The Utah Historic Preservation Office and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced their plans to nominate archaeological and rock art sites in Nine Mile Canyon for the National Register of Historic Places. Energy companies are drilling in the canyon, and vibrations and chemicals from the heavy equipment could damage the rock-art panels. This editorial calls for the end of truck traffic in Nine Mile Canyon.
Here’s a summary of what preservationists have tried to do to save Ireland’s Hill of Tara from highway construction. Their new argument suggests that the downturn in the country’s economy requires Ireland to save its historic resources as tourist destinations.
Peru’s foreign minister, Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde, attended negotiations in New York City with representatives from Yale University. Last spring, Peru threatened to take Yale to court in order to secure the return of artifacts from Machu Picchu. “The fact that the minister feels that it’s appropriate for him to intervene suggests that there is a desire to reach an understanding,” said Yale archaeologist Richard Burger.
New Bedford, Massachusetts, became an economic superpower known as the Whaling City in the nineteenth century, and then a center for textile production. Industrial archaeologist Mark Foster saved 1,800 books and ledgers in the Merchants Bank from rare book dealers, and got them into the hands of the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s librarian.
A Roman villa has been unearthed at a supermarket site in Budapest.
Friday, October 10, 2008
MacKenzies marvel at Machu Picchu, mesquite festival in Fredericksburg
AMERICAN-STATESMAN
WISH YOU WERE HERE
Heights OF Machu Picchu are hard-won
From Bruce MacKenzie of Austin.
We had seen the classic picture of Machu Picchu, but we didn't understand how you actually got there. Even after planning, the trip held a few surprises for us. It turned out that getting there was half the fun — mostly.
Our starting point was the high Andean city of Cuzco (11,000 feet). If you fly from sea level directly to Cuzco, allocating a full day to acclimate is mandatory. I am reasonably fit, yet I developed flu-like symptoms within a couple of hours of landing. My wife spent that first night throwing up. The symptoms were gone the next day, but we were still out of breath after each flight of stairs.
At the base of Machu Picchu is Aquas Calientes, which exists solely to support visiting tourists. The town can only be reached by train or on foot. The choice was a no-brainer. Although the train leaves from Cuzco, our group took a bus from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo, a leisurely ride that swapped the more routine parts of the train ride for an extraordinary ride through rolling farmlands with the snow-capped Andes in the background. Life is hard there, as well as puzzling to the outsider. We passed a lone boy, with a parrot perched atop his head, guiding his llama to who knows where.
We took the train in Ollantaytambo and began a magnificent 90-minute ride that wound along the Urubamba River, passed Inca sites and mercifully got lower in elevation.
Once in Aquas Calientes, to reach the archeological site we boarded a bus for a comfortable but bouncy 30-minute ride up a dirt road with a dozen or more switchbacks. As we got higher, our anticipation increased with the thought of that first glimpse of Machu Picchu, but also with the thought of the bus slipping off the unprotected road. We arrived at 2 p.m., and the crowds were thinning. We practically had the place to ourselves, save for a few llamas.
The next day, we had a second visit to the site. This is highly recommended despite the $40-per-person-per-day fee. We had extra time to make one of the more extended hikes and contemplate the aura of it all. I chose to hike up to Intipanku, the Sun Gate. From below it didn't look far, even though the path is all uphill. I was out of breath as we reached a set of ruins and was disappointed to learn from our guide that we were not yet halfway to our destination. Onward and upward we hiked. It was still early morning, and the whole area was fogged in. Occasionally we got a tantalizing glimpse of the famous ruins as the fog cleared for a few seconds but then quickly closed in again. After an hour and a half, as we reached the top, it cleared. We had a beautiful view, not only of the main site, but also over the ridge behind Intipanku to the untouched rows of mountains behind.
What the pictures don't capture is the surrounding mountains and utter remoteness. It is truly a place to be experienced.
Bruce MacKenzie recently retired, and Judy volunteers throughout Austin. They just returned from a trip to southern Africa and enjoy planning their trips almost as much as taking them, he says.
WISH YOU WERE HERE
Heights OF Machu Picchu are hard-won
From Bruce MacKenzie of Austin.
We had seen the classic picture of Machu Picchu, but we didn't understand how you actually got there. Even after planning, the trip held a few surprises for us. It turned out that getting there was half the fun — mostly.
Our starting point was the high Andean city of Cuzco (11,000 feet). If you fly from sea level directly to Cuzco, allocating a full day to acclimate is mandatory. I am reasonably fit, yet I developed flu-like symptoms within a couple of hours of landing. My wife spent that first night throwing up. The symptoms were gone the next day, but we were still out of breath after each flight of stairs.
At the base of Machu Picchu is Aquas Calientes, which exists solely to support visiting tourists. The town can only be reached by train or on foot. The choice was a no-brainer. Although the train leaves from Cuzco, our group took a bus from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo, a leisurely ride that swapped the more routine parts of the train ride for an extraordinary ride through rolling farmlands with the snow-capped Andes in the background. Life is hard there, as well as puzzling to the outsider. We passed a lone boy, with a parrot perched atop his head, guiding his llama to who knows where.
We took the train in Ollantaytambo and began a magnificent 90-minute ride that wound along the Urubamba River, passed Inca sites and mercifully got lower in elevation.
Once in Aquas Calientes, to reach the archeological site we boarded a bus for a comfortable but bouncy 30-minute ride up a dirt road with a dozen or more switchbacks. As we got higher, our anticipation increased with the thought of that first glimpse of Machu Picchu, but also with the thought of the bus slipping off the unprotected road. We arrived at 2 p.m., and the crowds were thinning. We practically had the place to ourselves, save for a few llamas.
The next day, we had a second visit to the site. This is highly recommended despite the $40-per-person-per-day fee. We had extra time to make one of the more extended hikes and contemplate the aura of it all. I chose to hike up to Intipanku, the Sun Gate. From below it didn't look far, even though the path is all uphill. I was out of breath as we reached a set of ruins and was disappointed to learn from our guide that we were not yet halfway to our destination. Onward and upward we hiked. It was still early morning, and the whole area was fogged in. Occasionally we got a tantalizing glimpse of the famous ruins as the fog cleared for a few seconds but then quickly closed in again. After an hour and a half, as we reached the top, it cleared. We had a beautiful view, not only of the main site, but also over the ridge behind Intipanku to the untouched rows of mountains behind.
What the pictures don't capture is the surrounding mountains and utter remoteness. It is truly a place to be experienced.
Bruce MacKenzie recently retired, and Judy volunteers throughout Austin. They just returned from a trip to southern Africa and enjoy planning their trips almost as much as taking them, he says.
ASP Women's World Championship to be held in Mancora, Peru
Máncora, a pleasant and peaceful Peruvian place in the Piura region, will be scenario of the World Championship Tour .The 18 best world surfers will be present in this northern beach to compete, from November 3 to 8, in the sixth season of this championship.This competition can set the recovery of our main surfer, Sofía Mulanovich, to first place in the world ranking, but the most outsanding of the event is that Peru will be shown again as a tourist destination to practice surfing.“It shows us on the world screen of surf. People already speak about Máncora as a destination for this sport. It is like a chain, since they associate surfing with this part of the Peruvian north. I am a witness of how the fishermen's cove has been developed and turned into a pleasant beach", said the representative of the Commission for the Promotion of Peruvian Exports and Tourism (PromPerú), Maria Seminario.In addition, she said that due to the level of this championship, she hopes that during this week the surf world will comment on this tourtnament. "It will also be fabulous if Sofia (Mulanovich) achieves the title, it would really help", she added.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
South Western grad hopes to inspire orphans with photography
Seth Shimkonis want to help the orphans of Peru tell their own own story.
In November, the 2000 South Western High School graduate will travel to Arequipa, Peru, for six months to teach the children of New Hope Children's Home the art of photography.
Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru, home to thousands of orphans according to UNICEF.
New Hope Children's Home began in 1995. More than 50 children, ranging in ages from 2 to 20, live there.
Eventually Shimkonis hopes to develop a program similar to Kids with Cameras. That program was created from the documentary film "Born into Brothels," which follows children who live in the red-light district of Calcutta. The children were given cameras to document their lives and surroundings, and the photos were then sold, with proceeds going toward the children's education.
"I'm still redefining it and figuring it out," Shimkonis said. "But I just wanted to bring something down to the kids."
Shimkonis, a 27-year-old professional photographer, traveled to the children's home in January on a mission trip with Liberti Church. During his 10-day trip, Shimkonis said he and 15 other people spent time with the kids doing arts and crafts, playing games and just giving them as much attention as possible.
Shimkonis said almost every person on the trip took a digital camera, and the kids were fascinated with them.
He said the kids loved taking photos of themselves and always wanted to play
In November, the 2000 South Western High School graduate will travel to Arequipa, Peru, for six months to teach the children of New Hope Children's Home the art of photography.
Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru, home to thousands of orphans according to UNICEF.
New Hope Children's Home began in 1995. More than 50 children, ranging in ages from 2 to 20, live there.
Eventually Shimkonis hopes to develop a program similar to Kids with Cameras. That program was created from the documentary film "Born into Brothels," which follows children who live in the red-light district of Calcutta. The children were given cameras to document their lives and surroundings, and the photos were then sold, with proceeds going toward the children's education.
"I'm still redefining it and figuring it out," Shimkonis said. "But I just wanted to bring something down to the kids."
Shimkonis, a 27-year-old professional photographer, traveled to the children's home in January on a mission trip with Liberti Church. During his 10-day trip, Shimkonis said he and 15 other people spent time with the kids doing arts and crafts, playing games and just giving them as much attention as possible.
Shimkonis said almost every person on the trip took a digital camera, and the kids were fascinated with them.
He said the kids loved taking photos of themselves and always wanted to play
Food fairs should be organized in every Peru city, says Minister Araoz
Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Aráoz proposed Sunday to organize gastronomy festivals in every city in the country, following the success of the International Gastronomy Fair "Peru, Mucho Gusto"."Let us all take advantage and make our cities a food festival to encourage more investmets in developing food services and related services", she said.Related services include from those who make the dishes to who make the linen, furniture for the kitchen, machines, people who serve in restaurants, cashiers, and waiters. "It's a whole industry that generates so much employment, with heart and hospitality".On the last day of the international gastronomy fair, minister Aráoz confirmed that this contest as well as all those during World Tourism Week, had been very successful."We have been active in forums about tourism and handicrafts, tourism and climate change with the authorities of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and several ministers of the world", she explained.People from all social levels and ages have visited the International Gastronomy Fair "Peru, Mucho Gusto," not just to enjoy the Peruvians dishes, but also to wander, taking into account that in this competition large restaurants and small establishments are competing.
Ash, Rajni Shoot Song For ‘Enthiram’ At World Heritage Site
The world’s hottest woman Aishwarya Rai, and the Kollywood superstar Rajnikanth, created waves by shooting an amazing song sequence for their upcoming flick ‘Enthiram’, in Peru.
Ash and Rajni shot the song at the UNESCO world famous heritage place, Machu Picchu, becoming the first to shoot there.
Robot as ‘Enthiram’ was in news continuously for different reasons.
Previously, Kingh Khan was asked to play the lead role but he denied because of creative disputes with director Shankar.
But then Shankar managed to convince the biggest of superstars, Rajnikanth. After some creative conflicts, Robot was assigned a new name as ‘Enthiram.’
Ash and Rajni shot the song at the UNESCO world famous heritage place, Machu Picchu, becoming the first to shoot there.
Robot as ‘Enthiram’ was in news continuously for different reasons.
Previously, Kingh Khan was asked to play the lead role but he denied because of creative disputes with director Shankar.
But then Shankar managed to convince the biggest of superstars, Rajnikanth. After some creative conflicts, Robot was assigned a new name as ‘Enthiram.’
Produced by Ayngaran and Eros International, the music of the film will be composed by AR Rahman.
After ‘Jeans’, Enthiram will be the second movie for Ash under Shankar’s direction.
Earlier, in an interview, Ash talked about the Tamil superstar, “Rajni Sir is such a wonderful human being. He has been so close to the family, too. I am glad and honoured to be working with him.”
When asked about heroines getting sidelined in a Rajni film, Aishwarya said, “I don’t think it’s a fair statement. You can’t but be fascinated by this phenomenon called Rajini sir. He is so super-fascinating and intriguing to his audience. I don’t think it’s a deliberate attempt by any director to sideline any actor/character working along with him.”
In this way, Enthiram is worth a watch to see this fascinating pair on screen.
After ‘Jeans’, Enthiram will be the second movie for Ash under Shankar’s direction.
Earlier, in an interview, Ash talked about the Tamil superstar, “Rajni Sir is such a wonderful human being. He has been so close to the family, too. I am glad and honoured to be working with him.”
When asked about heroines getting sidelined in a Rajni film, Aishwarya said, “I don’t think it’s a fair statement. You can’t but be fascinated by this phenomenon called Rajini sir. He is so super-fascinating and intriguing to his audience. I don’t think it’s a deliberate attempt by any director to sideline any actor/character working along with him.”
In this way, Enthiram is worth a watch to see this fascinating pair on screen.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Peru Gift Show 2008: Creating Cultural Ties Around the World
The trade market is an international roadway connecting countries through their own cultural artifacts. For Peru, these contributions are vital in preserving and solidifying the country’s historical image. With handcrafts, portraits, household items, down to the very colors, artisans are the country’s life line to the trade market. They present to the world the identity of Peru.
