Talisman

Advantages: Hippy, dippy ley-line centre
Disadvantages: Lots of scams

...Here are my top 5 tips on Sedona: 1) Open your mind. As you may know, Sedona is the hippy, new-age capital of the world. The town is bursting with crystal shops, tarot readers, faith healers and talismans. Its great fun and, for initiates such as myself, an eye opener 2) Don't be waylaid. There are plenty of sharp practitioners looking to hook the unwary with bogus artifacts. Don't spend more than you can afford and approach any deal with scepticism 3) Travel round. Sedona is in the heart of beautiful countryside. Nerby sliding rocks national park is great fun. Avoid the weekend (when it is full of natives), grab your swimming togs, and slide along the marvellously smooth rocks into pools of chilling clear water 4) Taste the local food. There is some great 'Tex-mex' restaruatns in Sedona. We enjoyed very cheap fajitas. Avoid Mc... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A unqiue experience of Andean culture
Disadvantages: Very much on the tourist trail

.... The 'witches' were so called by the Spanish Conquistadors for their traditional non-Catholic practices, such as fortune telling, and their knowledge of the uses of local plants. Their small stalls are jam packed with objects, such as bundles of brightly coloured sweets and coca leaves, to be used as offerings, herbal remedies, talismans and magic charms. Some of the more unusual items for sale include snake skins, dried caimans and dried llama foetuses, which are commonly buried under new buildings to bring luck to the family home or business within. Most of these are displayed pre-packed, or if something special is in order, the witch will knock up a specific concoction or spell potion from a wealth of unusual substances kept under the stall. And I did find some evidence on my travels that these potions work. I met an American, who had selected... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Kindness of the people/ various landscape (all gorgeous)/ very cheap
Disadvantages: must speak spanish if you want to travel a bit/ no organisation at all (don't have the same notion of Time)

...(especially the Witch's market where you will find all the talisman, the luck bringers or the aphrodisiacs you've always secretally !) But Be careful, avoid looking like a tourist, pick-pockets are doing their own market there! ( so the poncho with a big " I Love Peru!" might give them a hint!) CAJAMARCA : My journey in Peru continues a bit higher in the mountains. Fist remark, and a big one! In mountains, "bye-bye Winter, hello Summer"; it is rather impressive I should say. The seasons are inverted between coast and the inside of the country. So protected by mountains, we have been enjoying beautiful landscapes under a gorgeous sun... The "change" is amazing. If you suffer from the lack of oxygen or mountain sickness (you will feel it very quicly if you are asked to jump around other swords dressed in a kilt!), the inhabitants will give you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Hippy, dippy ley-line centre
Disadvantages: Lots of scams

...Here are my top 5 tips on Sedona: 1) Open your mind. As you may know, Sedona is the hippy, new-age capital of the world. The town is bursting with crystal shops, tarot readers, faith healers and talismans. Its great fun and, for initiates such as myself, an eye opener 2) Don't be waylaid. There are plenty of sharp practitioners looking to hook the unwary with bogus artifacts. Don't spend more than you can afford and approach any deal with scepticism 3) Travel round. Sedona is in the heart of beautiful countryside. Nerby sliding rocks national park is great fun. Avoid the weekend (when it is full of natives), grab your swimming togs, and slide along the marvellously smooth rocks into pools of chilling clear water 4) Taste the local food. There is some great 'Tex-mex' restaruatns in Sedona. We enjoyed very cheap fajitas. Avoid Mc... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A unqiue experience of Andean culture
Disadvantages: Very much on the tourist trail

.... The 'witches' were so called by the Spanish Conquistadors for their traditional non-Catholic practices, such as fortune telling, and their knowledge of the uses of local plants. Their small stalls are jam packed with objects, such as bundles of brightly coloured sweets and coca leaves, to be used as offerings, herbal remedies, talismans and magic charms. Some of the more unusual items for sale include snake skins, dried caimans and dried llama foetuses, which are commonly buried under new buildings to bring luck to the family home or business within. Most of these are displayed pre-packed, or if something special is in order, the witch will knock up a specific concoction or spell potion from a wealth of unusual substances kept under the stall. And I did find some evidence on my travels that these potions work. I met an American, who had selected... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Kindness of the people/ various landscape (all gorgeous)/ very cheap
Disadvantages: must speak spanish if you want to travel a bit/ no organisation at all (don't have the same notion of Time)

...(especially the Witch's market where you will find all the talisman, the luck bringers or the aphrodisiacs you've always secretally !) But Be careful, avoid looking like a tourist, pick-pockets are doing their own market there! ( so the poncho with a big " I Love Peru!" might give them a hint!) CAJAMARCA : My journey in Peru continues a bit higher in the mountains. Fist remark, and a big one! In mountains, "bye-bye Winter, hello Summer"; it is rather impressive I should say. The seasons are inverted between coast and the inside of the country. So protected by mountains, we have been enjoying beautiful landscapes under a gorgeous sun... The "change" is amazing. If you suffer from the lack of oxygen or mountain sickness (you will feel it very quicly if you are asked to jump around other swords dressed in a kilt!), the inhabitants will give you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful