas, where I could get another one. She showed me hers which she got at Radio Shack in Lima. It was a monster of a thing ($30) and weighed more than my little computer. She offered to let me keep it until we leave in Oct. I took her up on it because there was no way I would be able to charge my camera or computer. She said the reason she got that monster was because there are a lot of power surges in Peru and that can hurt your equipment. She´s leaving for the states tonight and won´t be back until May so I´ll leave it at the hotel for her.
Our driver, Vicente, called for us right " 4:30 and we were on our way in the pitch black and mist. Once we dodged the pot holes of Lima we were on decent roads for a good stretch of the way they even had four lanes.
Our first stop about 8:30 was at the Paracas Peninsula which is a National Reserve. We took a two hour boat ride first stopping to see El Candelabro, a huge hillside etching of a chandelier that has mysterious origins. The wind and surf have sculpted odd shapes and tunnels into the rock. Because of the warm winds and cool ocean no rain falls on Paracas. This area has one of the world´s largest collections of seabirds (about 200 species) including the Andean Condor, 2 types of sea lions, a rare otter and the endangered Humboldt penguin.
Hundreds of thousands of birds were roosting all over the rocky islands covering them with guano (also known as poo poo.) It has 20 times more nitrogen than cow poo and thus is highly coveted. Between 1850 and 1870 Peru had a guano rush. They dug nearly 20 million tons of the stuff off the islands lowering the height by as much as 30 meters!
We saw cormorants, boobies )not the blue footed ones pelicans, seagulls, penguins and Inca terns. the sky and rocks were thick with them. I told barbara not to open her mouth if she looked up. she didn´t open her mouth but still took a direct guano hit on top of the head. She resorted to wearing a plastic bag on her head.
By 10-30 we were out of there and continuing on our way to Nazca. By this time the sun had finally come out and we were cruising along until we had to stop and change a tire. We were on the Pan American Hwy between Lima and Argentina and it was filled with big rigs going over the mountains. It was one hairpin curve after another.
We passed through lots of desert land and small villages. the boss called at 1'00 and said we had a 1`30 ``fly time`` We hurried on. The driver was a nervous wreck and driving like a bat out of hell when it became apparent we weren´t going to make the 1'30 time. We arrived about 1'40 which pushed our fly time back to 2`10. We got in a 6 passenger plane with five other people. The man sat in front with the pilot, Barbara and I behind them and the wife and daughter behind us. The wind was blowing fairly hard so I expected it to be bumpy but it wasn´t. We followed a clockwise path beginning with the lines of the whale etched into the desert. Some of the line formations you can see are_ the dog, monkey, condor, spider, humming bird, astronaut and parrot among others. The pilot would tip the wing all the way to one side for the people on the left to see then come around and tip to the other side. Before we took off he pointed out the barf bags in the pocket in front of each seat. About half way through the flight I thought I smelled something. When we landed Barbara informed me that the girl behind me had used her bag!
We hadn't had anything to eat since before 8 a.m. so I was once again light headed and ready to faint. We went to a very nice restaurant in Nazca for lunch dinner.
We hit the road back to Lima at 5 p.m. Thank goodness there was still light when we were behind all the trucks crossing the mountain. I felt sorry for the driver because he was driving right into the sun and it was a bright one.
We finally made it back to Lima by 11 p.m. We were all exhausted especially the driver. Our journey took much longer than it took for me to fly from Orlando to Lima.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
9-6 (Saturday)
I slept great last night and didn't get up until almost 8:00. Barbara waited until this morning to take her shower and there was no hot water.
We decided to go to the Gold Museum today. We asked at the desk if we could walk. They assured us it was way too far. We took off walking anyway just to see the sights and how far we could get. After 3 hours (1:30 in the afternoon) we decided we'd better take a cab. We kept stopping cabs but couldn't agree on a price. We kept walking. Finally we met up with the cutest guy who was on his way to play volleyball. He said when the drivers see foreigners they jack up the prices. We alreay knew that. Anyway he bargained for us and finally found some poor sucker who agreed to take us. It was a loooong way even after we had walked the three hours.
The museum was interesting with lots of old knives, swords, helments, guns, saddles, mummies and Gold! We were both light headed and ready to faint so we ate a gross lunch around 3:30.
We bargained hard for a cab back to the hotel. We walked away when we couldn't come to terms and the driver finally came running after us. We came up on the price and he came down. When we got back to the hotel we paid him and walked away. He started yelling that we owed him one more sole. I know Barbara gave him the right amount because we counted it out together. Of well, outwitted again.
Tomorrow we have hired a private car to take us from her to China so we can fly over the Nazca Line. We leave here at 4:30 a.m. and won't get back until 11:00 p.m.
I slept great last night and didn't get up until almost 8:00. Barbara waited until this morning to take her shower and there was no hot water.
We decided to go to the Gold Museum today. We asked at the desk if we could walk. They assured us it was way too far. We took off walking anyway just to see the sights and how far we could get. After 3 hours (1:30 in the afternoon) we decided we'd better take a cab. We kept stopping cabs but couldn't agree on a price. We kept walking. Finally we met up with the cutest guy who was on his way to play volleyball. He said when the drivers see foreigners they jack up the prices. We alreay knew that. Anyway he bargained for us and finally found some poor sucker who agreed to take us. It was a loooong way even after we had walked the three hours.
The museum was interesting with lots of old knives, swords, helments, guns, saddles, mummies and Gold! We were both light headed and ready to faint so we ate a gross lunch around 3:30.
We bargained hard for a cab back to the hotel. We walked away when we couldn't come to terms and the driver finally came running after us. We came up on the price and he came down. When we got back to the hotel we paid him and walked away. He started yelling that we owed him one more sole. I know Barbara gave him the right amount because we counted it out together. Of well, outwitted again.
Tomorrow we have hired a private car to take us from her to China so we can fly over the Nazca Line. We leave here at 4:30 a.m. and won't get back until 11:00 p.m.
9-5 (Friday)
Anna picked me up at 11:30 and took me to the airport. We got there a litte before noon. The line to check in was fairly long but it only took 30 minutes from the time I got out of the car to get checked in, go through security and make it to the trams. I was surprised at how fasst it was.
We had a smooth flight to Miami but we didn't even get a glass of water to drink. They said the flight was too short. If it had been Thai Air they would have served a whole meal! I was next to two people who were overflowing their seats!
After we landed I walked about four gates down and found Barbara waiting for me. She was wearing her beautiful gold scarb that she got in Egypt. She said our departure gate had been changed. Before we walked to the new gate she filled me in on the drama that was unfolding in front of us. It seems that some woman who had been visiting her mother in Haiti was on her way to LA with her young daughter when another woman came up to her in the Miami airport and asked if she would take two young girls to gate D43 to meet someone. The woman did it but there was no one to meet the children. By the time I got there the feds had been there and there were police all over the place trying to find out who these kids were. They made the woman from Haiti and her daughter wait while they tried to figure it out. Of course she missed her plane to LA. They gave her a ticket for the next plane out. It looked like a guy from HRS showed up and I thought I heard him say he was going to declare the girls abandoned. The oldest girl looked to be around 8 and the youngest 5-6. They didn't seem upset. They weren't crying.
When we got on the plane to Lima it must have been over 100 degrees inside. The crew kept aplogizing and saying they couldn't start the engines until the tower said we could back up. I looked back at Barbara (2 seats behind me) and she was asleep with her fleece on! Once we got going everyone was freezing to death.
They charged $6 for wine or beer. I had cranberry juice (for free) with my TV dinner. As usual the roll felt like they had just taken it out of the freezer.
Lima is one hour behind Florida since we are on daylight saveings time. When we go off d.l.s.t. we will be on the same time.
We landed in Lima at 9:30 and had an easy time going through customs. We changed some money at the airport. We hired a "green" taxi to take us to our hotel, the Casa de Baraybar in the Miraflores area. The driver said he knew where it was but we could tell he didn't. It wasn't long before he was on the honker calling the office for directions. It was a long way ($16) but he got us there. It didn't look a thing like a hotel, there wasn't even a visibal sign out front. Even the driver seemed unsure (again.) He got out and walked up to the building to check the address. You had to ring a bell for them to buzz you into the building. When we got in the place was lovely, nice and new looking. The girl at the desk didn't speak a word of English so she called someone else on the phone. That person said there was a "really nice" American staying at the hotel who could help us. We no sooner hug up the phone than in walks Kimberly, the anthropologist from Austin, TX. She's digging around in Peru for several months at a time. She gave us tips on where to eat, what to see etc. She also told the girl we wanted extra blankets when we found out the rooms weren't heated! The girl brought our extrea blankets - two thin bedspreads! Thank goodness there were a couple of wool blanket in the room.
I took a vey hot shower and was able to get into bed by 1:30 (my time.)
Anna picked me up at 11:30 and took me to the airport. We got there a litte before noon. The line to check in was fairly long but it only took 30 minutes from the time I got out of the car to get checked in, go through security and make it to the trams. I was surprised at how fasst it was.
We had a smooth flight to Miami but we didn't even get a glass of water to drink. They said the flight was too short. If it had been Thai Air they would have served a whole meal! I was next to two people who were overflowing their seats!