One of the best ways to expose these items to the world is through exporting. Zaid Arauco Izaguirre believes so and she’s helping Peru gain wider recognition through the country’s biggest expo in the business, Peru Gift Show. As Office Manager to PromPeru, Izaguirre is helping bring 140 exporters from North and South America, Europe and Asia to attend the 10th anniversary of this grand exhibition. “We want cities around the world to adopt our culture, to decorate their homes Peruvian,” said Izaguirre when asked to explain the main focus of the expo. It’s a way for countries around the world to see what Peru has to offer to the trade business.It’s difficult to ignore the influence of Peruvian art. Locally, these images are all over. Peru Gift Show is trying to accomplish just that but globally. Such a country with a rich culture as Peru should be able to get a piece of the global market pie. Riding that global wave of success are the artisans, who specially handcraft each item down to the last detail. Unlike other countries, who have the luxury of using technology to mass produce their products, Peru is forced to use other initiatives to compete in a market where higher demand means more bang for your buck. It’s one of the reasons, says Izaguirre, Peru Gift Show seeks more independently-run businesses like high-end boutiques instead of stores like Wal-mart. This is a major advantage Peru has over mass producers. Peru can guarantee each item is 100 percent hand-made and one of a kind, something mass producers cannot promise.This week’s expo is expected to make a record setting US$5 million from potential buyers who will invest in products made by Peru’s most talented artisans. That beats last year's US$3.2 million. To find such talent, PromPeru dedicates one year in search of the best local producers to present at Peru Gift Show. These artisans are one of the main reasons Izaguirre believes Peru Gift Show has a social responsibility to the community. The majority of these artisans are creating crafts that were handed down to them over three generations. Aiding in the preservation of traditions like these is Peru’s gift. So the next time you happen to be in a boutique and you find an item that says “Hecho en Peru”, keep in mind that piece was once in the hands of a Peruvian craftsman.
One of the best ways to expose these items to the world is through exporting. Zaid Arauco Izaguirre believes so and she’s helping Peru gain wider recognition through the country’s biggest expo in the business, Peru Gift Show. As Office Manager to PromPeru, Izaguirre is helping bring 140 exporters from North and South America, Europe and Asia to attend the 10th anniversary of this grand exhibition. “We want cities around the world to adopt our culture, to decorate their homes Peruvian,” said Izaguirre when asked to explain the main focus of the expo. It’s a way for countries around the world to see what Peru has to offer to the trade business.It’s difficult to ignore the influence of Peruvian art. Locally, these images are all over. Peru Gift Show is trying to accomplish just that but globally. Such a country with a rich culture as Peru should be able to get a piece of the global market pie. Riding that global wave of success are the artisans, who specially handcraft each item down to the last detail. Unlike other countries, who have the luxury of using technology to mass produce their products, Peru is forced to use other initiatives to compete in a market where higher demand means more bang for your buck. It’s one of the reasons, says Izaguirre, Peru Gift Show seeks more independently-run businesses like high-end boutiques instead of stores like Wal-mart. This is a major advantage Peru has over mass producers. Peru can guarantee each item is 100 percent hand-made and one of a kind, something mass producers cannot promise.This week’s expo is expected to make a record setting US$5 million from potential buyers who will invest in products made by Peru’s most talented artisans. That beats last year's US$3.2 million. To find such talent, PromPeru dedicates one year in search of the best local producers to present at Peru Gift Show. These artisans are one of the main reasons Izaguirre believes Peru Gift Show has a social responsibility to the community. The majority of these artisans are creating crafts that were handed down to them over three generations. Aiding in the preservation of traditions like these is Peru’s gift. So the next time you happen to be in a boutique and you find an item that says “Hecho en Peru”, keep in mind that piece was once in the hands of a Peruvian craftsman.
Peru promoted at Canada's Salon International Tourisme Voyages 2008
The Commission for the Promotion of Peruvian Exports and Tourism (PromPerú) will promote Peru's tourist attractions during the Salon International du Tourisme et des Voyages - SITV 2008 (International Tourism and Travel Show) to be held from October 24 to 26.This show, which is targeted at tour operators and Canadian market consumers, will be attended by Peruvian business professionals and PromPerú representatives who will distribute promotional material.PromPerú's participation aims to answer the questions that visitors may have about Peru, help show them to plan their next dream vacation in the Andean country and meet the agents and major players of the travel industry in Montreal.
III international Conference on Tourism and Handcrafts
(Forimmediaterelease.net) MADRID/LIMA, Peru (September 25, 2008) - The synergies between tourism and handcrafts must be fully recognized and developed to become economic opportunities for local artisans, tourism competitiveness and promotion of host destinations. Handcrafts, tourism and their contribution to poverty reduction within the framework of the UN Millennium Development Goals will come under the spotlight during the III Conference on Tourism and Handcrafts, organized by UNWTO in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru.Tourism is currently one of the world's largest economic activities and the leading industry in many countries, especially in the developing world, where it has proven to be a strong contributor to sustainable socio-economic development and poverty alleviation in local communities.Tourism and handcrafts enable the development of small businesses and represent employment and income opportunities for people often left on the margins of local economies.Just like tourism, handcrafts are recognized for their potential to connect different people and cultures:- Handcrafts constitute an integral part of the tourism experience.- Handcrafts are a link to a foreign culture which greatly enhances travel, building on the ability to bind communities and foster the continuity of local traditions, thus preserving cultural heritage and diversity.Participants to the Conference include internationally-renowned experts from UNWTO Member States, international organizations, NGOs and private sector representatives in handcrafts and tourism. The III International Conference on Tourism and Handcrafts builds on previous Conferences in Asia (Iran, May2006) and Africa (Burkina Faso, November 2006).World Tourism Day 2008Following the Conference, Peru will host this year's official World Tourism Day(WTD) celebrations around the theme, “Tourism responding to the Challenge of Climate Change," on September 27.A year-long campaign around WTD has highlighted innovation and public/private sector collaboration. Ongoing actions include a series of regional level adaptation, mitigation and innovation awareness and capacity building activities around the world, as well as a follow up Ministers' Summit during World Travel Market (November 11, 2008).
World tour
HAVE you ever noticed how much of our world and lives are concerned with top hits and successes in every field? We tune in to the Top 40 for music while getting our fix for movies every week by checking out the Top 10 blockbuster list. For books, we have the world famous New York Times best-seller list as well its local variations in bookstores.
In 2003, Patricia Schultz’s 1,000 Places You Must See Before You Die became such a hit that the ubiquitous 501 Must See ... series of books soon followed. But this prolific series pale in comparison with its sister series from Cassell Illustrated: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, 1001 Natural Wonders, 1001 Building and even 1001 Gardens.
1001 Historic Sites is the latest book from Cassell, and is very well-produced, in fact even topping its source of inspiration. Browse through it and you will never be satisfied again with the boring black and white photos of Schultz’s book. Also, the focused interest of 1001 Historic Sites and its companions ensures that each book has a depth that is missing from that of Schultz’s.
This particular book has a resonance for me. History is the story of humankind, and as such, it has a lot to tell us of human nature. The fascination is universal and to paraphrase author Jane Austen, it is a given fact that any place with the remotest sense of history is in need of tourists.
Check out major travel agencies and you will likely find great demand for packages to historical sites. It is an allure that should drive many people to have an interest in this book.
To reflect on the universality of this interest, the book is divided into five parts, each on one main continent of the earth (The Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania). This offers an interesting way to look at how differently cultures throughout the world have evolved.
In each section you will find great variety in the historical sites featured. Some are ancient forgotten cities such as Copan (in Honduras), while others are momentous engineering projects in 20th century history like the Hoover Dam in the United States.
Great places of pilgrimage are included, along with great battlefields (Gettysburg in the United States and Waterloo in Belgium), palaces and the homes of many great people. With 1,001 sites to choose from, this book will likely include most of the historical sites you have heard of.
If there is any criticism, I feel that the book is taken up inordinately with Europe because of a focus on Western history. Still, the section on Asia is quite comprehensive, with entries for China, India, Japan and many Middle Eastern and South-East Asian countries.
In total, there are 399 Unesco World Heritage sites listed in this book, including the “seven wonders of the New World”: Mexico’s Chichen Itza; Rome’s Colosseum; Jordon’s ancient lost city of Petra; China’s Great Wall; Peru’s ancient Inca site in Macchu Picchu; India’s Taj Mahal; and Brazil’s statue of Christ the Redeemer.
This book features a huge number of colour photographs, 800 in total. Many are beautiful to look at and some, very poignant. I found the photograph of ancient Pompeii to be particularly haunting.
If you have a deep love for history - or even just a passing for it - you will treasure this book.
In 2003, Patricia Schultz’s 1,000 Places You Must See Before You Die became such a hit that the ubiquitous 501 Must See ... series of books soon followed. But this prolific series pale in comparison with its sister series from Cassell Illustrated: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, 1001 Natural Wonders, 1001 Building and even 1001 Gardens.
1001 Historic Sites is the latest book from Cassell, and is very well-produced, in fact even topping its source of inspiration. Browse through it and you will never be satisfied again with the boring black and white photos of Schultz’s book. Also, the focused interest of 1001 Historic Sites and its companions ensures that each book has a depth that is missing from that of Schultz’s.
This particular book has a resonance for me. History is the story of humankind, and as such, it has a lot to tell us of human nature. The fascination is universal and to paraphrase author Jane Austen, it is a given fact that any place with the remotest sense of history is in need of tourists.
Check out major travel agencies and you will likely find great demand for packages to historical sites. It is an allure that should drive many people to have an interest in this book.
To reflect on the universality of this interest, the book is divided into five parts, each on one main continent of the earth (The Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania). This offers an interesting way to look at how differently cultures throughout the world have evolved.
In each section you will find great variety in the historical sites featured. Some are ancient forgotten cities such as Copan (in Honduras), while others are momentous engineering projects in 20th century history like the Hoover Dam in the United States.
Great places of pilgrimage are included, along with great battlefields (Gettysburg in the United States and Waterloo in Belgium), palaces and the homes of many great people. With 1,001 sites to choose from, this book will likely include most of the historical sites you have heard of.
If there is any criticism, I feel that the book is taken up inordinately with Europe because of a focus on Western history. Still, the section on Asia is quite comprehensive, with entries for China, India, Japan and many Middle Eastern and South-East Asian countries.
In total, there are 399 Unesco World Heritage sites listed in this book, including the “seven wonders of the New World”: Mexico’s Chichen Itza; Rome’s Colosseum; Jordon’s ancient lost city of Petra; China’s Great Wall; Peru’s ancient Inca site in Macchu Picchu; India’s Taj Mahal; and Brazil’s statue of Christ the Redeemer.
This book features a huge number of colour photographs, 800 in total. Many are beautiful to look at and some, very poignant. I found the photograph of ancient Pompeii to be particularly haunting.
If you have a deep love for history - or even just a passing for it - you will treasure this book.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Peru and Inca civilization honored at France's Caen International Fair
In an effort to further promote Peruvian treasures around the world and encourage tourists to visit the Andean country, an exhibition called 'El Oro de los Incas' was inaugurated at the Caen International Fair, one of France's most important trade fairs.PromPeru, Peru's tourism promotion agency supported its participants and took advantage of the fact that approximately 250,000 people would be visiting this year's Caen International Fair.With Andean music and dances, El Oro de los Incas exhibition was inaugurated at the fair on September 19.Recognizing Machu Picchu, the sacred city of the Incas, as a historical and valuable find, the display has a considerable amount of space that displays everything from the train that takes tourists to Machu Picchu to what Hiram Bingham's campsite looked like.In an effort to make the fair more than a commercial event, organizers have affirmed they are focusing more on national treasures."We are trying to give the fair a cultural dimension with a high artistic value, a space of quality, of rigorous discovery, of evasion and information," said Philippe Bertin, the general director of the International Caen Fair.While China was the center of attention of the fair in 2007, this year Peru and its Inca civilization are the guests of honor. "It's a story Europeans love and one we want to propose to those visiting the fair. Personally, I had great desires to share the emotions I felt during my visit to Peru when I went to prepare this grand exhibition," said Bertin.
Peru police detachment to be set up in Colca Valley to protect tourists
Before the year ends, a Tourism Police detachment will be set up in Chivay, capital of the province of Caylloma, in order to intensify security in the Colca Valley and its surroundings, and supervise services offered by different operators, reported today the commander of the National Police (PNP) and head of Tourism department, Oscar Orihuela.The creation of this detachment will be coordinated with the municipality of Caylloma, which allowed the police to implement an office at the terminal of Chivay.Orihuela said they have requested to implement other offices at the main square of Chivay, in order to increase contact with tourists who visit this locality, and they are waiting for response."The mayor of Chivay promised to answer our request in a few weeks, we are waiting for it in order to protect tourists in this area as soon as possible", pointed out Orihuela.Police security along the small towns in Colca Valley, and the supervision of services offered by different tourist operators in this area will be developed by the personnel of this detachment.Orihuela explained that the supervision of tourist services offered by different operators is very important because there cases in which tourist services are not working properly and visitors do not have where to complain and enforce their rights.
The grown-up gapper: Inca Trail - part two
After three punishing days in the mountains we were beginning our journey to Machu Picchu. For weeks I had been tipsy with anticipation at the thought of visiting this legendary Inca city. But as we sat on the bus, shivering in our filthy clothes, bones aching, there was no talk of the wonder that awaited us. All thoughts were on the hot showers at our hostel that night.
