Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Five

[jpalbny]

Andean Explorer, afternoon and evening. 

 

After lunch we went back to the observation car. The Altiplano was dry and the mountains were rugged as we gained more elevation. 

 

 

The first Pisco sour made an appearance. 

 

 

We had a rest stop at Abra la Raya, which was the highest point of the journey. Only 14285 feet though, so nothing to worry about. 

 

 

The vendors were out in full force. Prices were reasonable. I had Soles in my pocket. Why not?

 

The sun started dipping behind the mountains by 5PM. We stayed out in the open air.

 

 

The train continued on towards Puno.

 

 

The chilly air made jackets necessary. The SS puffy jackets are perfect for this weather. And Chris is modeling her new Alpaca scarf.

 

 

Sunset. The rails were glowing.

 

 

 

Time to get ready for dinner! Cocktail hour first, as if we needed it. Then we had the same table as we had for lunch. The starter was a delicious tortellini with a tomato consomme. 

 

 

Beef tenderloin. Rare of course! 

 

 

The nearly full moon was beautiful.

 

 

Dessert. Chocolate mousse and mango-passionfruit sorbet. 

 

 

An early night. We were exhausted. 

[zqtchas]

Best_men-1 (1).mp4.crdownload

[TLCOhio]

2 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Andean Explorer, afternoon and evening.  After lunch we went back to the observation car. The Altiplano was dry and the mountains were rugged as we gained more elevation. An early night. We were exhausted. 

 

Appreciate the great visuals, details and follow-ups from J.P.  Especially love it that this train has an open observation car.  That really makes it nice to see and experience more.  Keep it coming.  Looks like great fun.  Understand why you are "exhausted"!!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[Mr Luxury]

JP

Give up work and just travel around the world.

Belmond is a great product.

I stay in their hotels often.

Edited July 5, 2023 by Mr Luxury

[zqtchas]

Looks like he already gave up work.😀.

[Mr Luxury]

21 minutes ago, zqtchas said:

Looks like he already gave up work.😀.

Indeed,

There are plenty of sick patients waiting for his return.🤕

[zqtchas]

2 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

Indeed,

There are plenty of sick patients waiting for his return.🤕

indeed the lungs await!

[jpalbny]

2 hours ago, zqtchas said:

indeed the lungs await!

 

Are they holding their breath? 

[Daveywavey70]

13 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Andean Explorer, afternoon and evening. 

 

After lunch we went back to the observation car. The Altiplano was dry and the mountains were rugged as we gained more elevation. 

 

 

The first Pisco sour made an appearance. 

 

 

We had a rest stop at Abra la Raya, which was the highest point of the journey. Only 14285 feet though, so nothing to worry about. 

 

 

The vendors were out in full force. Prices were reasonable. I had Soles in my pocket. Why not?

 

The sun started dipping behind the mountains by 5PM. We stayed out in the open air.

 

 

The train continued on towards Puno.

 

 

The chilly air made jackets necessary. The SS puffy jackets are perfect for this weather. And Chris is modeling her new Alpaca scarf.

 

 

Sunset. The rails were glowing.

 

 

 

Time to get ready for dinner! Cocktail hour first, as if we needed it. Then we had the same table as we had for lunch. The starter was a delicious tortellini with a tomato consomme. 

 

 

Beef tenderloin. Rare of course! 

 

 

The nearly full moon was beautiful.

 

 

Dessert. Chocolate mousse and mango-passionfruit sorbet. 

 

 

An early night. We were exhausted. 

I’m loving this trip JP. Looks like you’re doing most of the things I’m planning for my own little trip to SA. Keep it coming.

[Host Jazzbeau]

3 hours ago, zqtchas said:

indeed the lungs await!

 

1 hour ago, jpalbny said:

Are they holding their breath? 

Maybe they have been moved to the former TB sanatorium in Mammoth Cave.  Where better to recover from a lung infection than in a cold, damp climate with no sunlight?  Thank God even JP's absence is better treatment than that...  And I'm sure that he arranged someone almost as good to cover while he's away.  [Can only be almost as good, because JP's the best!]

[TLCOhio]

15 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

JP: Give up work and just travel around the world.   Belmond is a great product.  I stay in their hotels often.

 

Great thoughts from Mr Luxury.  Yes to Belmond!  Stayed in three of their excellent safari locations in Botswana in 2016.  Nice and fun.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

[zqtchas]

[AusMum]

On 7/3/2023 at 9:09 PM, TLCOhio said:

 

YES, super cute and creative about that "FLAN" railway being "pie in the sky".  The real Flam rail adventure is fun and exciting.  Need proof and evidence??  Below are a few of my visuals to prove it great drama and excitement.  

 

Hopefully, QueSeraSera has great weather and a wonderful sailing.  Look forward to seeing reports and any pictures. 

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

 

 

Just a couple of samples for the dramatic views experienced when doing the Flam rail adventure.:

 

 

Stopping at one of the massive waterfalls along the track side to see its power "up close and personal".:

 

Can't believe it's been almost 30 years since we went there - we were in our early 20s and could barely afford to eat, but we had an awesome time 🙂

[jpalbny]

Yesterday, arriving in Puno.