After we landed I walked about four gates down and found Barbara waiting for me. She was wearing her beautiful gold scarb that she got in Egypt. She said our departure gate had been changed. Before we walked to the new gate she filled me in on the drama that was unfolding in front of us. It seems that some woman who had been visiting her mother in Haiti was on her way to LA with her young daughter when another woman came up to her in the Miami airport and asked if she would take two young girls to gate D43 to meet someone. The woman did it but there was no one to meet the children. By the time I got there the feds had been there and there were police all over the place trying to find out who these kids were. They made the woman from Haiti and her daughter wait while they tried to figure it out. Of course she missed her plane to LA. They gave her a ticket for the next plane out. It looked like a guy from HRS showed up and I thought I heard him say he was going to declare the girls abandoned. The oldest girl looked to be around 8 and the youngest 5-6. They didn't seem upset. They weren't crying.
When we got on the plane to Lima it must have been over 100 degrees inside. The crew kept aplogizing and saying they couldn't start the engines until the tower said we could back up. I looked back at Barbara (2 seats behind me) and she was asleep with her fleece on! Once we got going everyone was freezing to death.
They charged $6 for wine or beer. I had cranberry juice (for free) with my TV dinner. As usual the roll felt like they had just taken it out of the freezer.
Lima is one hour behind Florida since we are on daylight saveings time. When we go off d.l.s.t. we will be on the same time.
We landed in Lima at 9:30 and had an easy time going through customs. We changed some money at the airport. We hired a "green" taxi to take us to our hotel, the Casa de Baraybar in the Miraflores area. The driver said he knew where it was but we could tell he didn't. It wasn't long before he was on the honker calling the office for directions. It was a long way ($16) but he got us there. It didn't look a thing like a hotel, there wasn't even a visibal sign out front. Even the driver seemed unsure (again.) He got out and walked up to the building to check the address. You had to ring a bell for them to buzz you into the building. When we got in the place was lovely, nice and new looking. The girl at the desk didn't speak a word of English so she called someone else on the phone. That person said there was a "really nice" American staying at the hotel who could help us. We no sooner hug up the phone than in walks Kimberly, the anthropologist from Austin, TX. She's digging around in Peru for several months at a time. She gave us tips on where to eat, what to see etc. She also told the girl we wanted extra blankets when we found out the rooms weren't heated! The girl brought our extrea blankets - two thin bedspreads! Thank goodness there were a couple of wool blanket in the room.
I took a vey hot shower and was able to get into bed by 1:30 (my time.)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Friday, November 30, 2007
11-30 (Friday)
We found out this morning that the father of one of the women on the trip died last night. It's bad to be so far from home when something like that happens.
Before leaving Alexandria for Cairo we went to the Citidal, the fish market and the Egyptian Museum. Alexandrian is so much more cosmopolitan than Cairo.
We're back in Cairo now and Barbara and I have been out doing last minute shopping and just poking around and talking to the locals.
We leave tomorrow night for home.
We found out this morning that the father of one of the women on the trip died last night. It's bad to be so far from home when something like that happens.
Before leaving Alexandria for Cairo we went to the Citidal, the fish market and the Egyptian Museum. Alexandrian is so much more cosmopolitan than Cairo.
We're back in Cairo now and Barbara and I have been out doing last minute shopping and just poking around and talking to the locals.
We leave tomorrow night for home.
11-29 (Thursday) Siwa to Alexandria
We left Siwa this morning and drove 7 1/2 hours to Alexandria arriving at 3 p.m. We went straight to the library which was almost more like a museum. The whole place was fantastic. We spent and hour and a half there.
We finally arrived at the Plaza Hotel exhausted. They had turned off the A/C for the winter so the rooms were hot. Fortunately we had a door that opened to the outside. In Siwa we were too cold now we're too hot!
We all went out to eat at a fish restaurant tonight. It was one of those places where you choose your own fish and they cook it up for you.
We left Siwa this morning and drove 7 1/2 hours to Alexandria arriving at 3 p.m. We went straight to the library which was almost more like a museum. The whole place was fantastic. We spent and hour and a half there.
We finally arrived at the Plaza Hotel exhausted. They had turned off the A/C for the winter so the rooms were hot. Fortunately we had a door that opened to the outside. In Siwa we were too cold now we're too hot!
We all went out to eat at a fish restaurant tonight. It was one of those places where you choose your own fish and they cook it up for you.
11-28 (Wednesday) Siwa
This morning I walked around town taking pictures. I saw the school bus - a donkey cart full of children!
I ran into a couple of girls from our group who where on their way to a nursery school to give out school supplies that one of the girls had brought from home. The school wouldn't let us in or take the supplies so we went to another one. We had our guide with us to do the translating. At the second school they said we could come in and give out the supplies. As we were getting them out of a bag and ready to give to the children several men burst into the school and started screaming at our guide. The screamer asked if we had taken any pictures of the children. I had but I didn't say a word. Lisa and the guide busily stuffed everything back into the bag and we departed. The guide said they didn't want "charity" and we had to have written permission to go into the school.
I went to see an old man I had seen on TV who presses olives into olive oil. He wasn't there but the old stone wheel that he turns by hand and his press were. It was interesting.
This afternoon we went on a jeep safaari. It was so much fun but also scary. We were way out in the desert. We would drive to the top of a dune and then the jeep would teeter at the top and we would go STRAIGHT down. At one place we stopped there were oyster shells and sand dollars. The entire desert was under the sea at one time. We stopped at a hot pool where a few pople from another group were soaking. To end the day the drivers bult a fire and made mint tea for everyone as we watched the sun set.
This morning I walked around town taking pictures. I saw the school bus - a donkey cart full of children!
I ran into a couple of girls from our group who where on their way to a nursery school to give out school supplies that one of the girls had brought from home. The school wouldn't let us in or take the supplies so we went to another one. We had our guide with us to do the translating. At the second school they said we could come in and give out the supplies. As we were getting them out of a bag and ready to give to the children several men burst into the school and started screaming at our guide. The screamer asked if we had taken any pictures of the children. I had but I didn't say a word. Lisa and the guide busily stuffed everything back into the bag and we departed. The guide said they didn't want "charity" and we had to have written permission to go into the school.
I went to see an old man I had seen on TV who presses olives into olive oil. He wasn't there but the old stone wheel that he turns by hand and his press were. It was interesting.
This afternoon we went on a jeep safaari. It was so much fun but also scary. We were way out in the desert. We would drive to the top of a dune and then the jeep would teeter at the top and we would go STRAIGHT down. At one place we stopped there were oyster shells and sand dollars. The entire desert was under the sea at one time. We stopped at a hot pool where a few pople from another group were soaking. To end the day the drivers bult a fire and made mint tea for everyone as we watched the sun set.
11-27 (Tuesday) Siwa Oasis
Siwa is such an interesting place. It is out in the middle of nowhere in the western desert near the Lybian border. The streets are unpaved (dirt) and almost everyone gets around on donkey cart. There are few cars or motorcycles. You see very few women because they must get permission from their husbands to leave the house. The women are fully covered unlike some of the women in Egypt. It is a fasinating culture. I wish I could have spent more time there.
We are staying in a really cute place but there is NO heat and it gets so cold at night. We have great camel hair blankets on our beds but taking a shower is no for sissies.
We met such an interesting family today: Penny (mother) Duncan (father) and children Sasha-15 and Claudia-11 (there's also a son-10.) They are from London but have been living in Siwa for two years. They own a "villa" outside of town which is a hotel. They also own property in Sri Lanka and Romania. They spend their summers in Romania. The children (and adults) speak Arbic and Romanian. Penny has a shop in town, where we met her. Duncan was a photographer with some big newspaper in London when they decided to throw in the towel and see the world.
Siwa is such an interesting place. It is out in the middle of nowhere in the western desert near the Lybian border. The streets are unpaved (dirt) and almost everyone gets around on donkey cart. There are few cars or motorcycles. You see very few women because they must get permission from their husbands to leave the house. The women are fully covered unlike some of the women in Egypt. It is a fasinating culture. I wish I could have spent more time there.
We are staying in a really cute place but there is NO heat and it gets so cold at night. We have great camel hair blankets on our beds but taking a shower is no for sissies.
We met such an interesting family today: Penny (mother) Duncan (father) and children Sasha-15 and Claudia-11 (there's also a son-10.) They are from London but have been living in Siwa for two years. They own a "villa" outside of town which is a hotel. They also own property in Sri Lanka and Romania. They spend their summers in Romania. The children (and adults) speak Arbic and Romanian. Penny has a shop in town, where we met her. Duncan was a photographer with some big newspaper in London when they decided to throw in the towel and see the world.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
11-26 (Monday)
We had three wake up calls this morning and a knock on the door. They must have thought we were really hard to get out of bed. We left on a bus at 7:00 for Siwa Oasis.
After we left the last town the scenery was mostly desert with a few camels here and there. It was an 8 hour ride to this remote oasis near the Libyan border.
