Photos from Machu Picchu

On Peru Rail to Machu Picchu

We made it!

Example of incredible stone wrok

Nobles' Home

Workers' Homes

View from the top

Hotel Sumac, Aguas Calientes

Alpaca tenderloin, YUM!

This is how you unload a train in a town with no vehicles

The Hiram Bingham

Dinner on the Hiram Bingham

More Photos from Sacred Valley Peru

Hotel Sol y Luna

Market in Urubamba

Hotel Sol y Luna

Inca icons on the roof

Chef Ricardo Behar at 3 Keros

Lunch at 3 Keros

Traditional wool dying with our guide Ruben

Traditional Weavers

Inca Experimental Farm

Salt Mine

The inevitable potatoes

Photos from the Sacred Valley, Peru

 Baby alpaca

 Dean has a new friend

 Curly coated alpaca

 Llama on display

 Llama

 The Sacred Valley

The Temple of the Sun, Ollantaytambo

 Fountain at the Temple of the Sun

 View from the top of the Temple of the Sun

Guinea pigs in an Inca home - future dinner!

Photos from Lima

 Hotel Miraflores Park Lobby, Lima

 Flowers at the Hotel Miraflores Park, Lima

 The intrepid travelers, ready to take on Lima

Lima looks a lot like Port Angeles at this time of year

 On Sundays, they block off the streets and exercise - here they are doing Zumba

 Lima

 Cuasa, Peruvian potato salad with tuna, squid and shrimp

 Lovers' Park, Lima (see the Gaudi influence)

Typical Spanish balconies in Lima.  Ladies could watch the world go by without being seen

City scape, Lima

July 20, last post from South America

Flew back to Quito this morning. Really didn't want to leave the Galapagos. It is an incredible place. Even if you have read about it or watched shows on tv, there is no way to understand the uniqueness of that place. It will take me awhile to sort it all out in my head. Hopefully, I can add some photos to the blog when I get back. Adios!

July 19 Galapagos

This morning, we had a wonderful walk through a rookery with rocky outcroppings and giant mangroves. We saw masked boobies, red footed boobies, yellow crown night heron, frigate birds and swallow tailed gulls. Many of them were on their nests, yet they allowed us to be up close. One even attacked the frizzy blonde hair of a woman in our party. after that snorkeling with lots of tropical fish, again I didn't see any sharks or rays, although some people did. In the afternoon, we went kayaking, then on another walk to see the birds on Genovese Island. You had to be careful not to step on the boobies. We did see a local owl tearing up a petrel that he found for dinner. No words can describe how amazing it is to get so close to the wildlife. this trip was way too short. I co uld use a few more days.

July 18 Galapagos

We had sun this morning with clear skies. Hiked up to the top of one of the small islets,the view was amazing. Photos will not do it justice. Then snorkeling with lots of fish and a penguin, swimming right along side of me! Some people saw sharks, missed them. In the afternoon, we went to another beach, but we just hung out then took a long walk over a lava flow. The naturalists on board are wonderful at describing things. Our guide this afternoon was born and raised here, so he has a lot of stories to tell. We have met a lot of people from all over the world. This is the best!