tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714467537343178082024-03-13T10:05:25.951-07:00Fly With Condors; Play With MonkeysTravel Adventures of a Woman in Full BloomChaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-23444850347357793642011-04-12T15:05:00.000-07:002011-04-16T15:15:31.015-07:00Tanzania, March 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3fHwWv0S9WZGyJb0GQyPZMu77tQElcUV_zO0yV5ykgmec_RA5eANy2UvnWQDA_QwD5UaAjwk5B5DPwDTpDIs1mjRUjO5Q4R7dvvL4qeqIANCQdw1qFREk5-KK6938LG-K4m59LllyrYA/s1600/Tanzania+trip+Arusha+001.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3fHwWv0S9WZGyJb0GQyPZMu77tQElcUV_zO0yV5ykgmec_RA5eANy2UvnWQDA_QwD5UaAjwk5B5DPwDTpDIs1mjRUjO5Q4R7dvvL4qeqIANCQdw1qFREk5-KK6938LG-K4m59LllyrYA/s320/Tanzania+trip+Arusha+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594838674589787506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My heart sank as we drove through Arusha on our first morning in Tanzania. I was reminded of Caribbean shanty towns, only dirtier and, somehow, much more "foreign".<br /><br />Apparently, I grew new eyes, because two weeks later, it no longer looked dirty or "foreign". :-)</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Though there were moments I felt homesick for the familiar comforts of my home, and was actually ready to go home after two weeks, I would not have wanted to miss the thrill of seeing the first cheetah, the fist monkeys, the first, the second and...they just kept coming! Lions lying in the road, oblivious to being surrounded by jeeps of sightseers...magnificent, and yet behaving like contented domestic cats. There's so much magic in seeing animals in the wild, protected! I think it's fear which makes them...and us....screwy and, often, mean.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Visiting the Maasai boma was a most interesting part of the trip. The Maasai man has been all but worshiped by their many wives who do the work of the household. Those who have been converted to Christianity now take only one wife, and as a single wife, all the work falls on her, including the building of the hut. So, I chuckle, Christianity has made the Maasai's life harder.<br /><br />I </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >wanted</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to be a good sport and help my group plaster a hut with mud and cow-dung, but was in danger of throwing up. It's not like the women needed our help. Our being expected to put our hands in poop must have either been someone's idea of a "cultural experience" or a joke on the tourists. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The Maasai sang and sang and then danced with us...men with men, and women with women, and at the end of our visit, laid out their jewelry for us to buy. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nothing was priced, a lump price negotiated by our group leader in Swahili.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">---------------------------------------------------<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8L-zFw6yc4P1y-jKc-ssIG1aS5AiV1UKACg7qpbRn51Be9HlLIGcoGQ6cU5Dty_XO7E8xtJDl2WDt0YpfvC8lxJr_uBumhqg0ZNTJ2ThgE5FXczInZWtAFYpIDb-rtBm1hpxLw0-zAKbs/s1600/Tanzania+trip+Arusha+3+004.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8L-zFw6yc4P1y-jKc-ssIG1aS5AiV1UKACg7qpbRn51Be9HlLIGcoGQ6cU5Dty_XO7E8xtJDl2WDt0YpfvC8lxJr_uBumhqg0ZNTJ2ThgE5FXczInZWtAFYpIDb-rtBm1hpxLw0-zAKbs/s320/Tanzania+trip+Arusha+3+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594838394225420082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ox9R_Y-IGDZnRgR9p4yyF2TwX_f_yIDjn7ieyyUUCVjBx6jIwMTAIsAJmKXg6xqup8kQhQdGRZfHtjFsbwRo-paa0ZoF-L-MUlCfZjOz81A7n4FkO2uA_GxjpGSYix1yk3Zl4ctqEey0/s1600/Tanzania+trip+arusha+4+shoes+007.jpg"><img style="float: left; 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margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0D5tMo8UDpaQVKcRG8KqCGIu0NCvU3YVL0r9h2R3Ebcg2MUdEz5mQQPNEYHXviT7dfGHP1WR26UmhjNly_VDVyte3sgcleucA3ip_HFF5fsU42c-2OeqEuh5-XDsQnvR2OvDUEU_P7fxb/s320/Tanzania+trip++craftshow+193.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594828443028950562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-3130541030035718422011-04-06T17:33:00.000-07:002011-04-08T17:12:29.559-07:00Tanzania, March 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYSqTICWG8Lx9CQ1KzRxK7bN8oqjeH43Qmax2rDB3dWLcYcgojHF80PI1cJ0cfO8ABgJFoJfwshEchrAbkAGiMVnmLMV_2wDFC4EsQMuh69nKChTE1nwJxiUH49UOUGrKYrf7WeEXn-Fr/s1600/Tanzania+trip+elephants+watering060.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYSqTICWG8Lx9CQ1KzRxK7bN8oqjeH43Qmax2rDB3dWLcYcgojHF80PI1cJ0cfO8ABgJFoJfwshEchrAbkAGiMVnmLMV_2wDFC4EsQMuh69nKChTE1nwJxiUH49UOUGrKYrf7WeEXn-Fr/s320/Tanzania+trip+elephants+watering060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593369959087440210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_etyB5y7HqeiQvc8XDiA51JCDcWtbQHEJWmSukfDnG3zbp9f9GOsW2wFWXh3AmrNPtbxCjxbxJsmmgB-yHaiKe2nLFdyNs2kN9zIL8azuRlRvxqzbgJH5LdPl4wWiz4kfbHudcjgBPqf/s1600/Tanzania+trip+elephants+group+moving+062.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_etyB5y7HqeiQvc8XDiA51JCDcWtbQHEJWmSukfDnG3zbp9f9GOsW2wFWXh3AmrNPtbxCjxbxJsmmgB-yHaiKe2nLFdyNs2kN9zIL8azuRlRvxqzbgJH5LdPl4wWiz4kfbHudcjgBPqf/s320/Tanzania+trip+elephants+group+moving+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593369734239292274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrUcReoHLV2Fy7H-cH0p2ZCXHeR6-v-rHwnItbNdJOU0GzLv_4bw0nc6Aopvp9Gkye8PtguIG8oONricP8aqrwiXQDdjeN8pqIk8X_-argfYoDywYBjOtFPTDBdir2IqwOQE0SvczwblY/s1600/Tanzania+elephant+large+group.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrUcReoHLV2Fy7H-cH0p2ZCXHeR6-v-rHwnItbNdJOU0GzLv_4bw0nc6Aopvp9Gkye8PtguIG8oONricP8aqrwiXQDdjeN8pqIk8X_-argfYoDywYBjOtFPTDBdir2IqwOQE0SvczwblY/s320/Tanzania+elephant+large+group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593369424233340658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3OS92zev8gq-McCxC0Nhc7LuF41xb1S3mgk-SdjkQOuFI7YGMj2XcwRP8PAqxTYByiEHZ5Dof7iDhpcMH4VZOfA95_EkRz5LYw3it_qjo9GzwovYG9e8lv0Dst8HcYORsn58RPG5-3qy/s1600/Tanzania+trip+elephant+with+baby.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3OS92zev8gq-McCxC0Nhc7LuF41xb1S3mgk-SdjkQOuFI7YGMj2XcwRP8PAqxTYByiEHZ5Dof7iDhpcMH4VZOfA95_EkRz5LYw3it_qjo9GzwovYG9e8lv0Dst8HcYORsn58RPG5-3qy/s320/Tanzania+trip+elephant+with+baby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593369210119932242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROBOkB_Dit7cAGU-e2P9s2TyFW4XmTYy0JSPxjE7DPaeQJZ5UlyXlqoZBNOQtM8Q3a99Lw-PRykyC1a7s_F4_a0JRRCPSry88oxXIgph92tuP_jVr6PHxSRmi9Q3ltHb8CS1iyNL4a9yz/s1600/Tanzania+elephant+ears.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROBOkB_Dit7cAGU-e2P9s2TyFW4XmTYy0JSPxjE7DPaeQJZ5UlyXlqoZBNOQtM8Q3a99Lw-PRykyC1a7s_F4_a0JRRCPSry88oxXIgph92tuP_jVr6PHxSRmi9Q3ltHb8CS1iyNL4a9yz/s320/Tanzania+elephant+ears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593368932364697106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-jLcPGN69azCHg8Eqi-XY8-YN5ZIAYabN166-g_aFjopAOWt2phcaoff7ox9j5ChHw8aPIQCl3D4Ke0-DN1L-TL3D4Y6QX6z2aBigytmYp9Oqb605TvFQ8Aa237PAPXGEwsbdo4rsPUA/s1600/Tanzania+elephant+ears+front.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-jLcPGN69azCHg8Eqi-XY8-YN5ZIAYabN166-g_aFjopAOWt2phcaoff7ox9j5ChHw8aPIQCl3D4Ke0-DN1L-TL3D4Y6QX6z2aBigytmYp9Oqb605TvFQ8Aa237PAPXGEwsbdo4rsPUA/s320/Tanzania+elephant+ears+front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593368538029221506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXfbQ5H46iUixd8pluvIEfCR2i-BT2b4yFUHN4wrgR0Yerf1I2RDptchw2sYFBYxZkpoJRuZRWajKIExp6Ml2EY5k9IKYNNnZh2-7JkbLDcH0npHjLRMsgFDp99lVU1KFdouW2icRbHFn/s1600/Tanzania+trip+elephant+eating081.