Machu Picchu, Peru

Before I left for Peru I spent hours surfing the internet looking for helpful tips and hints for getting into and around Machu Picchu, and what the entire process to get there entailed. To my shock, there was not much information on how to get to this archaeological site, nor is there very many places for advice on how to buy tickets to for entry into the site. As I searched the web I only became more frustrated, because it seemed the only way you could visit the site was through one of the many tour groups that go there on a daily basis. Not wanting to go in with a tourist group and spend the whole day following at someone else's pace, I refused to buy any group tickets which were outrageously expensive and did not offer what I was looking for. Trust me, you can find plenty of places that will take care of the hassle of buying the tickets if you don't want to spend ours trying to buy them yourself. There is only one website to buy tickets into Machu Picchu if you are not with a group. It's run by the goverment of Peru and the site is horribly outdated and has plenty of bugs. Although I tried for an entire week, logging on everyday to buy our tickets into Machu Picchu, the site would either crash or say that my form of payment wasn't going through even when I had 5000 credit limit on the card I was using. I was so frustrated after the sixth day of trying that I didn't just want to scream, I screamed. I stomped my feet in frustration. Getting into Machu Piccu seemed hopeless and out of reach. This was after I'd already purchased our flights to Peru. I finally found a website http://www.machupicchuterra.com/ I did not buy a package deal that they advertise, instead I simply asked them to buy me the two tickets I needed to get into the site. I gave them all the information they asked for (passport numbers, credit card numbers, names, dob, etc) an vuala, the next day I had my tickets. I paid about ten more dollars US for them to purchase the tickets for me, but let me tell you after the headache it was trying to purchase the tickets myself, the twenty dollars I paid to save myself the hassle was well worth it. I got to print out the tickets the next day and I felt confident that we could get in after that point. The whole process was smooth. The tickets worked and we got into Machu Picchu just fine. I trust this site and would recommend it to anyone wanting to get into the Machu Picchu and explore on their own.
     Later on our trip, I had actually found one person who had purchased the tickets through the government site. She said it was a hassle, but in the end she finally got it to work. If you feel like taking this route when buying your tickets, all the best to you.
     The next painful step to getting into Machu Picchu is purchasing your train tickets to get to Aguas Calieintes "The City Of Hot Water" which sits at the base of the mountain to Machu Picchu. What I had not read on any blog or travel site in regards to getting to Machu Picchu is the many steps it takes to get to Aguas Calientes. You can't simply take a plain to the city. The first step is you have to take a plane to Cusco and from Cusco you must take a bus to a little enchanting town about an hour and a half drive outside of Cusco called Ollantaytambo. I only learned this before we left, because we had run into a couple people through a mutual friend who had just visited Peru. If they had not told me about the bus you needed to take to get into Ollantaytambo, I would not have known that I needed to take a bus ride there, nor that I needed to book a hostel in this city. In my opinion, Ollantaytambo is the most spectacular city we visited on our trip to Peru, and I booked here the least amount of days because I did not know how breathtaking it would be. I would recommend at least three if not four days in this city, for there is so many sites to see. They have many ruins you can visit in this town, and it takes times to see everything. Once in Ollantaytambo the train then leaves from its station and finally transports you into the city of Aguas Calientes.
      As you can find online if you look, there are only two train stations that transport passengers from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. Although they have two separate names Inca Rail,which is what we took, and Peru Rail, which is a lot more expensive, they are owned and operated by the same company. Think of the rail stations as Passenger and Coach on a plane. If you prefer to ride in style and have a lunch given to you, Peru Rail is the better option. It's more fancy and a bit more costly, but the trains are nicer and they leave more often. Inca rail is like their coach train. I found no problems with the trains. They all looked brand new. They served us coffee and muffins on our train ride, and the views from the train were beautiful. If you are looking for a more expensive route, this may be the option for you. Keep in mind that the train tickets sell out most days, and you must book the train several months in advance if you are to have hope of getting into Machu Picchu.
      The trains drop you off in the city of Aguas Calientes. After you are at the base of the mountain below Machu Picchu, you must then purchase another bus ticket to transfer you up to the top of the mountain where the site is located. If you are fit and are able, to hike the trail up the mountain is free. It incorporates steps, trail, and road. The trail looked very muddy, and is said to take at least an hour to hike. Keep in mind that you will be doing a lot of strenuous hiking when you get to the site as it is, and you may want to save your energy for when you actually get there. The bus ride to get up the mountain is only six dollars a person US. Is it really worth saving that much money? We were completely exhausted after spending only six hours in the site. We couldn't have imagined hiking up the trail or hiking back down.  Also, please keep in mind all these steps from the bus, to the train, to the second bus we did over several days. I would not recommend doing all these steps and going to see the site all in one day. People do it, but you won't appreciate Machu Picchu as much if you are exhausted.
      I wanted a unique experience for my boyfriend and myself. I didn't realize until later that having a one on one experience with one of the most visited wonders in the world was not going to happen. The site is visited almost everyday by it's 2500 allotted visitors. That sounds like a small amount of people, but when every person is there at the exact same time, it's overwhelming and the huge monument feels like a claustrophobia's nightmare. The amount of people at the site the day we were there was astounding, and the amount of selfie sticks made me sick to my stomach. This amazing wonder felt like a fetish. Machu Picchu turned the people around it into a spectacle themselves. They were so caught up taking pictures of the site, that not one person I saw stopped in awe of it.
      I loved Machu Picchu don't get me wrong, but if you visit I would recommend that you appreciate it for what it is, and not what amazing or awesome picture you would get out of it.


