Travelling
Andean Explorer from Lake Titicaca to Cusco. One of the world’s highest Train journeys, care of the Orient Express and its Andean Explorer. After travelling round a lot of Peru by coach, it made a refreshing change to have a luxurious 10-hour train ride.
We were told by one of our guides that road travel is always quicker than taking the train. The reason being was that when the Peru Government awarded the rail track contracts in the 19th century, they paid by the mile. Hence there was more profit if the railroad companies chose circuitous routes to lay, rather than the most direct ones.
Luxurious carriages & fine dining. Notice in the photo below, Ann is drinking Inca Kola. Apparently Peru is the only country in the world where the indigenous Cola outsells Coca Cola.
Peru Rail did us proud & laid on entertainment, including dancing, a fashion show & a live band. Beats British Rail! The last compartment was partially open, to better admire the views over the high Andes.
After trekking to Machu Picchu, we took the Vistadome train back to Cusco from Aguas Calientes. Again entertainment was laid on – in this case a mime artist in traditional costume.
A reed boat built by the Uros Islanders on Lake Titicaca. Most of us sat on the top for our trip.
Very early in the morning, a little way out of Chivay, en route to Colca Canyon the coach stopped at this little village. The local school kids were dancing round the fountain in traditional dress with music blaring out of a couple of speakers. We were told they do this to collect money for their education. I felt a little uncomfortable for something so contrived and exploitative, just for the benefit of the tourists. I have a video of the dancing. The Wititi dance is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. There are various conflicting stories as to why men dress up as women for this dance.
On the way to Chivay from Arequipa we stopped at a scenic spot, at the highest altitude of the whole holiday – 4,900 metres above sea level (that’s over 3 miles up). This is where Ann got her Andean knitted hat. At another stopping point on the same journey, Ann took this photo of us drinking coca tea with an Alpaca in the background. It had a sweet tooth. Its party trick was to barge into the table so as to knock over the sugar bowl, then lick it all up.
This Lama was much more obliging.
Wild alpaca, with the male standing guard
Vicuna – very graceful
Directing the Traffic in Puno – the popular drink Inca Kola was widely advertised.