We had a security guard on our bus wearing a suit and packing heat. When the wind blew his jacket open we could see the large automatic gun he was carrying. Behind the bus was a pickup truck full of security men. I don't know what all the security was about. I know they used to do that after all the tourist were killed at Luxor (or where ever) but that was years ago. The guy with the gun has been with us the whole time and so have the men from the truck. Apparently they have an agreement with the US to "protect" tourists. What ever! There is no way they can keep up with all of us as we all take off in different directions.
We have really enjoyed being in Siwa. It is very remote and not many tourists come here. They roads are all dirt and people ride around on donkey carts. It is like stepping back in time. They best thing is that they don't hassle you to buy their wares. It would have been nice to have spent more time here but we're leaving tomorrow morning for Alexanderia.
This afternoon we did a jeep safari out into the desert. It was so much fun. You wouldn't believe how we went straight down sand dunes that were so steep that I was sure we'd turn end over end. The drivers built a fire just before sunset and served mint tea. What a feeling to be out in the desert and not see another thing.
We had three wake up calls this morning and a knock on the door. They must have thought we were really hard to get out of bed. We left on a bus at 7:00 for Siwa Oasis.
After we left the last town the scenery was mostly desert with a few camels here and there. It was an 8 hour ride to this remote oasis near the Libyan border.
We had a security guard on our bus wearing a suit and packing heat. When the wind blew his jacket open we could see the large automatic gun he was carrying. Behind the bus was a pickup truck full of security men. I don't know what all the security was about. I know they used to do that after all the tourist were killed at Luxor (or where ever) but that was years ago. The guy with the gun has been with us the whole time and so have the men from the truck. Apparently they have an agreement with the US to "protect" tourists. What ever! There is no way they can keep up with all of us as we all take off in different directions.
We have really enjoyed being in Siwa. It is very remote and not many tourists come here. They roads are all dirt and people ride around on donkey carts. It is like stepping back in time. They best thing is that they don't hassle you to buy their wares. It would have been nice to have spent more time here but we're leaving tomorrow morning for Alexanderia.
This afternoon we did a jeep safari out into the desert. It was so much fun. You wouldn't believe how we went straight down sand dunes that were so steep that I was sure we'd turn end over end. The drivers built a fire just before sunset and served mint tea. What a feeling to be out in the desert and not see another thing.
11-25 (Sunday)
Barbara and I walked over to the Egyptian Museum today and spent about three hours before going back to the Khan el Kalani Bazaar for more shopping. Barbara wanted to get another cartouche for a friend. I went down to the only restaurant where we would consider eating to get us a table. The guy said there was no room so we got the man at the cartouche store to go to the restaurant on our behalf to get us in. It worked! When we left the Bazaar we walked out through the local market. Barbara wanted to buy a burka. The man who was helping us wanted 350 which was $63 for the head piece that probably cost $3 at most. He was so absurd that we didn't even try to bargain with him. We hired a taxi to take us back to the hotel. Barbara got friendly with him and asked him how much he thought a burka would cost. He said, $15 so she asked him to stop and get her one. She thinks she gave him 100 plus 5 which included the taxi ride and tip. He said she gave him a 10 and a 5. She ended up giving him another 100 but thinks he cheated her out of 100.
Barbara and I walked over to the Egyptian Museum today and spent about three hours before going back to the Khan el Kalani Bazaar for more shopping. Barbara wanted to get another cartouche for a friend. I went down to the only restaurant where we would consider eating to get us a table. The guy said there was no room so we got the man at the cartouche store to go to the restaurant on our behalf to get us in. It worked! When we left the Bazaar we walked out through the local market. Barbara wanted to buy a burka. The man who was helping us wanted 350 which was $63 for the head piece that probably cost $3 at most. He was so absurd that we didn't even try to bargain with him. We hired a taxi to take us back to the hotel. Barbara got friendly with him and asked him how much he thought a burka would cost. He said, $15 so she asked him to stop and get her one. She thinks she gave him 100 plus 5 which included the taxi ride and tip. He said she gave him a 10 and a 5. She ended up giving him another 100 but thinks he cheated her out of 100.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
11-24 (Saturday)
I'm fine. Some of you especially Lynda have been worried since I haven't blogged or written anything in several days. I flew into Cairo, met up with the Buz group and took off right away for Luxor where we boarded a boat for a Nile cruise. There has been NO internet. Have been to Aswan and Abu Simbel. Just flew back into Cairo last night late. The "group" did stuff today but Barbara (the girl that was with Joyce and me in Irian Jaya) and I went to the Pyramids on our own - much better. We rode horse and it was wonderful. I wasn't walking but racing across the desert on that horse. My tail is really hurting now. Tonight we went back for a Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids. It was so professional and we loved it. I don't have much time on the computer. Tomorrow Barbara and I are going to the museum and then shopping of course. Monday we leave for Sewa (sp) and there may not be a computer for several more days. Don't worry. I miss you Lynda.
I'll try to fill in some of the things I have been doing when I have more time on the computer.
I'm fine. Some of you especially Lynda have been worried since I haven't blogged or written anything in several days. I flew into Cairo, met up with the Buz group and took off right away for Luxor where we boarded a boat for a Nile cruise. There has been NO internet. Have been to Aswan and Abu Simbel. Just flew back into Cairo last night late. The "group" did stuff today but Barbara (the girl that was with Joyce and me in Irian Jaya) and I went to the Pyramids on our own - much better. We rode horse and it was wonderful. I wasn't walking but racing across the desert on that horse. My tail is really hurting now. Tonight we went back for a Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids. It was so professional and we loved it. I don't have much time on the computer. Tomorrow Barbara and I are going to the museum and then shopping of course. Monday we leave for Sewa (sp) and there may not be a computer for several more days. Don't worry. I miss you Lynda.
I'll try to fill in some of the things I have been doing when I have more time on the computer.
Friday, November 16, 2007
11-16 (Friday) Jerusalem
I was at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at 6:45 a.m. I wanted to get in to see the tomb of Jesus without waiting. There was a private mass going on so I ended up having to wait about 20 minutes but that was better than hours. They clean everything in the tomb from about 7:30 - 8:00 when it is closed. I went in a second time just before cleaning.
Later I was looking for the Damascus Gate but came upon the Lion's Gate. Outside was a Jewish cemetery from which I had a good view of the Rock of the Dome.
I walked the Stations of the Cross. I was back at Jaffa Gate by 10:00. I called and arranged for a pick up to the airport tomorrow at 9 a.m. for $12. I will be leaving for Egypt.
I headed out to the local bus station to get a lift to the Mt of Olives. What a view!
Today is the Muslim Holy Day. When I was coming out of the Souk they were coming in like ants after sugar. I could hardly make my way out.
I ate lunch at a local Arab place then walked to the Garden Tomb. This is where Protestants think Jesus was buried. Everybody else thinks it's the Church of the Sepulchre.
It is really cold here at night once the sun goes down at 4:30. After sundown tonight starts the Jewish Holy Day until sundown tomorrow night. I think that's right.
I'm getting picked up tomorrow at 9:00 for a 1 p.m. flight. Will be in Egypt by 5:00 tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait for a good shower. The one I have now is the pits. Also I'll bet they will have heat!!
I was at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at 6:45 a.m. I wanted to get in to see the tomb of Jesus without waiting. There was a private mass going on so I ended up having to wait about 20 minutes but that was better than hours. They clean everything in the tomb from about 7:30 - 8:00 when it is closed. I went in a second time just before cleaning.
Later I was looking for the Damascus Gate but came upon the Lion's Gate. Outside was a Jewish cemetery from which I had a good view of the Rock of the Dome.
I walked the Stations of the Cross. I was back at Jaffa Gate by 10:00. I called and arranged for a pick up to the airport tomorrow at 9 a.m. for $12. I will be leaving for Egypt.
I headed out to the local bus station to get a lift to the Mt of Olives. What a view!
Today is the Muslim Holy Day. When I was coming out of the Souk they were coming in like ants after sugar. I could hardly make my way out.
I ate lunch at a local Arab place then walked to the Garden Tomb. This is where Protestants think Jesus was buried. Everybody else thinks it's the Church of the Sepulchre.
It is really cold here at night once the sun goes down at 4:30. After sundown tonight starts the Jewish Holy Day until sundown tomorrow night. I think that's right.
I'm getting picked up tomorrow at 9:00 for a 1 p.m. flight. Will be in Egypt by 5:00 tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait for a good shower. The one I have now is the pits. Also I'll bet they will have heat!!
11-15 (Thursday) Jerusalem
I decided to go to Bethlehem this morning. I walked to the Damascus Gate where I hoped to find a local bus. I was lucky and got to the station just as one was getting ready to leave. It cost me $1 for the trip. I didn't realize this is an area where Israel has put up a wall to keep the Palestines out. I had to show my passport and go through a series of fences and checkpoints to get to the other side. Waiting there were an army of taxis. At least 10 drivers came running up to me. They wanted $5 to drive me to the Church of the Nativity. I asked if they had meters. One driver said he did so I went with him. When I got in the cab I asked where the meter was. He turned back the mileage counter and said that was it. I told him to forget it and got out. The other drives began swarming again. I said I'd only pay $2.50 and I walked off. Some driver came up in his cab and said he'd take me for $2.50. As we were driving he began telling me all the other things there were to see. I knew he wanted to take me on a tour so I told him I was only going to the church.
