The Wonder of China

Ever since I learned as a child that you could see the Great Wall of China from space I wanted to see it. How a structure so magnificent was built in ancient times without half of the technology we have today? After many years of planning I landed in Beijing. What a culture shock! I was told the language barrier was going to be somewhat of a challenge but I didn’t grasp the extent of it until I got there. After some well needed rest and many misunderstandings I arrived at the Great Wall of China.

The wall was endless. You could see it going and going until your eyes can’t see any further. It goes up and down hills, goes left and right similar to a snake.  At the gate, I was given the option of going through the easy path to the right or the difficult path to the left. Of course I choose the difficult path! Why would I take the easy way after flying literally across the world? On a side note, I didn’t Google or YouTube the Great Wall of China prior to my trip to keep the element of surprise. With that said, my expectations were very different from reality. 

First, there are thousands and thousands of steps. I always thought it was entirely flat. Second the steps are not even. I don’t know if you ever had to climb on uneven steps but is very difficult. One step could be 2.5 ft tall while the next one is 10 inches short. Yes, that different! This makes it very easy to misstep. Thirdly, the steps were extremely steep. At times, the steps were so steep you couldn’t see the top. It almost looked like a wall. 

I’ll admit climbing up gave me a rush. I honestly thought any misstep and I would fall into the wilderness and never be seen again. It might sound dramatic but after an hour climb you would probably think the same. I climbed all the way to the 14th fortress. The station was located on a peak where it had amazing views of China’s wilderness. There I got to take it all in. I felt so accomplished and proud of myself. After all, only very few people reached this point. You could see the tourists all the way down on what seamed like miles away.  Reflecting on that day, I truly appreciate being able to see in person the amazing structure and details of the wall. I also got to appreciate the dedication, determination, risk and the struggle it must have taken to build a world wonder in such challenging geographic location. 

Everything that goes up, must come down! Going down was another challenge. The fear of falling forward was real. In my opinion it was easier to climb then to go down. Luckily there are rails on each side to help you. I honestly don’t know how the builders did it. Some steps were so large and steep that I had to sit and slide on to the next step down. After what seamed forever I reached the gate. This experience was much fun. I am so thankful for being able to experience and create amazing memories in the Great Wall of China.

P.S. I was sore for a week.

When Rainbows lead to Happiness

This blog post is about my experience going to the Rainbow Mountains in a tour from Cusco. This will give you an idea of what to expect and how to prepare if you too want to experience this unique sight.

The Early Start

I only had one week in Peru so I booked a tour to take me directly to the Rainbow Mountains to save time. The annoying part was that the tour picked us up super early (4 am) and I was still half asleep. We then drove around Cusco for an hour 1/2 picking up about 12 other people. Only now is when I find out I could’ve paid a cab to take me and bring me back for about 90 soles ($27). I would’ve taken that option if I knew before hand.

After driving for an hour we stopped in the middle of nowhere to get breakfast. The food was not good at all and the place was freezing. I was just glad to get out the car and stretch out my legs for a bit.

The Drive from Cusco to the Rainbow Mountains

The drive to the Rainbow Mountains was about 3.5 hours in total each way. We got to see the sunrise on the scenic countryside. We drove pass many mountains and valleys. Occasionally I got to see some llamas and alpacas living their best lives. The closer we got to the Rainbow Mountains the curvier and higher the roads got. It got pretty scary at some point because we were at the edge of a cliff driving fast on a 2 way road. I was glad we had a good driver. The video below is a clip of the drive.

The Walk to the top of the Rainbow Mountain

The driver left us in the parking lot. That area was packed of people, vendors and horses. There were restrooms too. The tour guide informed us that we had to walk the rest of the way to the top. I expected to do some walking but when I saw the trail I was surprised how long it was.

I’m not sure if you can see but the parking lot is at the far end of the picture above where the road ends. The walk takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on your speed.

Luckily there is another option then walking, you can rent a horse. It cost 80 soles round trip and it takes you MOST of the way. The horse leaves you at the steepest part of the walk and you have to climb the rest. The horses do take you a great deal of the way and you dont have to necessarily climb the rest of the way if u dont want to. You will be able to see the mountain (it leaves you around the end of the road on the right side in the picture above). You just wont get that epic picture everyone takes. Like the selfie I took below.

I choose option #2. The tour guide arranged a horse to take me. The guy who was taking me was a bit rude and I felt like he was rushing to drop me off. The path where the horses walk through is dangerous because is very narrow and again is at the edge of a cliff. The walking path is much safer. The tour guide felt concerned about my safety so he switched the person to take me back.

