Hola todos! 2nd backdated blog from before burnout kicked in. This one is all about the long Journey from Arequipa to Cusco. Once again I used the hop on hop off services of Peruhop for this one.
It was a very early start for this one getting up at 0430 for a 5:15 pickup from the gaff. I’m up, showered and out and soon the minivan comes by and picks me up and takes us out of town to where the bus waits. By about 0600 we are on way.
Once we begin the ascent into the Andes out of Arequipa you can immediately see just how vast and empty Peru is. We keep climbing up these mountains which plateau out onto vast steppe-like plains with even taller mountains with snowy peaks in the background. It is quite surreal.
Along these plains you can see a mostly disused railway line. Only freight trains pass through there though rumor is there is talk of putting passenger trains back on the line nothing has happened yet. Shame this route would be even more epic done by train!
After a while the steppe land gives way to greenery after we briefly pass a few lakes near to the far western side of Lake Titicaca. After a brief lunch stop we enter the valleys of the Inca Heartland where there is greenery and rivers running through them. It is quite the sight to see.
After a while it gets dark and not much else to see for the last 2/3 hours and is uneventful. We land in Peruhop’s bus terminal and a minivan takes us to our accomodations.
I am last to get dropped at mine at about 19:30 and once I’m checked in having issues not letting me take a proper shower after such a long travel day. I am pissed off but it’s late in the day to argue it. Lo que puta hay!!! This starts the slide that leads to my burnout episode in the heart of Inca Country!!
I have a wander round but among the touting I find nowhere I like so off to the Irish bar for some scran and a few ales. Not a great start.
Despite what came afterwards I would highly recommend this particular bus ride as the views as the land changes are truly epic and made it worth the early start and extremely long travel day.
I won’t eleborate too much further. You already know what came next in the next couple of days!
That said since I posted that burnout episode things have really began to look up after a very spiritual chance encounter. That we will cover on the next one!
Hasta la vista!!!
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