     If you have any questions about planning your own trip, I'd love to answer your questions.


Thanks

S

Nazareth and Sea of Galilee

Nazareth, Sea of Galilee

     My boyfriend and I visited Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee on a tour. Both of these locations are north of Tel Aviv about an hour and a half drive out of the city. There are some extraordinary things to see here. Just to name a few; The Church of the Annunciation, The Church of Multiplication, and The Church of Saint Joseph, and so much more. The first church listed, is the site where Catholics believe that the Virgin Mary became incarnate of the holy spirit. This church has some of the most beautiful stained glass windows I've ever seen. Our tour guide told us the building stands 33 meters tall, one meter for every year Jesus was said to have lived. The second church I have listed is said to have been the place where Jesus multiplied two fish and five loaves of bread to feed the masses. The final church I've listed is where it is said that Joseph and Mary lived with Jesus during his childhood years. It is said they do not know if this was the exact house that Jesus' family lived in during his childhood, but it certainly was the same neighborhood they believed him to be living in growing up in Nazareth. Underneath The Church Of Saint Joseph is an actual house that is said to be from the time of Jesus. They have since built a church on top of this site and over the annunciation site to preserve the ruins. All of these locations are special if you believe and I would recommend going on a tour.
     The Sea of Galilee is actually a lake. It's known today by the name Lake Tiberius or the Lake of Gennesaret. The lake is next to the city of Tiberius and also the port of Magdala where it is said that Saint Mary Magdalene came from. The bible also states that this is the place where Jesus walked on water. Everything next to the Sea of Galilee is green and lush. I don't know about you, but when I see bible stories acted out in movies or on T.V. I always pictured these places sort of deserty and dry. But during springtime when we visited, the entire place smelled of freshness and the trees were fertile. It was nothing like the movies portrayed it to be. In the summer, our guide said that temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher with up to 80 percent humidity.  If you're looking to go, springtime or fall are the best options, as it is cooler and there are less travelers at these times of the year. I just remember being in awe at every place we visited that day.  Here we were, yet again, going to sites I'd only read about in the bible. It's so nice now to go back to church in my own town of Littleton or open my bible and be able to remember exactly what these places look like in real life. You can envision the stories with their actual backdrop. I have a whole new perspective when reading the bible now, and that experience is so priceless when it comes to faith. If you are a believer, make a special trip to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee if you are planning to visit Israel. I promise, these places will not disappoint. 


