South America

🥗🥗 Food in Brazil is simply amazing! 🥗 🥗

There are cheap buffet restaurants on every corner (plate portion about 2.50 euros! 🤑) & here you really have everything to choose from, whether healthy 🥦, greasy 🍔, vegetarian 🥬 or grilled 🍗! The plates are weighed (about 70 cents per 100 g). Beer or a delicious Caipirinha freshly mixed will cost you 2 euros (also at the beach!). I especially LOVE Acai, whether as a milkshake, ice cream, or bowl! It just tastes SUPER 😍!

When shopping, every little thing is packed in an extra bag. Usually even directly in 2! Whatever 🤷‍♀️

We've gotten used to always bringing a cloth bag 🤓

Museu do Amanhã😊

Museum of Tomorrow

Science, technology and knowledge in sustainability🌿

The museum was super interesting! But also somewhat frightening to see the "expected" future of the world… 🥺

Every day is great with my sweetheart! 🥰

Escadaria Selarón😊

by the artist Jorge Selarón

He called it "my homage to the Brazilian people".

You can't believe how crowded it was 🤯! People formed whole lines to get the "perfect" photo on the colorful steps 📸.

We just took one on the side 🤓. At 35 degrees and a lot of steps, we don't need to climb to the highest step 😝

Christ the Redeemer🤩

… one of the 7 new wonders of the world…

The Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain was really impressive at 30 meters high! 😯

But at least as cool was the amazing view! 🔨

And not to forget: the cool train ride through the jungle! 🍃

Cost: about 15 euros per person for entry + train ride // Tip: the earlier, the better & book on the official website! 😉

Walk over the market

Ohhh how I love markets! You never know what to eat or drink first.

Super cheap, freshly squeezed juice and traditional food! Yummy! 🤤 Yummy!🤤

Carnival🥳

A little taste of it 🎉

Once again, our dear friend Corona spoiled the fun for us ☹️. The carnival was canceled. Of course, the hotel prices were not canceled though, they were totally overpriced. Accommodations were at least twice as expensive as usual and almost fully booked weeks in advance 💸. Nevertheless, some people still partied in the streets. Most people were dressed liberally or in funny costumes 🤡. Many men and women were topless and mostly wore thongs or swimsuits 👙. It was absolutely crazy. Everywhere, there was a good mood. People were covered in glitter, painted in bright colors, and dancing wildly in the streets 💃🕺!

The fact is: We want to experience the real carnival! That's why we're coming back at the end of April (new date for this year's carnival).

Beach Meet up ☀️

That's why I love Facebook so much! We found a great group that regularly meets up at the beach.

Together, we chatted a lot and enjoyed some delicious passion fruit cocktails! 😍

Afterwards, we indulged in some delicious pizza! 🤤🍕

Pão de Açucar

Hike to Sugarloaf

It took about 40 minutes steep uphill. We were surrounded by magnificent plant life! 🌿

Unfortunately, we didn't see any monkeys or snakes, but we did see a Blue-chinned Sapphire hummingbird 😍

Good to know:

It is also possible to take the cable car up. There are two stages. You can hike up to the first stage, but you need a cable car ticket for the second stage!

The next few days, we saw the beautiful

Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

☀️☀️ Small conclusion from Rio de Janeiro ☀️:

Rio is totally beautiful 🥰! The wide beaches, the delicious food, the fruity cocktails, the party-crazy people, and the impressive sights.

Unfortunately, there are, as in almost every country, also downsides here… Every day you are confronted full-on with the homelessness of people. They lie around randomly on the sidewalks. Among them, the garbage and one, two cockroaches. Feet as black as I have never seen them in my life. Some beg, some desperately try to sell something, and others just lie motionless. Definitely, there are also drugs in play more often. One day I even saw a child lying on the sidewalk. Opposite him, his father. Just terrible… 😔

But now it's time to say goodbye to Rio again! 👋🏻

We'll see you again soon! Keep your fingers crossed that the carnival won't be canceled again!

Next Stop: Cumbuco

The drinks

• National Drink: ,"Pisco Sour"‘

made from grape brandy, egg white, lime juice, and a bit of sugar.

• Chicha Morada

Made from cinnamon, sugar, pineapple, purple corn, and clove.