At Ollantaytambo we were herded aboard the Vistadome to Aguas Calientes. Operated by Peru Rail, this slow but comfortable train has overhead windows that afford a view of the mountains chugging by. Vistadome is the expensive way to travel to Machu Picchu - with a less luxurious backpacker train and a local service offering cheaper alternatives.
We found ourselves in a first class carriage and wolfed the free packed lunch sheepishly, aware that the stink emanating from our group was choking the appetites of fellow passengers
Needless to say we were stripped and showered within moments of arriving in Aguas Calientes. It was too late in the evening to walk up to the hot springs the town is famous for - a pity as they are probably its only redeeming feature.
Aguas is no more than a commercial resort - a newly-built staging area for Machu Picchu consisting of a dull assortment of restaurants and gift shops. Everything here is twice the price of Cusco and the place has about as much soul as a Disneyland parking lot.
A fourth consecutive early night was in order - in any case we had to be up and on the bus before dawn to catch the sunrise over the city. We eschewed the option of waking at 3am to hike two hours up the mosquito-infested mountain, opting instead for a comfortable ride to the summit.
At 5am, Aguas really comes to life. Hundreds of tourists queue along the pavements, waiting their turn to board the early buses. The journey is spectacular - the surrounding mountains blanketed in morning mist, semi-tropical vegetation spilling onto the road sides. After the barren drama of Lares valley, Machu Picchu feels like another world - lush, humid and ethereal.
As the bus climbs relentlessly, zig-zagging its way up the dirt track, passengers fall silent. It is so isolated, so intimidating and so very high, that one wonders why any civilisation would dare venture up here at all - let alone build a city on the mountaintop.
But to the Incas, a people who worshipped the sun and stars, building most of their major cities at several thousand feet, Machu Picchu was a natural progression.
This soaring triumph was the seat of government for the Inca empire. Political and religious decrees were set here and relayed back to the capital, Cusco, by 'chasquis' - runners who traversed the Andes bearing messages encrypted in knotted string. These 'quipus' were the only method of recording information in a culture that achieved such spectacular feats as Machu Picchu without ever writing anything down.
At the entrance to the site, more long queues - and a quirky tourist-pleaser - the chance to have 'Machu Picchu' stamped on your passport. Dawn was breaking by this time and we were itching to get inside to watch the first rays climbing over the eastern mountains.
Our guide raced us up to the highest point of the site, thighs and hamstrings grumbling up the steep Inca steps. Behind us the mist was churning faster, warmed by the early sun. Then we were there at the very top - the Guardhouse - and turned to see the deserted, magnificent ruins drenched in golden light.
This was enough for me. Yes, I was interested in the guided tour that would follow. But it is this heart-stopping view, revealed by the dawn, that I will always remember.
After a significant spell of gawping and frantic photography we were led round - our guide pointing out the Temple of the Sun, the astronomical observatory and the agricultural terraces that made this mountain city self-sufficient. Around 200 people lived here, mostly priests and political advisors to the Sapa Inca - ruler of a vast and complex empire that stretched nearly the length of South America.
Exactly what happened to this tiny, eminent community is a historical mystery. In the Temple of the Condor, mummified bodies were discovered. They died of syphilis - suggesting perhaps that Machu Picchu was wiped out by an Old World disease. Another theory suggests that its inhabitants fled to evade attack by the Spanish conquistadors.
Whatever the truth, for several hundred years life here had evidently been luxurious. The accommodation was lavish - The Sapa Inca himself enjoying a royal enclosure that included an indoor toilet and a bed large enough for 12 concubines.
By the time American explorer Hiram Bingham 'discovered' Machu Picchu in 1911, it was overgrown with jungle and lost to the modern world. Local people maintain that they always knew of its existence - the story goes that Bingham bribed a local farmer to reveal its location.
Among Peruvian historians, Bingham is a reviled figure. His team are blamed for plundering the site of its gold and precious stones and many sacred artefacts were later taken back to the vaults of Yale University, which to this day refuses to return them to the Peruvian Institute of Culture.
As our tour drew to a close, the warmth of the sun and the exertions of our four-day trek conspired against us. The upshot was that my trek mates and I can claim the dubious distinction of having slept for two hours on the grassed terraces of Machu Picchu.
When we awoke we decided to shun the bus ride back to Aguas Calientes, tackling instead the one-hour descent down a steep and ancient stairway, beating our way through clouds of evil mosquitoes in the baking heat.
Painful as it was for our aching limbs, it was a fitting end to an exhausting, exhilarating Andean adventure.
At Ollantaytambo we were herded aboard the Vistadome to Aguas Calientes. Operated by Peru Rail, this slow but comfortable train has overhead windows that afford a view of the mountains chugging by. Vistadome is the expensive way to travel to Machu Picchu - with a less luxurious backpacker train and a local service offering cheaper alternatives.
We found ourselves in a first class carriage and wolfed the free packed lunch sheepishly, aware that the stink emanating from our group was choking the appetites of fellow passengers
Needless to say we were stripped and showered within moments of arriving in Aguas Calientes. It was too late in the evening to walk up to the hot springs the town is famous for - a pity as they are probably its only redeeming feature.
Aguas is no more than a commercial resort - a newly-built staging area for Machu Picchu consisting of a dull assortment of restaurants and gift shops. Everything here is twice the price of Cusco and the place has about as much soul as a Disneyland parking lot.
A fourth consecutive early night was in order - in any case we had to be up and on the bus before dawn to catch the sunrise over the city. We eschewed the option of waking at 3am to hike two hours up the mosquito-infested mountain, opting instead for a comfortable ride to the summit.
At 5am, Aguas really comes to life. Hundreds of tourists queue along the pavements, waiting their turn to board the early buses. The journey is spectacular - the surrounding mountains blanketed in morning mist, semi-tropical vegetation spilling onto the road sides. After the barren drama of Lares valley, Machu Picchu feels like another world - lush, humid and ethereal.
As the bus climbs relentlessly, zig-zagging its way up the dirt track, passengers fall silent. It is so isolated, so intimidating and so very high, that one wonders why any civilisation would dare venture up here at all - let alone build a city on the mountaintop.
But to the Incas, a people who worshipped the sun and stars, building most of their major cities at several thousand feet, Machu Picchu was a natural progression.
This soaring triumph was the seat of government for the Inca empire. Political and religious decrees were set here and relayed back to the capital, Cusco, by 'chasquis' - runners who traversed the Andes bearing messages encrypted in knotted string. These 'quipus' were the only method of recording information in a culture that achieved such spectacular feats as Machu Picchu without ever writing anything down.
At the entrance to the site, more long queues - and a quirky tourist-pleaser - the chance to have 'Machu Picchu' stamped on your passport. Dawn was breaking by this time and we were itching to get inside to watch the first rays climbing over the eastern mountains.
Our guide raced us up to the highest point of the site, thighs and hamstrings grumbling up the steep Inca steps. Behind us the mist was churning faster, warmed by the early sun. Then we were there at the very top - the Guardhouse - and turned to see the deserted, magnificent ruins drenched in golden light.
This was enough for me. Yes, I was interested in the guided tour that would follow. But it is this heart-stopping view, revealed by the dawn, that I will always remember.
After a significant spell of gawping and frantic photography we were led round - our guide pointing out the Temple of the Sun, the astronomical observatory and the agricultural terraces that made this mountain city self-sufficient. Around 200 people lived here, mostly priests and political advisors to the Sapa Inca - ruler of a vast and complex empire that stretched nearly the length of South America.
Exactly what happened to this tiny, eminent community is a historical mystery. In the Temple of the Condor, mummified bodies were discovered. They died of syphilis - suggesting perhaps that Machu Picchu was wiped out by an Old World disease. Another theory suggests that its inhabitants fled to evade attack by the Spanish conquistadors.
Whatever the truth, for several hundred years life here had evidently been luxurious. The accommodation was lavish - The Sapa Inca himself enjoying a royal enclosure that included an indoor toilet and a bed large enough for 12 concubines.
By the time American explorer Hiram Bingham 'discovered' Machu Picchu in 1911, it was overgrown with jungle and lost to the modern world. Local people maintain that they always knew of its existence - the story goes that Bingham bribed a local farmer to reveal its location.
Among Peruvian historians, Bingham is a reviled figure. His team are blamed for plundering the site of its gold and precious stones and many sacred artefacts were later taken back to the vaults of Yale University, which to this day refuses to return them to the Peruvian Institute of Culture.
As our tour drew to a close, the warmth of the sun and the exertions of our four-day trek conspired against us. The upshot was that my trek mates and I can claim the dubious distinction of having slept for two hours on the grassed terraces of Machu Picchu.
When we awoke we decided to shun the bus ride back to Aguas Calientes, tackling instead the one-hour descent down a steep and ancient stairway, beating our way through clouds of evil mosquitoes in the baking heat.
Painful as it was for our aching limbs, it was a fitting end to an exhausting, exhilarating Andean adventure.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Come along on exotic and wonderful adventures
I T ALL SOUNDS so exotic--trekking
through lost cities in Peru, sitting at the feet of storytellers in bustling Moroccan bazaars, and making a pilgrimage to India's sacred river.
If your kids have a taste for adventure, introduce them to author-illustrator Ted Lewin and his wife Betsy, who have chronicled all these experiences and more in dozens of books for children.
Their latest journey took them across the world to the deserts and steppes of Mongolia, where they met a nomad family and traveled with them to the annual horse racing festival.
In their new book, "Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia," the Lewins take readers on a journey through the vast landscape of southern Mongolia to the Gobi Desert. There they witness the heart-stopping excitement as 9-year-old Tamir competes in the race on his half-wild horse.
Betsy Lewin, famous for the hilarious picture book "Click, Clack, Moo," provides cartoony spot drawings of the people and animals, while her husband's gorgeously colored watercolors are particularly effective at conveying action and landscape. Together, they have created a book that brings a little-known corner of the world to life.
Horse fans and adventure lovers alike will be drawn to Tamir's story.
In 1911, Yale professor Hiram Bingham went to Peru in search of Vilcapampa, an ancient Inca city which had been hidden for generations by vines and trees.
Lewin tells the exciting story of Bingham's journey through remote canyons, past thundering rapids and over cliffs. At last their young Peruvian guide led the party to massive stone staircases and enormous temples covered by mosses and thickets.
It was not Vilcapampa but Machu Picchu, "a city lost in time, a city lost in the clouds."
Lewin retraced Bingham's steps to prepare for writing and illustrating "Lost City, The Discovery of Machu Picchu," walking the Inca trail, exploring sacred valleys and high pastures, even sitting in a little cantina where Bingham had stopped.
His trademark watercolor illustrations show the grandeur of the dramatic landscape, contrasting with close-ups of Bingham and the young boy who led him to his historic find.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Visit the breathtaking vistas of Machu Picchu
Like many other adventurers, my wife, Angela, and I had always put Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel in Peru's Andes Mountains, high on our wish list of places to visit. We had had heard from friends who visited there that Machu Picchu had an almost mystical quality to it.
Still, we had no idea we would find the most spectacular mix of landscape and architecture we had ever seen, a stone settlement of temples, plazas, dwellings, steps and terraces - all of set against the natural splendor of the sheer rock walls of the Andes, rising out of the jungle.
The climax of our visit was when we hiked about four miles up from the ruins of Machu Picchu to an ancient stone structure, Intipunku, the Sun Gate, which is the front door to Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail. We felt as if we could kiss the sky. From this summit, we peered down at a breathtaking view of the crown jewel of the Inca empire.
The walls of Machu Picchu, dating back to the mid-1400s, have stood well against the forces of nature. There are several theories about the function of this fabled city. Some say it was a summer playground for the Incas; others say it was a religious retreat; and still others claim it was the last bastion against the invading Spanish conquistadores.
Whatever its purpose, Machu Picchu demonstrates that the Incas were master stonemasons. You can't help but marvel at the quality of their workmanship - stones fit together like glove to hand, and the Incas didn't have mortar.
We arrived in Machu Picchu - it's inaccessible by road - after a 3 1/2-hour train ride from Cusco, which was once the center of Inca civilization and is South America's oldest, continuously inhabited city. It acts as a kind of base camp for visitors to Machu Picchu, but it has become a popular destination in its own right.
As one of the highest cities in the world at more than 11,000 feet above sea level - or twice the altitude of Denver - Cusco takes some getting used to, especially if you arrive direct from Lima, which is at sea level.
We stayed at the Hotel Monasterio, a converted monastery dating back to the 1590s, that soothes its guests with Gregorian chants each morning and fully oxygenated rooms at night.
The locals advise visitors to drink coca tea, said to be made from the same coca leaves used to make cocaine. The natives say the tea, which has a woody, herbaceous flavor, helps prevent altitude sickness and increase energy. Coca leaves were also important to the Incas and were used for many religious ceremonies.
Wander through Cusco's cobbled streets, which branch off from the Plaza de Armas, the main square, and evidence of the Inca empire abounds. Several alleyways have original Inca stone walls and many of the buildings have been built on top of Inca foundations.
Cusco is designed in the shape of a puma, one of the mountain cats the Incas regarded as sacred. The head is high up on the hill to the north of the city's center, also the site of the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, which is pronounced "sexy woman."
Sacsayhuaman was the Inca ceremonial complex and, like Machu Picchu, it is also a wonder of stone masonry, where huge chunks of stone fit together with impeccable precision.
