The trip starts next Friday, but Al suggested that I write something to explain the nature of this trip. Everybody who knows me knows that I strongly dislike group travel and here I go. This is not (I hope) a regular group tour. There will be about 12 of us (I’m still not sure what the final count is) in this “expedition” organized by a Polish explorer who is also a Chicago math teacher, Andrzej (Andrew) Pietowski. He was part of the expedition that discovered the deepest (or second deepest) canyon in the world, the Colca Canyon. He was also part of the expedition that mapped the start of the Amazon. He has been going to Peru since the 1980s, established a school in Chivay, in the Colca Canyon and a foundation to support it. At the end, I posted some links to articles about his exploits in Peru.
He promises that it is going to be Peru from the inside, no frills but lots of amazing experiences. This time my roommate and travel companion is not Al, but Ania, a very good friend from Chicago. We’ve been friends for almost 20 years. It was Ania who found out about this trip and recruited me to go with her. Neither Ania’s husband, Andy nor Al were allowed to go because Andrzej only takes Polish-speaking people in the group.
Here’s our itinerary:
Lima – Paracas (Ballestas Islands) – Huacachina (gigantic sand dunes)- Arequipa (white city) – Colca Canyon (trek to the bottom and up to Chivay) – Lake Titicaca (Puno and 3 indian islands) – Cuzco & Machu Picchu – Puerto Maldonaldo ( Amazon basin) --- Lima
Links
LA Times article about mapping the start of the Amazon
http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jan/11/local/me-11083
Description of the expedition to discover the Colca Canyon
http://www.canoandes.com/3hist3colca81.html
Interview with Andrew about his travels and passions
http://www.pljournal.com/people/andrzej-pietowski-interview.html