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXfbQ5H46iUixd8pluvIEfCR2i-BT2b4yFUHN4wrgR0Yerf1I2RDptchw2sYFBYxZkpoJRuZRWajKIExp6Ml2EY5k9IKYNNnZh2-7JkbLDcH0npHjLRMsgFDp99lVU1KFdouW2icRbHFn/s320/Tanzania+trip+elephant+eating081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593366751680334002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Elephants have impressive ears! They also have an impressive social structure. There is always at least one "look-out", the matriarch and the next oldest. The young are kept in between the large ones and watched closely.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixU-dOCsfAiV6NV8MeHqB1Cm00p5NFGaZO-0sato1J9Qg1BPgPHHvjoH-to8Pg84t85Y1JnhzxIFn9yxKCy4ffPISmENkAAUVBhesbPyu_0l-v1Pkr4U8GYGnO0BfnpGtBQYhRtBxMVcDv/s1600/Tanzania+trip+zebrass202.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixU-dOCsfAiV6NV8MeHqB1Cm00p5NFGaZO-0sato1J9Qg1BPgPHHvjoH-to8Pg84t85Y1JnhzxIFn9yxKCy4ffPISmENkAAUVBhesbPyu_0l-v1Pkr4U8GYGnO0BfnpGtBQYhRtBxMVcDv/s320/Tanzania+trip+zebrass202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593353887169180818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6NDzjOugnLULDIgcEfGX5eTVl7J_7KmUcEhenhmFqx8N6Wj06dWhZa0vSPk0hmRYiWexhkTISYCKdMYBRBcwMW61VqBjt65v78C5qfw3iXrCmIV8beuJi5KhkAyPzQPoxmLMyrEgDg7J/s1600/Tanzania+trip+zebra+rest277.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6NDzjOugnLULDIgcEfGX5eTVl7J_7KmUcEhenhmFqx8N6Wj06dWhZa0vSPk0hmRYiWexhkTISYCKdMYBRBcwMW61VqBjt65v78C5qfw3iXrCmIV8beuJi5KhkAyPzQPoxmLMyrEgDg7J/s320/Tanzania+trip+zebra+rest277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593353612467834754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KQUHG-2Bc8L4L60n6do82hqkoK2ceAprtlAul-bMF-nNToTEkp6MsdhVCXKtTMCil5B0XK1KCRaQAf4rJ9aNJ22bc3SYCJrXfpXwNbmAbyfGE40qWysL6KeAJmOEyK53-V6MOGJRqIj1/s1600/Tanzania+trip+zebra+baby354.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KQUHG-2Bc8L4L60n6do82hqkoK2ceAprtlAul-bMF-nNToTEkp6MsdhVCXKtTMCil5B0XK1KCRaQAf4rJ9aNJ22bc3SYCJrXfpXwNbmAbyfGE40qWysL6KeAJmOEyK53-V6MOGJRqIj1/s320/Tanzania+trip+zebra+baby354.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593353364831205122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1itjkV8cweI-mAU9RpYggUv9siYCvBJiEKHU0XkfohqPyLpktFwlkBgphztQWjHSeGdI9ixtwIynOvhrC9yq_JOXMjH3bt_9nKR9pjqSa_oy3fSXsU-jZ18kn0HgOK_YBs-y7Z44svkh/s1600/Tanzania+trip+zebras+ngoroa355.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1itjkV8cweI-mAU9RpYggUv9siYCvBJiEKHU0XkfohqPyLpktFwlkBgphztQWjHSeGdI9ixtwIynOvhrC9yq_JOXMjH3bt_9nKR9pjqSa_oy3fSXsU-jZ18kn0HgOK_YBs-y7Z44svkh/s320/Tanzania+trip+zebras+ngoroa355.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593352080822661922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiaVHWqJjR5SXHf2CcAyxYyjYtWtTZTUNGRagBzFBYmyh9hB1ZgcQ6ZO-Wf83hOCdMq9sxG6iwuyhCh3n21I2TdIzPjoV96TiV3Ir1IJOErFW8tKDozHYDgnBOaxEkhYf5ZksxYR3tbnk/s1600/Tanzania+trip+zebra+close373.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiaVHWqJjR5SXHf2CcAyxYyjYtWtTZTUNGRagBzFBYmyh9hB1ZgcQ6ZO-Wf83hOCdMq9sxG6iwuyhCh3n21I2TdIzPjoV96TiV3Ir1IJOErFW8tKDozHYDgnBOaxEkhYf5ZksxYR3tbnk/s320/Tanzania+trip+zebra+close373.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593351093554660498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">My favorite animals were the zebras, I think. Elegant, peaceful, and...in this close-up...funny.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">They fascinated me, as the striping is different on each and every one!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"> And, they were plentiful! Alone or, usually, in small or large groups...frequently with other animals. They rest their heads on each other and I saw several clusters of 4, each resting its head on the other's rear in a big group hug! The two you see in the distance were by a lake of pink flamingos at the Ngogora Crater.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO37tu3tPzANXQO2ap5UAp5l-eduLGQ695CnpXVUMvBugZkntLDR5f0fLGyfB-9GZbIdNhtaLFggwO6hZfRR3ywOKuKqUggfq9WaC4HTZBp0D5OPE8BP9rvj7DEVGPFQ8OTPPNvVvvs1ec/s1600/Tanzania+trip+nature+Serengeti+vastness235.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO37tu3tPzANXQO2ap5UAp5l-eduLGQ695CnpXVUMvBugZkntLDR5f0fLGyfB-9GZbIdNhtaLFggwO6hZfRR3ywOKuKqUggfq9WaC4HTZBp0D5OPE8BP9rvj7DEVGPFQ8OTPPNvVvvs1ec/s320/Tanzania+trip+nature+Serengeti+vastness235.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592643982634141506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaRBAPdgMfsR87UoDnpYCTyhEA7TyEYJ3fqg0UeuqMBlBqigbdysPFMtfg3OdhEq-9WZDkCFult6D0OTBNlanfxFXJG27BtKFu_ZZi2NH3kU__yLZQOhWWtCejRH5vKRIbZCDBNWZu-0F/s1600/Tanzania+trip+nature+ostriches151.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaRBAPdgMfsR87UoDnpYCTyhEA7TyEYJ3fqg0UeuqMBlBqigbdysPFMtfg3OdhEq-9WZDkCFult6D0OTBNlanfxFXJG27BtKFu_ZZi2NH3kU__yLZQOhWWtCejRH5vKRIbZCDBNWZu-0F/s320/Tanzania+trip+nature+ostriches151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592643668112929986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOksCeAhqODmp8-N4cH5xxJCyZMWcmrmSNPN6_l-kDN59_1JzWiSKqFYlnz3Sflg33v8_6J_Kg78Db-8bWdhKPzTdNPIlvMokNy4IhTJ_RonpcqAhTknN9PnC_HPGfyGVBuWWaq85STfs/s1600/Tanzania+trip+nature+ostrich362.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOksCeAhqODmp8-N4cH5xxJCyZMWcmrmSNPN6_l-kDN59_1JzWiSKqFYlnz3Sflg33v8_6J_Kg78Db-8bWdhKPzTdNPIlvMokNy4IhTJ_RonpcqAhTknN9PnC_HPGfyGVBuWWaq85STfs/s320/Tanzania+trip+nature+ostrich362.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592643328228378946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYTYGX8aIk-8ISkpKNohHePXBG9PKv_doq86OKdpjYiQ_CMPAoI9cSglzolB2Zk52Hpep_j0T4lJLGMCmn-bt8vtiCiJ4ZwHBqK2PJutrp_goJpi6DWbLLGDDKht-gY82WHc-ypp6W7m0/s1600/Tanzania+trip+nature+birds363.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYTYGX8aIk-8ISkpKNohHePXBG9PKv_doq86OKdpjYiQ_CMPAoI9cSglzolB2Zk52Hpep_j0T4lJLGMCmn-bt8vtiCiJ4ZwHBqK2PJutrp_goJpi6DWbLLGDDKht-gY82WHc-ypp6W7m0/s320/Tanzania+trip+nature+birds363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592642507658440290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDhoyoBBdB3bC1Sc90eGoZFlnomRxiStaKwYAvS3gasPikTaVv78aC6PtXsfErzkNSNhynAy1gYLEcakzyfL-nDfp1iYGhHD5x1d-EeUwK76pfHnA0OMB1QGd3tOFnbdr9dTqPFfQ6Ddz/s1600/Tanzania+trip+gazelles+115.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDhoyoBBdB3bC1Sc90eGoZFlnomRxiStaKwYAvS3gasPikTaVv78aC6PtXsfErzkNSNhynAy1gYLEcakzyfL-nDfp1iYGhHD5x1d-EeUwK76pfHnA0OMB1QGd3tOFnbdr9dTqPFfQ6Ddz/s320/Tanzania+trip+gazelles+115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592641357740561762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2RHOHdnWv3irxt-0apdjGC8VFdfxUlA4hklZHOSZi7c0M211MKJ8MWCBLiK1rno6wfp8P92M3WVqD7YxIUt1m0vkN60-2xVwijkwPv4WdlIOdTvMl1CUwQW4MbWEIyW9vnq5qnhclqK3/s1600/Tanzania+trip+nature+hyenas+kill349.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2RHOHdnWv3irxt-0apdjGC8VFdfxUlA4hklZHOSZi7c0M211MKJ8MWCBLiK1rno6wfp8P92M3WVqD7YxIUt1m0vkN60-2xVwijkwPv4WdlIOdTvMl1CUwQW4MbWEIyW9vnq5qnhclqK3/s320/Tanzania+trip+nature+hyenas+kill349.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592640544452678482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu35LQUJwnyQmEpqiHcSbl2NWEsl3Qyu0GRX_xvy5GEqDBo4gz0riVGNdCeSJ6EbqZZVAYD0aGr7kiLN1wCxhwXlXLTuONbrQzoZL8zmUDNrn4QxiEYVv1z9I1INAIUuOGMMkHEUoMQRTZ/s1600/tanzania+young+hyena.