Cusco is also the hand-woven-textile center of Peru, so you're never far from a shop offering to dress you from head to toe in 100 percent alpaca clothing.
Our visit to Peru began in Lima, the sprawling capital of 9 million that is snarling with traffic and pollution. That being said, Lima is also a foodie mecca, generally known for its ceviche, or fresh, raw fish.
But who knew Peru gave the world the potato? It grows hundreds of varieties in more colors than you can imagine or count. I tried causa, a concoction of potato mashed in lime juice and the local indigenous pepper, aji, and filled or topped with everything from crab to avocado to octopus.
But the food wasn't the most intriguing thing we discovered in Lima. We observed that many residents, typically those in less-affluent neighborhoods, don't have roofs on their homes. This is not because it rarely rains in Lima but because some of the municipalities that make up greater Lima don't require residents living in unfinished homes to pay property taxes.
If you are planning a trip to Peru, consider going with a tour operator. We booked our trip with Abercrombie & Kent. They cater to the needs of baby-boomer clients who want an active day but a comfortable night, the best cuisine, personal escorts to and from airports and never having to worry about their bags being picked up.
We had some wonderful traveling companions, including actress' Julie Andrews' longtime lawyer (who had a cameo in her 2001 flick, "The Princess Diaries") and a Texas tycoon who's a pal of Gov. Rendell's brother.
One more reason to consider a trip to Peru is the favorable exchange rate - one of the few in the world right now. One U.S. dollar equals almost three of its Peruvian equivalent, the nuevo sol.
Still, we had no idea we would find the most spectacular mix of landscape and architecture we had ever seen, a stone settlement of temples, plazas, dwellings, steps and terraces - all of set against the natural splendor of the sheer rock walls of the Andes, rising out of the jungle.
The climax of our visit was when we hiked about four miles up from the ruins of Machu Picchu to an ancient stone structure, Intipunku, the Sun Gate, which is the front door to Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail. We felt as if we could kiss the sky. From this summit, we peered down at a breathtaking view of the crown jewel of the Inca empire.
The walls of Machu Picchu, dating back to the mid-1400s, have stood well against the forces of nature. There are several theories about the function of this fabled city. Some say it was a summer playground for the Incas; others say it was a religious retreat; and still others claim it was the last bastion against the invading Spanish conquistadores.
Whatever its purpose, Machu Picchu demonstrates that the Incas were master stonemasons. You can't help but marvel at the quality of their workmanship - stones fit together like glove to hand, and the Incas didn't have mortar.
We arrived in Machu Picchu - it's inaccessible by road - after a 3 1/2-hour train ride from Cusco, which was once the center of Inca civilization and is South America's oldest, continuously inhabited city. It acts as a kind of base camp for visitors to Machu Picchu, but it has become a popular destination in its own right.
As one of the highest cities in the world at more than 11,000 feet above sea level - or twice the altitude of Denver - Cusco takes some getting used to, especially if you arrive direct from Lima, which is at sea level.
We stayed at the Hotel Monasterio, a converted monastery dating back to the 1590s, that soothes its guests with Gregorian chants each morning and fully oxygenated rooms at night.
The locals advise visitors to drink coca tea, said to be made from the same coca leaves used to make cocaine. The natives say the tea, which has a woody, herbaceous flavor, helps prevent altitude sickness and increase energy. Coca leaves were also important to the Incas and were used for many religious ceremonies.
Wander through Cusco's cobbled streets, which branch off from the Plaza de Armas, the main square, and evidence of the Inca empire abounds. Several alleyways have original Inca stone walls and many of the buildings have been built on top of Inca foundations.
Cusco is designed in the shape of a puma, one of the mountain cats the Incas regarded as sacred. The head is high up on the hill to the north of the city's center, also the site of the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, which is pronounced "sexy woman."
Sacsayhuaman was the Inca ceremonial complex and, like Machu Picchu, it is also a wonder of stone masonry, where huge chunks of stone fit together with impeccable precision.
Cusco is also the hand-woven-textile center of Peru, so you're never far from a shop offering to dress you from head to toe in 100 percent alpaca clothing.
Our visit to Peru began in Lima, the sprawling capital of 9 million that is snarling with traffic and pollution. That being said, Lima is also a foodie mecca, generally known for its ceviche, or fresh, raw fish.
But who knew Peru gave the world the potato? It grows hundreds of varieties in more colors than you can imagine or count. I tried causa, a concoction of potato mashed in lime juice and the local indigenous pepper, aji, and filled or topped with everything from crab to avocado to octopus.
But the food wasn't the most intriguing thing we discovered in Lima. We observed that many residents, typically those in less-affluent neighborhoods, don't have roofs on their homes. This is not because it rarely rains in Lima but because some of the municipalities that make up greater Lima don't require residents living in unfinished homes to pay property taxes.
If you are planning a trip to Peru, consider going with a tour operator. We booked our trip with Abercrombie & Kent. They cater to the needs of baby-boomer clients who want an active day but a comfortable night, the best cuisine, personal escorts to and from airports and never having to worry about their bags being picked up.
We had some wonderful traveling companions, including actress' Julie Andrews' longtime lawyer (who had a cameo in her 2001 flick, "The Princess Diaries") and a Texas tycoon who's a pal of Gov. Rendell's brother.
One more reason to consider a trip to Peru is the favorable exchange rate - one of the few in the world right now. One U.S. dollar equals almost three of its Peruvian equivalent, the nuevo sol.
Peru attracting 'luxury holidaymakers'
Tourist chiefs in Peru are said to be focusing most of their campaigns towards luxury travellers who are willing to splash out while travelling in the country.Reuters says that the government of the South American destination is delighted with the influx of foreign travellers and that it now it hopes to attract those who spend more than gap year students and backpackers."It's not that we don't like backpackers ... but a lot of our campaigns are focused on luxury," Mercedes Araoz, Peru's trade and tourism minister, told the news agency.Holidaymakers they are hoping to attract to the region include those looking for spa holidays and health trips as well as eco-tourists.They are also hoping to see a rise in the number of young couples opting to get married and spent their honeymoon in the country. The tourist industry generates around $2 billion to Peru's economy which can help poor communities to prosper.Those planning on splashing out on a luxury holiday to Peru are urged to ensure they have travel insurance before they fly.
ENVIRONMENT: Amazon Increasingly Oily
LIMA, Aug 28 (Tierramérica) - More than 180 oil and natural gas fields extend across the western Amazon, shared by five South American countries and threatening biodiversity and indigenous lands, warns a study by U.S.-based organisations.Peru is the most worrisome case: 72 percent of its jungle territory overlaps with plans for exploiting fossil fuels, says the report "Oil and Gas Projects in the Western Amazon: Threats to Wilderness, Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples", published Aug. 13 by the open-access online scientific journal PloS ONE. Blocks for oil and gas extraction cover an area of more than 688,000 square kilometres in the Amazon regions of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, and there are at least 35 transnational corporations operating them, according to the researchers, who come from Duke University in North Carolina and the non-governmental organisations Save America's Forests and Land Is Life. The concessions overlap "the most species-rich part of the Amazon for amphibians, birds and mammals", states the text. "The western Amazon is the world's most biodiverse zone, especially in amphibians," one of the co-authors, Clinton Jenkins, an ecologist at Duke University, told Tierramérica. One can find more than 600 species of trees in a single hectare, while in the entire United States there are perhaps 800 tree species, he noted. Any biologist who visits those areas will find species never before described by science but which are well known to the local indigenous inhabitants. It is very difficult to travel there, and dozens of uncontacted indigenous groups live in the area, people who are almost completely isolated from modern civilisation, Jenkins added. Peru "is the most alarming case," says the study's lead author, Matt Finer, chief ecologist at Save America's Forests. One of the biggest challenges is to keep track of the oil and gas projects that have mushroomed in this country since the research began, in 2005. In early 2005, at least 15 percent of Peru’s Amazon jungle region was affected by oil exploration and drilling, a proportion that rose to 25 percent over the course of that year and to 50 percent in 2006. So far in 2008, oil industry activity has reached the point that it affects 72 percent of Peru’s rainforest, with 64 oil fields on 49 million hectares. Fifty-six of the fields were set up in the past five years, 20 are located inside protected areas, and 17 in proposed or existing territorial preserves for protecting indigenous peoples who seek to maintain their isolation. But Peru's deputy ministry of Energy, Pedro Gamio, says that less than five percent of the land granted in concession to the companies is being exploited, and the government usually designates large blocks because the companies are making high-risk investments with a mere 10 to 15 percent probability of success. "Peru is the least explored part of the region, because of the political pendulum that has hurt us. Unlike Colombia or Brazil, our country has missed out on the opportunity to attract investment," Gamio told Tierramérica. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mining, concessions were granted for 84 fossil fuel projects by the end of 2007, 19 of which are in the process of drilling and 65 in the phase of exploration. Finer pointed out that conflicts between the oil companies and indigenous communities have grown as the number of concessions has expanded. Peru has recently seen intense protests in Amazon jungle provinces against two decrees that promote private investment in native territories. The decrees were eventually struck down by Congress. Although there are few areas where drilling has actually begun, exploration itself has impacts on the jungle, such as deforestation to build heliports and camps or to create access routes, said Finer. In fact, the main concern is the construction of roads, according to Jenkins. Once there are roads, settlers begin to arrive, the same pattern that has been seen in the jungles of Brazil, said the environmentalist, who teaches part of the year at the Nazaré Paulista Institute of Ecological Research, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The Ministry of Energy and Mining in Peru says there are regulations in place that require the oil companies to first utilise river and air travel, as well as already existing roads. Even for exploration, the plans should involve prior consultation with and approval by the affected indigenous communities, according to International Labour Organisation Convention 169, which Peru has ratified. "According to Convention 169, the indigenous peoples pre-date the conformation of the government and as such they should be consulted… but here the opposite occurs, undermining our consecrated rights," Alberto Pizango, president of the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), told Tierramérica. In the opinion of deputy minister Gamio, "if we don't make an effort to find out the extent of Peru's fossil fuel potential, future generations will judge us, asking why we didn't take advantage of this opportunity when petroleum was the star in the global economy." The world's growing energy demand is a big incentive for companies based in the United States, Canada, Europe and China to search for fuel, says the report. The environmental impact studies are not sufficiently independent for them to be convincing for local communities, because they are contracted and paid for by the oil companies and usually do not take into account the interrelation of impacts. "There is no large-scale analysis of two, five, 10 or 20 lots at the same time," said Finer. Protected areas in Ecuador and Bolivia are not free of oil exploration or drilling either, as evidenced by Ecuador's Yasuní National Park and Bolivia's Madidi National Park, say the researchers. The Ecuadorian government divided nearly 65 percent of its Amazon region into petroleum blocks. The area is home to 10 indigenous groups. But in 2007, the authorities set apart a special 7,580 square km area in the Yasuní Park in order to keep its oil resources in the ground in exchange for compensation from the international community. In Brazil, the government issued 25 blocks in 2005 that surround the natural gas fields of Urucú and Jurua in the north-western state of Amazonas. The National Petroleum Agency has announced its intention to explore Acre state, also in the Amazon region. In Colombia, 35 exploration and drilling fields are located inside or near the department of Putumayo, on the border with Ecuador. The authorities opened a new round of bidding in the same area. Despite that fact, more than 90 percent of Colombia’s Amazon jungle region is free of oil industry activity, according to the study. "I drive a car, so I can't say they should ban petroleum and gas," admitted Jenkins. But, he added, the use of natural resources in the Amazon rainforest must be community-based and environmentally sustainable. (*Stephen Leahy contributed reporting from Toronto. This story was originally published by Latin American newspapers that are part of the Tierramérica network. Tierramérica is a specialised news service produced by IPS with the backing of the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank.) (END/2008)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Machu Picchu guide shares its lore, rituals
The remote city of Machu Picchu was abandoned after the Spanish arrived in Peru in the early 16th century, and the conquistadors never found it.
How things change.
Now, the Incan empire’s most mysterious and sacred city is visited by close to 1 million tourists a year, and increased development in the nearby tourist town of Aguas Calientes has prompted fears among conservationists and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which monitors such sites around the world.
So, what’s the allure of Machu Picchu? Well, our guide gave us bits and pieces of insight throughout our hike and an hours-long tour of the citadel. How much time do you have?
The mystique
Archaeologists have debated the city’s purpose for almost 100 years. Some say it was a prison, others a school. Many also believed that the nearly inaccessible town was a defensive stronghold. The consensus? Most now believe that the immense site was a sacred retreat for the ninth Incan king, Pachacutec.
Who discovered Machu Picchu is also up for debate. Hiram Bingham, an American historian and Yale professor, has long been credited with rediscovering the city in 1911. But recent claims have suggested that German businessman Augusto Berns found and looted the ruins in 1867. So, although Bingham wasn’t the first to "discover" Machu Picchu, he was the first to excavate the site and present his findings to the rest of the world. He also brought many artifacts back to the United States in 1912; Yale agreed last year to return them to Peru.
The rituals
Machu Picchu’s sacred district is home to the site’s most prized archaeological treasures, including the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows (no one knows its purpose) and the ritual Intihuatana Stone. Most of the Incan empire’s Intihuatana stones were destroyed by the Spanish, but Machu Picchu’s remained intact until 2000, when it was damaged by a falling crane used in the filming of a beer commercial. Don’t miss the breathtaking Temple of the Condor; the condor’s head and feathers are carved into a rock on the ground, and two mostly natural rock formations make its wings.