After I finished in the church there he was - waiting on me. I told him I was going to look around. When I got ready to leave - there he was. I got in his cab. As we were driving back he got mad at me when he figured out I wasn't going to go touring with him.He said he had wasted time with me and he thought I should just get out of his cab. He stopped and I got out. This reminded me of the guy in Vietnam who put me out of his pedicab. It wasn't long before another cab came along and agreed to $2.50
I decided to go on a three hour city walking tour when I got back to Jerusalem. I thought it was a good tour - going through most of the places I had been yesterday but learning more about them: the Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim Quarters, the Western (Wailing) Wall, Via Dolorous and the Church of the Sepulchre.
I decided to go to Bethlehem this morning. I walked to the Damascus Gate where I hoped to find a local bus. I was lucky and got to the station just as one was getting ready to leave. It cost me $1 for the trip. I didn't realize this is an area where Israel has put up a wall to keep the Palestines out. I had to show my passport and go through a series of fences and checkpoints to get to the other side. Waiting there were an army of taxis. At least 10 drivers came running up to me. They wanted $5 to drive me to the Church of the Nativity. I asked if they had meters. One driver said he did so I went with him. When I got in the cab I asked where the meter was. He turned back the mileage counter and said that was it. I told him to forget it and got out. The other drives began swarming again. I said I'd only pay $2.50 and I walked off. Some driver came up in his cab and said he'd take me for $2.50. As we were driving he began telling me all the other things there were to see. I knew he wanted to take me on a tour so I told him I was only going to the church.
After I finished in the church there he was - waiting on me. I told him I was going to look around. When I got ready to leave - there he was. I got in his cab. As we were driving back he got mad at me when he figured out I wasn't going to go touring with him.He said he had wasted time with me and he thought I should just get out of his cab. He stopped and I got out. This reminded me of the guy in Vietnam who put me out of his pedicab. It wasn't long before another cab came along and agreed to $2.50
I decided to go on a three hour city walking tour when I got back to Jerusalem. I thought it was a good tour - going through most of the places I had been yesterday but learning more about them: the Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim Quarters, the Western (Wailing) Wall, Via Dolorous and the Church of the Sepulchre.
11-14 (Wednesday) Leaving Amman
"Mong" was in the lobby waiting for me at 6 a.m. We took a cab to the Jet Bus station. When I was there before one of the workers told me I had to have reservations a day in advance. I worried myself to death over this for nothing. We had a giant bus and Mong and I were the only two on it besides some guard.
The bus took us through several check points on the way to the King Hussein Bridge. I had 17 dinar for the trip. The bus cost 7.5 and the departure fee was 5. I had paid 1/2 for the taxi and some other fee. At the very end I was asked for 3 dinar. I only had 2.5! I think Mong would have given me the 1/2 but the bus guy said, "forget it."
Getting into Israel was a little more tricky. Not that it was hard but they did ask a lot of questions. Once we cleared customs we paid for a shared "taxi" van into Jerusalem. We were let out near the Damascus Gate and I needed to go to the Jaffa Gate. Mong had to go in that direction too. We had to climb a steep hill to get there. Once again the wheel on my suitcase was no good so Mong helped me carry my suitcase. What a pain. I hope it will hold up until I get home and throw it in the trash.
I found the Jaffa Gate Hostel without any trouble. Mong was going to come to my hostel at noon and we were going to go to Bethlehem. I waited until 1:30 but he never showed up so I began exploring on my own.
The shopkeepers are almost as bad here as they are in Bali as far as trying to get you into their shops. The only thing they aren't saying here is: "Braid your hair? Manicure or Transport?"
I am actually pretty good at not falling for their ploys but I must admit one go me good. He asked if I spoke English and I said, "yes." He said he was trying to get a visa to the states to visit his brother and there was a question he didn't understand on the application. It asked what his complexion was. He wanted to know what that meant and what he should write down. I fell for it hook, line and sinker. Before I knew it I was in his store looking at his "visa application." Then he showed me the question about his line of work. He said he is a shop owner and designs his own jewelry. Now he wants to show me his jewelry and I'm finally catching on. I'm realizing his application isn't crisp and new but has been shown to many tourists so they can help him "fill it out." But it was all for nothing - as soon as he stared pulling out his stuff to show me I departed.
It was really cold at night in my hotel room. There is NO heater but you could rent one for $10. I shivered under three blankets instead.
"Mong" was in the lobby waiting for me at 6 a.m. We took a cab to the Jet Bus station. When I was there before one of the workers told me I had to have reservations a day in advance. I worried myself to death over this for nothing. We had a giant bus and Mong and I were the only two on it besides some guard.
The bus took us through several check points on the way to the King Hussein Bridge. I had 17 dinar for the trip. The bus cost 7.5 and the departure fee was 5. I had paid 1/2 for the taxi and some other fee. At the very end I was asked for 3 dinar. I only had 2.5! I think Mong would have given me the 1/2 but the bus guy said, "forget it."
Getting into Israel was a little more tricky. Not that it was hard but they did ask a lot of questions. Once we cleared customs we paid for a shared "taxi" van into Jerusalem. We were let out near the Damascus Gate and I needed to go to the Jaffa Gate. Mong had to go in that direction too. We had to climb a steep hill to get there. Once again the wheel on my suitcase was no good so Mong helped me carry my suitcase. What a pain. I hope it will hold up until I get home and throw it in the trash.
I found the Jaffa Gate Hostel without any trouble. Mong was going to come to my hostel at noon and we were going to go to Bethlehem. I waited until 1:30 but he never showed up so I began exploring on my own.
The shopkeepers are almost as bad here as they are in Bali as far as trying to get you into their shops. The only thing they aren't saying here is: "Braid your hair? Manicure or Transport?"
I am actually pretty good at not falling for their ploys but I must admit one go me good. He asked if I spoke English and I said, "yes." He said he was trying to get a visa to the states to visit his brother and there was a question he didn't understand on the application. It asked what his complexion was. He wanted to know what that meant and what he should write down. I fell for it hook, line and sinker. Before I knew it I was in his store looking at his "visa application." Then he showed me the question about his line of work. He said he is a shop owner and designs his own jewelry. Now he wants to show me his jewelry and I'm finally catching on. I'm realizing his application isn't crisp and new but has been shown to many tourists so they can help him "fill it out." But it was all for nothing - as soon as he stared pulling out his stuff to show me I departed.
It was really cold at night in my hotel room. There is NO heater but you could rent one for $10. I shivered under three blankets instead.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
11-13 (Tuesday) Amman
We took a cab "downtown" this morning to the old Roman Theater then walked along the streets. We went in one shop and started talking to the clerk from Bagdad who told us he was married to an American. He phoned her and she came right over to meet us. She was originally from some place in NY near where Lynda lives. She took us out for coffee. This girl was a live wire. She was wearing a head scarf because she converted to Islam 20 years ago when she married a Palestinian. She was originally Jewish. Go figure. She yapped all the time giving us her complete history. She is 20 years older than the guy she is currently married to. Do I sense a ticket to the US in this somewhere? Her husband gave me the name of a place I should go to get a bus to the King Hessian Bridge the next day. That's where I would cross into Israel. When I got back to the hotel I showed it to my fiend there and he said if I took that bus it would take me hours and hours to cross the border because that was a bus for Arabs. I got real upset about the whole thing because I wasn't sure what was going to be my best way of crossing. I talked it over with Lynda and I decided that I was going to try to take the Jet Bus the next day even though you were supposed to have reservations a day in advance I was going to give it a try.
I moved into a single room because Lynda was leaving at 10 p.m. to go to the airport for home. She hung out with me until it was time to depart.
I went downstairs to talk over my plans with the desk clerk ONE MORE TIME. An Oriental man came in with an American passport. He told the clerk he HAD to get to Jerusalem in the morning. I told him I was going too. I told him to meet me in the lobby at 6 a.m. and we would go to the Jet Bus together.
We took a cab "downtown" this morning to the old Roman Theater then walked along the streets. We went in one shop and started talking to the clerk from Bagdad who told us he was married to an American. He phoned her and she came right over to meet us. She was originally from some place in NY near where Lynda lives. She took us out for coffee. This girl was a live wire. She was wearing a head scarf because she converted to Islam 20 years ago when she married a Palestinian. She was originally Jewish. Go figure. She yapped all the time giving us her complete history. She is 20 years older than the guy she is currently married to. Do I sense a ticket to the US in this somewhere? Her husband gave me the name of a place I should go to get a bus to the King Hessian Bridge the next day. That's where I would cross into Israel. When I got back to the hotel I showed it to my fiend there and he said if I took that bus it would take me hours and hours to cross the border because that was a bus for Arabs. I got real upset about the whole thing because I wasn't sure what was going to be my best way of crossing. I talked it over with Lynda and I decided that I was going to try to take the Jet Bus the next day even though you were supposed to have reservations a day in advance I was going to give it a try.
I moved into a single room because Lynda was leaving at 10 p.m. to go to the airport for home. She hung out with me until it was time to depart.
