UrthHike

05/01/2024

Introducing… the lawyers behind Will Trial Lawyers: Gary Will, Michael Ellis, Gordon Marsden, Robert Seredynski and Bill Taberner.

We look forward to continuing to serve our clients and the legal community. We are proud of the results we have achieved for thousands of clients and will continue to fight tirelessly for every single client, no matter how complex or difficult the case.

04/07/2018

Recoltes du Monde, in St. Jean Pied de Port. Step into this lovely little spice shop and the aroma is intoxicating! Literally hundreds of different spice blends, sourced from remote places around the world! Great find!

04/07/2018

St. Jean Pied de Port - The start of the Camino de Santiago, the French Way. My 325 KM walk starts tomorrow! Tonight, I have the pleasure of staying at the beautiful Hotel Central - lovely room with an outstanding view!

24/04/2018

After Lunch we reached the trail that would take us to our first mountain lodge, which was relatively flat and ran beside a farmer’s water main. The trail was beautiful and somewhat difficult in spots as we had a cliff to our right, and the water main to the left, with the path narrowing much of the way.

17/04/2018

When we arrived at the trail head, we climbed only a short distance before stopping for a boxed lunch. The views were spectacular. From here on in, our only support is a donkey named Justin – My baseline goal is to stay ahead of Justin on the trails!

15/04/2018

The day we left Cuzco for our lodge to lodge hike, the weather was not so good. We had a long drive to our trail head, with a few stops along the way to climatize. We visited a small village along the way and I met Valentina, who is a local weaver and a very sweet lady. I bought a beautiful woven throw which took Valentina 2 weeks to weave.

13/04/2018

This traditional Peruvian instrument band could be heard softly across the valley on our hike to Sacsayhuaman.

13/04/2018

This family of Llamas hiked with us part of the way to Sacsayhuaman

13/04/2018

So many sheep on our hike to Sacsayhuaman

11/04/2018

Cooking lesson with our favourite Chef Darcy at the Belmond Hotel Monasterio!

11/04/2018

Bartending Lesson at the Belmond Hotel Monasterio!

11/04/2018

At the San Pedro Market in Cuzco with our Chefs!

11/04/2018

Our hotel is amazing - they arranged to have two chefs give us a private tour of the bustling San Pedro Market in Cusco. The market was lively, and we enjoyed meeting some of the farmers who provide produce to the hotel! Back at the hotel, we were treated to a bartending lesson where we learned three delicious drinks using Peru's favourite - Pisco! The bartender used fresh figs and dragon fruit that we picked up at the San Pedro Market. Our chef later gave us a cooking lesson - a three course lunch with vegetable ceviche, quinotto (risotto made with quinoa) and fresh fruit salad with banana sorbet and sweet wine reduction. Everything was delicious and we picked up a few good cooking tips!

11/04/2018

The Belmond Hotel has a beautiful collection of 17th century art. The paintings were all made by local artists. The hotel arranged a private art tour with their local guide, Juan, which brought to light just how manipulative the Catholic Church was in their efforts to convert local Peruvians to Catholicism. Peruvians worshipped their earth mother goddess, Pachamama. Pachamama was revered as a queen by the Andeans. The Roman Catholic Church supported local artists who painted many religious figures, but most often painted Mary (mother of Jesus). In these paintings, Mary is represented as a queen and her clothing is arranged in the shape of a pyramid. Mary is sometimes also represented with dark skin. The representation of Mary as a Queen, associated with the mountainous form, and sometimes represented with dark skin, were meant to show the Andeans that Mary of the Catholic Religion was much like Pachamama, whom the Andeans worshipped.

11/04/2018

The Belmond Monasterio Hotel was originally built in 1595 and was shortly after founded as the Seminary of San Antonio Abad as a Monastery. They building was extensively damaged in the 1650 earthquake of Cuzco. After its rebuild, the monastery became a seminary University in 1652. In 1816 the building was reverted back to a functioning Monastery.

It was not until 1965 that the Monastery was renovated and turned into a hotel. In 1999 Orient Express Hotels took over management and renamed it Hotel Monasterio. In 2014, Orient Express Hotels rebranded their identity as Belmond.

10/04/2018

Coca tea - made from co***ne leaves! This tea reduces the symptoms of altitude sickness, but is very high in caffeine

10/04/2018

The check-in lounge at the Hotel Belmond Monasterio.

10/04/2018

View of the Andes on our descent into Cuzco.

10/04/2018

My early morning flight into Cuzco from Lima was beautiful with glimpses of the mountains through the clouds and beautiful vistas of the hillsides as we descended into Cuzco. My hotel arranged transport from the airport. It was well worth the $18 US, as we simply stepped outside, and my driver was waiting. We were greeted at the Belmond Monasterio Hotel and shown into their lounge for check-in. The check-in process was very comfortable. We were served a cup of coca leaf tea which was mild, but very pleasant to drink. Apparently, it helps when adjusting to the change in altitude and yes, it is made from co***ne leaves! The Belmond hotel is stunningly beautiful. It was originally a monastery and later turned into a hotel. I have arranged a private tour of the architecture and artwork this evening before dinner and will blog more about the history of Monasterio later this evening. Our room is absolutely beautiful and the view of the cathedral and historic town is magnificent. What I love most about the hotel, though, is the service. While enjoying breakfast this morning, we had the pleasure of meeting Suoncito, our waiter. Suoncito is a very good Spanish teacher and also very wise. He taught me a phrase in Spanish: "Hoy Dias, hoy. Mañana es mañana. Today is now, tomorrow is tomorrow. Visit my page, urthhike and follow me for more posts and photos.

06/04/2018