Apr 01 - Across Peru

 Apr 01 - Across Peru

Another early start, but one we were looking forward to. Today we board the Andean explorer for a 10 hour train journey through Peru to our next stop in Cusco. This train is operated by Belmond who run some of the best & most iconic hotels in the world along with the Orient Express.

Our 10 hour tickets had cost the princely sum of $166 including lunch and afternoon tea, so we had no idea what to expect.

We arrived at the train station in Puno to be met by liveried porters who took us to our carriage.

All aboard the Andean Explorer !!

Our tickets were for carriage A and we expected several coaches, but no……there was only one carriage with 35 seats (only 16 of us on board today though so loads of space – window seats all round !!

The train was wonderful. A beautifully restored old train with perfectly maintained wood panelling, gleaming brasses and some fantastic black & white framed photographs of its original days.

The Bar......Pisco Sour central !!

It had an observation car with an open back so you could stand an watch the world go by or take photographs. 












A lovely wood panelled bar and for food service in the carriage white tablecloths.

The seats were comfortable big armchairs and the service while really attentive, was friendly and accommodating , not fussy or stuffy.

For the four of us having just come through a pretty rough & ready week in Bolivia it was just the little touch of luxury we needed.

A 10 hour journey, lunch with wine and afternoon tea………….all for $166 dollars.  British Rail eat your heart out !!

Happy Travellers !!

The train set off on the narrow gauge track through the suburbs of Puno. Markets abounded one each side of the track and even on the track itself !! 

Goods left on the track as we pass over

The train runs four times a week back & forwards and is the only train on the track, so the local people know when to expect it. The train sounds its whistle and the locals slowly clear the track in front of it and then close in again after it passes. 







Some of the goods were left on the track as they knew the train clearance height meant it wouldn’t affect their goods !

Out of town, we settled in to watch the scenery as we followed the river through the mountains and valleys towards Cusco. 

Local children came out to wave and we spent many of the hours at the observation car taking photos and waving to children.

There was one 10 min stop where the train clears the main track to let the return train pass and within seconds we were inundated with villagers at the back of the observation car trying to sell us Llama toys, weaving and anything else they had. We of course had to have a llama 

The Llama selection....

and Mandy had a very attractive Alpaca fur hat complete with tail which when placed on the adjoining table looked like a sleeping cat !!  It’ll come in handy in Wales we think !

Cosy........

Trackside shopping complete, the onboard entertainment commenced showing us how to make Pisco Sours (the national drink from Pisco a grape spirit). A quiz at the end won Mandy (our local hooch specialist a free Pisco Sour) while Paul & Janette had to buy theirs !!

From there it was on to Peruvian music and dance which ended up with Janette dancing with the band leader and Paul doing traditional Peruvian carnival dancing with the dancer. These Pisco sours are lethal………..

And the band played on..........dancing next

Watch our Paul......she's coming your way !

It was a most relaxing enjoyable day. Just to sit in comfy seats and have nice things brought to us was a real treat and a good rest which we all needed. To do this with the lovely train and the beautiful scenery was just perfect and we all agreed it had been a wonderfully relaxing day.

Arriving in Cusco at 7pm we headed to our hotel which was a lovely traditional mansion with a series of little courtyards and only 10 minutes from the main Plaza de Armes.

However, the most important thing was …………..this was our rendezvous with Sheena & Eileen who had arrived from Lima in the afternoon.

Lassies on board !!!

 After much shrieking and hugging, more oxygen depletion as we caught up on all the news, by 9pm we only had the energy for a beer a quick bite and headed for bed…………..altitude is a wonderful way of enforcing early nights !!

Sheena & Eileen had just come up to 3.350m – a significant hike from Lima at sea level, so we will need to see how their altitude adjustment goes before being too adventurous. They had been told the usual horror stories so were fully expecting to keel over as soon as they got off the plane, however they looked remarkably okay if a bit tired by the time we arrived.

Steve is still suffering from the dreaded altitude but was now 500m lower and looking decidedly chirpier than the last few days at 3.900m.

Just great to have “The Lassies” with us !!!   Looking forward to the next week together.