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu35LQUJwnyQmEpqiHcSbl2NWEsl3Qyu0GRX_xvy5GEqDBo4gz0riVGNdCeSJ6EbqZZVAYD0aGr7kiLN1wCxhwXlXLTuONbrQzoZL8zmUDNrn4QxiEYVv1z9I1INAIUuOGMMkHEUoMQRTZ/s320/tanzania+young+hyena.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592639860679929394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKaneRw0ggaqJPHZaEDWBbaBOM_Kvf1jUTZoEWybUMEz9ktHKb9r_2EW08tC_sXiBbumuaV3HWz7wwqyyXJq34BQtA0Kj26zKYdajeKKkMLs7bONB5_r-I76ZHkNH1o5iiYfUa6pMkrmW/s1600/Tanzania+trip+gazelle114.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKaneRw0ggaqJPHZaEDWBbaBOM_Kvf1jUTZoEWybUMEz9ktHKb9r_2EW08tC_sXiBbumuaV3HWz7wwqyyXJq34BQtA0Kj26zKYdajeKKkMLs7bONB5_r-I76ZHkNH1o5iiYfUa6pMkrmW/s320/Tanzania+trip+gazelle114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592639494010982354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibo1EIMu6sy9eKRMWd4lYZmFIxtWcEkRsjg5dA0cBGlEWKcbd-9e-KwXrKhTCaG_iPtQBj7YvWFqwUnR5uFWDjWLO8Vt2X7-TCyxPbKHZWAmLO_mHs-D75J636FOCys7taDwhBLAZHCVQf/s1600/Tanzania+trip+nature+2baobab+041.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibo1EIMu6sy9eKRMWd4lYZmFIxtWcEkRsjg5dA0cBGlEWKcbd-9e-KwXrKhTCaG_iPtQBj7YvWFqwUnR5uFWDjWLO8Vt2X7-TCyxPbKHZWAmLO_mHs-D75J636FOCys7taDwhBLAZHCVQf/s320/Tanzania+trip+nature+2baobab+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592639035093816338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmP_r3sbDxqoKvh6vmVFmx8wJw03gPuNsf66DiKyJhGlmFgGFfQblDewfrXoxRO219vXKDjdgRJ_A2jyk9VFbhFobaZnjC5Hhz-VLvgBnMVv7HdjX-sIjbZy-pvZxAVVSHBFxsHw5gqtc/s1600/Tanzania+trip+warthog118.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmP_r3sbDxqoKvh6vmVFmx8wJw03gPuNsf66DiKyJhGlmFgGFfQblDewfrXoxRO219vXKDjdgRJ_A2jyk9VFbhFobaZnjC5Hhz-VLvgBnMVv7HdjX-sIjbZy-pvZxAVVSHBFxsHw5gqtc/s320/Tanzania+trip+warthog118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592638666828887906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I try to travel without expectations, but don't have enough control over my mind to keep it from not conjuring up anything at all. I imagined Tanzania to be mostly barren, dusty... but even the vast expanses of the Serengeti had ever changing vegetation and kept my interest. I found it magical. All of it! </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">And animals in their natural habitat, unafraid.....all beautiful and absolutely perfect. Warthogs, hyenas cleaning up a kill, ostriches kick-boxing.....all beautiful. I was filled with a sense of wonder and awe as well as deep yearning for safety and freedom for ALL creatures of the world.</span>Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-11131943263351474092011-04-03T11:27:00.000-07:002011-05-23T17:27:44.024-07:00Tanzania, March 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO2c1GS4R9CS76-xBKPJTOAlyxzBaqpKnrkoguzFUYtK7cW63mwgdpaRyOdiYIUKZLYlmNpWJ3nfwFBBQAZfu3r3R78zHdkRKKjbIDS1gq4NCpdfkunZkAFP-LcpIBy0XEjhvIkjlAc2J/s1600/Tanzania+trip+school+1+424.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO2c1GS4R9CS76-xBKPJTOAlyxzBaqpKnrkoguzFUYtK7cW63mwgdpaRyOdiYIUKZLYlmNpWJ3nfwFBBQAZfu3r3R78zHdkRKKjbIDS1gq4NCpdfkunZkAFP-LcpIBy0XEjhvIkjlAc2J/s320/Tanzania+trip+school+1+424.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592268921363126066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Everyone of us enjoyed the visit to Njiapanda Primary School in the village of Karatu. I attempted reading in Swahili, bringing smiles and then laughter. We watched in amazement as the children, lined up in orderly rows, quietly and efficiently received a snack of hot porridge. The older children helped the younger ones and no one complained. One even stopped to tie my shoelaces for me! We ended our visit by teaching a fifth grade class to do the Hokey-Pokey.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-Qv02-TFAjy7Mrxn1SVxANZInR0l12tlLq2hgygVcI_alBtLBfa6swSptG9AWxBK8HsW6ljh_EtNCEUFsMRgLQX24wOf9AbLmtHTyivhLnWG7vz8Cpsug0VQiIXVzfwteSx81OtD3AWe/s1600/Tanzania+trip+school+2432.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-Qv02-TFAjy7Mrxn1SVxANZInR0l12tlLq2hgygVcI_alBtLBfa6swSptG9AWxBK8HsW6ljh_EtNCEUFsMRgLQX24wOf9AbLmtHTyivhLnWG7vz8Cpsug0VQiIXVzfwteSx81OtD3AWe/s320/Tanzania+trip+school+2432.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592268645487529090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Wc2xqEFFbjjOaB3kfcbypEQ-wB9oNf_5oWGyY_isedwng1YQ3e-ZvqzfAeTnxwFXkjQyrGk4QVVWYhUyYh65UOZm0CYiBO2YfFi6xWK07Zn-JaL80nDMe7ABOLWvXWqz_uhve0ya5ScA/s1600/Tanzania+trip+school+feed+425.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Wc2xqEFFbjjOaB3kfcbypEQ-wB9oNf_5oWGyY_isedwng1YQ3e-ZvqzfAeTnxwFXkjQyrGk4QVVWYhUyYh65UOZm0CYiBO2YfFi6xWK07Zn-JaL80nDMe7ABOLWvXWqz_uhve0ya5ScA/s320/Tanzania+trip+school+feed+425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592268363094010146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghLYW9ZhulaT4ZOpe9K0GcQv5IujB1mL5ZRo8f3rScLt6MHKFswqgGiYKAqPtJMr1FL8kc0yM3v3BjLf9TOD6oBrjOo7CqTZ1y6IlFC__QxLwOgyqdPRiKBahO4vxV3sSU9BZxNgu_uh0/s1600/Tanzania+trip+school+feed426.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghLYW9ZhulaT4ZOpe9K0GcQv5IujB1mL5ZRo8f3rScLt6MHKFswqgGiYKAqPtJMr1FL8kc0yM3v3BjLf9TOD6oBrjOo7CqTZ1y6IlFC__QxLwOgyqdPRiKBahO4vxV3sSU9BZxNgu_uh0/s320/Tanzania+trip+school+feed426.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592268074039379426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oPE4qv3PbeJYvGEBicIbYAzjjmvGfuMRHfX1GIHtG6wEGyDcERELZUsDWNScywNRnYQVlERATspAPnMyH7jQHvwM4Lk5rtVRcmpFYRxHBeGPHqLXK3WRupKBUyJS66zSnpeYYCxNAq6l/s1600/Tanzania+trip+school+hokey+pokey431.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oPE4qv3PbeJYvGEBicIbYAzjjmvGfuMRHfX1GIHtG6wEGyDcERELZUsDWNScywNRnYQVlERATspAPnMyH7jQHvwM4Lk5rtVRcmpFYRxHBeGPHqLXK3WRupKBUyJS66zSnpeYYCxNAq6l/s320/Tanzania+trip+school+hokey+pokey431.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592267119914658242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokhKq4xy6lSXQoV_L8OSM68r2KFMERiBacWOGliGVJ4C7-Zw3yspns9evniW8pfYGqfkh2bp4-QgQibYSOFhnQ9CYd_jFs9HYtJZIT8EgxdJ4ykNTEAYMpxbbqHuQL65cD5ro157xd26r/s1600/Tanzania+trip+monkey+021.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokhKq4xy6lSXQoV_L8OSM68r2KFMERiBacWOGliGVJ4C7-Zw3yspns9evniW8pfYGqfkh2bp4-QgQibYSOFhnQ9CYd_jFs9HYtJZIT8EgxdJ4ykNTEAYMpxbbqHuQL65cD5ro157xd26r/s320/Tanzania+trip+monkey+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591824134840721938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I loved seeing so many monkeys! At the entrance to one of the parks the monkeys were so cheeky that someone in my group lost her picnic lunch to one. Rangers tried their best to keep them away from people by throwing rocks at them. They also kept a close eye on us, or I might have gotten myself in trouble.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">I would gladly have shared my lunch!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJTKI2OpXhsfEhg6VxBgKfcgIbFv9L_c0_OEc_uC1C_rmcbvn_DytLehQoqsooj5tEAFNSDt6L_BI2nqrJ0s7hQBxhlyeI7NpHe7KIJitFATxoy5z1fgCQKEZv4gQLAaYMHs9S4SgUeZY/s1600/Tanzania+trip+monkey2+022.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJTKI2OpXhsfEhg6VxBgKfcgIbFv9L_c0_OEc_uC1C_rmcbvn_DytLehQoqsooj5tEAFNSDt6L_BI2nqrJ0s7hQBxhlyeI7NpHe7KIJitFATxoy5z1fgCQKEZv4gQLAaYMHs9S4SgUeZY/s320/Tanzania+trip+monkey2+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591823888156857442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyybBZ9uNpUkuSZXPcQfuTgxlqsdGxbgllrWTWu3OoWKGFH1XGUzzROLqnMse36QONTVe0oOjAFmITiufjZnGRykaA6ylZJcttOY7WiTLpqKvVOT3jcbsJLXVCr07WkyiXO-5fd67XsOL/s1600/Tanzania+trip+monkey+4+326.