Phyllis Does Peru with Globus

Our very own Phyllis Glaser has recently returned from a Globus tour to Peru. Here's what she had to say about her experiences:

My daughter Carol Miller and I just returned from a fabulous 11 day Globus Tour of Peru called “The Legacy of the Incas”. It was indeed an educational and cultural adventure- a history, geography, and geology lesson each day. Globus came through with flying colors in every aspect of the tour- deluxe hotels, excellent cuisine and above all, all-inclusive sightseeing.

The 6 hour flight to Lima was an easy one as there is no jet lag being that Lima is on Central time- 1 hour behind us. Our group of 28 was a very well travelled and diversified one- 15 USA, 10 Canada, 2 Australia and 1 South Africa- who had all been on Globus tours before and chose Peru this year because they are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of mystical Machu Picchu. Would you believe that our tour director Daniel Ferro lives in Boynton Beach in between all of his tours? He was indeed a fountain of knowledge and had a wonderful rapport with all of us.

Highlights of the sightseeing were as follows:

1. Lima- the capital city of 9 million is located on the Pacific Ocean, in between the Andean desert. Founded in 1535, we walked the historic center with it’s colonial Spanish heritage which blends in a few miles away with the modern $1+ million condos on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. A very vibrant financial and shopping mecca surrounds the area that also includes museums dedicated to pre- Columbian and Andean artifacts.

2. Nazca Lines –We drove the Pan American highway for 2 ½ hours to fly in a 10 passenger Cessna plane for a 90 minute flight over the mysterious and ancient Nazca Lines. Over 70 pre-Incan figures (hummingbird, monkey, spider, whale, etc) etched into the desert plateau in approximately 300BC. It was first noted from the air in 1927 and is now a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1994. We then spent the rest of the day and overnight at a Doubletree suites on the Bay of Paracas- the only place in the world where the desert meets the ocean.

3. Cusco/ Machu Picchu- We flew 75 minutes from sea level in Lima to Cusco at 10,000 feet. This beautiful city is the center of the Incas homeland. Known as the Sacred Valley, we toured outdoor fortresses and a living Inca town called Pisac before we arrived at the hotel Casa Andina which was a picturesque mountain lodge with breathtaking views.

The next morning we took a 1 ½ hour most scenic train ride – the only way to get to mystical Machu Picchu unless you want to hike up there for 4 days! Then it’s a 25 minute winding bus ride up the mountain, and there it is, the most spectacular site to behold- one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”. Carol and I had to pinch ourselves that we were really there- it truly is indescribable! Our group divided up- 14 in each so it was really a private tour for the next 2 ½ hours of climbing and, of course, descending over 250 steps of this legendary Incan ruins built from 1460-1470. Comprising over 140 structures that are an archaeological marvel, we just did the upper half that sunny 70 degree afternoon. The following morning after staying at another deluxe hotel that was built right into the mountain, we again toured the lower half but we now had our first time of rain; thank goodness it was more of a drizzle but that didn’t distract us from learning about how the Incas worshipped and also farmed this terraced land . Then it became the forgotten city for centuries even by the Peruvians until it was rediscovered in 1911 by Yale University explorer, Hiram Bingham.

4. Lake Titicaca-a 1 hour flight from Cusco to Juliaca, near the Bolivian border, brought us to this highest and largest navigable lake of its size in the world. There are more than 40 floating islands- Islas Uros-that we toured by motor boat to see how this primitive Uros tribe has lived for centuries on these islands made of reeds. Their native tongue is Aymara, not Spanish or Quechua like the rest of Peru . We sat around a campfire as our local guide explained their simple lives of weaving and fishing. Then we went to their island school where 20 precious kids ages 6-12 sang for our group. We were all absolutely enthralled by their lifestyle.

Then it was on to another unique island: Isla Taquile , where 350 Inca families still live carrying their supplies on their backs from the boat landing to their hill top village as there aren’t even any donkeys or llamas to do that chore. The women in colorful native clothing were weaving while the men were knitting and of course displayed their wares for us to buy. They then played their musical instruments made of reed tubes while they did a native dance and asked all of us to join them. Again, we were fascinated with their simple lifestyle.