I went downstairs to talk over my plans with the desk clerk ONE MORE TIME. An Oriental man came in with an American passport. He told the clerk he HAD to get to Jerusalem in the morning. I told him I was going too. I told him to meet me in the lobby at 6 a.m. and we would go to the Jet Bus together.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
11-12 (Monday) Amman
Thankfully I asked for an extra blanket on my bed last night. This morning I put on my silk underwear, my pull over sweater and a fleece jacket.
We went to the ATM to get MORE money. We took a cab to Jarash at 7:45 this morning. At Jarash (an old Roman ruin) we attended a "show" which started off with the entrance of about 40 "Roman" legionnaires who parade around the hippodrome. They showed how the Roman gladiators fought it out with tridents, how the legionnaires used their shields etc. The climax was two chariots racing each other several times around the hippodrome's central wooden spina.
As we did going we took the local bus home for about 41.50 instead of $20 for a cab.
Thankfully I asked for an extra blanket on my bed last night. This morning I put on my silk underwear, my pull over sweater and a fleece jacket.
We went to the ATM to get MORE money. We took a cab to Jarash at 7:45 this morning. At Jarash (an old Roman ruin) we attended a "show" which started off with the entrance of about 40 "Roman" legionnaires who parade around the hippodrome. They showed how the Roman gladiators fought it out with tridents, how the legionnaires used their shields etc. The climax was two chariots racing each other several times around the hippodrome's central wooden spina.
As we did going we took the local bus home for about 41.50 instead of $20 for a cab.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
11-10 (Saturday)
After I got up I walked down the street to look at the old train station. I stopped in at the Oriental Hotel. It was built in 1929. The lobby looked like something right out of the movies. Men and women Muslims sitting in chairs lining the wall They were all old.
Today Fayeez told us we could go on a city tour with his group from Sweden. We met them at their hotel which was only a half a block from ours.
We went to the Old City which was fascinating. We saw the tomb of Saladin, the Umayyad Mosque which is where John the Baptist's head is suppose to be.
We had a wonderful buffet lunch. We visited places where Paul is said to have had a revelation
After I got up I walked down the street to look at the old train station. I stopped in at the Oriental Hotel. It was built in 1929. The lobby looked like something right out of the movies. Men and women Muslims sitting in chairs lining the wall They were all old.
Today Fayeez told us we could go on a city tour with his group from Sweden. We met them at their hotel which was only a half a block from ours.
We went to the Old City which was fascinating. We saw the tomb of Saladin, the Umayyad Mosque which is where John the Baptist's head is suppose to be.
We had a wonderful buffet lunch. We visited places where Paul is said to have had a revelation
11-9 (Friday)
I didn't sleep at ALL last night. We had breakfast on the top floor of the hotel - boiled egg, cheese, olives, juice and bread.
Our first stop was the museum. The preservation of the artifacts that have been found is incredible. We did some tombs before heading back to Damascus..
On our way back we we stopped at the Bagdad Cafe! We were only 159 K from the Iraq border. A lot of young girls were there traveling on a field trip with their teachers. They were fascinated with me especially when I spoke to them in English.
We arrived in Damascus around 12:30 and went to Fayeez's house to visit with his wife and children while he went to the airport to pick up a group from Sweden he will be working with for the next week or more.
His wife cooked lunch for us - some sort of noodle dish, rice and artichoke hearts stuffed with meat and cheese. We had chocolate cake with pineapple slices for dessert. Afterwards we went shopping with the mother and girls. The mother and 13 year old daughter put on head scarves before we went out.
The apartment was in an old worn out building a little worse than the one I stayed in in Russia.
Tonight we stayed in the hotel we were originally scheduled to stay in.
I didn't sleep at ALL last night. We had breakfast on the top floor of the hotel - boiled egg, cheese, olives, juice and bread.
Our first stop was the museum. The preservation of the artifacts that have been found is incredible. We did some tombs before heading back to Damascus..
On our way back we we stopped at the Bagdad Cafe! We were only 159 K from the Iraq border. A lot of young girls were there traveling on a field trip with their teachers. They were fascinated with me especially when I spoke to them in English.
We arrived in Damascus around 12:30 and went to Fayeez's house to visit with his wife and children while he went to the airport to pick up a group from Sweden he will be working with for the next week or more.
His wife cooked lunch for us - some sort of noodle dish, rice and artichoke hearts stuffed with meat and cheese. We had chocolate cake with pineapple slices for dessert. Afterwards we went shopping with the mother and girls. The mother and 13 year old daughter put on head scarves before we went out.
The apartment was in an old worn out building a little worse than the one I stayed in in Russia.
Tonight we stayed in the hotel we were originally scheduled to stay in.
11-8 (Thursday)
We were ready and waiting downstirs at 6 a.m. when Fayeez and the van driver showed up to drive us to Belbak in Lebanon. Another border crossing! We didn't have to pay since we were going to be there less than 24 hours. Right across the border in Lebanon was the most wonderful bakery where we stopped for breakfast - we had a cheese pizza! It was actually very good - thin crust.
Belbek was impressives as we drove up - it is an ancient Roman ruin. Fayeez said we could hire a guide for $25. We thought he was crazy. We said we were going to walk around with a guide which we did for about an hour and a half.
We drove back to the border at a different location and crossed back into Syria. We drove to Palmyra which took about 4 hours. We arrived at 3:00 and went directly to the Roman ruins. Here Fayeez did the tour. We drove to a castle way up on a mountain for the sunset.
After checking into the Oriental Hotel we went out for our first food since breakfast with Fayeez and the driver.
We were ready and waiting downstirs at 6 a.m. when Fayeez and the van driver showed up to drive us to Belbak in Lebanon. Another border crossing! We didn't have to pay since we were going to be there less than 24 hours. Right across the border in Lebanon was the most wonderful bakery where we stopped for breakfast - we had a cheese pizza! It was actually very good - thin crust.
Belbek was impressives as we drove up - it is an ancient Roman ruin. Fayeez said we could hire a guide for $25. We thought he was crazy. We said we were going to walk around with a guide which we did for about an hour and a half.
We drove back to the border at a different location and crossed back into Syria. We drove to Palmyra which took about 4 hours. We arrived at 3:00 and went directly to the Roman ruins. Here Fayeez did the tour. We drove to a castle way up on a mountain for the sunset.
After checking into the Oriental Hotel we went out for our first food since breakfast with Fayeez and the driver.
11-7 (Wednesday)
We decided to go over to the Sheraton Hotel and have something lite in the coffee shop. We had to go through metal detectors and be patted down before we could enter. Because the coffee shop was closed we ate in the main dining room. I had pancakes and fruit for $4. Lynda had something similar plus coffee. When the bill came her 2 cups of coffee were $7.
We took a cab over to Mega Mall where we thought we might do a little shopping. The place was HUGE and four floors high. There was hardly anyone in it, just like at home and the prices were way out of our range.
We went back to the hotel and packed up to go meet Lynda's friend, Fayeez, who was going to take us to Syria. Lynda had the name of the hotel where we were to meet him and what it was close to but no address. It was a long way from where we were staying. The taxi driver didn't know where it was and we kept driving around in circles. Thankfully we had a phone # unfortunately the driver's phone didn't work. I called to some girls walking down the street and one of them let us use her phone.
We finally got to the Hillside Hotel. Fayeez arrived with the Dutch group he had been with for the last 13 days. He was turning them over to a Jordanian guide for the last leg of their trip.
We were on the bus with Fayeez and the driver pulling out of Amman about 6 p.m. in the pitch black of night. We didn't have much trouble crossing the border on either side but the Syrian guard questioned where a certain stamp in my passport was from - of course I had no idea. Finally I said, Myanmar. He wanted to know where that was I told him Asia. Later when we were back on the bus I found my Myanmar stamp. I guess he must have been looking at Laos. Oh well . . .
Fayeez told us that since the bombing of Syrian by Iarael about a mont ago that they are watching all Americans like a hawk. He said we would probably be watched the entire time.
We got to our hotel in Damascus about 9:30 only to find out that they didn't have a room for us. We had to load all our things into a taxi since the bus had left and go to another hotel. It was okay - a big room with three beds. We took showers in the smallest stall I've ever been in but we were so tired we just wanted to get in bed as close to 11:00 as possible.
We decided to go over to the Sheraton Hotel and have something lite in the coffee shop. We had to go through metal detectors and be patted down before we could enter. Because the coffee shop was closed we ate in the main dining room. I had pancakes and fruit for $4. Lynda had something similar plus coffee. When the bill came her 2 cups of coffee were $7.
We took a cab over to Mega Mall where we thought we might do a little shopping. The place was HUGE and four floors high. There was hardly anyone in it, just like at home and the prices were way out of our range.
We went back to the hotel and packed up to go meet Lynda's friend, Fayeez, who was going to take us to Syria. Lynda had the name of the hotel where we were to meet him and what it was close to but no address. It was a long way from where we were staying. The taxi driver didn't know where it was and we kept driving around in circles. Thankfully we had a phone # unfortunately the driver's phone didn't work. I called to some girls walking down the street and one of them let us use her phone.
We finally got to the Hillside Hotel. Fayeez arrived with the Dutch group he had been with for the last 13 days. He was turning them over to a Jordanian guide for the last leg of their trip.