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyybBZ9uNpUkuSZXPcQfuTgxlqsdGxbgllrWTWu3OoWKGFH1XGUzzROLqnMse36QONTVe0oOjAFmITiufjZnGRykaA6ylZJcttOY7WiTLpqKvVOT3jcbsJLXVCr07WkyiXO-5fd67XsOL/s320/Tanzania+trip+monkey+4+326.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591823501634172722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyMX-bkpsj8hVeMeRLXzaxK4YMnsg92a-V255e9aFl954N7IuohY3Zgx5i78Y4TcWm1hCzQB9B7s-asALOvhDupITUqpfe98LheOR6KAvVwR-3xV0igMXoRAHivap5Hg734_3MxJUzjVV/s1600/Tanzania+trip+monkey+6+332.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyMX-bkpsj8hVeMeRLXzaxK4YMnsg92a-V255e9aFl954N7IuohY3Zgx5i78Y4TcWm1hCzQB9B7s-asALOvhDupITUqpfe98LheOR6KAvVwR-3xV0igMXoRAHivap5Hg734_3MxJUzjVV/s320/Tanzania+trip+monkey+6+332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591823138460571458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZmGYJMtm_2DC_AQOmpgMhRdPuKdxTOf4WjSsDUygpyivVXy_ClUs4PsHrooomaSk6uvanXIkGCNXSZSp4CYBW7ZL08l2Oc6c_lt91P_RNm0vAaneQt_UqYOn_aUjUzr-XPBeqa9c9zjf/s1600/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+closeup207.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZmGYJMtm_2DC_AQOmpgMhRdPuKdxTOf4WjSsDUygpyivVXy_ClUs4PsHrooomaSk6uvanXIkGCNXSZSp4CYBW7ZL08l2Oc6c_lt91P_RNm0vAaneQt_UqYOn_aUjUzr-XPBeqa9c9zjf/s320/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+closeup207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591817210663633170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There were so many giraffes that when someone in our group said "giraffe, 3 o'clock!", it required some self-control to keep from saying "Sooo?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Whether solitary or in groups, giraffes looked like extra-terrestrials towering over most trees. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvkZMhrxzaw1mj7hRNSIhPSnX7UP04WwG6bVBtLXECX21_TRYDZeHfpjOWaUKTfpntyeA2Pz8yreJ9pdDq8zLE_md1fUzlc7D-S11lqGEN3105dCijoz-pjssK1TgfrsFktUuZWW8N-Te/s1600/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+3+some+213.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvkZMhrxzaw1mj7hRNSIhPSnX7UP04WwG6bVBtLXECX21_TRYDZeHfpjOWaUKTfpntyeA2Pz8yreJ9pdDq8zLE_md1fUzlc7D-S11lqGEN3105dCijoz-pjssK1TgfrsFktUuZWW8N-Te/s320/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+3+some+213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591817002935959026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHI1cycQkSgMbGFRJNu1qURenR37l97M2KbJ82WiV5GFv6xKnHuf1UAnlF9iwnS_L21DE33I4ClDYDzfIgXsMZXqEgEkfT48rJdT3yswS_WYGv3_lb01wPTZ337HvLuKN_L51IjJ-XE-U/s1600/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+termite+mound036.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHI1cycQkSgMbGFRJNu1qURenR37l97M2KbJ82WiV5GFv6xKnHuf1UAnlF9iwnS_L21DE33I4ClDYDzfIgXsMZXqEgEkfT48rJdT3yswS_WYGv3_lb01wPTZ337HvLuKN_L51IjJ-XE-U/s320/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+termite+mound036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591816762985866242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Huge termite mounds dotted the landscape. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">These offer homes to some of the smaller creatures.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZANvXjCsRh_IkIE2FnWBbDK-ZdPJcFh7bzyT8FLcRMJyuF2xLNZXZiSHM7ir8M4zgBmi7sThcybBFlttA8pqFHaw3dzdVa4O3qRxyOv8vnHxSs1yTbeeUokynL2X5I45BbqGG-yqI5l3o/s1600/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+termite+mound030.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZANvXjCsRh_IkIE2FnWBbDK-ZdPJcFh7bzyT8FLcRMJyuF2xLNZXZiSHM7ir8M4zgBmi7sThcybBFlttA8pqFHaw3dzdVa4O3qRxyOv8vnHxSs1yTbeeUokynL2X5I45BbqGG-yqI5l3o/s320/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+termite+mound030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591816349150856594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXYbG53Jsxq6l7OVF2mi1-xF_7cfY2Do6VhKN6tATq_gCOpHwTYIjZPfrrhnYcuymEngSU6mweiB_5UgNeJo3c1EtuPTwv_-Kanq6pn-DX3iMYKGe_8LiQhfGSZh1G7IVmsVeYm7Lk0mJ/s1600/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+rear+322.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXYbG53Jsxq6l7OVF2mi1-xF_7cfY2Do6VhKN6tATq_gCOpHwTYIjZPfrrhnYcuymEngSU6mweiB_5UgNeJo3c1EtuPTwv_-Kanq6pn-DX3iMYKGe_8LiQhfGSZh1G7IVmsVeYm7Lk0mJ/s320/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+rear+322.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591815283243811906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJOX029MQ3UOgOcUUc_w7Ulc7OV5pIYiUlPzQXQviQRpXxOOHzxEhmfS_nVZ2pn-0uxI0j9rZf3lU22ww8Nl96ak0hYILKvLqZGHekMMsR9mSqXnn4wT74U_5eWgiYFawUOfEiQVs48pH/s1600/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+duo210.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJOX029MQ3UOgOcUUc_w7Ulc7OV5pIYiUlPzQXQviQRpXxOOHzxEhmfS_nVZ2pn-0uxI0j9rZf3lU22ww8Nl96ak0hYILKvLqZGHekMMsR9mSqXnn4wT74U_5eWgiYFawUOfEiQVs48pH/s320/Tanzania+trip+giraffe+duo210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591814885201509106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ1VE5I2pikoBgnfYbC3jiD4SbjVzrSeIysJT-hsmzXAjdWuqU6JICoY4y45CCNQZ6Lt5RpSHba5IflSnxCsBnPgWyL78m8KmQAA3Pv5MB1iqrsX2BQ8qLihY2CuHGcmol1IcI8EVjSHU/s1600/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+farm+house417.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ1VE5I2pikoBgnfYbC3jiD4SbjVzrSeIysJT-hsmzXAjdWuqU6JICoY4y45CCNQZ6Lt5RpSHba5IflSnxCsBnPgWyL78m8KmQAA3Pv5MB1iqrsX2BQ8qLihY2CuHGcmol1IcI8EVjSHU/s320/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+farm+house417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591443654012233202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our accommodations in lodges were beautiful, and dining was informal yet elegant. There were organic vegetable gardens and manicured lawns.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The tropical appearance reminded many of my group of 16 travelers of Hawaii.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlW4IclsyHgWrDJSLpS2DcFWC75Vfq8clttIb1XGIhMI2YCLUQNQs-lJNRn1AKkGKTE66tG3gydnZtpDclv5quf8PiEiXl64itv_6uPQ7rc0N4sAB0QSBcZdw3z-BeoFLLhp3wBDQd5UY/s1600/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+dining+012.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlW4IclsyHgWrDJSLpS2DcFWC75Vfq8clttIb1XGIhMI2YCLUQNQs-lJNRn1AKkGKTE66tG3gydnZtpDclv5quf8PiEiXl64itv_6uPQ7rc0N4sAB0QSBcZdw3z-BeoFLLhp3wBDQd5UY/s320/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+dining+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591443310252303570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELgZwAHLaDaf64Rhb1rxj5KBkGEsktTXpZhyphenhyphenvL24j5kaouq6hrw8jZia-VE0GXoVGRFdPS54a-H-hQ2U9d2abf8BAKFxFCbi4DO2gekQ8TbM5mxrmOsWfRf09PTi15GoZaRtWZbuG7TVY/s1600/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+vies196.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELgZwAHLaDaf64Rhb1rxj5KBkGEsktTXpZhyphenhyphenvL24j5kaouq6hrw8jZia-VE0GXoVGRFdPS54a-H-hQ2U9d2abf8BAKFxFCbi4DO2gekQ8TbM5mxrmOsWfRf09PTi15GoZaRtWZbuG7TVY/s320/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+vies196.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591443023468396274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigU8Kbg88eGcUnw5W6q4OQWCONcde9umWtZW__HnSIoqvGnRdEKPv6m9vv00lnyU9lXOqRLgCCRDD3RrYsN8n5ECFC0ydk_KXeV2zu6Ypxl6aJ23cFKFjG-uFD8BE12kKEI-pJ7iYzcGQs/s1600/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+farmhou+view+420.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigU8Kbg88eGcUnw5W6q4OQWCONcde9umWtZW__HnSIoqvGnRdEKPv6m9vv00lnyU9lXOqRLgCCRDD3RrYsN8n5ECFC0ydk_KXeV2zu6Ypxl6aJ23cFKFjG-uFD8BE12kKEI-pJ7iYzcGQs/s320/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+farmhou+view+420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591442459331254482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLwObsKfYyzPQPXKGkuXbgHTiP6vVHbeD0DqinGeJCOn4q7qwox2nsEkVrytiy13AtOxJev65T_HHrBbuk_xA1OLSe2JqobtGZp16WUz0VyJQkzNM6ykRNnm7BQ_sLSSywkAQ8LC2E66d/s1600/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+tent+303.