Look how cute the horse keepers dress. I loved the authenticity. The thing I found absurd was the shoes they were wearing. Most of them were in sandals or simply crocs.

The Weather in the Rainbow Mountain

The Rainbow Mountain were discovered because the snow that covered them melted off due to global warming. The melt off exposed the beautiful colors of the mountains. With that being said the Rainbow Mountain is cold. Like really cold. The surrounding mountains are still covered in snow. I didn’t dress properly so I had to buy an extra sweater, leg warmers and gloves but I was still freezing. The good news is that there are vendors at the entrance of the mountain selling all kinds of warm clothing in case you feel cold. FYI the clothing is not good quality but it serves it’s purpose.

The Altitude

Walking to the top of the Rainbow Mountain is not for everyone. The altitude there is 17,060 feet above sea level. I was lucky not to feel altitude sickness but many people did and it seam to hit specially hard there. I remember seeing people having to use oxygen tanks and even saw someone pass out on my way to the top. The good news is that there were medical professionals nearby to help. That also got me wondering how often does this happen that they have medical professionals near by?

Places to Buy

There are are a few places where you can buy in the Rainbow Mountain. Like I mentioned before in the parking lot you can find many vendors selling clothing. The second place is at the steepest part of the trail where the horse leaves you. There you can find a few stands selling coca leaves, water and some snacks. The third place is right at the top of the hike. They have similar items like the second place. They also have dressed up alpacas that you can take a picture with for a donation. Of course I couldn’t resist taking a picture with them. They were so cute.

My Peruvian Family

Toilets

There are two places where you can use the restroom. One in the parking lot and one at the beginning of the steepest part of the trail. The only problem is that is no western toilet, instead is a squatty potty. So keep in mind to bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

Is it Sand or Dirt?

In case you were wondering the mountain is just different colored dirt. The minerals in the dirt give it the different colors. There are only 3 other Rainbow Mountains in the world that’s been discovered and they all look different. I think it would be interesting to see them all and compare them. In the picture below you can see a close up of the mountain.

The End.

Overall it was an amazing experience and a beautiful place to see. I hope my experience has given you light on what to expect and how to prepare if you want to go. Until next time!!

Essential Items for a Day Trip to Machu Picchu

I experienced Machu Picchu in the spring in late April. I want to share a list of the essential items you should take when visiting Macchu Picchu in a day trip so you can be better prepared than I was.

Portable Charger

Keep in mind that the entire ordeal of visiting Machu Picchu can roughly take half a day and there’s no charging stations there so is useful to have a portable charger available.

Water and Snacks

The only place where you can find food and drinks is outside the main entrance. Inside Machu Picchu however there is nothing for you to purchase. I advise for you to bring snacks and water specially if you have any medical conditions that require eating or hydrating frequently.

Sunscreen

Unfortunately I left my sunscreen when I went to Machu Picchu and regretted it. I got sunburnt because I underestimated the weather and the conditions in Machu Picchu. There is absolutely no shade up there and the sun feel stronger because you are closer to it. I advise for you to take sunscreen no matter the weather. The day I went was rainy and cloudy and ended sunny and clear.

Layers of Clothing

Like I mentioned above, the weather there is unpredictable and the altitude of the mountain make changes feel more dramatic. Therefore I suggest for you to layer up so you can adjust your clothing as the weather changes and don’t forget a hat and shades. I wore a tank top, a long sleeve shirt, a waterproof jacket, jeans and hiking boots. It was easy for me to adjust as the weather changed.

Extra Batteries for your Camera

The last thing you need is your camera dieing in the middle of taking pictures in Machu Picchu. I suggest for you to carry extra batteries in case you need to swap them.

A Light Backpack

If possible try to pack light to avoid exhausting yourself quick. There will be a lot of walking involved specially if you are hiking from Agua Calientes. For example I went with a small backpack and inside I had a granola bar, bottle of water, camera, phone, my wallet, lip balm and my passport. Nothing too heavy.

I’m hoping that this was useful to you guys traveling to Machu Picchu. If you think I forgot something essential please leave me a comment. Thank you!!

Things to Know Before Going to Machu Picchu

I recently went to Machu Picchu and learned a few things along the way that I would like to share with you. The tips I am giving are from my own personal experience. If you are considering traveling to Machu Picchu you should check out my last post (link below) where I wrote about the fastest way to get to Machu Picchu to avoid wasting time. https://carolyntravels.travel.blog/2019/09/27/fastest-way-to-get-to-machu-picchu-in-5-steps/

Passport

Bring your passport so you don’t miss the opportunity to stamp it in Machu Picchu (next to the bathrooms). How cool is to have a wonder of the world stamp on your passport? A warning though..is probably going to be a long line.