Thanks

S

Here's a picture of the Sea Of Galilee 

Petra, Jordan

Petra, Jordan

     No place I've ever traveled is quite as breathtaking as Petra. Amidst the Wadi Rum desert, and tucked away between sandstone walls towering above the sight of the sky, this world wonder is astounding. The sheer size of Petra is so massive it's hard to look up and see it in its entirety. The Monastery is a huge monument carved from sandstone at the topmost part of the site. I've included a picture at the bottom of the page so you can see just how big the monument is compared to the size of my body (it's almost quite comical how little I am compared to it.) My boyfriend and I went to Petra on a tour through Abraham Hostel. At this time it is not advised to visit Jordan alone, but not only that, it is almost impossible to get a visa into Jordan unless you are part of a tour group at the current time. I found the people of Jordan to be welcoming, friendly, and generous.
     I would highly recommend this two day trip I took with Abraham Hostel. The entire trip to Petra for both my boyfriend and myself was about 1500 shekels, which was about 340 dollars US per person. This does not cover the cost of crossing the border into Petra and the fee for getting back into Israel. I felt completely safe in Jordan for the entirety of my visit. The cost for this trip is nothing compared to how spectacular I felt Petra to be. If you are not familiar with Petra, or have never heard of this wonder of the world, I would refer you to what our guide and most people are familiar with; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. They filmed this movie and numerous others at Petra. Although somewhat commercialized from the tourist who visit the park on a daily basis. We found Petra to be almost empty. Our tour guide said that foot traffic in and out of the country has slowed to almost a halt. With Jordan being neighbor to Syria, and the struggles with ISIS going on around the surrounding countries, Jordan has seen 60-80% cancellation within the past two years. This is bad for Jordanian economy, but good for a visit to Petra if you were looking to go. We were virtually the only people in the park, which made the experience all that more special. Last year my boyfriend and I were lucky enough to go to Machu Picchu in Peru, but in my opinion this was so much better than that. Not only because I felt the monuments were so well preserved and stunning, but because there was only a fraction of the people in Petra compared to Machu Picchu. If you are looking to go on your next trip, I would recommend Petra over Peru, that is if you are not afraid to take a little risk. The trip felt more special and personal.
     The treasury which you'll see in the first picture I've posted, is the most famous of the archaeological finds within the city. The Monastery which I've posted second is less famous, but much larger and more astounding and dramatic. But to see the Monastery takes a great deal of work. Unlike The Treasury, which is the first sight you see once you hike down into the park, The Monestary is a very laborious hike consisting of eight hundred steps. This doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me it's a doozy. I thought this hike would never end. The route you take just keeps going straight up, and up, and up . . . and up. If you are into hiking however, it's not that bad. Seeing one of the most incredible sights I've ever laid eyes on, makes the hike totally worth the exertion it takes. It's stunning. Better than anything you could imagine.
      Bring lots of water. I mean lots. You can't drink the water in Jordan, but there are plenty of places just outside the site that sell water bottles for 1 Dinar. The site was empty when we climbed those last steps. Deserted. What a magical site to see. I can understand why it's on so many people's lists as a place you have to see before you die. Until you go you won't know what I'm talking about. So go now. What are you waiting for? Invite me along if you'd like.

Love

S

I'm in this picture? Can you spot me? It's like where's waldo. haha. 

Israel, Jerusalem.

     Real life biblical history comes to life right before your eyes in Jerusalem. Words are indescribable as to how one feels while walking through the Old City and walking into their literal faith history. As a christian and God fearing woman, it wasn't just the christian faith that hit me so hard, but the unwavering faith of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities. There is in fact so much prayer taking place in this city, even if you do not feel the Holy Spirit or are moved by some higher force in the universe, it bring you to your knees at just how much you want to pray and be a part of it all. The energy within the city walls is an electric moving force. To say that this has nothing to do with how much prayer is taking place, would be a gross understatement. In my opinion the reasons I felt the way I did within the walls of the Old City was because of how sacred people take this place, and just how serious and devout their life to the Creator is. The bible isn't just words here. The bible is living, breathing texts, that flow out of people's mouth and into the living word of God.

