Check out the pickle-mania at Young’s General Store! Young’s in Wawa, WAY up in Northern Ontario, Canada is quite… CONTINUE READING >>
Check out the pickle-mania at Young’s General Store!
Young’s in Wawa, WAY up in Northern Ontario, Canada is quite the attraction. Antiques, curios and memorabilia are intermingled with all sorts of olde timey products throughout the store. This makes for a way more than the average souvenir shop.
Perhaps the centerpiece is the giant pickle barrel by the front door. No way we could visit without fishing one of those babies out.
Dubbed the Navel of the World, Cusco is an amazing blend of the very-old and the not-as-old.
Join your GypsyNesters as we see the sights (and sights) – see ancient ruins, a street festival with an ornery llama, crossing guards that threaten you with whips and the weirdest rendition of The Last Supper you’ll ever experience.
At over 11,000 feet above sea level, flying in takes steely reserve and handling the altitude takes native remedies… CONTINUE READING >>
After one crazy approach and landing at one of the world’s highest commercial airports, we began our explorations of The Sacred Valley and the incredible sights (and sites) of the ancient Inca Empire in Cusco.
WATCH: The most amazing, insanely beautiful flight we’ve ever taken!
Once inside the airport we were introduced to a few treatments to counteract the high altitude. Seeing as how the salesperson at the OxiShot booth, where oxygen shots were supposed to boost our energy, was out cold we opted to give some of the local remedies a shot instead.
Coca leaves sit in a basket for the guests of our hotel.
The locals swear by the leaves of the coca plant, the plant that produces cocaine, as an antidote to the thin air.
We had heard about this remedy prior to our trip and were hesitant about trying it.
Veronica calls herself a sea-level gal, and not wanting to miss a thing while we were in high altitude, she overrode her reservations and took a chance.
The most common way to serve coca is in a tea. It’s everywhere.Coca candy is another way to get your coca fix. We’re convinced it and the tea helped.
We started making iced tea for sightseeing, and we’d even taken to chewing the leaves, just like a local! The raw leaves were not tasty, and we learned to soak them first – otherwise the texture was awful.
It’s common to see the very-old & the not-as-old melded together.
Perked up and ready to rock, we stormed the city. Cusco has been the hub of all human activity in this region for centuries.
Not only as the capital of the empire but as the birthplace. Perhaps that is why they dubbed it the Navel of the World.
Around the year 1200 the small city-state of Cusco formed under the rule of Manco Cápac.
He can be considered the first Inca, or emperor, over the Quechua people.
Then in 1438 AD the Sapa (supreme) Inca (ruler) Pachacuti (world shaker) conquered huge portions of the surrounding area and organized it into four provinces and what we know as The Inca Empire, or Tahuantinsuyu in their Quechua language.
The Temple of the Sun
Legend has it that Manco Cápac was sent to the earth by his father, the sun god Inti, and emerged from a cave carrying a golden staff. He was to build a Temple of the Sun on the spot where the staff sank into the earth, and that spot was none other than Cusco.
In fact that temple still stands, so of course we had to check it out.
Because of the incredible stone stacking abilities of the Quechua, the original walls of the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun) withstood two earthquakes that reduced the Convent of Santo Domingo that Spanish colonists built on top of them to rubble.
The convent was rebuilt, damaged again, and repaired to its current state as a museum.
The temple’s initial construction used the force of gravity to set the stones into each other, which strengthened the structure. Each piece was cut to fit exactly in place and distribute weight so as to hold everything in place without the use of mortar.
This gave the walls flexibility and they were also slanted slightly inward to each other using gravity to help negate the destructive force of any seismic shock.
Going from one temple to another, toward the center of the belly button, our next stop was the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral of Santo Domingo.
As we walked around town, we noticed that many of the buildings in Cusco are built on top of the seemingly indestructible Quechua stone work walls.
Cusco is earthquake prone, and these foundations have held time and time again.
The buildings set atop have not fared as well.
Outside of the Cathedral of Santo Domingo.
Inside the cathedral we saw alters layered with insane amounts of silver, literally tons, but we were on a mission.
We had just one goal in mind, find the painting of The Last Supper where Jesus and the disciples are eating cuy.
That’s right, we heard there’s a guinea pig last supper going on in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo and we were not leaving without seeing it.
At the very back corner of the Cathedral we found the version of the classic scene, by Marcos Zapata, featuring a platter of cuy and bottles of chicha, the traditional corn beer.
No photos are allowed in the church, so we bought the postcard.
Back outside we noticed that this plaza is unique in that it is dominated by two churches because of a falling out between the Jesuits and Dominicans centuries ago.
Both were built directly on top of the palaces of former Inca rulers with stones taken from nearby Sacsayhuaman.
So we headed over to see Sacsayhuaman for ourselves.
David “models” the enormity of the stones.
The ruins at Sacsayhuaman, pronounced very close to “sexy woman” (which proved easy to implant in our memory banks) are remarkable for the size of the stones.
Some of the blocks weigh in at around 200 tons and, as with every other site we have visited, they are expertly carved and placed.