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLwObsKfYyzPQPXKGkuXbgHTiP6vVHbeD0DqinGeJCOn4q7qwox2nsEkVrytiy13AtOxJev65T_HHrBbuk_xA1OLSe2JqobtGZp16WUz0VyJQkzNM6ykRNnm7BQ_sLSSywkAQ8LC2E66d/s320/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+tent+303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591437896538542194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3jGElu1JpAfIyLRMHki8Pn6vP6MqCgUVgULUWhoM2_iQnjWWQ3sWf4QSawBqpKY9c6tzkik_Y-4U98jU2it91M8Pq4HSBj72TY18uwHQyITT0M6fAroWYyq5actxFzxoKA3QDxpm4iZS/s1600/Tanzania+trip+acoommodations+eve+view+302.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3jGElu1JpAfIyLRMHki8Pn6vP6MqCgUVgULUWhoM2_iQnjWWQ3sWf4QSawBqpKY9c6tzkik_Y-4U98jU2it91M8Pq4HSBj72TY18uwHQyITT0M6fAroWYyq5actxFzxoKA3QDxpm4iZS/s320/Tanzania+trip+acoommodations+eve+view+302.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591437609908439394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I did not care for our tent accommodations in the Serengeti where we spent 4 damp nights. There was a flush (well, some of the time, anyway) toilet and showers were possible (5 gallon buckets of warm water). I think everyone tried showering once, at least...deciding after that one experience that it was too cold, too damp, or just too much trouble.<br /><br />Everything was comfortable enough, but I just have never been much of a camper! I appreciate comfort! The meals, served in a separate large tent, were amazing, though, and so were the evening views!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cape Buffalo and elephants were in plain sight of our camp, and we could hear, but not see many others. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2RMXxsduCZLa6-m1wuK2yaV1AmycYAE3EMQqSBI2ulFAScYGpSmXVCqvqq3rQ7qQ-ZIUdOhsPhNyMHs3S-HFCGwbMl1uglIpar_ZxJvoTPBlFnmKmL1usQKPjH-xG1nZZGnZhWHA-ja6/s1600/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+sunset+299.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2RMXxsduCZLa6-m1wuK2yaV1AmycYAE3EMQqSBI2ulFAScYGpSmXVCqvqq3rQ7qQ-ZIUdOhsPhNyMHs3S-HFCGwbMl1uglIpar_ZxJvoTPBlFnmKmL1usQKPjH-xG1nZZGnZhWHA-ja6/s320/Tanzania+trip+accommodations+sunset+299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591436021689651298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtkBvXcqqzW4rVQ2zCVDAxlFfRHU87831VWuFHYVQPEjPjOy0zYq-Qg7J_-dtx5uyH830oR6bLN5QaxvYxXLQ5W1xX3Ls32j4_p3JjOq1yN_LdEnLwtAY_13Rm6RatWo3XyZJZfSEOwoD/s1600/Tanzania+trip+wildebeest+migr+246.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtkBvXcqqzW4rVQ2zCVDAxlFfRHU87831VWuFHYVQPEjPjOy0zYq-Qg7J_-dtx5uyH830oR6bLN5QaxvYxXLQ5W1xX3Ls32j4_p3JjOq1yN_LdEnLwtAY_13Rm6RatWo3XyZJZfSEOwoD/s320/Tanzania+trip+wildebeest+migr+246.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591433045922345026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">While in the Serengeti, we witnessed the wildebeest migration. Our trip leader estimated that over a period of two days, about 800,000 wildebeests had gone through. It is not an ever moving herd, although from a distance it looks somewhat like a moving train. Wildebeests stop and start, grazing and even playing in between moving on. The migrating wildebeests are sporadically flanked by zebras....I was unable to find out why.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The zebras did seem to get along well with everyone!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPUqysvtGdq0qBGR-xhJiRQpiIoMXUUkOv_I7v-v_9qTzUVdG_JyekIRdviTmmYJMRBfsjd3j-Bbpee2LcRcLamQWxoAVa7GeKPopWVZ8ctPoJaZ3QcHIcV3NSOYFxiMbNXpH_TdP9zl9/s1600/Tanzania+trip+wildebeest+migration+249.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPUqysvtGdq0qBGR-xhJiRQpiIoMXUUkOv_I7v-v_9qTzUVdG_JyekIRdviTmmYJMRBfsjd3j-Bbpee2LcRcLamQWxoAVa7GeKPopWVZ8ctPoJaZ3QcHIcV3NSOYFxiMbNXpH_TdP9zl9/s320/Tanzania+trip+wildebeest+migration+249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591432830451963922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVV3c_Oo9zmerRc9JWdp29mwNwA8wPh72JfbAAUYrNAKPbasNpBdaAGGgQL8KO9rGK3qL7NrjTs7-CoYta1Og7rUlKPiSAjf3zUjVvVW6TUKK1UUI8lHNKyXTq4u6ITvhcBXg8GOhMYvzG/s1600/Tanzania+trip+wildebeest+duo+262.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVV3c_Oo9zmerRc9JWdp29mwNwA8wPh72JfbAAUYrNAKPbasNpBdaAGGgQL8KO9rGK3qL7NrjTs7-CoYta1Og7rUlKPiSAjf3zUjVvVW6TUKK1UUI8lHNKyXTq4u6ITvhcBXg8GOhMYvzG/s320/Tanzania+trip+wildebeest+duo+262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591432499045766642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAKVFBaw1KrZ_R6Yyr-9m-_H5Htj_-caZnefydn_QpBrpepZCkvlv4sp8atmIHB6YRSz_27ofwQygDvgTgRle7jf0WDU-Py3Vrs3ojgZNlkStWfeUI0Dle-LjpfqXspBZt2MCqiLkkhOD/s1600/Tanzania+trip+wildebeest+closeup+261.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAKVFBaw1KrZ_R6Yyr-9m-_H5Htj_-caZnefydn_QpBrpepZCkvlv4sp8atmIHB6YRSz_27ofwQygDvgTgRle7jf0WDU-Py3Vrs3ojgZNlkStWfeUI0Dle-LjpfqXspBZt2MCqiLkkhOD/s320/Tanzania+trip+wildebeest+closeup+261.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591432170369498402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXeud6Peo4z037YlzPmylo3c9WB6JFk-ehvcGrJZMUX0cvui4I95PXQa_mYqImPKt9oIjGusuRoAcnK6bGafoFb9V3w044Qlem-aUVG5oe3RBnm1-MEF1vi6Dz7O_mCrvqpvxNKBNCaZm/s1600/Tanzania+trip+the+people+440.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXeud6Peo4z037YlzPmylo3c9WB6JFk-ehvcGrJZMUX0cvui4I95PXQa_mYqImPKt9oIjGusuRoAcnK6bGafoFb9V3w044Qlem-aUVG5oe3RBnm1-MEF1vi6Dz7O_mCrvqpvxNKBNCaZm/s320/Tanzania+trip+the+people+440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591427409809741746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I found the people I encountered in Tanzania to be friendly and helpful. They also had a good sense of humor and plenty of patience. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The roads are narrow and once out of the national parks, very crowded. Cars pass within inches of each other, but I never saw a discourteous or impatient driver. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">We Americans, by contrast, have many melt-downs.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">We need some of that "Hakuna Matata" (no worries) spirit.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4FJe7o1KOlh0FcY2EMcn0PfGOvBbvDdOe4gctAosXG3htXjQsFeFOQLiYw4G5BD3a1Ovr2CYdzqZtsnh80XdjsjxJxf9JUHDh1P_38lwYi89zmUrlFPegxjFz0lL38Rld8QXDdfpBkI4/s1600/Tanzania+trip++peoples+433.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4FJe7o1KOlh0FcY2EMcn0PfGOvBbvDdOe4gctAosXG3htXjQsFeFOQLiYw4G5BD3a1Ovr2CYdzqZtsnh80XdjsjxJxf9JUHDh1P_38lwYi89zmUrlFPegxjFz0lL38Rld8QXDdfpBkI4/s320/Tanzania+trip++peoples+433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591427086493106962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoISsp9RUnQFsVZu0kMlhWkIi-Z8gS4gQ3R0qaPrS2y00MHPtMsNh_U5fFDedeFwo4CfXkWhLv28ZWTWrWN-5T7Ipyg_w7rLka13E_F4r05Tz4K_i4oh8WZfXQjTYr71thyphenhyphenumr9qz2DSs/s1600/Tanzania+trip+people+437.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoISsp9RUnQFsVZu0kMlhWkIi-Z8gS4gQ3R0qaPrS2y00MHPtMsNh_U5fFDedeFwo4CfXkWhLv28ZWTWrWN-5T7Ipyg_w7rLka13E_F4r05Tz4K_i4oh8WZfXQjTYr71thyphenhyphenumr9qz2DSs/s320/Tanzania+trip+people+437.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591426513934281794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK8C95Dd1biq-T3AAfM_b-RueaGs6fB5y8p49nBy1GNs9MUPrpYl-3nOpCSo4qlKLJ38G2w-7jkqBHaUrroKM2rg1RyzVOjDt1foGTruwwLqic_EA3bdrxfB_53UzJ-_7-j2qb_HNNMUL/s1600/Tanzania+trip+people+tr+leader++423.