The construction
The Incas were incredible masons; the walls at Machu Picchu were built with finely shaped rocks that fit together perfectly. The mortarless technique used throughout the empire served them well; the buildings still stand hundreds of years later in the earthquake-prone area.
The mountain in the background
All the famous photos of Machu Picchu show a steep peak rising behind the ruins. That is Waynu Picchu, and if your legs haven’t given out you can make one more serious climb. Hikers must sign in at a checkpoint before starting; get there early because only 400 can go up each day. They don’t want your name simply to record who’s making the hike, they need to know who to look for if you don’t make it back down.
One of us on this trip is quite afraid of heights, and just getting through the last day of the Inca Trail was hard enough. The other considered going up, but was not too upset to have missed it when she heard tales of ropes, ladders and extraordinarily steep stairs from our fellow travelers.
Charity pair have mountains to climb
EXETER climbers Carl Chudley, 26, and his colleague Neville Mogford are organising a marathon mountain climb around the world.
Starting next April, they intend crossing four continents in six months.
They will start in Russia, climbing Mt Elbrus, then travel to Nepal to climb Mera, followed by Kilimanjaro in Africa and ending in Peru to climb the Machu Picchu ruins.
If they have the time in between they will look to complete further climbs en route.
The pair are looking to raise £50,000 with a minimum of £30,000 going to aid the vital work of Voluntary Service Overseas.
Carl said: "While on our treks we will visit some of the sites VSO has in Africa, Peru and Nepal.
"We are doing this as we believe the work VSO is doing is amazing and is making such a difference. At present, we are still seeking financial support from corporate sponsors but believe we will easily hit our target and exceed it.
"Our first event will be an 80 and 90s quiz night at Exeter Phoenix on September 29, 8pm to 10pm. The entrance fee is £20 per team and sponsor forms are available by emailing ."
Starting next April, they intend crossing four continents in six months.
They will start in Russia, climbing Mt Elbrus, then travel to Nepal to climb Mera, followed by Kilimanjaro in Africa and ending in Peru to climb the Machu Picchu ruins.
If they have the time in between they will look to complete further climbs en route.
The pair are looking to raise £50,000 with a minimum of £30,000 going to aid the vital work of Voluntary Service Overseas.
Carl said: "While on our treks we will visit some of the sites VSO has in Africa, Peru and Nepal.
"We are doing this as we believe the work VSO is doing is amazing and is making such a difference. At present, we are still seeking financial support from corporate sponsors but believe we will easily hit our target and exceed it.
"Our first event will be an 80 and 90s quiz night at Exeter Phoenix on September 29, 8pm to 10pm. The entrance fee is £20 per team and sponsor forms are available by emailing ."
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
oneworld to promote tourism to Peru
The world's leading quality airline alliance, oneworld®, is putting its weight behind one of the biggest yet campaigns to attract visitors to Peru.
It is linking with PromPeru, the country's national tourist organisation, to encourage people across all 150 or so countries served by the alliance's airlines to take their holidays in one of Latin America's most attractive, fascinating and welcoming countries.
It is believed to be the first time any airline alliance has worked in this way with any national tourist organization in either South or North America and follows the success of similar joint programmes last year between oneworld and the tourism organizations in Japan and Budapest.
Peru's leading airline, LAN Peru, is an affiliate member of oneworld, along with its Latin American sisters LAN Ecuador and LAN Argentina and, as a full member of the alliance, Chile's LAN Airlines. oneworld partners American Airlines and Iberia also serve Peru.
Other oneworld carriers with direct flights elsewhere in South America include British Airways and Japan Airlines, with Qantas launching services to Buenos Aires in November.
oneworld's other members - Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian and around 15 other affiliate carriers - offer excellent connections to Peru from all around the world in combination with these on-line partners.
Between them, these airlines carry 320 million on around 9,000 departures a day serving almost 700 destinations in nearly 150 countries, with the smoothest possible connections between all flights operated by all oneworld members.
oneworld is the only alliance with any airline members based in South America - and its Visit South America pass is an ideal way for travellers outside the continent to travel around Peru and the rest of the region.
LAN Peru serves 13 airports across the country. With its fellow oneworld members, it links the capital Lima non-stop with Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami and New York in North America, with Madrid in Europe, and with around ten other gateways across South America, including Santiago, Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, Quito, Caracas and Sao Paulo.
Each oneworld airline worldwide will support the Peru drive in different ways, with the programme worldwide aimed at generating around US$1.5 million worth of exposure.
Some of them will offer special fares or frequent flyer bonus miles to Peru. Most will carry adverts or editorial coverage in their in-flight magazines, on their websites and in communications with members of their frequent flyer programmes. Others will work with tour operators or co-sponsor events or trade shows.
oneworld Vice-President Commercial Nicolas Ferri added: "Promoting travel to Peru is a great way for all the oneworld member airlines to highlight one of the alliance's most amazing and attractive home countries, our leadership as an airline alliance in Latin America and also the great value and flexibility offered by our Visit South America fare. We are delighted to be working with PromPeru in making the year ahead what will hopefully be the best yet for inbound travel to this fantastic and fascinating region."
PromPeru's Director of Tourism Promotion Mara Seminario said: "PromPeru is thrilled to work with the oneworld alliance, which connects international travellers to the world's greatest tourism destinations. Last year, Peru received a record number of visitors, after promoting the country's amazing culture, heritage, biodiversity, and cuisine throughout the world. The oneworld alliance will lead to sustained tourism growth in Peru for the years to come."The oneworld-Peru promotion is being supported by two special websites - www.oneworld.com/promo/peru is available now. PromPeru's own tourism website is available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish
It is linking with PromPeru, the country's national tourist organisation, to encourage people across all 150 or so countries served by the alliance's airlines to take their holidays in one of Latin America's most attractive, fascinating and welcoming countries.
It is believed to be the first time any airline alliance has worked in this way with any national tourist organization in either South or North America and follows the success of similar joint programmes last year between oneworld and the tourism organizations in Japan and Budapest.
Peru's leading airline, LAN Peru, is an affiliate member of oneworld, along with its Latin American sisters LAN Ecuador and LAN Argentina and, as a full member of the alliance, Chile's LAN Airlines. oneworld partners American Airlines and Iberia also serve Peru.
Other oneworld carriers with direct flights elsewhere in South America include British Airways and Japan Airlines, with Qantas launching services to Buenos Aires in November.
oneworld's other members - Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian and around 15 other affiliate carriers - offer excellent connections to Peru from all around the world in combination with these on-line partners.
Between them, these airlines carry 320 million on around 9,000 departures a day serving almost 700 destinations in nearly 150 countries, with the smoothest possible connections between all flights operated by all oneworld members.
oneworld is the only alliance with any airline members based in South America - and its Visit South America pass is an ideal way for travellers outside the continent to travel around Peru and the rest of the region.
LAN Peru serves 13 airports across the country. With its fellow oneworld members, it links the capital Lima non-stop with Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami and New York in North America, with Madrid in Europe, and with around ten other gateways across South America, including Santiago, Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, Quito, Caracas and Sao Paulo.
Each oneworld airline worldwide will support the Peru drive in different ways, with the programme worldwide aimed at generating around US$1.5 million worth of exposure.
Some of them will offer special fares or frequent flyer bonus miles to Peru. Most will carry adverts or editorial coverage in their in-flight magazines, on their websites and in communications with members of their frequent flyer programmes. Others will work with tour operators or co-sponsor events or trade shows.
oneworld Vice-President Commercial Nicolas Ferri added: "Promoting travel to Peru is a great way for all the oneworld member airlines to highlight one of the alliance's most amazing and attractive home countries, our leadership as an airline alliance in Latin America and also the great value and flexibility offered by our Visit South America fare. We are delighted to be working with PromPeru in making the year ahead what will hopefully be the best yet for inbound travel to this fantastic and fascinating region."
PromPeru's Director of Tourism Promotion Mara Seminario said: "PromPeru is thrilled to work with the oneworld alliance, which connects international travellers to the world's greatest tourism destinations. Last year, Peru received a record number of visitors, after promoting the country's amazing culture, heritage, biodiversity, and cuisine throughout the world. The oneworld alliance will lead to sustained tourism growth in Peru for the years to come."The oneworld-Peru promotion is being supported by two special websites - www.oneworld.com/promo/peru is available now. PromPeru's own tourism website is available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish
'Four day hike but I don't like walking'
A CLEVEDON woman will be lacing up her hiking boots and heading for the Lost City of the Incas to raise money for charity.Gail White, aged 30, of Westfield, will be trekking through Peru and Machu Picchu for four days in May in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI).The adventurer needs to raise £2,000 before she heads off to the picturesque destination and has started making and selling her own jewellery for the cause.She said: "This is going to be hard for me because I don't like walking. We're going to be hiking for six-10 hours a day for four days and part of it is 2,400m high."I've always wanted to see the fantastic country and Machu Picchu."I'm doing it in aid of the RNLI because I'm not a particularly good swimmer and they do a job I could never do. "I'm full of respect for them, they do a really good job round here."Gail has cycled from London to Paris for charity and pedalled across Poland and she is looking forward to the new challenge.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
oneworld to promote tourism to Peru
It is linking with PromPeru, the country's national tourist organisation, to encourage people across all 150 or so countries served by the alliance's airlines to take their holidays in one of Latin America's most attractive, fascinating and welcoming countries.
It is believed to be the first time any airline alliance has worked in this way with any national tourist organization in either South or North America and follows the success of similar joint programmes last year between oneworld and the tourism organizations in Japan and Budapest.
Peru's leading airline, LAN Peru, is an affiliate member of oneworld, along with its Latin American sisters LAN Ecuador and LAN Argentina and, as a full member of the alliance, Chile's LAN Airlines. oneworld partners American Airlines and Iberia also serve Peru.
Other oneworld carriers with direct flights elsewhere in South America include British Airways and Japan Airlines, with Qantas launching services to Buenos Aires in November.
oneworld's other members - Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian and around 15 other affiliate carriers - offer excellent connections to Peru from all around the world in combination with these on-line partners.
Between them, these airlines carry 320 million on around 9,000 departures a day serving almost 700 destinations in nearly 150 countries, with the smoothest possible connections between all flights operated by all oneworld members.
oneworld is the only alliance with any airline members based in South America - and its Visit South America pass is an ideal way for travellers outside the continent to travel around Peru and the rest of the region.
LAN Peru serves 13 airports across the country. With its fellow oneworld members, it links the capital Lima non-stop with Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami and New York in North America, with Madrid in Europe, and with around ten other gateways across South America, including Santiago, Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, Quito, Caracas and Sao Paulo.
Each oneworld airline worldwide will support the Peru drive in different ways, with the programme worldwide aimed at generating around US$1.5 million worth of exposure.
Some of them will offer special fares or frequent flyer bonus miles to Peru. Most will carry adverts or editorial coverage in their in-flight magazines, on their websites and in communications with members of their frequent flyer programmes. Others will work with tour operators or co-sponsor events or trade shows.
oneworld Vice-President Commercial Nicolas Ferri added: "Promoting travel to Peru is a great way for all the oneworld member airlines to highlight one of the alliance's most amazing and attractive home countries, our leadership as an airline alliance in Latin America and also the great value and flexibility offered by our Visit South America fare. We are delighted to be working with PromPeru in making the year ahead what will hopefully be the best yet for inbound travel to this fantastic and fascinating region."
PromPeru's Director of Tourism Promotion Mara Seminario said: "PromPeru is thrilled to work with the oneworld alliance, which connects international travellers to the world's greatest tourism destinations. Last year, Peru received a record number of visitors, after promoting the country's amazing culture, heritage, biodiversity, and cuisine throughout the world. The oneworld alliance will lead to sustained tourism growth in Peru for the years to come."
It is believed to be the first time any airline alliance has worked in this way with any national tourist organization in either South or North America and follows the success of similar joint programmes last year between oneworld and the tourism organizations in Japan and Budapest.
Peru's leading airline, LAN Peru, is an affiliate member of oneworld, along with its Latin American sisters LAN Ecuador and LAN Argentina and, as a full member of the alliance, Chile's LAN Airlines. oneworld partners American Airlines and Iberia also serve Peru.
Other oneworld carriers with direct flights elsewhere in South America include British Airways and Japan Airlines, with Qantas launching services to Buenos Aires in November.
oneworld's other members - Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian and around 15 other affiliate carriers - offer excellent connections to Peru from all around the world in combination with these on-line partners.
Between them, these airlines carry 320 million on around 9,000 departures a day serving almost 700 destinations in nearly 150 countries, with the smoothest possible connections between all flights operated by all oneworld members.
oneworld is the only alliance with any airline members based in South America - and its Visit South America pass is an ideal way for travellers outside the continent to travel around Peru and the rest of the region.
LAN Peru serves 13 airports across the country. With its fellow oneworld members, it links the capital Lima non-stop with Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami and New York in North America, with Madrid in Europe, and with around ten other gateways across South America, including Santiago, Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, Quito, Caracas and Sao Paulo.
Each oneworld airline worldwide will support the Peru drive in different ways, with the programme worldwide aimed at generating around US$1.5 million worth of exposure.