Food and Restrooms

There are no restrooms inside Machu Picchu. However there are restrooms available outside the main entrance for 1 sol. I highly suggest for you to use it before climbing up because you will be spending a few hours exploring Machu Picchu. There is also a small restaurant outside the entrance and some vending machines next to the restrooms in case you want to get some last minute snacks. 

Weather

The weather in Peru is very unpredictable. For example, the day I went to Machu Picchu the weather went from poring cold rain to cloudy skies to fog to a beautiful hot sunny day all in matter of 4 hours. That’s how unpredictable the weather is in Machu Picchu. I suggest for you to layer up so you can adjust as the temperature changes. 

Altitude

If you one of those certain individuals that has been affected by the altitude in Cusco you in luck. Machu Picchu has a lower altitude than Cusco so you wont get altitude sickness. That’s a relief because everyone can enjoy one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Time and Walking

Machu Picchu is huge and it will involve a lot of walking so be prepared to spend an entire morning there. Trust me time flies when you are having fun so I suggest not to plan anything else that morning if your time permits. Also prepare yourself for some climbing and walking on narrow and difficult paths. Also, pack light to avoid getting tired sooner.

Crowds

As you guess it! Machu Picchu is a top tourist attraction. Machu Picchu has 2,500 visitors a day therefore get there very early or late (past noon) to try and beat the crowds.

Hiking

The hike from Agua Caliente to Machu Picchu is about 1 hour. While the bus ride is 25 minutes. You will be hiking next to the road which can be very narrow, scary and tiring. Keep in mind that aside from the hike you will be walking an additional 2-3 hours exploring Machu Picchu therefore I don’t recommend hiking unless you absolutely have to.

Patience

And lastly be patient! I was really upset when I climbed Machu Picchu and couldn’t see a thing because it was completely covered in fog. I had literally flew across the world, didn’t sleep for about 3 days and now that? But a local told me to be patient. He said the fog will clear just give it time. So I did, and I’m glad I did because an hour later the fog cleared before my eyes and I got to see heaven on earth.

  • Machu Picchu mountains from the town of Agua Caliente
  • The fog covering Machu Picchu
  • Some of the fog lifting
  • The sun and the fog lifted a few hours later to reveal this amazing sight.

FASTEST WAY TO GET TO MACHU PICCHU IN 5 STEPS

If you are someone like me who likes to see the most of a country in a limited time then you want to know the fastest way to get to places. I was very confused when planning my trip to Machu Picchu. My research kept giving me the run around making getting to Machu Picchu more complicated than what it is. I wish I knew this before; it would’ve saved me a lot of time and could’ve used my time to see more of Peru. 

  1. BUY MACHU PICCHU TICKETS ASAP. 

The tickets for each day are limited and they run out fast. I suggest buying them few months in advance or as soon as you decide to go to Machu Picchu. You can buy the tickets directly from here: https://www.ticketmachupicchu.com

There are 4 types of tickets available 

  • Ticket Machu Picchu Only 
  • Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu 
  • Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain 
  • Ticket Machu Picchu + Museum 

I personally bought a ticket to Machu Picchu Only and it was more than enough. The ticket allow me to climb the mountain opposite the ruins so you can get that epic view that you see in every picture on Intagram and to walk around the ruins. To me that was more than enough. I was exhausted after that.

2. FLY DIRECTLY TO CUSCO. 

I made the mistake of flying to Lima then Cusco when I could’ve flown directly for a few extra bucks and would’ve save so much more time. 

I personally use Google flights when buying my flights. I like them because you buy your tickets directly from the vendor cutting out the middleman. Google flights also have cool features like telling you whether the price for that flight is reasonable, and like notifying you when there has been a price change when you sign up just to name a couple. 

3. GET A CAB FROM CUSCO AIRPORT TO OLLANTAYTAMBO. 

I know what you thinking…”that’s going to be expensive” but you can find reasonable prices considering is a 1½ hour ride. Of course the earlier you buy it the cheaper it is. Or you can just wing it and take a cab at the airport and try to negotiate a cheaper price. I personally just prefer to schedule it. I use Viator. They have private transfers to Ollantaytambo for prices as low as $20 per person. 

https://www.viator.com/tours/Cusco/One-Way-Private-Transfer-from-Cusco-to-Ollantaytambo-Train-Station/d937-29542P11

Side note: If you are up to it you should get to Ollantaytambo early to see the Ollantaytambo sanctuary. Then you can explore the town which has many cafes, restaurants and shops. He town is surrounded by mountain with makes the scenery very beautiful.

