karen corby's photography

Cuzco, Peru

Cuzco, hands down, was the most charming city in Peru.  Its old colonial feel is enough to sweep you off your feet.  We had two days in Cuzco to wander around before we started in the Inka Trail… Also, if you’re ever in Cuzco, I highly recommend Hotel Corihausi.  It was a beautiful quaint hotel seated on the hill behind Plaza de Armas.  Our “panoramic room #20” had a beautiful 180 view of the plaza and the city.   me, above plaza de armas   cuzco’s plaza de amras from afar   local chidren   local woman   boys will …

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Native People Around Lake Titicaca

We took a (11 hour!) bus ride from Copacabana, Bolivia to Cuzco, Peru.  It was exhausting.  We had one transfer in the city of Puno, Peru.  Just from the bus ride, Puno looked like a rather built-up but not very pleasant town – the exact opposite of Copacabana.  (The local floating islands, I’ve heard though, are supposed to be very interesting). The large windows on our tourist bus enabled some good shots of the streets…          

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Lake Titicaca

As if La Paz wasn’t high enough, our next stop was Lake Titicaca at 3,812m (12,507 feet).  We stayed in Copacabana on the Bolivian side (not to be confused with the other Copacabana in Brazil.) Unfortunately, a combination of rain and me feeling the altitude prevented us from exploring Isla del Sol.  Still, Copacabana was a very pleasant if sleepy place to spend a few days. The morning of our last day, I was feeling a bit better and was able to venture up to the summit of Cerro Calvario.  There was some puffing through the thin area to make it …

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Inkan Walls

Incan stonework is known for its large, well cut stone,  mortarless construction and expert precision.  Many different architects & builders worked on the different parts of Machu Picchu.  Some walls have a jumbled feeling.  Others, have an eerily modern “concrete” perfection to them. Different Incan walls in Machu Piccu: 

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El Alto Market

In our taxi tour of El Alto, we were able to catch a lot of locals through the window….      

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La Paz & El Alto, Bolivia.

a Paz is high.  At 3,600 meters (11,811 feet), you’re definitely up there.  And I felt it.  Even though i was talking Acetazolamide for altitude sickness, I had dizziness, blurry vision, shortness of breath, and migraine.  The first morning we took it very easy.  My boyfriend, the bastard – yes misery does love company – felt fine.  🙂 In the afternoon, I was feeling a bit better and we ventured up even higher by taxi to El Alto, the upstairs neighboring city.  At its highest point, El Alto is 4150 meters (13,615 feet).   El Alto is much poorer than La …

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Ronaldinho, Kaka, & the Brazilian Soccer Team

Those who know me know that I know nothing about soccer.  I played one season in the 4th grade… and then to everyone’s relief, I went back to softball. Not surprisingly, I am clueless about international soccer.  But the day we were in Lima, Peru was playing Brazil.  (Which made walking around the city on a Sunday even quieter… except for the periodic collective shots or groans at corner TV shops & bars.)  Peru ended up tying Brazil 1-1…. which I’m told is huge for Peru and a bit embarrassing for Brazil. On our flight out that night, we were …

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Paddington Bear

I have fond memories of reading Paddington Bear as a kid.  But I guess I didn’t actually remember much of the story. In Lima, I was surprised to see Paddington Bear in Peru… until a friend reminded me that Paddington Bear came from Peru. From Wikipedia: This gentle bear was found at Paddington railway station in London. …  He has arrived as a stowaway coming from “Darkest Peru“, sent by his Aunt Lucy (his only known relative, aside from an unnamed uncle who gave Paddington his hat), who has gone to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima. …

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Lima, Peru

We had less than 24 hours in Lima.  Our flight from the States arrived after midnight and we flew to Bolivia the next day at 8pm.    Most folks said recommended bypassing Lima completely, and we had planned on (mostly) taking their advice. A friend’s parents live in Lima, and we had the pleasure to spend the day with them.  (Thanks Islas!)  It was a lot of fun, and we were pleasantly surprised by the city.  The neighborhoods of Miraflores & Barranco were very charming, and Lima Centro was beautiful.  I guess the current mayor has done a lot for the …

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