A chalkline grid shows the wonkiness of the placement of the gigantic stones.
Most of the site was destroyed by the Spanish after their conquest, and the stones removed to be used in constructing new buildings down below in the city of Cusco.
Now only the largest rocks remain.
We scrambled up to the top and found a fantastic view of the city.
Sadly, what we didn’t find were any remnants of the once splendid temples that used to stand atop Sacsayhuaman.
Back down in town, wandering the streets for a little late afternoon shopping, we got quite a surprise.
Bizarre characters were patrolling several of the main thoroughfares, some even armed with whips!
Keeping our distance we decided to observe and attempt to ascertain just what it was they were up to.
After watching awhile, and translating the signs, we figured out that they out in force to discourage jaywalking… and put on quite a show.
Having avoided a confrontation, and perhaps a flogging, by respecting the crosswalk, we ducked into a little watering hole for some nerve calming refreshment.
Since 1908, when Ernesto Günther opened up the first non-corn beer brewery in Cusco, Cusqueña has been quenching the thirsts of folks high up in the Andes.
A bright, refreshing Pilsner, it certainly hit the spot and gave us the confidence to face crossing the street one more time.
Our morning began with a street food breakfast, a delicious avocado sandwich from a lovely vendor, while a huge procession in honor of St. Jerome was staging right in front of our hotel.
Bands were warming up, costumes getting last minute adjustments, and even some attempted llama coaxing to convince him to go along with the program.
The procession included bands, dancers…and very feisty llama…Then culminated with a huge likeness of the saint carried through the streets on the shoulders of a couple dozen men.
WATCH: The surprise procession in front of our hotel! The llama did NOT want to be involved!
Each year on the feast day of Corpus Christi the churches of Cusco all carry their patron saints through the streets to the cathedral in the main square.
There the huge gathering celebrates in a chaotic battle of the bands bedlam that brings the city to a standstill.
Then, on some unknown signal, everyone returns to their home parishes.
Their timing turned out to be perfect, since it was time for us to move on to our next destination as well.
The procession included bands, dancers…and very feisty llama, culminating with a huge likeness of… CONTINUE READING >>
A huge procession in honor of St. Jerome was staging right in front of our hotel. Bands were warming up, costumes getting last minute adjustments, and even some attempted llama coaxing to convince him to go along with the program.
The procession included bands, dancers…and very feisty llama, culminating with a huge likeness of the saint carried through the streets on the shoulders of a couple dozen men.
More about amazing Cusco, with ancient ruins, a street festival with an ornery llama, crossing guards that threaten you with whips and the weirdest rendition of The Last Supper you’ll ever experience: https://www.gypsynester.com/cusco.htm
It’s an adventure unto itself! The breathtaking scenery through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu on The Expedition Train, the second highest railroad in the world, after… CONTINUE READING >>
It’s an adventure unto itself! The breathtaking scenery through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu on The Expedition Train, the second highest railroad in the world, after… CONTINUE READING >>
Your GypsyNesters take a Glamping adventure of a lifetime up California’s Pacific Coast Highway!
Follow us from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara to Beverly Hills – yes – Beverly Hills, as we discover what the Glamping Life is all about!…CONTINUE READING >>
A glamour yurt in El Capitan Canyon in Santa Barbara, California.
About a year ago, we first saw the Toyota Venza boomerang kid commercial with the son whining about mom going to bed without making his dinner – only to find out that the ‘rents were out living their lives.
We thought: wow that is right up our alley. They are marketing this car directly at us.
We have giggled through all of the ensuing ads and their GypsyNesting tone, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that the Venza drove its way into our hearts.
Our glamping cabin in El Capitan Canyon.
That was when we got an e-mail out of the blue asking if we would be interested in going to California for a “glamping” event. Glamping is a sort of hybrid camping, glamour camping.
Not something we had heard of, but we are always up for something new. Toyota would pay our expenses and provide a brand new 2013 Venza while we romped and played up the west coast from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara. How could we say no to that?
Next thing we knew we had tickets to L.A. booked for us, luxury hotels in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills reserved for our first and last nights, and a cabin at a premier glamping resort near Santa Barbara for the nights in between.
Upon landing at LAX, we were whisked to the Lowes Hotel on the beach right across from the Santa Monica Pier.
Palm trees INSIDE the Lowes Santa Monica.
Then, something magical happened. While we were checking in, we took a quick peek at Twitter and found a welcome tweet to each of the guests.
It was like we had made out the guest list ourselves! It was a veritable who’s who list of our Boomer Travel World: Donna Hull of My Itchy Travel Feet, David and Carol Porter of The Roaming Boomers, Jason Oliver Nixon of Sky Magazine and Wayne and Pat Dunlap of Unhook Now.
All people we have admired for quite awhile, but never had the chance to meet in real life!
After a stroll along the surf and checking out the pier, we met our Toyota hosts, hugged our fellow boomers and walked over to The Lobster for an incredible seafood dinner.
When a restaurant is named The Lobster, it’s hardly necessary to look at a menu. The drawn butter flowed like wine… as did the wine.
Arriving like a rock star: Veronica is snapped by a photographer.