     To see the faith that I read about in the bible on a daily basis, and to feel the sermons I've witnessed the past ten years of my life coming into sight, was unfathomable. As a christian woman I saw stories within a book not just stand in my imagination any longer, but come to life right before my eyes. The only thing I can akin this feeling to, is if anyone has read the Harry Potter book series and then physically gone to see the theme park in Orlando Florida. It's much more epic than this, but you get the basic idea. Participating and seeing where Jesus had lived and resided during parts of his life is quite a powerful awakening. 

       I felt overwhelming sense of happiness, elation, complete and utter despair, joy, sadness, contentment, nervousness, shame, and so many more emotions all at the same time. The magnitude of these feelings felt amplified to a great extent. To pray with others who so strongly believe brought out my utter assurance of God existence. My prayers seemed more pure and less selfish. Less clouded and distracted, more unified and precise. As a person who prays often, although I don't think I pray enough, I often find myself starting prayers in my everyday life and then another thought pops in and I disengage from the prayer and have to remind myself to focus. Not here. Not in the city. Especially not at the Wailing Wall.   

      Out of all my experiences with God throughout my life, this had to be the most moving. There is a substantial amount of woman and men praying at this wall. There is no way to describe just how I felt here. Instead I will describe the sensation on my fingertips when I approached the wall and touched the the stones with my own hands. The energy that shot down my arm was beautiful. 

     The entire experience calls to mind the phrase "Seeing is believing." In this city the exact opposite is true. You don't have to see Him to believe. He's in every person at that wall. 

     I know not everyone who reads this is christian, or even believes in God, but if ever you wanted to see him, maybe even just get to know him, I suggest a visit to Jerusalem. Even if you don't stumble into something extraordinary as I or others did/do on a daily basis, you just might be surprised at just how convoluted the feelings are. You might see something i never did. You might see something in yourself. As I wrote in every single postcard to my family back home, pack your bags now. Leave for Jerusalem and the Holy City immediately. It's the best place I've ever visited. God is great. God is good. God is alive.

Love

S  

Lima Peru

I was open and optimist about our recent trip to Peru. It was the first time travelling with my boyfriend Beau out of the country. We had our backpacks and a dream with us. We set out for the airport at 8 am and made our way down to what would be our first ever adventure in South America. 

     The Peruvian escapades started the second we stepped off the plain and into the terminal at Jorge Chavez International Airport. 

       The air that night was thick with humidity. My back and neck began to sweat from the heat. We took the liberty of exchanging some money at the airport kiosk, and made our way through customs. 

