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The Americas
  • Greg Clayton
  • Daniel Tarpey
  • Greg Clayton
  • Daniel Tarpey

The Americas

A 149-day adventure by Greg & Daniel Read more
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  • The Americas

    Lucky Llama Irish Tavern

    June 17, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Next up it was time for some true Bolivian culture at the Lucky Llama Irish Tavern!

    We came here for 3 reasons: 1. Because they were showing France v Austria, 2. Because they served fish and chips and 3. Because they had a pool table!

    We spent the afternoon and evening here enjoying the football, pool, drinks, food and a number of mainly geographical based quiz questions!    Read more

  • The Americas

    La Paz Walking Tour

    June 18, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    This morning we headed out on the 10am walking your. We met our guide and group at Plaza Sucre, opposite the city centre prison. We started the tour learning all about how the minimum security prison operates such as that inmates have their own businesses inside and live their with their families (who can come and go as they wish). Over 3,000 people live in the prison, none of which are guards!

    We then headed on through the markets to learn about the local and traditional way of life in Bolivia, before heading on to the basilica and finally government square to better understand Bolivia's chequered and chaotic recent political history.    Read more

  • The Americas

    Cable Cars

    June 18, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    In and around La Paz there are 11 different cable car lines, all of which are practically brand new! We took 3 of the different lines to complete a semi-circular route around the city, up into the mountains and back down. The views were absolutely amazing over the city and surrounding mountains!Read more

  • The Americas

    Afternoon/Evening in La Paz

    June 18, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    After leaving the cable cars at Estacion Central we headed for lunch where I tried the traditional 'maté' tea. It just taste like hot water with leaves in to be honest. On the way to have lunch I was astounded to discover a Kumon centre, my first employer when I was 16.

    We went to two pubs in the evenings including watching the Portugal game, playing pool and doing more online pub quizzes before doing very well at trying to list every country in the world!    Read more

  • The Americas

    La Paz > Copacabana

    June 19, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    This morning we took the 11am minivan from La Paz to Copacabana, our final stop in Bolivia!

    The minivan completed the journey in sub-3 hours which was remarkably faster than the time suggested by Google, although given the drivers driving style this wasn't overly surprising.

    The journey had stunning scenery throughout and we also had to be ferried across a river at one point.    Read more

  • The Americas

    Arriving in Copacabana

    June 19, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Copacabana sits on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world at almost 4,000m above sea level!

    Once in Copacabana we checked into our lovely waterfront hotel and headed out to explore the small town and it's waterfront. We made time to watch both in person and televised football via a kids football tournament and Scotland v Hungry. For dinner we headed to a recommended Italian restaurant. It was very nice although we were the only people in there the whole time, I don't think Wednesday's in June are big in Copacabana.Read more

  • The Americas

    Arriving at Isla del Sol

    June 20, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    The main attraction from Copacabana is a day trip to Isla del Sol. Although it's not too far from Copacabana, the boat to get there is very slow so takes around an hour and a half.

    As you step off the boat you are greeted with an almost instant ascent into the village on the Southern part of the island.Read more

  • The Americas

    Views from Isla del Sol

    June 20, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    We spent a few hours wandering through the villages and footpaths of the island, taking in the views. We eventually made it to the peak of the island for panoramic views!

  • The Americas

    England v Denmark & Beyond

    June 20, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    In spectacular fashion we were able to find a restaurant with a TV which therefore might be able to show football! They didn't seem to have much idea what we were asking for so we were handed the remotes and managed to find ESPN just in the nick of time. The views were superb too and made for much better viewing than much of the game itself.

    After the full time whistle we meandered back down through the hills and villages to board the 4pm boat back towards Copacabana.

    Once back on the mainland we headed for an empanada dinner and looked at the different bus options to head to Arequipa tomorrow.    Read more

  • The Americas

    Entering Peru

    June 21, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    This morning we were booked onto the 9:30am bus(es) from Copacabana to Arequipa. After 15 minutes on the road we arrived at the border. Excellent service here as two guys actually jumped behind their desks to process the whopping 5 of us as quickly as possible.Read more

  • The Americas

    Changing in Puno & Arriving in Arequipa

    June 21, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    After a few hours and a few different minibuses we arrived into Puno. We had a couple of hours before our coach to Arequipa so we headed to the centre of town for some lunch.

    We boarded our coach which then took a few more hours to Arequipa where we arrived at around 9pm. We headed straight for bed as we were up at 2:45am in the morning to head to the Colca Canyon!Read more

  • The Americas

    En Route to Colca Canyon

    June 22, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    Our alarm went off this morning at 2:45am, ready for a 3:15am pick up. It was therefore a shock when I received a WhatsApp at 2:49am saying that our tour guide was ready to collect us. Unfortunately for them they had to wait.

    The initial journey was around 3.5 hours in the dark until we reached a cafe type establishment for breakfast.