• Coca - Tea

Made from coca leaves, similar to green tea.

• Inca Kola

Extremely sweet with a bubblegum-like taste, similar to Mountain Dew.

• Freshly squeezed juices

All kinds of fruit juices are available.

The food

Local restaurants are abundant and cheap.

 They are super cheap and tasty as well!

Prices approximately:

1-2 Euro for Chaufa (rice, vegetables, chicken, egg)

3 Euro for a burger menu with fries and a drink

2-3 Euro for various soups

4 Euro for higher-quality meat dishes

The touristy restaurants are roughly twice-three times the cost.

• Try the national dish Ceviche: .

Raw fish with accompaniments.

• Enjoy a Crepe with fruits.

A fruit dream!

• Churros

similar to filled doughnuts.

• Dulce Leche

Taste Dulce de Leche, similar to Nutella.

• Chaufa or Aeropuerto

a rice dish with various vegetables, chicken, and egg.

• Arroz con Leche

just arroz con leche ^^

• Soups

There are hundreds of soup variations.

• For the adventurous - Try Cuy!

a type of guinea pig.

• Craving European food?

You'll find good pizza, pasta, potato dishes, burgers, and more.

For Fruit Lovers:

• Granadilla (Genus: Passion Fruit)
• Prickly Pear (Cactus Fruit)
• Chirimoya (Taste: Banana, Pineapple, Cinnamon)
• Yellow Pitahaya (Dragon Fruit)
• Watermelon
• mango

Should I give tips?

Definitely! Locals appreciate even 1-2 Soles (30 cents). 

The Weather:

Naturally, the weather depends on the seasons. We were there during the rainy season in December, and apart from occasional 15-minute showers or a rainy night, there wasn't much to notice. 

Also good to know:

Peruvians apparently don't like to heat places. Often, it's very cold in establishments, so you often see people sitting there with jackets.

People:

• Incredibly friendly and helpful. 
• They live very family-oriented lives and work long hours, even at a very old age.  

• Many don't speak English, so knowing basic Spanish words is helpful.

Nature:

Breathtakingly diverse. Peru has so much to offer in terms of natural beauty.

Accommodations:

Standards may not match those of Europe, but most hotels are clean and well-maintained.

Sanitary Facilities:

• Toilet paper goes in the trash, not the toilet.

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• Make sure to bring your own toilet paper as it may not always be available. 

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Hygiene:

Good. As mentioned in my other blog articles, it takes some getting used to. Especially in the markets, people often have long, dirty fingernails, and the meat is left in the blazing sun. Flies crawl over some uncovered meat, and dead guinea pigs are stacked in a plastic bucket, while the fruit is placed among free-roaming dogs, on a tarp, on the ground.

Don't be discouraged! We didn't have any stomach problems, so it can't be all that bad! Just wash everything thoroughly, and you'll be fine!

Additionally, you have the option to spend a bit more money and achieve a higher level of hygiene!

Altitude:

Keep in mind the extreme differences in altitude between places. Altitude sickness (dizziness, headaches, etc.) is not uncommon, so prepare before your travels!

Safety:

Peru is one of the safest countries in South America! Of course, you should still keep an eye on your belongings, but that's a general rule anywhere in the world.

The Police:

In the city, the police are often overtaken by cars without any reaction. In Germany, you would have been stopped 10 times already. It's a different world. Definitely!

The police even run red lights... 

Currency:

The currency here is the Peruvian Sol.

1 Euro is approximately 4.5 Sol.Traffic: 

Traffic:

"Insane" is the right word, I think! Red lights are often ignored. Honking is constant. The cars drive very closely and all look quite damaged. There are many road damages, and people don't often wear seatbelts here. We prefer to avoid renting a car. Driving yourself is definitely risky.

Transportation Options:

Of course, you can also take the bus here, but it's usually overcrowded. It's best to use UBER, as you can get from A to B relatively safely and at a reasonable price. However, be prepared to ride without a seatbelt here too... Don't just hop into any random taxi!

Conclusion:

Peru is definitely a country that I would recommend to everyone. It's especially great:

• if you love nature
• enjoy hiking
• love to indulge in local cuisine
• want to live affordably 
• want to experience a new culture
• and want to immerse yourself in a completely different world.  