4. BUY PERU RAIL TICKETS IN ADVANCE TO MACCHU PICCHU. 

The train ride is about 2 ½ hours long. I bought the standard ticket and I must say I was pretty comfortable. The train is very clean and well kept. It had clean bathrooms and vendors in case you want to buy snacks. There is also a restaurant in the platform in case you want you buy anything before boarding.   

5. TAKE THE BUS RIDE UP THE MOUNTAIN.

The bus stop is located at: Avenida Hermanos Ayar, Aguas Calientes 08681, Peru. 

  • You can buy the bus ticket next to the bus stop
  • The round trip ticket cost $24
  • The bus ride is about 25 minutes
  • The bus runs from 5:30 am to 3:30 pm every 10 minutes

You can also walk up to Machu Picchu from the train station if you like but is going to take a good 3hrs and the road is very steep so I don’t recommend. 

Google maps link of bus stop:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bus+to+Machu+Picchu/@-13.1548638,-72.5254756,20z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x916d9a83962a4799:0xeee374f2573344e7!8m2!3d-13.1549957!4d-72.5252664

And you finally arrive!

Although it seams like a lot, I promise you is worth it. Machu Picchu is a place you must see at least once in your lifetime. Believe me you wont regret it. 

When Everything Is Perfect!

What was awesome about the place I was staying at in Chalkidiki was the location. The house was located up the cliff where you only see farmland for miles and miles on end. A 5 minute drive down the cliff was the beautiful coastline. It was a drastic difference but loved it. I was literally in a different place in matter of minutes. I got to spend my days at the beach and my evenings watching the sunset in the countryside.

One evening I stopped by a farm near the house to go horse riding. We were the only ones there, so I got to enjoy the entire place for myself. 😁

  • I

Afterwards, I went to eat at a locally owned restaurant called Amelia at the seaport. We were the first one there so we got to meet Amelia herself. Although, I couldn’t communicate with her I could tell that she enjoyed having us there. After greeting us she went to the kitchen to cook for us herself. Her passion for cooking reflected on her food. It was delicious, fresh and was nicely put together and most importantly made with love. It was something about the people, the food, the scenery and the sunset that made this moment so special.

  • We ordered: Sardines, Lightly Breaded Calimari, Salad, Feta cheese and Homemade French Fries.

After two weeks in Greece it was time for me to head back home. I was so glad I traveled out of my comfort zone. This trip left me with the hunger to keep traveling to new places. I lost the fear many of us have of traveling to the unknown. I learned that when we live in fear we miss out on the beautiful things life has to offer us. I became determined to visit all the places in the world I always wanted to go to. Nothing compares experiencing the people and the culture first hand. Greece has tremendous beauty and has extraordinary people. I will always cherish the memories I had in Greece and it will always have a special place in my heart. Good bye Greece, Hello, New York.

Scuba Diving In Greek Waters

Besides going to beaches in Chalkidiki I did other things too. I went scuba diving. First let me explain, I never scuba dived or done any water activity EVER. I didn’t even know how to swim but at this point in my trip I felt dangerous and adventurous so I said why not?

The scuba diving staff was very nice and the price was really cheap too. It was 55 euros for 45 min. They briefly explained the basics and put the gear on me while I was sitting down. I was so exited! I always wanted to do this and I couldn’t believe my first time would be in Greece.

When I stood up to go to the water I almost felt backwards. Wow, how heavy that tank is. It caught me by surprise. When they placed the tank on my back I was sitting down and the tank was resting on the seat so I didn’t feel the weight. I know it is common sense but at the moment I was so exited to go scuba diving that I forgot all about the weight of the equipment. On top of having the tank on I had about a 20 pound weight belt. It took me a minute to find my balance but I did eventually. When you go into the water, you immediately start to sink. It reminded me of how in the movies they put heavy weights on peoples ankles to send them down to the ocean floor and drown them. This is just like that.

Scuba diving wasn’t as difficult AFTER I got used to the basic rules:

  1. Inhaling through my mouth

2. Exhaling through my nose

3. Keep kicking GENTLY because one good kick can get you 6 to 7 feet forward.

I did lose my sense of direction. Is dark and cold down there and everything looks the same. I was so glad I was with an expert because otherwise I would’ve gotten lost. We didn’t get to see an insane amount of fishes, most of them were hiding in the seaweed but it was still a very cool experience. I would love to do it again one day but in the Great Reef of Australia.