    Once we'd finished breakfast if was light and we stopped off at a number of breathtaking viewpoints, including one to watch the condors.    Read more

  • The Americas

    Entering the Colca Canyon

    June 22, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    At 10am we began our trek into the canyon. The sun was beating down upon us and the views were once again spectacular. Things all went a bit wrong from here, but we'll get to telling that tale at some point!Read more

  • The Americas

    Cusco - First Impressions

    June 29, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    This morning I was awoken by Dan prodding me in the side telling me the first of the Euros round of 16 kicks off in less than 45 minutes!

    Feeling slightly worse for wear I pulled myself out of bed, got changed an we descended into the centre. To call Cusco hilly would be an understatement!

    When we reached the main square it turned out to be the day of the pride festival, and on the corner of said square is the highest Irish owned pub in the world! They couldn't get the tele working here so we headed a few doors down to another Irish pub which had a full English and BBC on the TV!    Read more

  • The Americas

    Afternoon/Evening in Cusco

    June 29, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    This afternoon we switched from one bar to another to watch Germany v Denmark which proved to be an entertaining affair!

    After this we decided to do some sight seeing, but not too much before heading back to the hostel pub for another night out, it was heaving this time!Read more

  • The Americas

    Sunday in Cusco

    June 30, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    This morning we were up and out at a reasonable time to drop off our laundry and secure a reasonable spot at the bar of the Irish bar for the England game!

    After 94 painful minutes and a lovely fish and chips it was a relief to see England draw level and finish the game as eventual winners.

    We had another wander up and down the town before returning to the hostel to play foot tennis and have dinner. We settled for an early night after a couple of late ones.    Read more

  • The Americas

    Monday in Cusco - 8 Months

    July 1, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    After 2 late nights on the bounce we settled fornan early night Sunday and early start on Monday. Before the Euros started for the day we went for a very lengthy haircut with positive results!

    We then ventured to a new Irish bar full to the brim of French and Belgians for the game of their respective countries and to enjoy a shepherd's pie.

    After going for a wander we returned to our usual Irish bar but didn't sit a the bar for shame of being seen sat there for the 3rd day running.

    We then went to collect laundry and our luggage before checking into an Airbnb for 2 nights. Quickly after checking in we had to go to a briefing ahead of Machu Picchu the next day before settling for an early night finishing off Clarkson's Farm with a takeaway!

    Also, 1st July marks 8 months away for me!    Read more

  • The Americas

    Inca Rail to Machu Picchu

    July 2, 2024 in Peru ⋅ 🌙 7 °C

    This morning we were picked up at 4am by a lovely headed minibus and taken on a 1.5 hour drive to Ollantaytambo. From here we boarded the 6:40am service to Machu Picchu town! The scenery was stunning throughout as the sun rose and we got to enjoy it for a little while than anticipated as the train in front of us broke down at one point!Read more

  • The Americas
    1

    Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town)

    July 2, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Aguas Calientes is the closest town to Machu Picchu. As we wound up through the spectacular hills it was becoming easy to see how the remote citadel of Machu Picchu ended up being named as a wonder of the world.

    After leaving Machu Picchu, we also returned to Aguas Calientes for a game of pool and a drink whilst we waited for our train back.    Read more

  • The Americas

    Machu Picchu

    July 2, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    After a long but picturesque journey we arrived at our second wonder of the world, Machu Picchu! A sacred Inca citadel in which the Inca's resided in the 1400's and 1500's, rediscovered in 1911.

    Only 5,600 people are able to enter the site each day, with 10 different designated circuits to follow to share the footfall across the site. We were designated circuit 1, one of the most popular routes as it includes the classic view over the citadel and Machu Picchu mountain.

    The scenery was absolutely breathtaking and I absolutely agree that Machu Picchu deserves to be a wonder of the world!    Read more

  • The Americas
    1

    Ascending to Rainbow Mountain

    July 3, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    This morning was another early start as we were collected at 4:45am to head to Rainbow Mountain! After a rather cold stop for breakfast we arrived at around 9am and began our ascent up the valley.

  • The Americas

    Rainbow Mountain

    July 3, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    After a short but steep ascent we arrived to Rainbow Mountain! One of the most famous and unique mountains in the world due to its seven colour structure. It was very very busy but that's understandable!

    This also marked a new (albeit very temporary) altitude record for us at 4,954m!    Read more

  • The Americas

    Ascending to the Red Valley

    July 3, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    Our next task was to take the short ascent from the Rainbow Mountain to the viewpoint for the red valley. The views over the snow capped peakes in the distance were alright in themselves!

  • The Americas

    Red Valley

    July 3, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Easy to see where it gets it's name! I have no other information to add other than what a spectacular view!

    Also breaking our altitude record again at 5,011m!

  • The Americas

    Leaving Cusco (and Peru)

    July 3, 2024 in Peru ⋅ 🌙 9 °C

    After 5 nights in Cusco of watching the Euros, exploring the town and it's surrounding natural wonders it was time to leave Peru to head to Asuncion (via Lima).

    With a wonder of the world, an altitude record, an earthquake and a double leg fracture, Peru was certainly eventful!Read more

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