Kiss & Tango Guide to Peru

The other day I heard from Marina Palmer, author of Kiss and Tango, the story of Marina's experiences searching for the perfect Tango Partner. Marina, born in New York and raised in London by a Greek mother and an American father, discovered the tango during a two-week visit to Buenos Aires in 1997. After realizing her fate, she picked up and left her job as an advertising executive to move to Buenos Aires in pursuit of her passion. It seems that Marina has finally found her perfect partner... she's getting married. Marina recently took a quick trip to Peru for some pre-wedding R&R, and shared her highlights below:

1) Walking "backwards" along the Inca Trail from Machu Picchu to Winay Wayna - the last big ruins before you get to MP (2 to 3 hour walk each way, depending on your speed). I did it because I hadn't been able to get on any of the Inca Trail treks - neither the 4 day, nor the 2 day, nor the 1 day... This was a wonderful way to  experience a small part at least of the Inca Trail. The ultimate luxury: I had the trail completely and utterly to myself on the way back (until I got to the Sun Gate). On the way out, it was
amusing to cross paths with all the groups of trekkers on their way to MP. I loved going "against the flow", so to speak.

2) Wedding-crashing at Pucara - the last stop between Cusco and Puno (I took a "First Class" bus: it was good to break up the journey with stops, though annoying to be made to stop at a couple of blatant tourist-traps. Having said that, the other alternatives were either a ten hour train ride with no stops, or what I imagined to be a 7 hour hair-raising not to say uncomfortable bus ride on the regular line.) Funnily enough, I also observed a wedding upon arrival in Puno. It was a Saturday, which is why everybody was getting married, apparently. But the point of this is that for me, one of the best things about the trip were the impromptu parties. Peruvians are party animals! Seriously. In Ollantaytambo, I also stumbled on a gathering sponsored by a mayoral candidate (municipal elections coming up) who was bribing the constituency with chicha. Later that evening, I ended up dancing with him and some of his followers on the main plaza! Those old women certainly know how to move, in spite of the heavy loads and/or babies on their backs - not to mention their full skirts. I supposed when you work as hard as they do, you have to party hard as well!

3) Spending the night with a family on Taquile. It seems that this is less popular than staying on Amantani, in spite of what guide books say. Having said that, I didn't go to Amantani, so I can't compare. All I can say was that I was transported to a different world - fascinating, eerily beautiful, and sad. I don't feel I have quite come back yet.

Click here to see Marina's Guide to Tango in Buenos Aires.