 

The train had made it to Puno some time after we went to bed, but they weren't kicking us off until 8:30. We were so tired that we didn't bother getting moving until 7, so we missed the sunrise over the lake. Oh well.

 

Breakfast then we packed up. Our transportation to Titilaka was early so we were on the road by 8:20. The guide decided we should take the scenic route and make a few stops so we wouldn't end up waiting around the hotel all morning. We agreed!

 

So we stopped to see the Chullpas at Molloco. Pre-Incan burial structures.

 

 

Some round and some square.

 

 

We could go inside to see the burial niches, where the dead were mummified and placed in the niches, in fetal position. 

 

 

An overview. 

 

 

Next we visited the Gate of the Gods.

 

 

Here at this niche, you could pass into another dimension. We did not try. Some imbecile was flying a drone all over the place which really killed the atmosphere. I had to restrain myself from picking up a rock and trying to take it out.

 

 

The view of the lake was nice as well. The faint peaks in the distance are in Bolivia. 

 

 

Behind the gate, another stone forest. 

 

 

We headed to the hotel where we got an overview of the available tours for tomorrow. And a tour of the hotel. The dining room has a beautiful view.

 

 

And our room does too!

 

 

Since we weren't hungry for lunch yet, we went for a walk on the beach.

 

 

 

Cool castle, but not our hotel. 

 

 

A Puno Teal got within range of my cell phone. 

 

 

The shoreline. The ridges in the sand are very well-defined. 

 

 

Lunch was huge. This is an appetizer, chicken with molle pepper. 

 

 

After lunch we napped for a bit, but made sure to get up in time to see the sunset.

 

 

 

Then we went stargazing. The Milky Way was much better than this photo suggests. 

 

 

Neither of us was hungry for dinner, and we were still feeling wiped out. So we waited a few hours and tried to stay awake. Might be a bit of a stomach bug?

 

Chris finally gave up and went to sleep. I went down around 9PM and had one light course before calling it a night. 

[lincslady]

Wonderful stuff, jp.  I hope your tummies are OK today.

 

Lola

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!

[drron29]

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

JP- Fascinating journey.  Really enjoying the report, thanks.  Will be following in your footsteps, albeit a tad slower and perhaps not up to 16,000 feet. 😃

[jpalbny]

A day on the lake!

 

Yesterday we did a full-day excursion on Lake Titicaca. But first, the sunrise. From our window!

 

 

 

After some breakfast (appetite slowly returning) we got on the boat for a 1h30 journey. 

 

 

We arrived at the region of the floating islands and were picked up by a local boat.

 

 

We glided slowly towards the island.

 

 

A youngster was eager to show off his piloting skills.

 

 

On the island we met some inhabitants, saw them cooking bread, and had some photo opportunities. 

 

 

 

 

The island wasn't totally solid. The base is made of big clumps of reed roots. Then on this base they spread multiple layers of reeds, with the layers 90 degrees from each other. 

 

The island touches bottom during the dry season but floats during wet season. 

 

We took our leave and continued the cruise.

 

 

Another hour, and we arrived at Taquile Island. This is a UNESCO site where some old traditions are still practiced. In the far distance you can see the snow-capped Andes in Bolivia. 

 

 

Dancing ensued.

 

 

We walked uphill to our lunch spot. Great views on the way!

 

 

 

The island had a rustic Mediterranean feel. Except for the Andes on the horizon! 

 

 

Lunch on a shaded outdoor patio overlooking the lake. Tasty and filling. Soon we had to walk back to the boat. Luckily it was mostly downhill.

 

 

 

Another 30+ minutes to the lodge. Yet another spectacular sunset awaited.

 

 

We tried again to photograph the Milky Way, without any more success than yesterday. 

 

Then we had an early dinner and packed up for tomorrow. An early ride to Juliaca airport (6:30AM!) for our flight to Lima.

 

Luckily the stomach bug (or whatever it was) seems to have passed.

[Port Power]

6 hours ago, jpalbny said:

A day on the lake!

Luckily the stomach bug (or whatever it was) seems to have passed.

That “stomach bug” would have been altitude sickness.

[Host Jazzbeau]

4 hours ago, Port Power said:

That “stomach bug” would have been altitude sickness.

That's my diagnosis too.  [Full disclosure: I'm not a doctor, but I play one on Cruise Critic 🤪]

[Daveywavey70]

31 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

That's my diagnosis too.  [Full disclosure: I'm not a doctor, but I play one on Cruise Critic 🤪]

A bit like Moira Rose once played a nurse? 😉

[Host Jazzbeau]

19 minutes ago, Daveywavey70 said:

A bit like Moira Rose once played a nurse? 😉

Must be a UK meme – went over my head.  Did my US TV commercial meme go over your head?

 

 

[Daveywavey70]

16 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Must be a UK meme – went over my head.  Did my US TV commercial meme go over your head?

 

 

Sorry HJB but it’s straight from the U S of A. Schitts creek. 

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!