So I’m starting the initial planning on the summer vacation this year, and I’m looking for suggestions from some of the well traveled dopers out there.
For the most part, the things that I am interested in seeing generally involve ancient architecture. I loved Rome, Sicily, parts of Turkey, and the Mayan ruins in Mexico. Although in Mexico, I liked Coba more than Chitchen Itza. The latter felt as though there had been a bit too much ‘restoration’ done for my taste.
For this year, I’m thinking about either Angkor Wat, or Machupichu. I’m a bit leary of going to Cambodia, so I’m not sure about that. And from what I can see, it looks like they’ve cleared most of the jungle away from the temples. I understand it has to be done for conservation reasons, but I really liked the look and feel of Coba, with the trees growing on the pyramids. Machupichu looks increadibly cool, but is there anything else in the area to do? While I don’t mind spending money, 1 or 2 days at the site is enough for me, what else is close by that we can do as part of a vacation? Hopefully something semi-relaxing too. I hate coming back from my time off tired.
Anyone have any other ideas? Suggestions? Preferably someplace that you’ve been, or know someone that’s been. Pictures are great…but any ideas would help out.
Last November my wife and I stayed here. It was wonderful. The old part of the castle started construction in 1090. The owners (a Viscount and Viscountess) and we were the only people in the castle and they were very nice. She speaks english quite well and gave great directions to her great recomendations in the area. At the end of the day we joined them for congac and talked about the sites we visited.
Of course French medivel and later chateaus are very different from Cambodia but I think you might like it.
I was in Siem Reap, Campuchea last February. Angkor Wat is incredible, although my favorite site was Bayon. Hundreds of huge stone columns with carved faces gazing out from four sides decorate it. You’ll also have to see Ta Prohm, which they’ve left largely as it was discovered, with the jungle growing right out of it. Ta Prohm is the temple most featured in “Tomb Raider”. Despite what you may have heard about Cambodia, I felt perfectly safe in Siem Reap. On the down side, now that it’s peaceful, there are a lot of tourists flocking there. It’s still well worth seeing though!
Machu Picchu is incredibly cool. I’ve been there twice, the last time in 1998. It’s the most breathtaking archeological site I’ve ever been to, partly because of its setting surrounded by impossibly steep jungle-clad mountains. The best way to visit, I think, is to take the train up from Cusco, then stay in nearby Aguascalientes over night. If you take the first bus up to the ruins the next morning, you’ll have a few hours when the ruins are nearly empty before the hordes of day-trippers come up on the morning train. It’s also possible to stay at a hotel right next to the ruins, but this is much more expensive.
Depending on what you think of as relaxing, you might want to get to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail, which allows you to visit many other ruins en route. It’s possible to join an organized tour on which porters carry all the gear.
Cusco itself is an extremely interesting place. Many buildings are built on top of the still-standing walls of the old Inca capital. I stayed in a hotel where my room had walls of original Inca masonry. There are many other Inca ruins around Cusco, especially the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. And you can dine on roast guinea pig in one of the fine restaurants on the Plaza.