Read more

• Lima Travel Report — Peru's Capital Between Cuisine & Culture
• Cusco Travel Report — Inca Capital, Rainbow Mountain & Tips
• Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu — 5 days hike Peru

The first day of the new year

Once again, we dared to board a bus that should transport us to Puno for 8 hours. Once again, we regretted it. The bus felt like it was 50 degrees Celsius inside, and without air conditioning, it was quite uncomfortable. Additionally, every single seat was occupied, and it felt like everyone was breathing too much. Fortunately, after a few hours, we managed to secure seats in the lower compartment of the bus where the temperatures were more bearable. So, this is how we started the new year. In a stuffy, shaky bus, haha.

But not too bad, because we were on our way to our next adventure!

Uros Floating Islands

Once we arrived, we hopped on a boat to visit the so-called "Uros Floating Islands." Uros Floating Iceland ".

It's a very impressive group of islands floating on the water, built from totora reeds.

Fascinating! Many families live here right in the middle of Lake Titicaca.

A local explained to us briefly how it all works. Apparently, the reeds have a very thick root that floats on the water's surface. If you connect several pieces of roots together, they grow together after a few years. Then, reeds are laid out in a cross shape on the ground, and voila! You have the foundation to build a shelter.

It's somehow completely unimaginable: a "floating" home on the water. But for the families here, it's completely normal. 

The fact is: We have to try this.

"Sleeping on a floating island in the middle of the famous Lake Titicaca once!"

An incredible panorama unfolded. Pure tranquility and fabulous sunsets. 

Of course, kayaking and canoeing were also part of the experience!

The traditional boats are filled with collected plastic bottles so they don't lose their buoyancy.

But, like almost everywhere in the world, not everything is perfect here either. 

Due to COVID-19, tourism has almost completely dried up, which used to finance the lives of the locals. As a result, many families have to move to the city to find work. There is also a school on the floating islands, which has been closed for months due to COVID-19. No education for the children... Even in the city, schools remain closed!

Next stop: Arequipa

Read more

• Peru Travel Tips — Costs, Route & Practical Information
• Cusco Travel Report — Inca Capital, Rainbow Mountain & Tips
• Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu — 5 days hike Peru

The Horror Trip from Paracas to Cusco

Once again, we booked a bus. This time, the journey was supposed to be a bit longer. A whopping 18 hours! Last time, we had a great experience. We sat upstairs in a double-decker bus, the ride was great, and we could lie down perfectly. Now, we add 14 hours to that, and it's an absolute catastrophe!Crap! Our seats were in the lower section and right at the back of the bus. So, we couldn't adjust our seats all the way back like the other people. First problem. Moving would have been a solution if the whole bus hadn't been packed. Second problem: Right behind us was the air conditioning, and it wasn't by any means quiet. At one point, our entire lunch bag flew through half the bus and rolled into what seemed to be leaked toilet water in the corridor. Lovely! But we couldn't really eat anyway, as we were constantly sliding from A to B or bouncing up and down due to the 1000 curves, mountains, potholes, and whatever else there was. The fact is: We were not feeling well at all! An absolute horror trip!

We made 10 crosses when we finally reached Cusco!

Welcome to Cusco

An impressive city, located at an altitude of 3400 meters! The highest mountain in Germany can't compete with that. Here in Cusco and the surrounding area, you'll first learn about altitude sickness. The higher you are, the less oxygen you have. So, if you travel or climb too quickly to a higher altitude, symptoms like headaches, nausea, dizziness, or fatigue can occur. 

Now we're somewhat unsure if we might have perceived our bus journey as an extreme horror trip for this reason too! It took a while for our headaches to go away and our well-being to become more bearable again. 

Here are some pictures of Cusco:

We were finally looking forward to our Airbnb. Huge kitchen, large bedroom, living room with TV. Nice. However, at 9 degrees Celsius without heating, not so nice. Actually, we didn't pay attention to whether heating was included when booking (since it was definitely a given for us). No dice. It was colder in our apartment than outside. After a long back and forth with the landlady and contacting the Airbnb team, she finally brought us a space heater. She took a photo of the electricity meter and explained that we would have to pay for the consumption at the end of the stay. So, the landlady wasn't really friendly and showed no understanding that we didn't want to freeze in our apartment (or sit at the table with a winter jacket). Thankfully, Airbnb had a different opinion, and we didn't incur any additional costs. 

Somewhat recovered from the horror bus tour and finally warmed up by our new space heater, we went on a tour of the beautiful city of Cusco!

San Pedro Market and Plaza de Armas

First, we went to the San Pedro Market.A huge market full of small food stalls, groceries, and clothing stores with local products. The best part was definitely the delicious avocado toast with fried cheese for only 3 soles (about 80 cents).

Here, we also bought the so-called Coca Leaves..

A few facts about dried Coca leaves:

• Tastes like green tea.
• Effect: comparable to coffee
• Can be drunk as tea
• Traditionally, about 10 leaves are rolled together, chewed a little, and then left in the cheek for 20-30 minutes. 
• Supposed to prevent altitude sickness (helps to suppress fatigue, hunger, and cold)
• No risk of addiction
• Illegal in Germany (so unfortunately, we can't bring any for you to try!)

Next, we went to the old town to the"Plaza de Armas".A beautiful square with old houses and their beautiful wooden balconies. Everything is decorated for Christmas, there are small food stalls on every corner, or vendors walking around with their alpacas. And alpacas are soooooooo cute!!! Overall, the city is very clean. However, there are a lot of free-roaming dogs here, so there is a lot of poop on the ground just outside the city center. Also, here again, you could easily disappear into a huge hole in the middle of the sidewalk (So: Watch your Steps!). 

Here in Cusco, it's not uncommon to see dead, plucked chickens for sale everywhere on the ground, tables, or in plastic buckets, or even the delicacy "Guinea Pig" (a type of guinea pig).

Beautiful in the bright sun, and not uncommonly, some insects crawl over them. Clean, cut fingernails or any kind of gloves are not often seen on the sellers. The right word here, I think, would be: takes getting used to. But I think anyone who has been to Asia is toughened up! So, Max and I still eat the meat, and for some reason, we have no stomach problems at all. Thank goodness! The food here is just insanely delicious and super cheap! You just shouldn't look too closely 😉 ! If someone now says, "I wouldn't eat that" - good luck finding something to eat. Without chicken? Without pork? Hardly possible. Of course, there are vegetarian options here too. But our vegetarian options ordered in restaurants looked something like this: Sandwich with sausage or rice with vegetables and occasionally accidentally one, two, three small pieces of chicken. If you go to the really local restaurants, there's a 99% chance that there won't even be a dish without meat, and you'll get some strange looks if you just want to order vegetables with rice. They won't do that. I suppose many dishes are already prepared and mixed beforehand, so it's not possible to just leave out the meat. Of course, there is somehow the possibility to survive as a vegetarian, but it's hard. At least harder than in Germany! They have fresh vegetables and fruit, but you just have to be careful about what and where you order.

Pictures speak louder than 1000 words:Pictures speak louder than 1000 words:

Cusco has half a million inhabitants and was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Therefore, you can book tour after tour here to learn about the life and culture of the Incas. For this, we got a combination ticket, the so-called"Boleto Turistico"This cost 130 soles and was valid for 10 days.

Maras and Moray — Salt Terraces and Inca Site

We first did the Maras y Moray Tour:

Moray is an ancient Inca site and was used for agriculture back then. For example, a lot of potatoes were planted in various varieties and colors. The water seeps away through the stones underground, so that there is no large accumulation of water.

For only 10 soles (2 euros extra), we could visit a mosaic of 4000 salt fields near Cusco

Furthermore, during the tour, we were also shown how various fabrics are made. What was particularly interesting was the source of their colors. For instance, tiny parasites lurk on cactus leaves, which release a red liquid when squeezed.

Later, we strolled through the beautiful Christmas market in Cusco, which was located right on the Plaza de Armas. Normally, the market only takes place once a year on the 24th of December, but due to Corona, it was spread out over a few days. There was mulled wine, candied apples, cotton candy, or lard cakes on every corner. Super tasty! With 1000 people bustling around, it was sometimes quite difficult to get from point A to point B. There's a lot to tell about Cusco, but in the next few days, I'll first share our very special adventure.