This was when all taxi driver broke loose. The second we had gotten through baggage claim and out the main doors, hundreds of people started shouting at us. Taxi! Taxi! Taxi! It was coming from all angles and sides. I finally understood what celebrities might go through while being mobbed by the paparazzi. It was sheer, unending screams. There was no right direction to look through the chaos. Instead, I looked down and followed Beau's feet past the commotion and into a subdued area just twenty feet from the main entryway. This was where a man in a black suit approached us. He asked too if we needed a taxi. He looked sweaty and overrun. Although my last name is Spanish I do not speak a word of it, this was all on Beau. The little Spanish Beau knew got us through our entire trip. He was speaking to Beau now after a firm no had escaped my lips. We had planned to stay at the airport that night because our flight left at 7 am and it was already approaching 11pm. I didn't think we would have gotten much sleep if we had stayed at a hotel and neither did Beau. We declined the man again and made our way back to the check in area for our next flight.
Unfortunately, you had to exit the airport and reenter on the other side of the main exit to check back in. We walked outside and were just about to make our way back into the airport when the man in the suit approached again. He was speaking to Beau again in broken English then in Spanish. I tried to advance, but the man stepped in front of me and began speaking again. Beau took 3 years of Spanish in high school and he tried his best to translate.
     Beau spoke to me saying, "I think he just said that the airport is closing at 2a.m. and they kick everyone out for repairs then." It didn't seem like a very plausible situation to me. Shutting a hole airport down for repairs, i mean, give me a break right? Who did this guy think he was messing with?
     "I do not think that is what is happening." Was what I said to Beau. "This doesn't feel right. I do not think we should get in any car with him."
    Beau was a bit more optimistic. "It would be better than staying at the airport all night. He says there's a hotel he knows of and it is not far from here."
    "Of course he would say that," i said, rushed in breath.
      It was as if the universe was telling us this was a bad idea, because no sooner had the words left Beau's mouth that a Peruvian police officer approached and started talking with the man. I didn't understand a word of what they said but the tone the police officer's voice sounded stern and upset. Beau and I stood by and watched the conversation unfold. After about two minutes, the police officer walked off. The man in the black suit looked relieved.
       He turned to Beau and started convincing beau that our only option was to go with him to this hotel. The hotel cost was only going to be 15 dollars US and that they would discuss the cab price later. He said the hotel next to the airport was "much expensive."
      After a while Beau was convinced this was our best option. I was reluctant of course saying to Beau flat out, "I am not getting in that cab."
     "Please, Sarah." He pleaded to me in exhaustion. This is our best option since you didn't book us a hotel. I am tired and so are you. Its only fifteen dollars."
     Feeling that I loved Beau and I at least had him to look out for me I reluctantly agreed to walk with this man to the cab. He took our bags and placed them in the back of his beat up car trunk. I climbed in the back of the car, Beau to my right side.
      We were off, careening down a black river of death or so it appeared. The way these cars swerve in and out of traffic would give any sort of normal person the hibbidy jibbidies. He weaved, he braked, jutted to sudden stops with no warning, accelerated to 60 kilometers down narrow streets. We were in and out and between huge semi's. I've never seen anyone get that close to other cars without getting hit. He slammed our bodies in every direction against his little black car.
       We came to an abrupt stop outside a dark shaded building. Gheto. Is what I thought. Gheto.
     Only the right passenger side door opened to let us out (we found in most places throughout Peru when taking a cab, this was true.) Only one side of any cab would open.
    He grabbed our bags and we exited the car onto a narrow dark street. There were hardly any street lights to see what we were really looking at. It just looked like a bunch of dark buildings shrouded in shadows. He led us inside. A small woman sat behind the front desk.The inside wasn't too bad. They even had some bottled water. He started to speak to her in Spanish and then back to us. 
      "Okay, my friend. She has key. 90 US dollars."
      "What," I said flabbergasted. "No, you said fifteen." 
      Beau started asking him questions in Spanish.The whole thing was ludicrous to me. My heart sank with this news. 
    "We are already here," Beau said, and he's not going to take us back." For the entire trip I had only brought 300US dollars.This clown wanted me to spend almost a third of my money at this hotel. I was livid. 
      I could tell Beau was a little intimidated, and I wasn't at level of brain stability to argue. We were both physically drained at this point and didn't have the resources within us to argue. I reached in the secret compartment of my bag and handed over the precious money to the woman at the counter. We bid goodbye to the cab driver after he promised to pick us back up at 5:30a.m. so we could get back to the airport for our next flight at 7a.m. We settled into our hotel room locked the door and lay down for some solid zzzz's. It was just around 12a.m. an hour later, Beau and I woke to a strange noise. At first we couldn't tell where or what the noise was coming from. 
     It took only seconds to figure out what these odd sounds were.
      It was moaning. Loud, intense, disgusting, moaning noises from rampant sex coming from somewhere in the hotel. The floors were solid tile.The noise reverberated through the hallway and echoed so loudly I am surprised it didn't wake up all the guests. It was moments later that a delightful whip cracking sound joined in. 
    This repugnant orgie lasted for 4 hours straight. I didn't sleep. Didn't move. I was so disturbed by the sounds that were coming from the hotel that I just stared at the ceiling and tried to block it all out. We got ready at 5 am. We left that hotel as soon as possible. When we walked downstairs and saw the cab driver sleeping in his car we tapped on the driver side window to wake him up. He asked us if we slept well. I looked at him with all the abhor I could muster and said, "NO!"

He took us back to the airport and the nightmare was over. The cab driver charged us 50 dollars US for a ride that was less than five minute drive from the airport. Be aware if you are traveling the cab drivers get commission for bringing ignorant Americans to and from the airport and getting them to stay at hotels.

Luckily the next part of the trip went smoothly, but at least I can write about it now and grow wiser from the experience.

Peace and love
S