It would seem I'm going to be visiting Peru

[ruckman101]

Go figure. Kind of fell in our laps. Leaving April 30 for almost three weeks. I'm open to fantastic tips of extraordinary touristy pursuits should anyone have any.

neal

[Westy78]

I've always wanted to go to Machu Picchu.

[tristessa]

Try the guinea pig, I hear it's tasty.

[ruckman101]

Most likely not, especially if it's served with head still on. Besides, as a child, I experienced the joys of guinea pigs as pets. What were my parents thinking? The one thing I learned though, was that you should never, ever, pick up a guinea pig by it's tail. It pops their eyes right out of their sockets.

Reading up on Peruvian cuisine, was excited to note the chile pepper of choice is the ahi and roccota. Yeah yeah, I'm a chile head. My attempts to grow ghost chiles have been to no avail to date.

Planes planes and more planes. First stop Iquitos in northern Peru east of the Andes in the upper reaches of the Amazon basin. There are no roads into Iquitos. By river or air is the only option. Largest city perhaps on earth to enjoy that status.

Machu Picchu is on the itinerary at this point.

Anyone got a DVD copy of Werner Herzog's movie "Fitzcarraldo" I could borrow?


neal

[tristessa]

Don't think of them as guinea pigs .. think of them as cuy. =P

[hambone]

Lucky bastard. I thought you were dead or somethin haven't seen you in months.

[ruckman101]

We'll still be going into debt, but we do have some patrons kicking in some funds for the production that offsets the costs, some.

neal

[Amskeptic]

Machu Picchu is on the itinerary at this point.
neal

It is? Between California and New Mexico calls?
Colin

[pj]

I have been there, and i don't think they eat guinea pigs. Not much of a trip if you ask me, I have been to better places.


http://www.cityofperu.org/

[ruckman101]

Still planning a fall trip through the SW of this country. Have been planning it for three years now. Life to date has thwarted our efforts. California? That's usually a Maupin package deal. Maupin, yes, California this year not yet determined, unless it's in the fall as a return route from the SW.

Have to do Machu Pincchu before it's closed to the public because of the degradation to the site from the public trammeling it. 2500 members of the public a day visit.

We went for our immunizations a couple days ago. If it weren't for our excursion into the Amazon basin, really wouldn't have needed any of them. And sheesh, for the cost, we could have taken a third person. Cheryle already had already had her hepatitis A and B combo, but then there was yellow fever, typhoid, and malaria. The immunizations are good for ten years, so we better take advantage and hit all the highest risk areas to get our money's worth.

Did you get outside Lima pj? Cuy as a popular nibble has been mentioned in more than one of my google searches regarding cuisine. Along with beef heart chunks on a stick.

Our itinerary is still gelling out of a fog of "Wha? We're going to Peru? Really?" Our plane tickets are booked and we really are. The ethereal is gelling into the real world. Like below the equator.


neal

[ruckman101]

http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/cuisine/a/cuy.htm

You never know. Sounds better than the crickets I shied away from in southern Mexico. I have enjoyed the bunny I've had in the past.


neal

[pj]

Hell Neal, I've only been to Peru Indiana, and trust me it ain't close to Lima. Sounds like you two are going to have a wonderful time, I'm sure though you will be disappointed cause really is there anyplace nicer than Amboy? :)

[ruckman101]

Oh, that Peru. Well you're one up on me there pj. Although with this trip I'll now be able to say I've been in Atlanta, Georgia's airport to run to my connecting flight. But to date, I still haven't gotten to my toes in the count of states in this country that I've visited. Georgia will be further east for me, El Paso, Texas was the prior benchmark, via train.

My nephew dropped in for a visit today, who has been to Peru and Macchu Pincchu. I asked him about the cuy. He had indulged in that culinary experience. His experience didn't bolster my appetite. Breaded, deep fried, head on that looked to be screaming in agony by his account. They draped their napkin over the head, but still the delights of the entre escaped them. Greasy.

Hosted a fish taco dinner party tonight, and truly, guests oohed and awed at the awesomeness that is our abode atop Dunnigan Mountain here in Amboy. Similar oohs and awe were expressed at the awesomeness of the fish tacos. It's all about the mango/habanero salsa. Freshly cooked from scratch flour and corn tortillas clinched it.


neal

[ruckman101]

Ok, it's real. Dropped Cheryle off at the airport Monday at 3:15 am to catch her 5:30 am flight, arriving at destination fairly early today, Tuesday. Grueling bit of air travel. Portland to LA, then to Atlanta, and the long haul to Lima, then a four or five hour layover at the airport for the plane to Iquitos.

First reports from Cheryle indicate a heavy pall of lawn-mower engine emission issues. Any vehicle there has been transported by river or plane. And hot.

Friday I get my second shot in the Hepatitis A and B inoculation investment. We've been debating the Malaria pills, but Cheryle has begun them. If I hear no horror stories of adverse affects, I'll probably get my subscription filled and follow suit.

It get's real for me next Thursday at 3 in the morning to catch my grueling yank through time and space to below the equator. Hello Southern Cross, goodbye Big Dipper.


neal

[tristessa]

Have fun!