Onward to the Salkantay Trek

We embarked on one of the TOP 25 hikes in the world! The so-called Salkantay Trek''! 

Next stop: 5 days of pure wilderness!

We set off for the small town of Paracas, located about 3 hours southeast of Lima. For this journey, we used a bus for a few Euros, which even had nicely adjustable and padded seats. Perfect!

As we departed, Max placed his newly purchased black sunglasses in the side compartment. There was a couple sitting next to us. A woman with slightly curly, reddish hair, wearing glasses, and aged between 40 and 50. Beside her, a slightly younger, slender man with a colorful cap.

Upon our arrival in Paracas, we queued at the luggage counter to collect our backpacks. Suddenly, Max realized he had left his sunglasses on the bus. The couple behind us seemed very nervous, but at first, we didn't think much of it. The search was futile. When I asked the couple if they had seen the sunglasses, the woman nervously waved her hands and avoided any eye contact. However, the man showed me his grayish glasses that he was wearing and insisted that I take a closer look at them. Something definitely seemed off, but unfortunately, we couldn't search them. So, we left it at that and collected our backpacks. Shortly after, the woman came back to us and, with her slight French accent, said, "The sunglasses were in the side compartment, right?". We agreed. However, that seemed to be just a passing comment from her. But it made us even more suspicious. At least it was only "the sunglasses".

Eventually, we moved on, this time without the sunglasses. 

The next day, we had a beautiful sunny weather for a boat tour to the Ballestas Islands.  We had never seen so many birds gathered in one place in our lives! The large rock protruding from the water was completely covered with these beautiful creatures! In between, we could also spot a few penguins and sea lions. It was an incredible day and definitely a MUST SEE!

After the tour, we took a leisurely walk along the harbor at sunset.  

Paracas was a really beautiful place and definitely worth a visit!

ICA

Originally, we only went to ICA to take the desert tour from there. But now, our stay will probably be remembered for a bit longer. Our hotel had a huge lounge with a pool table, a TV room, a kitchen, and a ping pong table. The room was surrounded by windows with a great view of the city. We often sat there to work. One or two windows were open, and at some point, a pigeon flew in. It tried for a long time to get out, repeatedly pecking at the window with its beak. Alright! We were sure: this pigeon needed help! We tried to carry it out with a broomstick. At first, it seemed very promising, but towards the end, not so much. The pigeon got scared and flew directly to the opposite side. There, it crashed with full force into the window and then fell to the ground. Oh god. It lay motionless. Is it still alive? Is it maybe unconscious? No idea??? Google to the rescue. We followed the instructions and placed it hopefully in the shade, checking on it from time to time. After 2 hours without any movement, it gradually dawned on us that we probably weren't the best rescuers for pigeons. 

Huacachina – Desert Tour

In Huacachina, we went on a dune buggy tour with sandboarding. Pure action! The driver of our jeep pressed hard on the gas pedal. We sat right in front and raced up and down extremely steep dunes. I felt like we were about to tip over or slip on the sand the whole time. Max was more relaxed about it. Sometimes the driver would drive right up to the edge and brake abruptly. Heart attack! At the top of a huge sand dune, we grabbed the sandboards. When I looked down, I was sure that I would definitely not survive sliding down the dune with the board and decided it would be better not to do it (...and I never have a fear of heights!!!). A few other group members shared the same sentiment. It didn't take long before Max was ready for the descent. He was the very first one to slide down the huge dune. When he safely reached the bottom, he shouted encouraging phrases like, "Not so bad" and "It's so much fun!". Eventually, I gathered all my courage (it probably doesn't look as dramatic in the pictures and videos, but once you're up there!...) and went down. And it was really FUN! I think that's the most impressive thing about traveling. You do things you never thought you'd do or overcome fears that eventually lead to an unforgettable experience! And of course, having such a great travel partner as I do, nothing can really go wrong. After sliding down almost every dune many times, we finally watched one of the most beautiful sunsets in the middle of the desert landscape. Infinite beauty.

Next stop: Cusco

Good to know:

Here, too, we realized that you should at least master the basic words in Spanish. Not many people in South America speak English.

Luckily, we've been learning Spanish for more than half a year now and can communicate very well. However, I have to admit that Max is a bit ahead of me, but I'm following closely :D!