Some of them will offer special fares or frequent flyer bonus miles to Peru. Most will carry adverts or editorial coverage in their in-flight magazines, on their websites and in communications with members of their frequent flyer programmes. Others will work with tour operators or co-sponsor events or trade shows.
oneworld Vice-President Commercial Nicolas Ferri added: "Promoting travel to Peru is a great way for all the oneworld member airlines to highlight one of the alliance's most amazing and attractive home countries, our leadership as an airline alliance in Latin America and also the great value and flexibility offered by our Visit South America fare. We are delighted to be working with PromPeru in making the year ahead what will hopefully be the best yet for inbound travel to this fantastic and fascinating region."
PromPeru's Director of Tourism Promotion Mara Seminario said: "PromPeru is thrilled to work with the oneworld alliance, which connects international travellers to the world's greatest tourism destinations. Last year, Peru received a record number of visitors, after promoting the country's amazing culture, heritage, biodiversity, and cuisine throughout the world. The oneworld alliance will lead to sustained tourism growth in Peru for the years to come."
Saturday, August 9, 2008
TWO North Anston colleagues have returned from the trip of a lifetime - having raised thousands of pounds for a cancer charity.
Bob Mulgrew and Andy Wellwood battled illness and injury to complete the Inca Trail, mustering more than £6,000 sponsorship for Marie Curie between them.The challenge took the pair through the sacred valleys and stunning towns of the Andes, concluding in the city of Machu Picchu in Peru."It was tremendous, probably even better than we expected," said Bob, of Rydal Close. "I don't think I could ever go away and just sit on a beach ever again.""It's a magical place, and the scenery was stunning. The air was so clear and you could see for miles. We had the perfect weather with blue skies every day. We passed quite a few of the Inca ruins, and the higher we got the more dramatic they became. Some were just unbelievable."The group transport manager for North Anston steel stockists Cogne UK was joined by colleague Andy Wellwood on the adventure.Bob and Andy, who works in sales, celebrated landmark birthdays this year, turning 50 and 30 respectively. They wanted to mark 2008 with something out of the ordinary.About 14 trekkers were in the group, raising £40,000 for various good causes overall. The pair agreed that everyone pulled together to make sure the challenge was a success."Only me and Andy knew each other, but everyone got on so quickly and gave everyone else support," said Bob. "I was intending to do it anyway, and I'd almost booked it before I came across the Marie Curie website."A friendly kickaround with local children ended with a trip-threatening leg injury for Bob."I play football regularly and know a bit about sports injuries," said Sheffield resident Andy, formerly of Kiveton Park. "I could see it was quite a bad one, but by the same token I knew how determined Bob was to do the trek.""Later, there was a bug going round the camp that I caught. I felt awful, was losing sleep and couldn't enjoy the last day in Machu Picchu as much as I wanted.""But it's battling through things like these that gives you even more of a sense of achievement. When we finally reached the peak, it was really quite emotional. We've decided we'd like to do something similar every year."Marie Cure is one of the country's biggest charities, employing more than 2,700 healthcare workers and helping 27,000 terminally ill patients. It provides free high quality nursing to give people the choice of dying at home supported by their families.Almost three-quarters of its money comes from fundraising events and challenges like Bob and Andy's adventure.
Bob Mulgrew and Andy Wellwood battled illness and injury to complete the Inca Trail, mustering more than £6,000 sponsorship for Marie Curie between them.The challenge took the pair through the sacred valleys and stunning towns of the Andes, concluding in the city of Machu Picchu in Peru."It was tremendous, probably even better than we expected," said Bob, of Rydal Close. "I don't think I could ever go away and just sit on a beach ever again.""It's a magical place, and the scenery was stunning. The air was so clear and you could see for miles. We had the perfect weather with blue skies every day. We passed quite a few of the Inca ruins, and the higher we got the more dramatic they became. Some were just unbelievable."The group transport manager for North Anston steel stockists Cogne UK was joined by colleague Andy Wellwood on the adventure.Bob and Andy, who works in sales, celebrated landmark birthdays this year, turning 50 and 30 respectively. They wanted to mark 2008 with something out of the ordinary.About 14 trekkers were in the group, raising £40,000 for various good causes overall. The pair agreed that everyone pulled together to make sure the challenge was a success."Only me and Andy knew each other, but everyone got on so quickly and gave everyone else support," said Bob. "I was intending to do it anyway, and I'd almost booked it before I came across the Marie Curie website."A friendly kickaround with local children ended with a trip-threatening leg injury for Bob."I play football regularly and know a bit about sports injuries," said Sheffield resident Andy, formerly of Kiveton Park. "I could see it was quite a bad one, but by the same token I knew how determined Bob was to do the trek.""Later, there was a bug going round the camp that I caught. I felt awful, was losing sleep and couldn't enjoy the last day in Machu Picchu as much as I wanted.""But it's battling through things like these that gives you even more of a sense of achievement. When we finally reached the peak, it was really quite emotional. We've decided we'd like to do something similar every year."Marie Cure is one of the country's biggest charities, employing more than 2,700 healthcare workers and helping 27,000 terminally ill patients. It provides free high quality nursing to give people the choice of dying at home supported by their families.Almost three-quarters of its money comes from fundraising events and challenges like Bob and Andy's adventure.
The go-to places of the year
So how does one really come up with a list of the year’s 10 places to visit? Taking it from the experts, I suppose. And that’s exactly what The Daily 10 did. We compiled the opinions of everyone authoritative enough—from the New York Times to vehement travel bloggers—to make a list that is updated and will not make you think, “But I already knew that!” We made sure that in a world where everywhere has practically been exploited, the places we picked still have a little bit of mystery and edge. So if you have the excess cash, here are the places we recommend you visit before 2008 ends. Happy vacationing!
1. Ranked no. 1 in The New York Times’ “The 53 Places to Go in 2008,” Laos is said to be “Indochina’s next hot spot” and that “Vietnam and Cambodia are so 2007.” The country has two world heritage sites, Luang Prabang and Vat Phou. A breathtaking view of the mountains can be seen as the landscape in Vang Vieng and the national symbol of Laos, Pha That Luang, can be found in Vientiane.
2. One of the world’s best beaches, the islands of Capri in Italy top Travel House UK’s travel blog. According to them, “The Capri Islands is an amazingly beautiful coastline. It has no beach yet it is deemed to be one of the best amongst the international beaches. The island has ‘bathing establishments’ in place of beaches. It has a treasure of beach towels, beach balls and beach bunnies. The island is famous to host the rich and facilitate them with perfect luxuries and the exotic Roman art and architecture.”
3. Alexandria is a place that is included in many “must-visit” lists. Aside from being one of the most famous ancient cities, this Egyptian city boasts a wealthy history and massive renovation projects of demolished and semi-demolished structures. To top it all off, a series of modernization actions are also being undertaken.
4. Probably because of the teasing motto, “Munich Likes You,” Munich is a favorite city to visit for many a backpacker. Its old-meets-new architecture, museums and penchant to arts and literature are among the top qualities of the city. It’s also been named the world’s most livable city with its conveniences and eco-friendly ways.
5. Cool Travel Guide lists Dubai in their 10 places to go to list of 2008. Why? Because of “reasons most travel writers won’t tell you: Emirati and Bedouin culture and heritage, the courtyard wind-tower architecture in the Persian Bastakiya neighborhood, gritty backstreets, Deira ‘Creek’ views from Bur Dubai, hospitable people, superb restaurants, and a lively contemporary art scene.”
6. No. 2 on the New York Times list is Lisbon. Denny Lee writes, “Bargain-seeking tourists have long flocked to Lisbon, typically among the most affordable of European cities. But now the Portuguese capital is also emerging as a cultural force.” The heart of the city is the Baxia (or downtown or city center), which is being considered for the world heritage site status. Many monuments and historical references can be found here, among many modern reconstructions.
7. Machu Picchu “is a mystical place and a great spot to divinity. It is Peru’s most popular place, so most of you like to see the place. People of Machu Picchu feel that they are the creators of god. This place offers you strange forces of nature that permit the individual to attain a contrary cosmic state,” says TutzTutz.com and secures its spot as one of the 25 wonderful places to visit in your lifetime.
8. Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture, is included in Expedia’s top 10 places to visit in 2008. A series of cultural events have been going on since 2004, reaching its peak this year, and continues until next year. Many travel writers say that now is the time to visit this English city.
9. In an Associated Content article, a writer, RB, states that if you’re going to the Mediterranean, you have to go to Anguilla. “This is a very elegant small British overseas territory located in the Caribbean, east of Puerto Rico. Anguilla is actually a set of small islands with one main island where the capital [Valley] is located.”
10. Finally, MSN Travel thinks that Bhutan is the top place to visit this year. They claim, “Cradled by the majestic Himalayas in a remote corner of Southern Asia, the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ has long held steadfast to its rich culture and Buddhist heritage. Though an isolated locale and high tourist entry tariffs keep crowds at bay, these factors have also permitted this last Shangri-La to keep its traditions intact.”
1. Ranked no. 1 in The New York Times’ “The 53 Places to Go in 2008,” Laos is said to be “Indochina’s next hot spot” and that “Vietnam and Cambodia are so 2007.” The country has two world heritage sites, Luang Prabang and Vat Phou. A breathtaking view of the mountains can be seen as the landscape in Vang Vieng and the national symbol of Laos, Pha That Luang, can be found in Vientiane.
2. One of the world’s best beaches, the islands of Capri in Italy top Travel House UK’s travel blog. According to them, “The Capri Islands is an amazingly beautiful coastline. It has no beach yet it is deemed to be one of the best amongst the international beaches. The island has ‘bathing establishments’ in place of beaches. It has a treasure of beach towels, beach balls and beach bunnies. The island is famous to host the rich and facilitate them with perfect luxuries and the exotic Roman art and architecture.”
3. Alexandria is a place that is included in many “must-visit” lists. Aside from being one of the most famous ancient cities, this Egyptian city boasts a wealthy history and massive renovation projects of demolished and semi-demolished structures. To top it all off, a series of modernization actions are also being undertaken.
4. Probably because of the teasing motto, “Munich Likes You,” Munich is a favorite city to visit for many a backpacker. Its old-meets-new architecture, museums and penchant to arts and literature are among the top qualities of the city. It’s also been named the world’s most livable city with its conveniences and eco-friendly ways.
5. Cool Travel Guide lists Dubai in their 10 places to go to list of 2008. Why? Because of “reasons most travel writers won’t tell you: Emirati and Bedouin culture and heritage, the courtyard wind-tower architecture in the Persian Bastakiya neighborhood, gritty backstreets, Deira ‘Creek’ views from Bur Dubai, hospitable people, superb restaurants, and a lively contemporary art scene.”
6. No. 2 on the New York Times list is Lisbon. Denny Lee writes, “Bargain-seeking tourists have long flocked to Lisbon, typically among the most affordable of European cities. But now the Portuguese capital is also emerging as a cultural force.” The heart of the city is the Baxia (or downtown or city center), which is being considered for the world heritage site status. Many monuments and historical references can be found here, among many modern reconstructions.
7. Machu Picchu “is a mystical place and a great spot to divinity. It is Peru’s most popular place, so most of you like to see the place. People of Machu Picchu feel that they are the creators of god. This place offers you strange forces of nature that permit the individual to attain a contrary cosmic state,” says TutzTutz.com and secures its spot as one of the 25 wonderful places to visit in your lifetime.
8. Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture, is included in Expedia’s top 10 places to visit in 2008. A series of cultural events have been going on since 2004, reaching its peak this year, and continues until next year. Many travel writers say that now is the time to visit this English city.
9. In an Associated Content article, a writer, RB, states that if you’re going to the Mediterranean, you have to go to Anguilla. “This is a very elegant small British overseas territory located in the Caribbean, east of Puerto Rico. Anguilla is actually a set of small islands with one main island where the capital [Valley] is located.”
10. Finally, MSN Travel thinks that Bhutan is the top place to visit this year. They claim, “Cradled by the majestic Himalayas in a remote corner of Southern Asia, the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ has long held steadfast to its rich culture and Buddhist heritage. Though an isolated locale and high tourist entry tariffs keep crowds at bay, these factors have also permitted this last Shangri-La to keep its traditions intact.”
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Peru off beaten track
VICOS, Peru: Far from the lines of tourists that snake around the entrance of Machu Picchu, hundreds deep before dawn, is Fausta Colonia's open-air kitchen.
"Manana van a estar," Colonia says in her singsong Andean Spanish, meaning "tomorrow they'll be done." She points at the three giant green squashes slowly cooking in her domed mud oven. Their skins are beginning to crack, letting out sweet bursts of aroma into the cold mountain air.
As travel to the Andean nation booms, here in the bucolic highland village of Vicos, an increasing number of intrepid travelers, eager to get away from the tour bus circuit of Peru's top tourist destinations are participating in so-called community-based tourism.
Travelers pay to stay in villagers' homes, eat what they eat, live as they live, learning about their customs firsthand.
"One noteworthy trend we have noticed in the past three to four years is that the American traveler has become more interested in 'doing' rather than merely 'seeing' historic sites or looking out of a motor coach," Robert Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association, told The Associated Press.
Today on IHT.com
Many U.S. hospitals repatriating illegal immigrants
McCain joins Obama on offshore drilling
Anglican bishops asked not to consecrate more gay bishops
Foreign entries into Peru nearly doubled from 2002 and 2007 and visits to Machu Picchu have increased more than 100 percent to 800,000 people over the last 10 years.
But as Peru becomes a prime tourist destination, helped in part by the rising cost of travel to Europe, some tourists are looking for something off the beaten track.