As you can see, this Globus tour of Peru had so many aspects. One thing is certain-it was an experience that we will never forget. By the way, the Galapagos Islands can be added as a 6 day extension to this tour. If you now want to add Peru to your “bucket list” of places to see, I assure you that it will be a trip of a lifetime- just contact your Sand & C Travel consultant.

Check out my photos from Peru!

Sincerely,

Phyllis Glaser
Travel Consultant
Sand & C Travel

Book your very own trip to Machu Picchu with Globus here!

Argentina

Location: Argentina is located on the southern tip of South America. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the East, Chile to the West, with Bolivia, Paraguay, and Urugay to the North.
Capital: Buenos Aires
Climate: As Argentina is located below the Equator, the seasons are opposite of those in the US and Europe. The climate is generally temperate but also experiences extremes- the subantartic southern region, the mild central plains, and the extreme heat in the north. January tends to be the warmest month, while June and July tend to be the coldest.
Time Zone: Argentina uses the GMT -3 time zone. (Florida is GMT -5) Currently, Argentina does not observe daylight savings time but makes the determination on a year-by-year basis.
Electricity: Argentina uses 220V (voltage), 50 Hz (frequency), and type C & I plugs.
Currency: The currency in Argentina is the peso which is divided into 100 cents. ATM's are very common and can be found readily. Travelers Checks are not widely accepted, so you must go to a bank or travel agent in order to cash them. If you are looking to exchange money in Argentina, it is best to go to a bank or Currency Exchange Center. Many hotels also will exchange currency. While credit cards are mostly accepted, due to a poor economy it is likely you will be charged a high surcharge. View Argentinian currency

Exchange Rate: 1 USD = 3.956 ARS, 1 ARS = .252781 USD.

Click here to view the current exchange rate.
Population: 41,343,201 (July 2010 est.)
Country Code: The telephone country code for Argentina is 54.
Languages: The official language of Argentina is Spanish. Other languages commonly spoken include Italian, English, German and French.
Government: The goverment is a republic. The Executive branch is headed by the President- who is the head of state and head of government. The Legislative branch is governed by the President and two chambers of Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the Executive and Legislative branches.
Communication: Telephone land lines, cell phones, broadcast media, and the Internet are all widely used forms of communication. If you are bringing a cell phone to Argentina, make sure you have voltage and frequency adaptors as well as to notify your carrier. When dialing from a cellular device, dial the country code followed by the city code, and then the local number. Tips for making phone calls in Argentina.
Transportation: Travellers may rent a car but it is often quite costly. The most popular mode of transportation are the colectivos or micro omnibus (bus). There are taxis and remise, a type of taxi. Remise are often cheaper as they price of the trip is agreed upon prior. If you are travelling around Buenos Aires, you may take the ''subte'' (metro or subway). If you would prefer quick and comfortable transportation between Argentina and Uruguay, there is a Ferry service which can be expensive.
Entry: U.S. citizens for tourism or business only need a valid US passport and may stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Visitors will be charged an Entry Fee of $140 USD. This fee is a reciprocal charge in line with costs incurred by Argentinians when travelling to the US. This fee allows US citizens unlimited entry for up to 10 years.

Things To Do - Places To See

Buenos Aires

Iguazu Falls

Ushuaia

Mendoza: This lovely metropolitan city is located in the foothills of the Andes in the northcentral high plains, just across the border from Santiago. It is most popular for wine enthusiasts and adventure travellers looking to climb Aconcagua (the highest mountain in the western hemisphere), ski, hike, horseback ride, and raft. Mendoza is the largest wine producing region in Latin America and is one of nine cities worldwide in the Great Capitals of Wine.

Weird holidays around the world

These holiday traditions range from weird to down right strange-- from cockroach races in Brisbane to monster hunts in Gambia. Read on to discover how your counterparts around the world spend their holidays.

*Bathing in Beaujolais- Hakone, Japan
Enjoy a dip in a mix of wine, sake, green tea, and coffee while your own sommelier pours wine all over you and into your mouth.