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK8C95Dd1biq-T3AAfM_b-RueaGs6fB5y8p49nBy1GNs9MUPrpYl-3nOpCSo4qlKLJ38G2w-7jkqBHaUrroKM2rg1RyzVOjDt1foGTruwwLqic_EA3bdrxfB_53UzJ-_7-j2qb_HNNMUL/s320/Tanzania+trip+people+tr+leader++423.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591426276637362082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Our trip leader and drivers<br /><br />Two days of travel going and again when coming home wasn't nearly as difficult as I had expected. It's a matter of mind-set. Hakuna Matata! Now, I can travel anywhere.<br /></span>Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-32639571888749454892008-09-22T13:56:00.000-07:002011-04-03T11:26:44.906-07:00Costa Rica, 2006<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgn0y3QW1QFBzStR-AydSUdK4abEw3ImOKGrAc37oDx1aCRVvp2aTOAuYprXFBpUdIFOi4bf2nxz4ryJ9Xgrw6kjL8ACu8DKNlrGSb7yoRHzzuSiTZO0COnYCOT14hL2dHCfYDHMJ4Y4A/s1600-h/costa+rica+caiman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgn0y3QW1QFBzStR-AydSUdK4abEw3ImOKGrAc37oDx1aCRVvp2aTOAuYprXFBpUdIFOi4bf2nxz4ryJ9Xgrw6kjL8ACu8DKNlrGSb7yoRHzzuSiTZO0COnYCOT14hL2dHCfYDHMJ4Y4A/s320/costa+rica+caiman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248966411925908722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I did not like Costa Rica. I didn't care for the condition of the roads, the quality of the rooms booked by the travel agent, and the people who, for the most part, neither wore the welcoming smiles I had encountered on a recent trip to Oaxaca and refused to speak English even though taught by all schools. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">My attitude may have been due to this trip coming too close after moving from CA to Texas. Everything appears Blah, when exhausted. Still, I had come to see monkeys, and I saw plenty of them :-)</span><br /><br />Happy looking caiman<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbIkdEaY0-4NpLH6elJhSOmq1lVGgu7PwVoylvjpOqcZG1Wweb24i219WbgHLea4SPMJmK2SK9bIyDUxlco75905t9Hi6HdkeRDXqPt1q8EW173eB3ZpAre0-5KOzmItPNZlxw2jtGH3H/s1600-h/costa+rica+Ibis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbIkdEaY0-4NpLH6elJhSOmq1lVGgu7PwVoylvjpOqcZG1Wweb24i219WbgHLea4SPMJmK2SK9bIyDUxlco75905t9Hi6HdkeRDXqPt1q8EW173eB3ZpAre0-5KOzmItPNZlxw2jtGH3H/s320/costa+rica+Ibis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248965450944436722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is abundant water in Costa Rica, and the country's ecological efforts have preserved abundant wildlife.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aZd6zaLY2FW1YKrl_-UtlBwW0VZoOl9ioGtnfvINU53d8LJeG-bO6zbJQwwB2nKl-enD6RtOmtPiEBmrIQpQ6L-UnXm46xJ-Uy3GgXU7VZoey9z_6IJ9yOs8s3VY1OBw7MKMFV3g0Ih0/s1600-h/Costa+Ricahowlermonkey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aZd6zaLY2FW1YKrl_-UtlBwW0VZoOl9ioGtnfvINU53d8LJeG-bO6zbJQwwB2nKl-enD6RtOmtPiEBmrIQpQ6L-UnXm46xJ-Uy3GgXU7VZoey9z_6IJ9yOs8s3VY1OBw7MKMFV3g0Ih0/s320/Costa+Ricahowlermonkey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248964791534752818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here you see a difficult to spot howler monkey.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVww_zlvXqnBKxS48eeTnKpgVIflCblmrbiJ0a-9Bw-Uej1CsMjwkHSTLPJSdstOfb9-mqchGUxttgOhwuuoO-EJsc5_31orsxdQf_rWD5Ddgj_e0NRmAJ_GZV4A0PU3W2g46IOmDL7U-K/s1600-h/Crocodiles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVww_zlvXqnBKxS48eeTnKpgVIflCblmrbiJ0a-9Bw-Uej1CsMjwkHSTLPJSdstOfb9-mqchGUxttgOhwuuoO-EJsc5_31orsxdQf_rWD5Ddgj_e0NRmAJ_GZV4A0PU3W2g46IOmDL7U-K/s320/Crocodiles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248964316275112338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We viewed these sunbathing crocodiles safely from up above, standing on a bridge.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy25yHuTnx5e849Em99IjuaKiYAGfYA0VqMELInm-MdwezesiJsHahtzF65WeoPPJyRJkrffVU7Rb1zGN-7neMuGQGrrDXnS9DBd84UsQTjOtALCleh__w4R6wpSdD054QuLLW4RnYHqz/s1600-h/costa+Rica+lizards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy25yHuTnx5e849Em99IjuaKiYAGfYA0VqMELInm-MdwezesiJsHahtzF65WeoPPJyRJkrffVU7Rb1zGN-7neMuGQGrrDXnS9DBd84UsQTjOtALCleh__w4R6wpSdD054QuLLW4RnYHqz/s320/costa+Rica+lizards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248963984587874866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus Christ lizards, so called because they walk on water. Yes, really!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OckB7JQ0rllvsnhmfsDvJl4lSXN70aqge8ozASNfK7TZlbU5kcCk1mjmR92ztlNn3f05zl7hZCQLg0CCc8Jq1N3u_98XZ512S7gpSljUaugFfIQhQcKlw3mvjj6djkG-V80-zVDkGDgJ/s1600-h/Tiny+bats+camouflaged+in+a+row.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OckB7JQ0rllvsnhmfsDvJl4lSXN70aqge8ozASNfK7TZlbU5kcCk1mjmR92ztlNn3f05zl7hZCQLg0CCc8Jq1N3u_98XZ512S7gpSljUaugFfIQhQcKlw3mvjj6djkG-V80-zVDkGDgJ/s320/Tiny+bats+camouflaged+in+a+row.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248961869668885938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tiny bats, all camouflaged in a row</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6KQY-d6Eq5P2xml_2bADqh-Ce_fHREpD_jJVutkRk1ZF7xczOlVcOpX8Ig8Iom27DMRiJ6PHtUwvTgf9rWwVMZO3h9gpwRj7GXkW1d9Dw-SRantaOFtAMnLe6V1ow5awLfNh2qJl5RmH/s1600-h/DSC_0071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6KQY-d6Eq5P2xml_2bADqh-Ce_fHREpD_jJVutkRk1ZF7xczOlVcOpX8Ig8Iom27DMRiJ6PHtUwvTgf9rWwVMZO3h9gpwRj7GXkW1d9Dw-SRantaOFtAMnLe6V1ow5awLfNh2qJl5RmH/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248961378029469746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cottage in the mangroves<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_THVw-U-CrW3DcvUNKdoQn0wM6UzqG7Ob1fWqaJIoh_ZOUCgcoxObP1INdtZY-c0KpvMRyz1h_ChivgVnO7-0jUi9qUJBd4vjIfh8gj68CCtcGaQkQ6WtZ69l51yu4e-LA-HyUCrBtZ0/s1600-h/The+biggest+and+baddest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_THVw-U-CrW3DcvUNKdoQn0wM6UzqG7Ob1fWqaJIoh_ZOUCgcoxObP1INdtZY-c0KpvMRyz1h_ChivgVnO7-0jUi9qUJBd4vjIfh8gj68CCtcGaQkQ6WtZ69l51yu4e-LA-HyUCrBtZ0/s320/The+biggest+and+baddest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248960894963323506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The "Biggest & Baddest"</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd52MzOqJMHeVDpBt6V0wSG7-kHLRhw4GVSoU_aZM0Lqv0hbXE3rz8-1LxOmKrfQx7k8Lr_1krOPBg1q8h1R6UEmCi8M9MJkZB4Ti0a0jQDk_JJHUEAiAte1iZQ93tK-8KoUYu1c389sG/s1600-h/At+end+of+boat+trip.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd52MzOqJMHeVDpBt6V0wSG7-kHLRhw4GVSoU_aZM0Lqv0hbXE3rz8-1LxOmKrfQx7k8Lr_1krOPBg1q8h1R6UEmCi8M9MJkZB4Ti0a0jQDk_JJHUEAiAte1iZQ93tK-8KoUYu1c389sG/s320/At+end+of+boat+trip.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248960353772970130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">To our delight, the monkeys jumped onto the canopy of our boat. We were warned to not put our hands out, and to be careful of our sunglasses.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7Cbf2kg-w8-0uJrB_-9eqsbRaMm1aAYRhQOTM9sfhPjcwUyrQLrqtX8wG2W_8E8-ectDcGNpMJrnShHYCHf_ZKjiAcdN8NbEJoV3UD-GywjePjfVLLSY1Mw0fOJx-CUt4dPk-av6KE0f/s1600-h/DSC_0073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7Cbf2kg-w8-0uJrB_-9eqsbRaMm1aAYRhQOTM9sfhPjcwUyrQLrqtX8wG2W_8E8-ectDcGNpMJrnShHYCHf_ZKjiAcdN8NbEJoV3UD-GywjePjfVLLSY1Mw0fOJx-CUt4dPk-av6KE0f/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248958905199076098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mangroves. This is where we saw the largest number of monkeys because the small tourist boat captains feed them with bananas and watermelon.