The next morning we got our introduction to the Venza.
Designed in California and built in Kentucky, it’s a nimble cross between SUV and sporty coupe that easily held everything we could need while looking good along the way.
After perusing all of the available colors, we picked one in an eye-catching metallic green called Cyprus Pearl.
Our Pearl turned out to be a real gem, taking us up the Pacific Coast Highway in open-up-the-sunroof-and-turn-up-the-tunes California cruzin’ style.
We explored without a care because the onboard navigation always knew exactly how to get us where we were going.
It even had one of those newfangled stereo/cell phone/talking computer touch screens that was voice controlled so we could talk into it while driving. We messed with it a lot, even had some deep conversations.
Pearl knows the answers to almost everything, but not in a stuck up kind of way.
When we set out we were enticed by a photo contest – a scavenger hunt of sorts – where we were pitted against our fellow boomers to find the best locations along the way to shoot ourselves having fun with the Venza.
The gauntlet was dropped, and we headed up the coast – GypsyNester style – finding the wildest, wackiest and most ginormous stuff along the Pacific Coast Highway:
Wait. What? There are COWS on top of this beach house in Malibu!There’s always room for tacos! We found a ginormous guy on top of a restaurant in Malibu.
The Pacific Coast Highway has some lovely vistas.
Arrrrgh Matey! David gets his pirate on in Ventura Harbor.
Being our crazy competitive selves, we were the last to meet back up with the crew at the El Capitan Canyon Resort.
The Capitan knows how to put the glam in glamping. Yurts, tents and cabins with all of the creature comforts most any creature could crave.
All of this luxury, and we were still able to commune with nature as quail, deer, and even a coyote wandered through our campsites.
Veronica clearly misunderstands the concept of Glamping! Too much glamour, not enough camping. OOPS! (channeling her inner Lucy!)
That night we drove our Venza into the wine country of Santa Barbara County, to the Sanford Winery for an informative tour and decadent dinner in the barrel room with all of the aging vintages.
“Peel me a grape.” Veronica channels her inner Cleopatra.
In the morning, back at El Capitan Canyon, we hiked up a hill overlooking the ocean and fed some of the resident llamas.
Later in the day we took a drive up the steep, narrow, winding Camino Cielo to the top of La Cumbre Peak in The Santa Ynez Mountains.
Then mounted mountain bikes for a spectacular brake-burning ride all the way down to the sea some twenty miles and 4000 feet below.
We were so invigorated we felt like performing a reenactment of the old Toyota “Oh, What a Feeling!” commercials in front of the Santa Barbara mission.
1, 2, 3, jump!
Freeze frame.
BBQ by campfire brought a pretty perfect day to a close. With all of the calories we burned that day, we would have settled for anything, but El Capital Canyon rolled out an amazing catered affair. Complete with s’mores.
The nice cozy bed in our cabin was much more welcoming that night than a sleeping bag in a pup tent would have been. Our days of “real” camping may be over.
As glamorous as the glamping may have been, things were about to step up another notch as the next day had us headed to Beverly Hills and the new SLS Hotel.
The Venza fit right in. Good thing for us, because if we had pulled up in BAMF we almost certainly would have been mistaken for The Clampetts.
Your GypsyNesters trying our best to look aloof in the White Room at the SLS Hotel.
Luckily we had packed us some Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes so we could doll up properly for our dinner at one of L.A.’s trendiest new eateries, The Bazaar by José Andrés.
Chef Andrés creates some incredibly innovative dishes, all served tapas style so the table gets to partake together. The meal became an event as we sampled round after round of delicious tidbits (including liquid olives), great for conversation as well as culinary curiosity.
The next morning, exhausted by all the fun and glampour, we channelled our inner movie star, donned our SLS robes, and ordered up breakfast in bed.
Not certain that we quite fit in among The Glampous People, we found that as the week drew to a close, we were glad we said yes to giving it a go.
We spent the rest of the morning brainstorming how to fit our new friend Pearl into our suitcase.
We headed up the California Coast – GypsyNester style – finding the wildest, wackiest and most ginormous stuff along the Pacific Coast Highway… CONTINUE READING >>
We headed up the California Coast – GypsyNester style – finding the wildest, wackiest and most ginormous stuff along the Pacific Coast Highway!
Watch as we take on Santa Monica, Malibu, Ventura and Santa Barbara in a wild (and wooly) Glamping adventure!
Over 11,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by giant mountains, into a narrow valley, a hairpin turn and wild crosswinds! That’s the flight into… CONTINUE READING >>
Over 11,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by giant mountains, into a narrow valley, a hairpin turn and wild crosswinds! That’s the flight into the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport ( CUZ ) in Cusco (sometimes Cuzco), Peru.
Not only did this flight keep us on the edge of our seats, it was one of our most beautiful airplane rides to date. Above the snowcapped Andes – we’d never flown this close to a mountain.
More about amazing Cusco, with ancient ruins, a street festival with an ornery llama, crossing guards that threaten you with whips and the weirdest rendition of The Last Supper you’ll ever experience: https://www.gypsynester.com/cusco.htm