*Cockroach Race- Brisbane, Australia
Watch as hundreds of roaches scuttle about while sipping a cold beer, tasty food off the barbie, live music, and an enthusiastic crowd.

*Sourtoe Cocktail- Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
This stomach-churning tradition has its roots in an honest mistake. Once you've participated in this odd tradition, you're officially welcomed into the Sourtoe Cocktail Club.

*Ramen Noodles Bath- The Yunessan Spa, Kaone, Japan
Visit the Yunessan Spa and take a relaxing bath in a 2m-wide pot of steaming broth. The chef dips and stirs the noodles around you while you bob up and down around them. Although awkward, this unusual spa bath is supposed to have cleansing properties.

*Ayahusaca Healing- Brazil, South America
Participate in a few hours of shamanic healing that experts have equated to 5 years of psychotherapy or 20 years of meditation. You're sure to experience a whole new level of enlightenment.

*'Ninki-nanka' Monster Hunts- Jungles of Gambia
Join expert cryptozoologists from The Centre for Fortean Zoology on a quest to prove the existence of the 'Ninki-nanka', a monster which these experts are convinced roams freely throughout the jungle-clad mountains chomping on unsuspecting people like bar snacks.

*Dracula Tour- Transylvania
Follow the same path as Jonathon Harker on this scary tour as you travel through the remote Carpathian Mountains. You'll stay at Hotel Castle Dracula, attend the Vampire Ball, and stop off at UNESCO-listed villages. If you like vampires and getting seriously spooked, this is for you.

*Alien Tours- Roswell, New Mexico
At this hub for alien addicts, visit and experience the musical parades, BBQs, alien crash-site tours, and the 'Alien Costume Contest'. Whether you're a believer or not, this makes for great family fun.


Read the full article here: Weird Holidays Around the World

Monograms: Travel Made Easy

Don't you wish you could travel without lifting so much as a finger on logistics AND have someone available at your beck & call to help throughout? It's possible. And affordable. Here's how it works:

When & Where

You choose a destination and date. Are your travels taking you to Europe, North America, South America, Asia, or the South Pacific?

Where to Stay

In each location, at least one hotel has been preselected to ensure that the level of quality is up to par and the location is near where you need to be. You may choose from the list provided or opt for one not listed.

Getting There & Getting Around

Transportation- be it from a dock, airport, or rail service- is taken care of. You'll never have to worry about how you're going to get from point A to point B. Based on when you intend to travel, all flights will be booked to perfectly coordinate with your travel plans. You'll benefit from Monograms' partnership with airlines and receive low airfares.

Things to Do

In conjunction with your destination, a variety of activities, attractions, and tours can be chosen. This selection includes the must-see sights of the city as well as other interesting things to do and see.

Chow Down

A full buffet breakfast, the most important meal of the day, is provided. For lunch and dinner, enjoy exploring a little and get a taste of the local culture.

Personal Service

From the moment you decide to travel until the moment you return home, you'll have access to a knowledgeable and helpful travel expert or local host to help with any questions or concerns. Prior to traveling, a travel expert will help you to understand and personalize your trip. Once you arrive, you'll have access to a local host who is able to provide information about the city, helpful hints and recommendations, and ensure you have what you need to make the most of your holiday. You'll have a 24-hour Service On Call phone number should you need anything.

Why?

You're likely wondering 'What's the point of using this? I could figure this all out on my own.' Well, yes, you could. But why would you when instead of spending days and multiple resources finding the same information you can take 10 minutes to choose, personalize, and book your entire trip. With a site such as Expedia, it may be slightly less expensive (likely about 5%), but you won't have access to the local host, transfers from the airport to your hotel or hotel to train station, etc. Also, you can avoid an experience like this! (After booking her entire trip & receiving all confirmations, upon arrival at the airport she was told her tickets were nonexistent.)
Additionally, more hotels, activities, & excursions have been added and prices are lower. This service is ideal for first time travelers, baby boomers, honeymooners, girlfriend getaways, families, and cruisers.