We were on the bus with Fayeez and the driver pulling out of Amman about 6 p.m. in the pitch black of night. We didn't have much trouble crossing the border on either side but the Syrian guard questioned where a certain stamp in my passport was from - of course I had no idea. Finally I said, Myanmar. He wanted to know where that was I told him Asia. Later when we were back on the bus I found my Myanmar stamp. I guess he must have been looking at Laos. Oh well . . .
Fayeez told us that since the bombing of Syrian by Iarael about a mont ago that they are watching all Americans like a hawk. He said we would probably be watched the entire time.
We got to our hotel in Damascus about 9:30 only to find out that they didn't have a room for us. We had to load all our things into a taxi since the bus had left and go to another hotel. It was okay - a big room with three beds. We took showers in the smallest stall I've ever been in but we were so tired we just wanted to get in bed as close to 11:00 as possible.
11-6 (Tuesday)
After getting MORE money out of the ATM machine we took a taxi over to a local bus station. We wanted to go to Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan where John the Baptist baptised Jesus. We talked to some bus driver who said he would take us there for 10 JD ($15) each. I said, "No way." He talked to some other girl who wanted to go to the Dead Sea. She agreed to pay 35 JD round trip so he said he'd take us for 5 JD each. We agreed. We ended up giving him 10 each because he said he'd come back and get us when we were finished. The girl (who is a nurse in Saudi) Lynda and I were the only three on the bus.
At Bethany we got on an open bed truck with some Russians and a guide. The first place we stopped was at the Jordan River. We could look across to Israel. Then we walked to the place where they think Jesus was actually baptised. The water no longer comes up to that point but you could see where it once did. They are busy excavating the area. The site became very popular after Pope John Paul visited in 2000 and conducted a massive open air mass.
We could look across the river and see tourists on the Israel side. The river isn't wide at all. You could probably take 10 steps to walk across.
Two of the Russian women who were with us went down into the water and appeared to baptise themselves. One had on a bathing suit and the other put on some sort of white gown that looked like it had a religious picture on the front.
When we got back to Amman we had the driver drop us off at the Old City. We walked along the street taking pictures and looking in the shops. We met a man who makes and hand paints glass ornaments, bottles, candle holders etc. His pieces were so beautiful that I finally made my first purchase.
After getting MORE money out of the ATM machine we took a taxi over to a local bus station. We wanted to go to Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan where John the Baptist baptised Jesus. We talked to some bus driver who said he would take us there for 10 JD ($15) each. I said, "No way." He talked to some other girl who wanted to go to the Dead Sea. She agreed to pay 35 JD round trip so he said he'd take us for 5 JD each. We agreed. We ended up giving him 10 each because he said he'd come back and get us when we were finished. The girl (who is a nurse in Saudi) Lynda and I were the only three on the bus.
At Bethany we got on an open bed truck with some Russians and a guide. The first place we stopped was at the Jordan River. We could look across to Israel. Then we walked to the place where they think Jesus was actually baptised. The water no longer comes up to that point but you could see where it once did. They are busy excavating the area. The site became very popular after Pope John Paul visited in 2000 and conducted a massive open air mass.
We could look across the river and see tourists on the Israel side. The river isn't wide at all. You could probably take 10 steps to walk across.
Two of the Russian women who were with us went down into the water and appeared to baptise themselves. One had on a bathing suit and the other put on some sort of white gown that looked like it had a religious picture on the front.
When we got back to Amman we had the driver drop us off at the Old City. We walked along the street taking pictures and looking in the shops. We met a man who makes and hand paints glass ornaments, bottles, candle holders etc. His pieces were so beautiful that I finally made my first purchase.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
11-5 (Monday)
I was awakened at 4:30 a.m. by the call to prayer. It sounded like the loudspeaker was in our room.
Our driver from yesterday, Abraham, picked us up at 7:00 to drive us along the King's Highway to Amman stopping at 6 different places along the way.
The first stop was Shobak Castle. A guide that I hired and I walked down 365 underground steps in total darkness except for my torch. it was hard going because there was loose sand on the rocks which caused me to slip. These steps didn't go straight down but snaked left and right. I thought maybe they had been used as an escape route but no, it was the way people went to fetch their water from a spring! The tunnel ended at the bottom of the castle where I had to climb straight up grabbing hold of one iron bar after another. there were 11 of these I had to climb to exit.
We drove to the Dead Sea for a swim. There were changing rooms and lockers without locks. We stuck our things in a locker and took our money belts etc down to the beach. There were lots of sharp stones where I entered the water. I was barefooted and it hurt. When I got out about chest deep the bottom was sandy. It was really funny to see how you could float sticking your arms and legs out of the water at the same time. If you had a cut on your body it could really hurt. You sure didn't want to get any water in your eyes. I didn't stay in too long because my legs started stinging - when I got out I had a rash on my legs near the top. There was fresh water to rinse off with after you got out.
We drove to Mt Nebo where Moses is said to have first seen the promised land which he himself was forbidden to enter.
We arrived at our hotel, the Gondola, in Amman around 5:00. We paid the driver $50 each plus a tip and he headed back to Petra.
I was awakened at 4:30 a.m. by the call to prayer. It sounded like the loudspeaker was in our room.
Our driver from yesterday, Abraham, picked us up at 7:00 to drive us along the King's Highway to Amman stopping at 6 different places along the way.
The first stop was Shobak Castle. A guide that I hired and I walked down 365 underground steps in total darkness except for my torch. it was hard going because there was loose sand on the rocks which caused me to slip. These steps didn't go straight down but snaked left and right. I thought maybe they had been used as an escape route but no, it was the way people went to fetch their water from a spring! The tunnel ended at the bottom of the castle where I had to climb straight up grabbing hold of one iron bar after another. there were 11 of these I had to climb to exit.
We drove to the Dead Sea for a swim. There were changing rooms and lockers without locks. We stuck our things in a locker and took our money belts etc down to the beach. There were lots of sharp stones where I entered the water. I was barefooted and it hurt. When I got out about chest deep the bottom was sandy. It was really funny to see how you could float sticking your arms and legs out of the water at the same time. If you had a cut on your body it could really hurt. You sure didn't want to get any water in your eyes. I didn't stay in too long because my legs started stinging - when I got out I had a rash on my legs near the top. There was fresh water to rinse off with after you got out.
We drove to Mt Nebo where Moses is said to have first seen the promised land which he himself was forbidden to enter.
We arrived at our hotel, the Gondola, in Amman around 5:00. We paid the driver $50 each plus a tip and he headed back to Petra.
11-4 (Sunday)
Everyone departed for different places this morning. Lynda and I went off with Romeo to drive to the Saudi border. When we got there we climbed way up on a hill from where we could see the guard stations in Jordan and Saudi. We finished our desert tour around 12:30 and took a cab (1 1/2 hours) back to Petra.
We checked in at the Petra Gate Hotel even though Lynda wanted to stay in the filthy one because she likes the staff. I agree the staff was wonderful but I was ready for clean.
After we had dinner we went back to the Cleopetra Hotel so Lynda could interview a woman from Iraq. Lynda is planning to write an article for the newspaper.
Everyone departed for different places this morning. Lynda and I went off with Romeo to drive to the Saudi border. When we got there we climbed way up on a hill from where we could see the guard stations in Jordan and Saudi. We finished our desert tour around 12:30 and took a cab (1 1/2 hours) back to Petra.
We checked in at the Petra Gate Hotel even though Lynda wanted to stay in the filthy one because she likes the staff. I agree the staff was wonderful but I was ready for clean.
After we had dinner we went back to the Cleopetra Hotel so Lynda could interview a woman from Iraq. Lynda is planning to write an article for the newspaper.
11-3 (Saturday)
I got up early and walked down the street to look for a new hotel and an ATM machine since I had NO money. I picked out the Petra Gate for us to stay in when we return from Wadi Rum.
We packed into a van with the French couple and 4 Spaniards for our trip to Wadi Rum. The guy that was in charge of our tour picked us up at the Visitors Center and took us to his house (Wadi Rum Village) for tea which his wife prepared. We took off our shoes and sat down on fabric covered sheets of foam rubber which lined the walls of the living room. The only other furniture in there was an old desk.
After all that we met our driver and climbed into an open bed pickup truck to begin our tour of the desert. I was so lucky that I got in the cab with the driver because I was protected from the sun and all the dust and dirt that the truck kicked up. The road was similar to Africa in that it was just a path or make you own pathway. The desert scenery is extraordinary. The dramatic colors of the rocks change with the angle of the sun.
The 22 year old hot shot driver with a front tooth missing took a liking to me. We were planning to spend the night in a Bedouin Camp. The driver told me he wanted me to spend the night with him under the stars - yippee! How did I get so lucky? He drove us out to a red sand dune. Some of our group walked up but I climbed rocks which were not slippery like at Petra. They had the consistency of sandpaper so they were easy to climb.
Our driver (my boyfriend) took us to see some Nabataean writing on the wall of one of the rock faces. We stopped to see the remains of a house that Lawrence of Arabia once lived in. There was a huge rock next to it which most of us climbed. As we were doing this the driver was preparing our lunch: sardines, olives, pita bread, tuna, hummus and raw tomatoes and cucumbers. After lunch we saw the Burdah Rock Bridge. It was here that I talked to an older Bedouin who has 4 wives. He said he would take me as #5! Finally we arrived at camp - there were 3 huge tents. I decided to sleep in the one with the Spanish group because I heard that Christian (the French guy) snored. My boyfriend had told me he wanted to take just me to a "special" place to see the sunset. I avoided him like the plague!