When You Find the Real Neverland!

Up to this point I only been to beaches in the Caribbean and a few beaches in the States. Most beaches I visited have been big, crowded and loud. Chalkidiki beaches were nothing like that, as a matter a fact they were the opposite. For the most part the beaches were small, quiet and pretty empty. By empty I mean about 10 more people besides us most days. One time we had the entire beach for ourselves the ENTIRE day. I felt like a celebrity. I couldn’t believe it.

The water was crystal clear and different shades of blue. The water was a bit chilly but a good kind of chilly nothing like the freezing temperatures of Coney Island (NYC) beach but a bit cooler than let’s say Puerto Rico (Caribbean) beaches. The water was saltier too and there were no vendors around. It felt good not being harassed by vendors trying to sell to me on a beach day. I also felt secured. I didn’t feel like I had to be so conscious about my belongings all the time and that’s a miracle because is really rare for a New Yorker to put their guard down. Every beach in Chalkidiki had free beach chairs. There was no fee to use them, you just had to consume food/drink with no minimum. That literally means you could consume the cheapest item in the menu and still rent the beach chair for the day. I know what you thinking, everything must cost 3x the price just because they giving you the chair. Nop! It was regular price. Although I wouldn’t had minded paying 3x the price because I’ll be getting a free beach chair rental anyway but it felt good not getting ripped off as a tourist.  

Each beach had just one family owned restaurant. I thought that was great because the owners were Greek locals and kept things authentic. They took pride in their businesses. All their food was prepared from scratch and was fresh. Often the owners were both the cooks and the waiters. After the meal they will come over and chat with you. They really cared about giving you the best experience. It made me feel like family.

One beach in particular had two businesses, one that sold drinks and the other sold food. I found that odd because every beach I went to in Chalkidiki had only one restaurant. There was never competition. I later found out one business belonged to the father’s and the other belonged to his son. I thought that was nice how they worked together and not against each other. There was a true sense of family in Chalkidiki and I loved it!  

Fernando the crab

Side note: All beaches in Chalkidiki were different. Some were rocky some were sandy some had fishes others didn’t. That’s how I met Fernando the crab. I was collecting shells one day and I picked up what I thought was a empty shell then realized there was a little person living in there. I named him Fernando after making sure he was good I released him back to the ocean. 

What makes Chalkidiki beaches unique is that the beaches are enclosed by cliffs. The fact that you could see what looks like mountains far out and cliffs surrounding the beach is very special. It reminded me of Neverland. It felt like the cliffs and mountains? were enclosing us from the real world. It was perfect! At this point I forgot about every worry and every problem I had. I was truly happy. Everyone around me was happy too. There was a chill vibe, some people were listening to music on their headphones others were reading a book others sunbathing. All you heard was the beach waves. I felt like I was in heaven. There’s only a few moments in my life where I felt at true peace and this was definitely one of those moments.

Chalkidiki

After a few days in the city I traveled to a region called Chalkidiki (Halkidiki). Chalkidiki is about a two hour drive from Thessaloniki. We drove through the Greek countryside and a few small towns.

Side note: The video below is when we bumped into a shepherd with his sheep crossing the road while driving in the countryside. I thought it was super cute to see the sheep crossing.

On our way to Chalkidiki we stopped at a bakery in a small town for breakfast. The bakery had a big selection of pastries. It was my first time in a Greek bakery so of course I wanted to try everything. After paying we noticed our bag had pastries that we didn’t pay for so we questioned the employee and she said the pastries was on the house because I looked undecided so she wanted me to try them all. I thought that was so sweet.

  • Didn’t get a picture of the pastries but I did get a picture of the delicious bread

We finally arrived at Chalkidiki! So to give you a quick rundown; Chalkidiki is located by three peninsulas in the Aegean Sea. The Greeks nicknamed the peninsulas the 3 legs. One of the ”legs” belongs to monasteries which only allow men. With that being said, I was only allowed to visit the other two. I’m ok with 2 legs anyway because the other legs are full of beautiful beaches. You can literally drive from beach to beach in matter of minutes.

The star is where Chalkidiki is where we drove to.

Soon after arrival we headed the beach, but to get there we had to drive along the coast which was basically cliffs. The drive felt longer than it really was because we were driving at the edge and I was terrified we were going to fall over. The road is curvy and we were really high up. There is an amount of skill needed to drive a manual car on the edge of a cliff I must tell you but the view was definitely breathtaking.

  • View from the cliff
  • Chalkidiki is the town all the way in the back
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