I have just learned that even the long and medium buses between cities have to be booked as far in advance as the agent will let you, less you find that the bus is full and you are unable to board it.
As I had already pushed my trip forward by a few days I cannot now change the dates back again, as the reservations are cancelled, so I have had to instead purchase a flight that will get me into Piura at the same time as the bus would have done, at a cost of about ten times the cost, thus the advice is if you have a long distance journey of any description, book it or visit the terminal and buy it in at least three days advance if at all possible.
October 28, 2008
A different homesickness
It is weird to sit here, in my friends house, surrounded by happy smiling people and say that I am still a little bit lonely and homesick, and what is weird is that having been scared and in a panic to get home in Brazil homesick, this isn't even the same kind of homesick.
Perhaps it is looking at all the photos of other peoples family and being so far away from my own, perhaps it is the time difference that means that most of the time when I am awake all my friends are asleep and so out of contact, or maybe it is just that I was not prepared to be away from home for months at a time, or maybe its a little bit of all of them.
It is not a depressive or regretful blackness like the last time, as I am still happy, cheerful and eager to get on the bus bound for the next destination, but there is definetly something small nagging at my ease and comfort, like a thief that has stole the cherry on top of the icing on my cake.
It is hard to find the right words, as I do not want to give the wrong impression and I do not want to cut my trip short and come home by any means, but I am just thinking that perhaps a solo RTW trip would have been better if I had somehow managed to slip in a week each month back in the UK with my family and friends.
I guess I just want the best of everything, the travel, the adventure, the new friends and the comfort of home and my old friends and family, which of course is impossible, but then humans are just breathing wish making machines and so I guess I have got to get used to it.
I have enjoyed my time in Lima and the friends I have made here I feel I will keep or years to come, and I have made a promise to myself that, asuming I am back in the country myself, if they were to ever visit the UK then they would have the best guide that I can be for them for the duration of their visit.
But for now, I have to plan for a new city and a new journey ... ever onward :o)
Perhaps it is looking at all the photos of other peoples family and being so far away from my own, perhaps it is the time difference that means that most of the time when I am awake all my friends are asleep and so out of contact, or maybe it is just that I was not prepared to be away from home for months at a time, or maybe its a little bit of all of them.
It is not a depressive or regretful blackness like the last time, as I am still happy, cheerful and eager to get on the bus bound for the next destination, but there is definetly something small nagging at my ease and comfort, like a thief that has stole the cherry on top of the icing on my cake.
It is hard to find the right words, as I do not want to give the wrong impression and I do not want to cut my trip short and come home by any means, but I am just thinking that perhaps a solo RTW trip would have been better if I had somehow managed to slip in a week each month back in the UK with my family and friends.
I guess I just want the best of everything, the travel, the adventure, the new friends and the comfort of home and my old friends and family, which of course is impossible, but then humans are just breathing wish making machines and so I guess I have got to get used to it.
I have enjoyed my time in Lima and the friends I have made here I feel I will keep or years to come, and I have made a promise to myself that, asuming I am back in the country myself, if they were to ever visit the UK then they would have the best guide that I can be for them for the duration of their visit.
But for now, I have to plan for a new city and a new journey ... ever onward :o)
October 22, 2008
Review of Loki Hostel
To get to the hostel from the airport just grab a taxi, but remember to haggle as it should be around PES 10 or 15 max but they will try it on and say 20 or more, saying it is a long way, but it isnt that much in the car.
It is up at the top of a hill, so getting to anywhere is easy as you just have to go downhill, but after a long day you might want to get a taxi back up again from the main plaza, that taxi fare should be around PES 5 or less, as it really isnt a long drive at all, just all up hill.
The hostel has lots of europeans, canadian, australians and americans so almost everyone in the hostel speaks English, as do all the receptionists and bar staff, but they speak better Spanish as its their native language.
The rooms are dorms of 8 to 10, with large lockers under your bunk beds enough for anything and also small mini lockers in the reception if you dont want to leave it in your room, but bring your own padlocks to save having to rent or buy them here.
They have free linen and a basic free breakfast, but the more luxurious ones you have to pay for, and you also get to run up a bar tab for everything so you just have to pay at the end for all you have used.
There are plenty of places to have your laundry done just down the hill and the small local shops do very cheap food and drinks.
Apparently some people have said that they have had bad problems with the food, but then milk and cheese are not very good for non-locals and the high altitudes can also muck up the digestion a bit too, so plan for that and be prepared.
The hostel also has hot water showers all day long, a bar, a mini restaurant, a pool table and 6 computers that are free to use, though they limit you to only half an hour.
Cusco centre is filled with tourist places, so if you have time and are a little adventurous, dont bother to book any activities here and just turn up and then take a stroll near the main centre and play them off against each other for a much better deal, also don't forget that a great haggling tool is to seem half interested and then walk away saying its still too much and see if they come after you, if not you can always go back after or if not then there are still tons of other ones to chose from.
In cusco you can arrange flights, train and bus tickets, tours to the various places ( but dont think you can do more than one in a day cos they are all over the place and it takes hours to reach each place by car or bus ) water rafting, climbing and even paragliding.
If you need extra money and can speak good english there are often adverts up for bar staff in the irisih bars in town, as there are in the hostel itself.
Hope this helps and I hope you end up loving Cusco as much as I do.
It is up at the top of a hill, so getting to anywhere is easy as you just have to go downhill, but after a long day you might want to get a taxi back up again from the main plaza, that taxi fare should be around PES 5 or less, as it really isnt a long drive at all, just all up hill.
The hostel has lots of europeans, canadian, australians and americans so almost everyone in the hostel speaks English, as do all the receptionists and bar staff, but they speak better Spanish as its their native language.
The rooms are dorms of 8 to 10, with large lockers under your bunk beds enough for anything and also small mini lockers in the reception if you dont want to leave it in your room, but bring your own padlocks to save having to rent or buy them here.
They have free linen and a basic free breakfast, but the more luxurious ones you have to pay for, and you also get to run up a bar tab for everything so you just have to pay at the end for all you have used.
There are plenty of places to have your laundry done just down the hill and the small local shops do very cheap food and drinks.
Apparently some people have said that they have had bad problems with the food, but then milk and cheese are not very good for non-locals and the high altitudes can also muck up the digestion a bit too, so plan for that and be prepared.
The hostel also has hot water showers all day long, a bar, a mini restaurant, a pool table and 6 computers that are free to use, though they limit you to only half an hour.
Cusco centre is filled with tourist places, so if you have time and are a little adventurous, dont bother to book any activities here and just turn up and then take a stroll near the main centre and play them off against each other for a much better deal, also don't forget that a great haggling tool is to seem half interested and then walk away saying its still too much and see if they come after you, if not you can always go back after or if not then there are still tons of other ones to chose from.
In cusco you can arrange flights, train and bus tickets, tours to the various places ( but dont think you can do more than one in a day cos they are all over the place and it takes hours to reach each place by car or bus ) water rafting, climbing and even paragliding.
If you need extra money and can speak good english there are often adverts up for bar staff in the irisih bars in town, as there are in the hostel itself.
Hope this helps and I hope you end up loving Cusco as much as I do.
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