In the evening we all had dinner around a fire in one of the tents. The driver/cook and 2 of his buddies were eating with us. Then the driver got out a bottle of gin and started offering it to everyone. A couple of people took a shot but mostly he was drinking and shooting off his mouth. Every time a car would drive up they would run out to see if it was the police. Then they started singing Arab songs. They got on the cell phone and called someone to bring a lute. An older man showed up and they continued singing. They older guy was playing and singing when the driver (who had plenty to drink) and his buddy went to the tin cook shack. The next thing we heard was shouting and then they got into a fight and we could tell they were throwing each other up against the walls of the shack. Several of us got scared and the older man started yelling at them. That broke up the party in a hurry. We all headed to our pallets on the tent floor by 9:45. The driver and his friend were sleeping outside under the stars. About 10 minutes after we were all in bed we heard a vehicle drive up and then someone arguing with the driver. they had heated words with lot of shouting. Soon the vehicle roared off. After the driver and his friend shut up there wasn't a sound to be heard - just like in Africa and the stars were bright like the African stars. Then we heard Lynda snoring across the courtyard! I was glad I didn't get in the tent with her!
I got up early and walked down the street to look for a new hotel and an ATM machine since I had NO money. I picked out the Petra Gate for us to stay in when we return from Wadi Rum.
We packed into a van with the French couple and 4 Spaniards for our trip to Wadi Rum. The guy that was in charge of our tour picked us up at the Visitors Center and took us to his house (Wadi Rum Village) for tea which his wife prepared. We took off our shoes and sat down on fabric covered sheets of foam rubber which lined the walls of the living room. The only other furniture in there was an old desk.
After all that we met our driver and climbed into an open bed pickup truck to begin our tour of the desert. I was so lucky that I got in the cab with the driver because I was protected from the sun and all the dust and dirt that the truck kicked up. The road was similar to Africa in that it was just a path or make you own pathway. The desert scenery is extraordinary. The dramatic colors of the rocks change with the angle of the sun.
The 22 year old hot shot driver with a front tooth missing took a liking to me. We were planning to spend the night in a Bedouin Camp. The driver told me he wanted me to spend the night with him under the stars - yippee! How did I get so lucky? He drove us out to a red sand dune. Some of our group walked up but I climbed rocks which were not slippery like at Petra. They had the consistency of sandpaper so they were easy to climb.
Our driver (my boyfriend) took us to see some Nabataean writing on the wall of one of the rock faces. We stopped to see the remains of a house that Lawrence of Arabia once lived in. There was a huge rock next to it which most of us climbed. As we were doing this the driver was preparing our lunch: sardines, olives, pita bread, tuna, hummus and raw tomatoes and cucumbers. After lunch we saw the Burdah Rock Bridge. It was here that I talked to an older Bedouin who has 4 wives. He said he would take me as #5! Finally we arrived at camp - there were 3 huge tents. I decided to sleep in the one with the Spanish group because I heard that Christian (the French guy) snored. My boyfriend had told me he wanted to take just me to a "special" place to see the sunset. I avoided him like the plague!
In the evening we all had dinner around a fire in one of the tents. The driver/cook and 2 of his buddies were eating with us. Then the driver got out a bottle of gin and started offering it to everyone. A couple of people took a shot but mostly he was drinking and shooting off his mouth. Every time a car would drive up they would run out to see if it was the police. Then they started singing Arab songs. They got on the cell phone and called someone to bring a lute. An older man showed up and they continued singing. They older guy was playing and singing when the driver (who had plenty to drink) and his buddy went to the tin cook shack. The next thing we heard was shouting and then they got into a fight and we could tell they were throwing each other up against the walls of the shack. Several of us got scared and the older man started yelling at them. That broke up the party in a hurry. We all headed to our pallets on the tent floor by 9:45. The driver and his friend were sleeping outside under the stars. About 10 minutes after we were all in bed we heard a vehicle drive up and then someone arguing with the driver. they had heated words with lot of shouting. Soon the vehicle roared off. After the driver and his friend shut up there wasn't a sound to be heard - just like in Africa and the stars were bright like the African stars. Then we heard Lynda snoring across the courtyard! I was glad I didn't get in the tent with her!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
11-2 (Friday)
I just typed a whole lot about this day and lost everything!
Lynda and I did Petra today. She decided she didn't want to walk in so she hired a horse cart - BIG mistake! The drivers whip the horses to make them go fast. When you get to the large stones (laid by the Romans) along the way I'm sure every tooth in your head feels like it is coming out of your head. Lynda said it was awful.
I walked in with the guide so he told me all the info along the way. Coming through the Siq and seeing the Treasury for the first time in daylight was awesome. After meeting up with Lynda and taking hundreds of pictures we walked down and saw the High Place of Sacrifice, the Royal Tombs the Theatre which could seat about 3,000 in 45 rows of seats- the orchestra section was carved into the rock. We saw the Urn Tomb and walked down Colonnade Street.
We decided to hire donkeys and go on to the Monastery. It was after noon so I wanted to eat first. We had 2 choices - one was run by the Holiday Inn Crown Plaza and cost 10 JD ($14US) - we chose the other on 7 JD ($10) and it was an excellent buffet. After eating Lynda got on her mule, Jack, and I got on ZooZoo for our ride up the 950 steps of the mountain. The mule owner walks along side of you. You have to get off before the Monastery and walk the rest of the way on your own. It is similar to the Treasury in design but far bigger. We saw a guy standing on the very top most pint on the urn. He began climbing around and jumping from one column top to another. Needless to say all eyes were on him. He was barefooted. I stayed and watched until he finally came down.
Lynda left and walked back down (this time you walk - no mules) and I decided to go to the "view." This was a long walk and many of the stones I had to cross were very slippery with sand. I slid a couple of times. The scariest part was right before you got to the view. The rocks were so smooth and on a slant with quite a ways to fall. Somehow I made it and there were Ros and Margaret from our hotel! The view was defiantly worth it.
On my way down I ran into the guy who was doing all the climbing. He is a Bedouin and said it's nothing for him. He said somethmes he spends the night in the Monastery.
We had a great day but were filthy when we left the site. My face was covered with sand.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Petra
11-1 Thursday
It seems like I have lost a day somewhere. Maybe it was over the Atlantic.
Lynda and I were up by 7 a.m. and ready to hit the road. We had a Continental breakfast at the hotel: toast, cheese and coffee for 12 US (Ouch!). Thankfully I brought my own hot chocolate. Lynda wanted milk for her coffee - the guy said he understood and brought a small container of more water. I had to draw on my foreign skills by pretending to milk a cow and saying mooooooo! He got it!
As we were getting in our cab to go over to the Jett Bus station I learned that the desk clerk lived in Winter Garden, FL for 12 years! He said, "You probably haven't heard of it because it's a small town but it's near Disney World." I told him I knew exactly where it was. Small world.
When we got to the Jett Bus station the bus for Petra had already left so we got in another cab and went to the public bus station. We had to wait until the bus was full before we could depart. The BO Express cost us 5.60 US. (I have to keep saying US because I can't find a dollar sign on this computer.) There were mostly men in our mini van except for a married couple from France and a family with two young children, two teen looking girls and a woman whose face was completely covered.
The land we traveled through with the radio blaring Arab tunes (Joyce remember the bus to Tana Torja?) was arid and barren. The houses (even the new ones) are devoid of color in keeping with the tradition of mud dried homes. They are mostly square structures with square windows.
We stopped about 45 minutes into the trip and picked up some guy standing on the side of the road. He had to stand because all the seats were taken. We later picked up two more guys.
An hour into the trip we stopped for gas- I went to the toilet. Right next to the room with the toilets was the ladies prayer room with the rugs on the floor. This is a heads up for Anna and Fran - the toi-lets were squats!
As we continued down the road the guy that was standing right in front of me threw his soda can out the window onto the highway. You can imagine what that does to an American to see something like that.
We reached Petra in about 3 1/2 hours. We checked into the Cleopetra Hotel which is a real dump. You know it has to be bad if I'm saying that. The bathroom is so small you have to sit sideways on the toilet! The beds are so close together you have to drag one foot behind the other to walk between them. I'll measure tonight but I bet there is less than 6 inches between them.
This afternoon we went out to Little Petra with the French couple that was on the bus with us. They are staying at our hotel and hate it too.
Tonight we're going to see a sound and light show at Petra. I would write more but the internet has just turned on this REALLY LOUD Arab music and I can't think at all. My keyboard is vibrating. I think they are having prayers upstairs because I have seen a ton of men going up and they are making all kinds of racket.
Write me.
11-1 Thursday
It seems like I have lost a day somewhere. Maybe it was over the Atlantic.