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: verdana;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwoYXkHXCZj7_tBtcauqycyhJ87DXM-KMZlm7UX60csulQ9H43ZUEvDby2dagBO1uAlAVuHOCDIQa8QpJY-fUcMgPJbqOc2PUzQ6EbS9q04PlxZXyLYPGYEuSplssT4bT8M5m2qmMT_2m/s1600-h/DSC_0056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwoYXkHXCZj7_tBtcauqycyhJ87DXM-KMZlm7UX60csulQ9H43ZUEvDby2dagBO1uAlAVuHOCDIQa8QpJY-fUcMgPJbqOc2PUzQ6EbS9q04PlxZXyLYPGYEuSplssT4bT8M5m2qmMT_2m/s320/DSC_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248957267727221794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have determined that it's possible to get photos of beautiful things no matter where one goes. All one needs to do is isolate</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">images. Therefore, it's always a mistake to assume one knows the environment from looking at photos. All you really know is the photographer's viewpoint, and possible determination.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only place where we saw such magical flowers where within our resort on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Perhaps, elsewhere the blossoms were food for the wildlife.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQtDFZUiTJSwjY5XhJP2DClho4GN5nvL5EMdzW29Lk8FfuK0gpFS4Wi6ejiWgD4naYxUWsJJpsrFE2lL2OzO5eDToN_a9l-8B1OkKfafUqtTd5JynF2abwO2PaduDq8H9JpvHz_f2OPe0/s1600-h/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQtDFZUiTJSwjY5XhJP2DClho4GN5nvL5EMdzW29Lk8FfuK0gpFS4Wi6ejiWgD4naYxUWsJJpsrFE2lL2OzO5eDToN_a9l-8B1OkKfafUqtTd5JynF2abwO2PaduDq8H9JpvHz_f2OPe0/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248956967658847954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCrZwE88kSOgzw-pBPyBt15m0GCX2vGKkSGQIkF-EgqkvAp-fdroGPhLkRFWylselpwT6eGTK_YLVO9HJPS-5biFmgNso9EgR1ByrpsrmcD22xUm7VeebrBhStyqIlDf_0G7lrFDx1-aK/s1600-h/DSC_0061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCrZwE88kSOgzw-pBPyBt15m0GCX2vGKkSGQIkF-EgqkvAp-fdroGPhLkRFWylselpwT6eGTK_YLVO9HJPS-5biFmgNso9EgR1ByrpsrmcD22xUm7VeebrBhStyqIlDf_0G7lrFDx1-aK/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248956728390161874" border="0" /></a>Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-50782174591831705902008-07-26T13:51:00.001-07:002011-04-26T13:05:17.601-07:00PERU, 2007 Staying in an Art Gallery in Barranco<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUo7odqBIJEmmWUZ6lV6n3OPuIYvxXfc8bRduKAK1mxeXSAbtxzpags1qC1A8GPLrZ9OezkG2ejt62ZKoBzBSTdp6vg4ig8k4q2Krwfobxte9mTwx7YaoVXYZZKvXetwofx1kaNNtN29bJ/s1600-h/Peru+311.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUo7odqBIJEmmWUZ6lV6n3OPuIYvxXfc8bRduKAK1mxeXSAbtxzpags1qC1A8GPLrZ9OezkG2ejt62ZKoBzBSTdp6vg4ig8k4q2Krwfobxte9mTwx7YaoVXYZZKvXetwofx1kaNNtN29bJ/s200/Peru+311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227442523921326482" border="0" /></a>We had heard that Barranco was the artists district of Lima, and I had located a B & B right in the center of it. This was to be our place of a few days of rest before heading back to the U.S. Little did we know what awaited us!<br /><br />All was hidden behind these gates. The old, restored house had been Victor Delphin's gallery, open to the public. Though some rooms had been converted into simple but beautiful guest rooms, the house remained a gallery...now only open to guests.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqg9toeCa-v_qWSXcu9Wp8RlZg8nwHDJxaXS8Kzm3yiYOkshr0EmeLU6kjyoL5Jk6zit7X9z1fgHZLF6OT0vH0MJtlGb4nUehpc6kkZifxHr-SPZ_1oej4VUss_nLSbcLfqMBcrVPlZG7/s1600-h/Peru+285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqg9toeCa-v_qWSXcu9Wp8RlZg8nwHDJxaXS8Kzm3yiYOkshr0EmeLU6kjyoL5Jk6zit7X9z1fgHZLF6OT0vH0MJtlGb4nUehpc6kkZifxHr-SPZ_1oej4VUss_nLSbcLfqMBcrVPlZG7/s200/Peru+285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227442051331151666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RGQjR7HItob7W33PuIPgEh4VeEoQR5LZDDzX81oVpz3Z6pHPqY_52P16LOs_0tWQESwh8wmOdIipYsjflbIPB1Buu8byqYBQqdPkFM6EXWGEm3X09qcoJZXw06pMKV98OMwk4EFkGGEQ/s1600-h/Peru+284.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RGQjR7HItob7W33PuIPgEh4VeEoQR5LZDDzX81oVpz3Z6pHPqY_52P16LOs_0tWQESwh8wmOdIipYsjflbIPB1Buu8byqYBQqdPkFM6EXWGEm3X09qcoJZXw06pMKV98OMwk4EFkGGEQ/s200/Peru+284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227441706571322434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgZlwv3o7br1rfkMWxV5NXan1SEBSXoks7harLx0Zco6yexFVPTiiYW-E7ggEDtqCsDkSSoadKwfQmOvT33ANUfFjSUqPuaheoBdVk3wFkjdaSTcYIUSAklq0cbo6zZaeCdTfqOcNIs14/s1600-h/Peru+294.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgZlwv3o7br1rfkMWxV5NXan1SEBSXoks7harLx0Zco6yexFVPTiiYW-E7ggEDtqCsDkSSoadKwfQmOvT33ANUfFjSUqPuaheoBdVk3wFkjdaSTcYIUSAklq0cbo6zZaeCdTfqOcNIs14/s200/Peru+294.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227441117872872770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpT0YiL8VGV-ELbeVxh_7-a6BRn1PhkVvjsTNAZEoE8q1a3dtFb7o6KxtfEvXcQg7Pra3qPC-dDsQTasLxngdu4cZ_bq-BG_YrJsIeXupVSRb2ZqFBda3k7aSRKT_dv8NiROtlR6TAUfsK/s1600-h/Peru+255.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpT0YiL8VGV-ELbeVxh_7-a6BRn1PhkVvjsTNAZEoE8q1a3dtFb7o6KxtfEvXcQg7Pra3qPC-dDsQTasLxngdu4cZ_bq-BG_YrJsIeXupVSRb2ZqFBda3k7aSRKT_dv8NiROtlR6TAUfsK/s200/Peru+255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227440752901940290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOb6KUkH1wqufMD2rul1p0vWb5mbdHzWP8zlz4NWIsfOs8RTOOwPQ1MwBLuVS2cUmz1yftlLbhgGXzPHp9jbkOUf1g0hLUBj9iJLga56Fhal6I2mP5KZAiS-H0NJY3jLGchKT_OUhX8Yxn/s1600-h/Peru+283.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOb6KUkH1wqufMD2rul1p0vWb5mbdHzWP8zlz4NWIsfOs8RTOOwPQ1MwBLuVS2cUmz1yftlLbhgGXzPHp9jbkOUf1g0hLUBj9iJLga56Fhal6I2mP5KZAiS-H0NJY3jLGchKT_OUhX8Yxn/s200/Peru+283.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227440203351006034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-liyPcHKCB0_86oxKddx2nz0PlpAYEy0ELMMziZUv8mj4Tn23YWtv9wnKcr6Jn3LHPte0so1Dy66WQBCYDC_oI_bqya3hWO0MFEoK8I9r5DezMkv5uXuHKGpB8KvWZUAEcGYulwocWy7q/s1600-h/Peru+235.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; 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float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbux1_KHJqLEH2A1PIS0EkPfIDthEkku8k_oS37Ia-f-xwGXKsHmQZP5cGKJ2FOUYcpCcpqbkKAjKKlLNnLo230jXOX5i-HzhsJ5TkqX2QBKH-1xTTfJdMJCZNabFjznOOWv9_UKyDtix/s200/Peru+301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227439113058318690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNmNNgPJhx4CumsPQ7IAm8lz_OhD4UhsYKFt-7HhNMteet-wstEk12djbsup3Iz0ErD3hYsnVbjugLzGkwkIHKy8ERrQFutfNS2t6j2hhEoJhQDGy9gFD0QjpAarsODlXsuutDY1f1ClF/s1600-h/Peru+239.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNmNNgPJhx4CumsPQ7IAm8lz_OhD4UhsYKFt-7HhNMteet-wstEk12djbsup3Iz0ErD3hYsnVbjugLzGkwkIHKy8ERrQFutfNS2t6j2hhEoJhQDGy9gFD0QjpAarsODlXsuutDY1f1ClF/s200/Peru+239.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227438048506957906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We had several glorious days of feasting our eyes on these and more of Delphin's passionate...as well as sometimes, whimsical....works.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XfTMe8gZudeI6zL2cAxP_6_Vap72MO9XVQnwd0wbKty2e0eQZPYUy3f9LfCXMxA0faR0NmBEZ-j7ubWSmTopLDj8UEx5Z7L1L7UgMb3BTJDFUR-uP_D2cytkWI8-tryg4tknyQHaUQjA/s1600-h/Peru+231.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XfTMe8gZudeI6zL2cAxP_6_Vap72MO9XVQnwd0wbKty2e0eQZPYUy3f9LfCXMxA0faR0NmBEZ-j7ubWSmTopLDj8UEx5Z7L1L7UgMb3BTJDFUR-uP_D2cytkWI8-tryg4tknyQHaUQjA/s200/Peru+231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227437418554262194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeOByNQm7LObZxj_hOmhIC3v5EWbUY9PeVvcpT9tNS9BWtDroxfLFKfMh-4ZjKN8UlksAWIbty59Br65hyphenhyphenjoch9HbMJYW-c20tb25ztT7W4XFOHqO8rL1W2K85U6x4_8C_vnkMClakkFE/s1600-h/Peru+238.