Seattle-based nonprofit travel agency Crooked Trails offers tours to Vicos as well as Peru's top tourist destination, Machu Picchu, for US$2,625 without airfare. Travelers are expected do to some light farm work, a small price to pay for waking up to a view of the snowcapped Andes.
Crooked Trails co-founder Christine Mackay says the homestay generates about US$265 per traveler for the family, a large sum that helps the village pay for school supplies, cultural events and other development projects.
Vicos is located in the Peru's Ancash region, the mountainous department north of Lima, some 11,000 feet (3,200 meters) above sea level. It is a farming village of 5,000 people at the foot of Peru's Cordillera Blanca, or "White Mountain Range," the largest tropical glacier chain in the world.
In the late 1990s, a group of enterprising villagers founded a community tourism project to promote sustainable tourism in the popular trekking area, while sharing their customs with travelers.
"We're setting an example," said Julio Evaristo, 42, Colonia's husband. He wears a black, wool fedora as he kneads dough for fresh bread. The visitors "see how we work, how we value our traditional clothing. That's how we retain it."
Crooked Trails teamed up with the Vicos villagers in 2002, and a year later, 10 people traveled with the agency to Peru, which jumped to 71 people in 2008, making the Andean nation Crooked Trails' most popular destination.
Mackay worried that Peru's tourism boom is likely to bring a wave of "irresponsible" tourism.
"I think that whenever there's a boom, tourism can be detrimental," she said. "I've seen it in so many places, like Thailand and Nepal."
Peru's "tourism market is catering to the tourists, rather than treating this as an educational opportunity," she said. "They treat it purely as economics." She sees community tourism programs as an antidote to the downside of conventional tourism.
Housing is simple, usually mud brick homes, with no heat. But Vicosinos are extremely hospitable.
Beneath the glow of a fluorescent bulb — the house's only electric light — Colonia, dressed in a full skirt of purple felt, laced with silver ribbon trim, unfolds cloths revealing the family's crops: white, yellow and purple potatoes, an Andean specialty.
Her husband, a renowned seed banks expert, and the travelers sit around the family dining room table on a wood plank held up by giant buckets as he tells us about his organic farming techniques.
Travelers trek up the winding hills paths above the valley that are dotted with pre-Inca ruins, to visit the communities' fields, learning to harvest the crops themselves beneath unparalleled views of the Andes.
Vicosinos speak the ancient language of Quechua, although host families speak Spanish, and all Crooked Trails tours include an English-speaking guide.
Colonia wakes at dawn to prepare breakfast in the frigid mountain air, sometimes in open shoes. She makes a fire easily to boil the tubers.
She says her husband sometimes spends days at a time up on top of their land to tend crops — barley, wheat and potatoes.
"I felt soft next to them," said Jon Zaslow, 57, a computer consultant from London, Ontario, who spent three days in Vicos with his wife, Nicolette, in July. "I don't work as hard, and don't think I solve problems as well as they. Their day-to-day existence resembled camping out, except you never get to go home to a warm shower, or go to the fridge for food."
"Manana van a estar," Colonia says in her singsong Andean Spanish, meaning "tomorrow they'll be done." She points at the three giant green squashes slowly cooking in her domed mud oven. Their skins are beginning to crack, letting out sweet bursts of aroma into the cold mountain air.
As travel to the Andean nation booms, here in the bucolic highland village of Vicos, an increasing number of intrepid travelers, eager to get away from the tour bus circuit of Peru's top tourist destinations are participating in so-called community-based tourism.
Travelers pay to stay in villagers' homes, eat what they eat, live as they live, learning about their customs firsthand.
"One noteworthy trend we have noticed in the past three to four years is that the American traveler has become more interested in 'doing' rather than merely 'seeing' historic sites or looking out of a motor coach," Robert Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association, told The Associated Press.
Today on IHT.com
Many U.S. hospitals repatriating illegal immigrants
McCain joins Obama on offshore drilling
Anglican bishops asked not to consecrate more gay bishops
Foreign entries into Peru nearly doubled from 2002 and 2007 and visits to Machu Picchu have increased more than 100 percent to 800,000 people over the last 10 years.
But as Peru becomes a prime tourist destination, helped in part by the rising cost of travel to Europe, some tourists are looking for something off the beaten track.
Seattle-based nonprofit travel agency Crooked Trails offers tours to Vicos as well as Peru's top tourist destination, Machu Picchu, for US$2,625 without airfare. Travelers are expected do to some light farm work, a small price to pay for waking up to a view of the snowcapped Andes.
Crooked Trails co-founder Christine Mackay says the homestay generates about US$265 per traveler for the family, a large sum that helps the village pay for school supplies, cultural events and other development projects.
Vicos is located in the Peru's Ancash region, the mountainous department north of Lima, some 11,000 feet (3,200 meters) above sea level. It is a farming village of 5,000 people at the foot of Peru's Cordillera Blanca, or "White Mountain Range," the largest tropical glacier chain in the world.
In the late 1990s, a group of enterprising villagers founded a community tourism project to promote sustainable tourism in the popular trekking area, while sharing their customs with travelers.
"We're setting an example," said Julio Evaristo, 42, Colonia's husband. He wears a black, wool fedora as he kneads dough for fresh bread. The visitors "see how we work, how we value our traditional clothing. That's how we retain it."
Crooked Trails teamed up with the Vicos villagers in 2002, and a year later, 10 people traveled with the agency to Peru, which jumped to 71 people in 2008, making the Andean nation Crooked Trails' most popular destination.
Mackay worried that Peru's tourism boom is likely to bring a wave of "irresponsible" tourism.
"I think that whenever there's a boom, tourism can be detrimental," she said. "I've seen it in so many places, like Thailand and Nepal."
Peru's "tourism market is catering to the tourists, rather than treating this as an educational opportunity," she said. "They treat it purely as economics." She sees community tourism programs as an antidote to the downside of conventional tourism.
Housing is simple, usually mud brick homes, with no heat. But Vicosinos are extremely hospitable.
Beneath the glow of a fluorescent bulb — the house's only electric light — Colonia, dressed in a full skirt of purple felt, laced with silver ribbon trim, unfolds cloths revealing the family's crops: white, yellow and purple potatoes, an Andean specialty.
Her husband, a renowned seed banks expert, and the travelers sit around the family dining room table on a wood plank held up by giant buckets as he tells us about his organic farming techniques.
Travelers trek up the winding hills paths above the valley that are dotted with pre-Inca ruins, to visit the communities' fields, learning to harvest the crops themselves beneath unparalleled views of the Andes.
Vicosinos speak the ancient language of Quechua, although host families speak Spanish, and all Crooked Trails tours include an English-speaking guide.
Colonia wakes at dawn to prepare breakfast in the frigid mountain air, sometimes in open shoes. She makes a fire easily to boil the tubers.
She says her husband sometimes spends days at a time up on top of their land to tend crops — barley, wheat and potatoes.
"I felt soft next to them," said Jon Zaslow, 57, a computer consultant from London, Ontario, who spent three days in Vicos with his wife, Nicolette, in July. "I don't work as hard, and don't think I solve problems as well as they. Their day-to-day existence resembled camping out, except you never get to go home to a warm shower, or go to the fridge for food."
Machu Picchu: Threatened by Tourism?
In early July, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) considered placing Machu Picchu, one of the top tourist destinations in South America, on its list of endangered World Heritage sites. The addition of Machu Picchu to the list has been lobbied by conservation and environmental groups in hopes that international attention would help spur preservation actions.Deforestation, landslides, and urban development are threatening the site. The number of visiting tourists has more than doubled in the last ten years and is now at around 800,000 people. The ruins and the nearby gateway town of Aguas Calientes are hard-pressed to handle the massive growth in tourism.These issues have been developing for years. In April 2004, 1500 people were stranded and at least 6 were killed when two large mudslides occurred in Aguas Calientes. 1400 tourists were stranded in 2005 when an avalanche wrecked a portion of the train tracks between Cusco and Machu Picchu. There is widespread concern that these types of incidents will only increase.Due to increasing international pressure, the Peruvian government recently proposed a $132.5 million plan to preserve the ruins. The plan would restore parts of the site, install surveillance cameras, and upgrade the entry ticket controls. The government has also been working to clean up the Inca Trail and restrict the number of trekkers.Adding a site to the List of World Heritage in Danger is meant to provide immediate assistance from the World Heritage Fund. It also informs the international community of the situation with the hope that the right people will respond to save the site.Ultimately, UNESCO decided to not add any sites to their List of World Heritage in Danger (www.unesco.org/en/danger/) which consists of 30 sites right now.They did request "reinforced monitoring" for Machu Picchu. Under reinforced monitoring, experts will periodically examine and evaluate the conditions at Machu Picchu and report changes to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.The Peruvian archaeological site of Chan Chan is already on the List of World Heritage in Danger. It was placed there in 1986 (the same year it was added to the World Heritage List), due to erosion of its earthen structures.Ecuador's Galapagos Islands were added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2007 due to uncontrolled tourism, human immigration, and invasive species.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Peru celebrates National Pisco Day with week-long festival
Peru's minister of Production Rafael Rey will open today the festival "Pisco Surco 2008: Our country, our party, our pisco”, on the occasion of National Pisco Day celebrations to be held on July 27th.The event will also be attended by the mayor of Santiago de Surco, Juan Manuel del Mar Estremadoyro, representatives of Peru’s National Commission of Pisco (Conapisco), among other important authorities, businesspeople and artists.It will take place at 12:20 pm (17:20 GMT) in the "Parque de la Amistad” (Park of Friendship) in Surco.Pisco is Peru’s national drink and is made in traditional distilleries in wineries in Mala, San Antonio, Santa Cruz de Flores, San Vicente de Cañete, Pacarán and Lunahuaná, south of Lima.In many parts of the world, a raised glass is the surest sign of welcome. In Peru, the delicious brandy known as pisco is the best way to invite someone to discover centuries of history and tradition amidst the surprising cultural diversity that never fails to charm our guests.
Intrepid Peru Travelers Veer off Beaten Track
Far from the lines of tourists that snake around the entrance of Machu Picchu, hundreds deep before dawn, is Fausta Colonia's open-air kitchen.
"Manana van a estar," Colonia says in her singsong Andean Spanish, meaning "tomorrow they'll be done." She points at the three giant green squashes slowly cooking in her domed mud oven. Their skins are beginning to crack, letting out sweet bursts of aroma into the cold mountain air.
As travel to the Andean nation booms, here in the bucolic highland village of Vicos, an increasing number of intrepid travelers, eager to get away from the tour bus circuit of Peru's top tourist destinations are participating in so-called community-based tourism.
Travelers pay to stay in villagers' homes, eat what they eat, live as they live, learning about their customs firsthand.
"One noteworthy trend we have noticed in the past three to four years is that the American traveler has become more interested in 'doing' rather than merely 'seeing' historic sites or looking out of a motor coach," Robert Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association, told The Associated Press.
As travel to the Andean nation booms, here in the bucolic highland village of Vicos, an increasing number of intrepid travelers, eager to get away from the tour bus circuit of Peru's top tourist destinations are participating in so-called community-based tourism.
Travelers pay to stay in villagers' homes, eat what they eat, live as they live, learning about their customs firsthand.
"One noteworthy trend we have noticed in the past three to four years is that the American traveler has become more interested in 'doing' rather than merely 'seeing' historic sites or looking out of a motor coach," Robert Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association, told The Associated Press.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Waterloo company organizes group tours tailored to Mennonites
Sometimes, folks wander into TourMagination on Willow Street thinking it's a regular travel agency with deals on Vegas junkets and Caribbean cruises.
It doesn't take them very long to learn better. "They soon know what we're offering doesn't really fit with what they want," says Wilmer Martin, president of the company, which specializes in organized tours for Mennonites.
There are no pictures of golf courses and sunny beaches on the walls of the little house that serves as TourMagination's office. If you're looking for that kind of vacation, Martin and his colleagues are happy to point you to another travel agency.
But if Paraguay, Romania or Kyrgyzstan is more to your liking, you're in luck.
TourMagination takes its clients to the world's most obscure places -- and to some that are less obscure -- to "build bridges among Christians and other faiths around the world and try to get people out of their normal box of thinking," in Martin's words.
TourMagination tours take in all of the tourist sights, but also fit in visits to sites of Mennonite historical interest and current Mennonite aid projects.
For example, a recent voyage tocinclu South America ded not only cand Iguazu Falls but visits to a leprosy ministry and a school for deaf children.
Tours to Europe make sure to stop at sites from the era of the Anabaptists, the precursors of the Mennonites.
Other tours, such as a recent trip to Antarctica, have less of a religious focus but still give travellers a chance to meet, talk and pray with fellow Mennonites and people of Mennonite background in their tour group.
Over a couple of weeks, travellers often form tight bonds. One group that visited Germany and Israel in 1990 still keeps touch, Martin says. Back then, TourMagination was a less formal organization operated part-time by people in the North American Mennonite community. The business was founded in 1970 by two employees of the Mennonite Publishing House in Scottdale, Pa.
Martin, an American who moved to Canada for Bible school in the 1960s, became more involved with TourMagination in the 1980s and 1990s.
He eventually purchased the company with his wife Janet and had to choose between the travel agency and his day job heading Habitat for Humanity Canada.
He left Habitat in 2000 and turned TourMagination into a full-time business. He says he made the choice after realizing how group travel can change people's lives and perceptions.
"I saw my calling is to build peace and bridges among humanity," he says.