Lynda and I were up by 7 a.m. and ready to hit the road. We had a Continental breakfast at the hotel: toast, cheese and coffee for 12 US (Ouch!). Thankfully I brought my own hot chocolate. Lynda wanted milk for her coffee - the guy said he understood and brought a small container of more water. I had to draw on my foreign skills by pretending to milk a cow and saying mooooooo! He got it!
As we were getting in our cab to go over to the Jett Bus station I learned that the desk clerk lived in Winter Garden, FL for 12 years! He said, "You probably haven't heard of it because it's a small town but it's near Disney World." I told him I knew exactly where it was. Small world.
When we got to the Jett Bus station the bus for Petra had already left so we got in another cab and went to the public bus station. We had to wait until the bus was full before we could depart. The BO Express cost us 5.60 US. (I have to keep saying US because I can't find a dollar sign on this computer.) There were mostly men in our mini van except for a married couple from France and a family with two young children, two teen looking girls and a woman whose face was completely covered.
The land we traveled through with the radio blaring Arab tunes (Joyce remember the bus to Tana Torja?) was arid and barren. The houses (even the new ones) are devoid of color in keeping with the tradition of mud dried homes. They are mostly square structures with square windows.
We stopped about 45 minutes into the trip and picked up some guy standing on the side of the road. He had to stand because all the seats were taken. We later picked up two more guys.
An hour into the trip we stopped for gas- I went to the toilet. Right next to the room with the toilets was the ladies prayer room with the rugs on the floor. This is a heads up for Anna and Fran - the toi-lets were squats!
As we continued down the road the guy that was standing right in front of me threw his soda can out the window onto the highway. You can imagine what that does to an American to see something like that.
We reached Petra in about 3 1/2 hours. We checked into the Cleopetra Hotel which is a real dump. You know it has to be bad if I'm saying that. The bathroom is so small you have to sit sideways on the toilet! The beds are so close together you have to drag one foot behind the other to walk between them. I'll measure tonight but I bet there is less than 6 inches between them.
This afternoon we went out to Little Petra with the French couple that was on the bus with us. They are staying at our hotel and hate it too.
Tonight we're going to see a sound and light show at Petra. I would write more but the internet has just turned on this REALLY LOUD Arab music and I can't think at all. My keyboard is vibrating. I think they are having prayers upstairs because I have seen a ton of men going up and they are making all kinds of racket.
Write me.
10-30 (Tuesday)
I'm here! To update . . .
Anna showed up at 2:30 to take me to the airport. She helped me weigh my suitcase - 39 lbs. When I had it weighed at the airport 39 lbs! We were right on the money.
This morning when I was buying gas I asked the clerk where she was from and she said Palestine. I told her I was leaving for Jordan this afternoon - that excited her. She said, "Be sure to take warm clothes, it's really cold." I went home and threw more cold weather clothes in my suitcase.
On the plane from Memphis to Amsterdam I was sitting next to a guy who was on his way to Bagdad. I was surprised that he was traveling commercial. I took 1/2 of an Ambien and fell asleep before they served dinner but after I ate I didn't sleep at all. They served us breakfast at 1 a.m. Orlando time. We landed at 3 a.m. Orlando time in Amsterdam. The pilot wanted to make sure we were thoroughly acquainted with the airport because he must have driven over every runway for 30-45 minutes before we got to the gate. I told the guy next to me I thought we were driving him to Bagdad.
I found the transfer desk and got myself a boarding pass. I walked around and poked in the shops since I'd been sitting so long. My eyes were bloodshot from no sleep and I had dropped food on my blouse which I tried to wash off in the bathroom. I was lovely!
About 10 minutes before we were to board I went to my gate. There were only about 15 seats so many people were standing. There was an empty seat between a man and a woman so I went over and sat down. I don't know if this was allowed since he was Arab but no one paid any attention to it. Shortly a man came out and said, "Amman passengers, come on in." We went through x-ray and then sat in another waiting room where there were plenty of chairs. A girl and her 7 month old baby sat down across from me. She was from Palestine but going to Amman to see her parents. She lives in Alaska with her Arab husband who is a cancer specialist. She had come all the way from Alaska with that baby. He was worn out. She paid for a seat for him so she didn't have to hold him the entire way. She had a suitcase and a huge Eddie Bauer buggy. I helped her get on the plane. My seat was next to a German couple. I knew as soon as I sat down where they were from and I'll bet Dinki knows why!
If you have traveled international you're familiar with the map on your viewing (TV) screen. It shows where you started, where you're going, how many miles you've traveled etc. Well . . . on Royal Jordanian Air from Amsterdam to Amman they showed the direction of Mecca! As the plane turned the arrow pointing to Mecca was updated. Interesting.
When we landed I helped the girl with the baby again. She must have had 8 more bags besides the one I was helping her with (she was staying 2 months.) I got my visa (15 US) at the airport. I came in at terminal one and Lynda at terminal 2. Luckily they were just across the street from each other. I was waiting there as Lynda came out of customs. After changing some money we got a cab to the Gondola Hotel which was a long ride. I took a shower, washed out my dirty shirt and got in bed by 10:30.
I'm here! To update . . .
Anna showed up at 2:30 to take me to the airport. She helped me weigh my suitcase - 39 lbs. When I had it weighed at the airport 39 lbs! We were right on the money.
This morning when I was buying gas I asked the clerk where she was from and she said Palestine. I told her I was leaving for Jordan this afternoon - that excited her. She said, "Be sure to take warm clothes, it's really cold." I went home and threw more cold weather clothes in my suitcase.
On the plane from Memphis to Amsterdam I was sitting next to a guy who was on his way to Bagdad. I was surprised that he was traveling commercial. I took 1/2 of an Ambien and fell asleep before they served dinner but after I ate I didn't sleep at all. They served us breakfast at 1 a.m. Orlando time. We landed at 3 a.m. Orlando time in Amsterdam. The pilot wanted to make sure we were thoroughly acquainted with the airport because he must have driven over every runway for 30-45 minutes before we got to the gate. I told the guy next to me I thought we were driving him to Bagdad.
I found the transfer desk and got myself a boarding pass. I walked around and poked in the shops since I'd been sitting so long. My eyes were bloodshot from no sleep and I had dropped food on my blouse which I tried to wash off in the bathroom. I was lovely!
About 10 minutes before we were to board I went to my gate. There were only about 15 seats so many people were standing. There was an empty seat between a man and a woman so I went over and sat down. I don't know if this was allowed since he was Arab but no one paid any attention to it. Shortly a man came out and said, "Amman passengers, come on in." We went through x-ray and then sat in another waiting room where there were plenty of chairs. A girl and her 7 month old baby sat down across from me. She was from Palestine but going to Amman to see her parents. She lives in Alaska with her Arab husband who is a cancer specialist. She had come all the way from Alaska with that baby. He was worn out. She paid for a seat for him so she didn't have to hold him the entire way. She had a suitcase and a huge Eddie Bauer buggy. I helped her get on the plane. My seat was next to a German couple. I knew as soon as I sat down where they were from and I'll bet Dinki knows why!
If you have traveled international you're familiar with the map on your viewing (TV) screen. It shows where you started, where you're going, how many miles you've traveled etc. Well . . . on Royal Jordanian Air from Amsterdam to Amman they showed the direction of Mecca! As the plane turned the arrow pointing to Mecca was updated. Interesting.
When we landed I helped the girl with the baby again. She must have had 8 more bags besides the one I was helping her with (she was staying 2 months.) I got my visa (15 US) at the airport. I came in at terminal one and Lynda at terminal 2. Luckily they were just across the street from each other. I was waiting there as Lynda came out of customs. After changing some money we got a cab to the Gondola Hotel which was a long ride. I took a shower, washed out my dirty shirt and got in bed by 10:30.
Friday, October 26, 2007
On the road again . . .
I leave Tuesday, Oct. 30th with a destination of Amman, Jordan. I fly from Orlando to Memphis then Amsterdam and on to Amman. I am meeting Lynda, the girl I went gorilla tracking with in Uganda. We are going to do Petra and hopefully Wadi Rum (desert area) then will pick up a guide to take us into Syria. Lynda will return to the states the night of Nov. 13th. I will be on my own until Sunday, Nov 18th when I will meet a group in Cairo. I had planned to spend those free days in Jerusalem but now I'm not sure because I am having a terrible time trying to get a flight from Jerusalem to Cairo. I don't want to take a bus just because it takes about 15 hours and that would be all day. I have been trying to get into the El Al website but it has been down for hours. Oh well, I'll figure something out. I guess my next post will be from Jordan!
I leave Tuesday, Oct. 30th with a destination of Amman, Jordan. I fly from Orlando to Memphis then Amsterdam and on to Amman. I am meeting Lynda, the girl I went gorilla tracking with in Uganda. We are going to do Petra and hopefully Wadi Rum (desert area) then will pick up a guide to take us into Syria. Lynda will return to the states the night of Nov. 13th. I will be on my own until Sunday, Nov 18th when I will meet a group in Cairo. I had planned to spend those free days in Jerusalem but now I'm not sure because I am having a terrible time trying to get a flight from Jerusalem to Cairo. I don't want to take a bus just because it takes about 15 hours and that would be all day. I have been trying to get into the El Al website but it has been down for hours. Oh well, I'll figure something out. I guess my next post will be from Jordan!
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