11. Peru

When entering Peru, we were a little scared as we had once again entered a country that is not famous for being the safest place, but what we experienced in Peru in the next two weeks left us with such a good impression about this country, Peru has to offer so much - desert, djungle, beaches, mountains, historical sights and of course good food (Gracias, José!)!

We started in the north enjoying the beach and at the same time experience Pre-Inca culture near Trujillo. This is also the place where the famous fur-less Peruvian dogs can be found. They might not win beauty competitions, but are sure the first ones to be drafted for zombie movies!

 Lima, our second stop, is a typical Southamerican city. The old town is colonial style and somewhat touristy, the modern part at the ocean front ("Miraflores") offers fancy restaurants and Western style shoppings malls and is a lot nicer and safer. Thus, wealthier Limeños as well as tourists are usually to be found here.

My zombie dogs in Trujillo



Pacific-View from Miraflores

After a comfortable 20h-bus-ride (food was served, and they showed 7 movies!) we arrived in Cusco, the starting point for the Inca-Trail - a well organized four-day-hike passing several Inca sights in an altitude of 2500-4200m and finally reaching the one and only Machu Picchu. We hiked in a group of 11 backpackers including us, 2 guides and a team of 16 porters and a cook, which means that we had to do the hiking, but everything else was taken care of - our luggage was carried, tents were set up when we arrived at the camps in the afternoon and a 3-course-lunch and dinner was served in the middle of nowhere every single day!

"Inca Trail Survivors" would be written on the typical Gringo shirt now ;)

In Puno, at the lake Titikaka, we spent another 2 nights and experienced how people used to (and still do) live on the lake, building their houses on floating islands on one of the highest freshwater lakes of the world - 3800m!



Franzi munching the local fast food