A few hackson how we learned a new language (and what we would have liked to know right away):

1. Most people use Duolingo or Babbel, but I have to say that these apps didn't really motivate us. Both of us useMemriseAn app that remembers your progress in learning and quizzes you again after a certain time. Plus, you see short video clips in which the locals speak the words with their own accent.
2. There's also a brilliant app called ItalkiThere, you can book an online tutor for as little as $5 an hour (it's easier to find a teacher on the platform who teaches you a new language in English). Additionally, you can categorize your goals (just speaking, learning grammar...). We personally use it just to have conversations!
3. Additionally, I can recommend the app tandem . It's a platform where you can communicate with people from all over the world. The model is designed so that you teach them your language and they teach you theirs. Some just want to speak in their native language, which is even better for us. Plus, you also have the opportunity to call people there, which is great practice for learning a new language as quickly as possible, and it's free. The app is free,even though it doesn't seem like it at first (only premium members pay, and that's not really necessary)!

We speak in the other language as much as possible. Read texts, watch YouTube videos or movies with subtitles, listen to stories or foreign radio, and create fun images from the most

We made it!

Without any problems, we were able to take our flight to Lima, the capital of Peru. The flight was breathtaking! Perhaps partly due to Peru's COVID regulations. "Wearing two masks is mandatory here." But mainly because of the beautiful landscape, with the huge mountains covered in clouds and the endless expanse.

When we arrived in Lima, we were immersed in a completely different world.

The streets were clean, no visible poverty, people well-groomed, plants blooming everywhere, and the place exuded safety.

But the best part is that there's a total Christmas atmosphere here. The street lamps are adorned with fairy lights, playing Christmas music around the clock (which can also get annoying!). Christmas garlands are hung everywhere, and you can buy candied apples and cotton candy on the streets. A type of pastry similar to Schmalzkuchen was even available, but about 10 times tastier than those in Germany.

And the churros here are incomparable! They're filled with Dulce de Leche. A type of Nutella made from milk, sugar, and vanilla. 

We expected a lot of dirt and high crime rates from such a big city. But actually, Peru is one of the safest countries in South America. A city to fall in love with and definitely worth a visit! The temperatures are currently between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius. Google only shows rain, but luckily, we haven't experienced any so far! 

One of our highlights in Lima

The Parque de la Reserva

For just 1 Euro entrance fee, we saw an incredible light-water show. In the background, the many skyscrapers sparkled.

The Parque del Amor

The Park of Love. Flowers were blooming everywhere, with small birds sucking nectar from them. Thousands of love locks hung on the railings. Vendors, newly married couples, a few stray dogs, tourists, locals, and a lot of pigeons could be found here. Plus, there was a beautiful view of the South Pacific.

Other attractions, such as the Basílica y Convento de San Francisco, Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, and the Historic Centre, should not be neglected either!

We also visited some markets. For new clothes, you shouldn't miss Polvos Azules . A huge market where you can get literally everything. There are 1000 different brand products here at an ultimate bargain price.

For example, I bought a well-made North Face rain jacket here for 15 Euros, instead of 120 Euros.

It has already passed the waterproof test in the shower!

Mercado Central

Here you can get all kinds of food. Peruvian national dish Ceviche is particularly common here. It consists mostly of squid. It wasn't really for me, but Max was pleasantly surprised. We both liked the fried calamari rings the most. The aisles of the market are all very narrow, and everything seems a bit crowded. 

Lima is definitely a very, very diverse city. Just when you turn a street corner, a new incredible place awaits you. But you don't want to drive here. They drive here like "crazy." Similar to Asia, except here it's cars honking constantly instead of scooters.

The cost of living is very low. For a good double room with a private bathroom and a large TV, you pay around 15-20 Euros per night. You can have lunch in local restaurants here for as little as 1.20 Euros (that usually lasts for two days, the portions are so huge!). A cinema visit costs 3-4 Euros per person. Perfect!

Next stop: Paracas

Read more

• Peru Travel Tips — Costs, Route & Practical Information
• Paracas & Huacachina — desert oasis in Peru
• Cusco Travel Report — Inca Capital, Rainbow Mountain & Tips