Martin says travelling the world has helped him to understand that behind the machinations of international politics, people around the world share many similarities. He was surprised at how much the mealtime rituals he shared with Muslim villagers in Tajikistan reminded him of his own upbringing in Pennsylvania.
On the same trip, following the route of a 19th century Mennonite migration, an American traveller was disabused of his fears of Muslims by interacting with them in the mosques and markets of Central Asia.
"He came out of there a changed person," says TourMagination tour leader Ed Epp, formerly a vice-president at Mennonite Economic Development Associates. "He came out of there and said, 'Those are people.' "
Cusco Legacy
In Peru, we all know that pictures of the Cusco School deserve a very important place in the discussion, research and trade of local art. But little is known of its history, importance and contributions to universal art.
Even though pre Hispanic American cultures developed a rich tradition in the handling of form and color, they did not use the form of canvas or picture as a way of expression. Although ceramics, goldsmith’s or silversmith’s trade, architecture, wall paintings and pre Columbian textiles, contain a wide variety of colors and forms, abstract as well as representative, it was only with the arrival of Spaniards, that the European concepts of “canvas”, “picture”, “artist”, painter”, technique” or “school” were imposed, as well as the relations among them.More than one hundred years had to pass in order that the difficult interaction of both worlds – native and European – would give birth to the Cusco School, which is considered by many, as the first expression of American cultural syncretism.Although the pre Columbian American culture was a mix of various and heterogeneous cultures, at the arrival of the Spaniards, the Inca consolidation process had succeeded centralizing in Cusco the best artists of the region, those who provided the royal coffers with the objects that – with art, light and color- enhanced their magic, political and religious power.It is not surprising that it was precisely there, in Cusco, where the fusion of the native and European cultural traditions, had its origin. But the process took more than one hundred years until the beginning of the 17th century. In comparison with the speed of current technology, in the past everything went in a slower pace.The so called Cusco School, was completely established by the 18th Century, as an original and firm American culture, expressed in wall paintings as well as in partitions and particularly, in canvas. Even though the artists who developed this culture did not come only from Cusco, that city was its cultural center par excellence, as Vienna was so for the classic music. They took from here to America and Europe, these canvas which, in spite of keeping the undeniable European baroque influence, they exhibited important local innovations in the materials, techniques, icons and subjects, to a limit that many times it defied in a tacit but firm manner, the Spanish power of those times.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Peru's Chess Federation changes rules - Top players may not see Olympics
If the Peruvian Chess Federation does not put its initial regulations back into effect, the country's top female chess players will not be able to take part in the 2008 World Chess Olympics to be held in Germany.Complications began when the Peruvian Chess Federation announced that regulations had been changed and that female chess players could not automatically qualify to play in Germany but would have to take part in a qualifying match in La Oroya, a town outside of Lima in the Andes.Despite the fact the Federation had officially announced last year that International Masters Luciana Morales (ELO 2189) and Deysi Cori (ELO 2280) would represent the country at the World Chess Tournament, it has stated that rules had been changed and they would have to attend the qualifying match in La Oroya.According to Milton Iturry, the head of the Andean country's Chess Federation, female players can no longer automatically qualify for the World Tournament.In an ambiguous explanation to El Comercio daily, Iturry stated that only Emilio Córdova and Julio Granda could automatically qualify because there was "a much bigger difference"."In the case of the women, the level is much more even," said the head of the Federation.Because Luciana Morales lives in Beijing with her mother, she has affirmed that she will not be able to attend the event in La Oroya, which Iturry has stated "is nearby, just three hours outside of Lima".Morales has affirmed that changing regulations is a lack of respect on behalf of the Federation, stating she was the captain of the female team at the last Olympics and is one of Peru's three female International Masters.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Gaston residents travels to Peru
The Gaston College Study Tours Program recently visited Peru.
During the one-week tour, participants traveled to attractions and cultural centers in a variety of cities and sampled a diverse array of Peruvian food.
One of the most educational and breathtaking places on the trip was the city of Cusco, the ancient Inca capital in the Andes which is located around 10,000 feet above sea level. The unique characteristic of this city's millennial Peruvian past is displayed in its architecture, history, and art.
The next Gaston College Study Tour will be headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina, along with a visit to South America's most beautiful waterfall - Iguazu Falls, in the jungle on the Brazilian border
During the one-week tour, participants traveled to attractions and cultural centers in a variety of cities and sampled a diverse array of Peruvian food.
One of the most educational and breathtaking places on the trip was the city of Cusco, the ancient Inca capital in the Andes which is located around 10,000 feet above sea level. The unique characteristic of this city's millennial Peruvian past is displayed in its architecture, history, and art.
The next Gaston College Study Tour will be headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina, along with a visit to South America's most beautiful waterfall - Iguazu Falls, in the jungle on the Brazilian border
Peru’s minister of tourism asks to speed up China free trade deal
Peru's minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Mercedes Aráoz reported today that a few days ago she sent a letter to her Chinese counterpart, Chen Deming, so that Chinese businessmen can determine their proposals and speed up Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.In this letter, we have reiterated to minister Chen Deming our request to clarify positions because they can not consider for the immediate tariff exemption those products that Peru proposed to be exempted in the long term.Araoz indicated that Peru is ready to continue negotiating the trade agreement but as long as there is a suitable openness by the Chinese counterpart.However, she ruled out that in the negotiation process there are struggles between both negotiating teams but every country gives priority to its own interests.With respect to the possibilty of signing the bilateral FTA in November - seizing the opportunity that Chinese president Hu Jintao will visit Lima for the Summit of Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) - Aráoz confirmed this is the date proposed by both countries.
Trio finish epic 10,000km bike rid
Two brothers from Northern Ireland and an English friend have completed a muscle-tearing 10,000km cycle from the southern tip of South America to the Caribbean coast of Venezuela.
Alastair and Colin Montgomery from Limavady and David Middlemass set off from the world’s most southerly city — Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego in December.
And after seven months in the saddle — which took them up the spine of the Andes in Argentina and Chile — they continued through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil, ending their charity marathon in Caracas, Venezuela.
All three gave up well-paid jobs, Alastair with the Bank of Ireland, Colin as an IT consultant in London, and David as a teacher of English in Spain.
And this week, they basked in the sunshine of the idyllic Caribbean island Isla de Margarita before heading back to Northern Ireland.
Of course, it had to happen — within a few kilometres of their destination, one of the bikes developed a major crack — but they managed to have it welded at a local technical college and went on their way.
Alastair said in his blog: “The class of apprentices were mad keen to do the job and we soon were on our way.”
A couple of days earlier, they were cycling through the jungle, “where we saw wild monkeys, otters, toucans, macaws, a lovely old tortoise and nearly cycled into the backside of a jaguar”.
It was a happy ending to an adventure of a lifetime which — after a flight via London and Buenos Aires — saw them start off in the summer of the far south, ride up the east coast of Tierra del Fuego and take the ferry to the mainland and the city of Punta Arenas in Argentina.
The mammoth cycle then continued along the Argentina-Chile border, which took in the famous Torres del Paine National Park and the Perito Glacier.
After a week’s stay in Mondoza, the most mountainous part was the crossing of the Bolivian border, through the salt flats there and on to the city of Potosi, which — at 4060 metres — is the highest in the world. And between Bolivia and Peru, they stopped to view Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake on the planet.
On then to Peru and a trip to Machu Picchu, the world heritage Inca site, and up the desert coast to the capital city of Lima.
In his blog, Alastair said: “We had planned to cycle through Columbia, but that proved rather dangerous, so we headed east and through Brazil and the Amazon basin.”
When they entered Venezuela, they were able to watch Spain beat Germany in Euro 2008, and go on their way rejoicing. And so to the Caribbean coast — having crossed the Equator after starting off near Cape Horn in the deep south.
In the final blog entry, Alastair writes: “We have just cycled from the extreme south to the extreme north of the continent — what a strange thing to do.”
The cycling trio say they did it for themselves and for charity — and the charity is UNICEF, for which they have set up a donation site through JustGiving.com.
Full details of their adventure canbe found on their website
Alastair and Colin Montgomery from Limavady and David Middlemass set off from the world’s most southerly city — Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego in December.
And after seven months in the saddle — which took them up the spine of the Andes in Argentina and Chile — they continued through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil, ending their charity marathon in Caracas, Venezuela.
All three gave up well-paid jobs, Alastair with the Bank of Ireland, Colin as an IT consultant in London, and David as a teacher of English in Spain.
And this week, they basked in the sunshine of the idyllic Caribbean island Isla de Margarita before heading back to Northern Ireland.
Of course, it had to happen — within a few kilometres of their destination, one of the bikes developed a major crack — but they managed to have it welded at a local technical college and went on their way.
Alastair said in his blog: “The class of apprentices were mad keen to do the job and we soon were on our way.”
A couple of days earlier, they were cycling through the jungle, “where we saw wild monkeys, otters, toucans, macaws, a lovely old tortoise and nearly cycled into the backside of a jaguar”.
It was a happy ending to an adventure of a lifetime which — after a flight via London and Buenos Aires — saw them start off in the summer of the far south, ride up the east coast of Tierra del Fuego and take the ferry to the mainland and the city of Punta Arenas in Argentina.
The mammoth cycle then continued along the Argentina-Chile border, which took in the famous Torres del Paine National Park and the Perito Glacier.
After a week’s stay in Mondoza, the most mountainous part was the crossing of the Bolivian border, through the salt flats there and on to the city of Potosi, which — at 4060 metres — is the highest in the world. And between Bolivia and Peru, they stopped to view Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake on the planet.
On then to Peru and a trip to Machu Picchu, the world heritage Inca site, and up the desert coast to the capital city of Lima.
In his blog, Alastair said: “We had planned to cycle through Columbia, but that proved rather dangerous, so we headed east and through Brazil and the Amazon basin.”
When they entered Venezuela, they were able to watch Spain beat Germany in Euro 2008, and go on their way rejoicing. And so to the Caribbean coast — having crossed the Equator after starting off near Cape Horn in the deep south.
In the final blog entry, Alastair writes: “We have just cycled from the extreme south to the extreme north of the continent — what a strange thing to do.”
The cycling trio say they did it for themselves and for charity — and the charity is UNICEF, for which they have set up a donation site through JustGiving.com.
Full details of their adventure canbe found on their website
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Colca Valley and Condors
AREQUIPA / COLCA
After your breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel in Arequipa, to start the wonderful journey through Pampa Cañahuas, a Natural Reserve that protects the most appreciated South American Camelids, the vicuña, which has the finest and most highly regarded fiber in the textile international market.
The road will lead us to the Colca Valley, where upon arrival, we will transfer you to the Libertador Colca Lodge. Let us suggest that during the night, accompanied by a bottle of wine, you bathe in the exquisitely warm thermal water pools, that exist in the lodge. This is a moment when you will have the feeling that you are able to touch the stars and the night sky. Luckily you will enjoy the splendid moonlight.
Overnight
After your breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel in Arequipa, to start the wonderful journey through Pampa Cañahuas, a Natural Reserve that protects the most appreciated South American Camelids, the vicuña, which has the finest and most highly regarded fiber in the textile international market.
The road will lead us to the Colca Valley, where upon arrival, we will transfer you to the Libertador Colca Lodge. Let us suggest that during the night, accompanied by a bottle of wine, you bathe in the exquisitely warm thermal water pools, that exist in the lodge. This is a moment when you will have the feeling that you are able to touch the stars and the night sky. Luckily you will enjoy the splendid moonlight.
Overnight
Machu Picchu destino preferido en Internet
Machu Picchu se ha convertido en un destino de primer orden mundial. La página web Iexplorer, una de las páginas web más visitadas por turistas de todo el mundo, y especializada en venta de paquetes turísticos vía Internet, ha posicionado al monumento Inca entre los mejores 10 destinos culturales del mundo de este año. Asimismo, la maravilla peruana figura como el destino más vendido del mes de dicho portal.
La calificación que realiza esta página servirá de recomendación de viaje para millones de viajeros que utilizan Internet como principal fuente de información para decidir su viaje.
Cabe destacar que National Geographic ubicó a la ruta Salcantay-Machu Picchu entre los 25 mejores nuevos viajes para realizar en el 2008.
Iexplore www.iExplore.com es una página especializada en turismo de aventura que recibe mensualmente más de un millón de visitas. Dicho portal durante los dos últimos años nos ubica entre los 10 mejores destinos.
Fundada en 1999, iExplore es uno de los líderes mundiales en venta online de paquetes turísticos. Fue elegida por la revista Forbes como el número uno entre los sites turísticos de aventura durante siete años consecutivos. Se especializa en presentar a su público actividades de aventura y cultura.
La calificación que realiza esta página servirá de recomendación de viaje para millones de viajeros que utilizan Internet como principal fuente de información para decidir su viaje.
Cabe destacar que National Geographic ubicó a la ruta Salcantay-Machu Picchu entre los 25 mejores nuevos viajes para realizar en el 2008.
Iexplore www.iExplore.com es una página especializada en turismo de aventura que recibe mensualmente más de un millón de visitas. Dicho portal durante los dos últimos años nos ubica entre los 10 mejores destinos.
Fundada en 1999, iExplore es uno de los líderes mundiales en venta online de paquetes turísticos. Fue elegida por la revista Forbes como el número uno entre los sites turísticos de aventura durante siete años consecutivos. Se especializa en presentar a su público actividades de aventura y cultura.
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