occidentalis Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Hi everyone,I have been here in Cusco and surrounds for nearly three weeks and have done a bit of botanical exploration. Some photos and tips for your own future adventures:Cusco itself is in the mountains, at this time of year it is cool and dry, and there is not much in the way of botany here. There is LOTS of tourism though, this town is a little disgusting in that sense, but plenty of psychedelic tourism as part of that, which is quite interesting/weird/gross/cool all at once:However, you don't have to go all that far to find some pretty cool stuff. First the cacti:Around Cusco, there are several smaller towns featuring some pretty cool ruins such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo. I figured out how to get into these places for free (otherwise you have to buy the tourist ticket for around $30 AU, ouch - pm me for secrets). The ruins are surrounded by by rocky hills which are often covered in peruvianoid Trichs. These are all at Ollantaytambo:And these nice clumps are at Pisac:I spoke to several local plant heads who believed that the cacti from this area are not active. Not a worry - You can get whatever you need in the aptly named San Pedro Market in Cusco: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
occidentalis Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 We did the 'jungle trek' to Machu Picchu (way overpriced, ask me for details and I can explain how to do it without a guide much more cheaply) which goes through some dryish selva (mostly basically a food forest) featuring a many cool things:CocaCoffeeUnfortunately didn't get to eat any of these, but they look amazing:And some very funky OrchidsBeautiful Brugs:At Machu Picchu, I found this Convolvulaceae growing amongst the ruins - I'm not overly familiar with Rivea/Turbina, anyone got an ID?And of course:Tripping on cactus (entirely legally) at Machu Picchu ranks as one of the top experiences of my life. It's overrun with tourists, but it is still fucking amazing. Definitely worth it.My next step is up to the north of Peru, where San Pedro shamanism originates and is still present in some form. I hope to take a lot more photos, so will keep you posted.Much love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teotzlcoatl Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Nice post!I have a Trichocereus cactus which was collected at Ollantaytambo and they look just like the one in your 3rd and 4th pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixSon Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 noice pics!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yawning Man Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I can't wait to get over there. Can you elaborate on the 'overrun with tourists' bit? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horus Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Great pics,what a place!Is the stuff in the coke bottles in the markets pictures cactus juice or ayah? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
occidentalis Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) I can't wait to get over there. Can you elaborate on the 'overrun with tourists' bit?Not sure if you're asking about Cusco or Machu Picchu ? Basically, Cusco doesn't really have an economy apart from tourism. In the touristed areas of town, you will be hassled by every second person you walk past - to buy their souvenirs (or drugs), have a massage, go to their restaurant or whatever - it's like Bali. It's the worst place I've been to in this regard in 3 months travelling in SA.If you're like me - I left my much-loved SLR at home and bought a compact camera in order to travel light and not flaunt my wealth, and I rarely take photos of people (never without asking), generally try and be humble and respectful to the locals, etc - you will be a little shocked by the behaviour of a lot of the other tourists - sticking huge lenses in the faces of the locals, not bothering to even try and speak spanish (fuck, if you can't be bothered learning how to order a coffee in another language... don't leave home). It's all pretty disgusting.If you were asking about Machu Picchu, well, it's just covered in people. We went the adventurous (pronounced cheap) way and climbed the Inka staircase to the top (btw, if you're in South America and someone mentions "Inka staircase", be very afraid). In the time it took us to get to the top, at least 10 buses went past us on the road loaded with people. All those people were in the ruins when we got to the top, and they just kept coming. In some areas of the ruins you will be standing in a crowd of 100 or more people, and it is really difficult to get a photo of any part of the ruins without people in it.Is the stuff in the coke bottles in the markets pictures cactus juice or ayah?Both - the green ones are cactus and the brown ones are aya! Edited September 23, 2009 by occidentalis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t st tantra Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 post 1 pics 7 and 8,look something like pc?oops, the green one in front of the lion! t s t . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micromegas Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 (edited) post 1 pics 7 and 8,look something like pc?oops, the green one in front of the lion! t s t .I noticed that too. Still not quite on the money for me, but definitely close.Tripping on cactus (entirely legally) at Machu Picchu ranks as one of the top experiences of my life. It's overrun with tourists, but it is still fucking amazing. Definitely worth it.I concur!Sweet pics man, kindles up some old memories Edited September 24, 2009 by Micromegas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Love the pics , 3 looks very much like my T. cuzcoensis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FungalFractoids Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Love the pics , 3 looks very much like my T. cuzcoensis I lostt all my Peru photos when the crazy Peruvian bitch I was dating figured out my facebook password and deleted the lot as payback for leaving her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teotzlcoatl Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Sacred Succulents sells cacti collected in the area where the above pics where taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tassiejd Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 (edited) nice work, im in ayacucho at the moment and will more than likley be heading in the cuzco direction in the next few days i might pm you for some tips, sort of not looking forward to it because of the tourist bit, even where i m now is the first time in peru that ive seen groups of gringos sitting around in bars and restaruants and thats been a bit of a shock so im glad im here first to prepare.we just got a bus from huancayo and its the first time ive been on a bus with other tourists, all i wanted to do was get off and look at the thousands of cacti we where driving past, i got a few pics but all from a moving bus so not much good, i might try and make it back out that way and do a bit of walking though before i head to cuzco and try and put some pics up for some of you to look at. Edited September 29, 2009 by tassiejd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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