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeOByNQm7LObZxj_hOmhIC3v5EWbUY9PeVvcpT9tNS9BWtDroxfLFKfMh-4ZjKN8UlksAWIbty59Br65hyphenhyphenjoch9HbMJYW-c20tb25ztT7W4XFOHqO8rL1W2K85U6x4_8C_vnkMClakkFE/s200/Peru+238.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227437004274950834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v7TNByIkBGkFq1ZLTiYlxRpkYni4AGJ0eOpkW8XQRZ2d92wpVt9Etii0voQMk08YVk6p2Gu_8y2UBckT-8chYvn1i9LlTjq8c0lePLgsYYBG42spEeXDiLZ8voKDTZGF5KchnlcVk7ZN/s1600-h/Peru+252.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v7TNByIkBGkFq1ZLTiYlxRpkYni4AGJ0eOpkW8XQRZ2d92wpVt9Etii0voQMk08YVk6p2Gu_8y2UBckT-8chYvn1i9LlTjq8c0lePLgsYYBG42spEeXDiLZ8voKDTZGF5KchnlcVk7ZN/s200/Peru+252.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227436615384449506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcGvduzhTnYPPIBPOBsbpNIFGy_70D45ip1GdO5hlIY35wg7pLp5Vs4eCdazKsdM0UcllaafSIOtwDDBjQroQdC7Qe6zeOhZqyxIGhoUu0LUFmRv6QKepq3k2x0juESaiOuhDq4ZQEFe7/s1600-h/Peru+253.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcGvduzhTnYPPIBPOBsbpNIFGy_70D45ip1GdO5hlIY35wg7pLp5Vs4eCdazKsdM0UcllaafSIOtwDDBjQroQdC7Qe6zeOhZqyxIGhoUu0LUFmRv6QKepq3k2x0juESaiOuhDq4ZQEFe7/s200/Peru+253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227436225272206386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJxfgQ6vw37Bc7hS7a6oKcMhZu-LprgrLB3_DAxPVYIEo2SoXGUeoxC22JzVxSHx2FOqAcL4I6Od439jyG5sMjsUfP8FAeTU3c3JGfvukvK4Tf1MqaA5t07VlHlqo8CAPp-oxqiFcB4Sk/s1600-h/Peru+242.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJxfgQ6vw37Bc7hS7a6oKcMhZu-LprgrLB3_DAxPVYIEo2SoXGUeoxC22JzVxSHx2FOqAcL4I6Od439jyG5sMjsUfP8FAeTU3c3JGfvukvK4Tf1MqaA5t07VlHlqo8CAPp-oxqiFcB4Sk/s200/Peru+242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227435834576148610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDbXmXE5xjhDBRb9lZFuNsVeUkeddGlHcaIXvgqyUedzZeaQcaTnrPYBn3oiYxLlBZ-RtBNXRz3s1Naumldlp9bQ73XW9uWyXaDXhrLQ8tsWMUlkc5qkNVdcwR_5gf_5sTEHsL2Ws_dEc/s1600-h/Peru+304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDbXmXE5xjhDBRb9lZFuNsVeUkeddGlHcaIXvgqyUedzZeaQcaTnrPYBn3oiYxLlBZ-RtBNXRz3s1Naumldlp9bQ73XW9uWyXaDXhrLQ8tsWMUlkc5qkNVdcwR_5gf_5sTEHsL2Ws_dEc/s200/Peru+304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227434556691677186" border="0" /></a>Delfin's studio high above the ocean. One level higher is the swimming pool, and one more higher were the gardens and gallery in which we were occupied one of the 5 guest rooms.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEwq10a4UmpEQ3I-MUSdGkyp51eLHh6qeTe9tcvagLN3pm4mLUw94Zirt24wAjomxayhp3Fu6Dm2vRnUnCl_tSh-ek2oHEkKco8W5CVNihH5olrL5LROI-3rQCnZlsTGj6V_Umd7G0LQX/s1600-h/Peru+278.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEwq10a4UmpEQ3I-MUSdGkyp51eLHh6qeTe9tcvagLN3pm4mLUw94Zirt24wAjomxayhp3Fu6Dm2vRnUnCl_tSh-ek2oHEkKco8W5CVNihH5olrL5LROI-3rQCnZlsTGj6V_Umd7G0LQX/s200/Peru+278.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227433952300280034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF6KNUISpv5Nn-WLHZ3_C9t0E-EzSE8e6RDJ0Rwf8QGLQ3p1qr7eAiciiDtZ7dZdDQ-141HudWp-jV25Rf-Rt6XT_w2tyiUjYBDJimHnDXEz-A1h60UQmFrDAxiwWNXKpPmAXpiIRQogi/s1600-h/Peru+291.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF6KNUISpv5Nn-WLHZ3_C9t0E-EzSE8e6RDJ0Rwf8QGLQ3p1qr7eAiciiDtZ7dZdDQ-141HudWp-jV25Rf-Rt6XT_w2tyiUjYBDJimHnDXEz-A1h60UQmFrDAxiwWNXKpPmAXpiIRQogi/s200/Peru+291.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227429460859759810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A special treat was having a tour of Victor Delphin's studio, and meeting the artist. I had to laugh at myself, though! I...usually rather outgoing....got an attack of "awe" and shyness.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-2753813189716829332008-06-25T15:41:00.000-07:002008-06-25T16:34:17.489-07:00Impressions of Lima, May 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMJuZzo8-jkjjh5Pu6AuYd1GWYCHl4HfTjLsK_JXlsaYFNFmDBKmeB4luuEE7eNDGGzgqdEJef-UWOUGYnswSXyDwRFuo_GV54-tUazXNjrxrlRnG1nqKcw0jluKaeI_tK6iOIF_Bvohl/s1600-h/Peru+268.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMJuZzo8-jkjjh5Pu6AuYd1GWYCHl4HfTjLsK_JXlsaYFNFmDBKmeB4luuEE7eNDGGzgqdEJef-UWOUGYnswSXyDwRFuo_GV54-tUazXNjrxrlRnG1nqKcw0jluKaeI_tK6iOIF_Bvohl/s320/Peru+268.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215963231391381234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Admission is charged everywhere, and though I expect that in museums, I have an issue with paying to enter a house of God. I get quite stubborn about this, actually. We were able to sneak into this church. Such golden splendor! I wondered how many public bathrooms...<span style="font-style: italic;">.just for starters</span>...could be built so no one would need to urinate on the sidewalks. This was no house of God.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfeBWHytMkmlBfrBNAGt6LbFq9_V3LMJDNTNnY6JXkZVy27LASX-vxzMxvDC8XSi5a49QCPiE6m-fUMbEjPEjHrXZAghFNCQVH1rEceCuutIWy-xNkrW7lvkRPJjBFVTieOI4i08lBJ4T/s1600-h/Peru+269.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfeBWHytMkmlBfrBNAGt6LbFq9_V3LMJDNTNnY6JXkZVy27LASX-vxzMxvDC8XSi5a49QCPiE6m-fUMbEjPEjHrXZAghFNCQVH1rEceCuutIWy-xNkrW7lvkRPJjBFVTieOI4i08lBJ4T/s320/Peru+269.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215962386071964258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was that nasty tourist who dared take a few flash photos<br />inside a church! But, just look at the gold! It's<span style="font-style: italic;"> real!</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A4lhcdRWQ0bKn3vf5pUSKMEC-Vk8TK6ZYSS967Mi17tvB3kaKfuw1La2Fqp4qiLxYkwtKCA_itknpFteMtd_8bGRcmST2jVVweQXLiqllkGwGQCoEvay0NnBkDJfwBdhNY-M_6FqxHNU/s1600-h/Peru+271.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A4lhcdRWQ0bKn3vf5pUSKMEC-Vk8TK6ZYSS967Mi17tvB3kaKfuw1La2Fqp4qiLxYkwtKCA_itknpFteMtd_8bGRcmST2jVVweQXLiqllkGwGQCoEvay0NnBkDJfwBdhNY-M_6FqxHNU/s320/Peru+271.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215961964930388354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzBgFud9hS5vVJObPHywYFP6WWaFMX-nnI9PENRtxFhVijUpqFZe3fhFdk_xpnbGAYuD4Y3xhsf-2kf5HYx5JQqoH-w0Y1Sv_GddRtdwQ3szSx8KN36xTwoNdRgFerr442vj4ajvTvpX-/s1600-h/Peru+264.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzBgFud9hS5vVJObPHywYFP6WWaFMX-nnI9PENRtxFhVijUpqFZe3fhFdk_xpnbGAYuD4Y3xhsf-2kf5HYx5JQqoH-w0Y1Sv_GddRtdwQ3szSx8KN36xTwoNdRgFerr442vj4ajvTvpX-/s320/Peru+264.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215960315065244322" border="0" /></a>There are treasures inside the old buildings, and this ceiling was one of the few we were fortunate enough to see.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkOcHUrbhnCqD3p04C1VgKG0CLeyRH0xTUnerBKHBVffLo-ZrnmLZLEeIp-V3XA9w3upYqbikX7dwIDb0xcRlNfLlOxx91DivvgG3JpckjPoHJL9t6Uj7njf6XuroI0dfevw90I86k1xJ/s1600-h/Peru+267.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkOcHUrbhnCqD3p04C1VgKG0CLeyRH0xTUnerBKHBVffLo-ZrnmLZLEeIp-V3XA9w3upYqbikX7dwIDb0xcRlNfLlOxx91DivvgG3JpckjPoHJL9t6Uj7njf6XuroI0dfevw90I86k1xJ/s320/Peru+267.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215959692389621458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo7ErbwpB1M-GPlzDdyCxxuoYgu1_KDWovrq5vwlYEPA2NeigUXDB6mAz1NXqGV5w86pIbLD65C5m9FPBMlaUEl_p0L0NPTnEzelcsJa6E1RJD8IIukxJyF3MxFg_GqiSwg3Rc4am_T6Q/s1600-h/Peru+273.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo7ErbwpB1M-GPlzDdyCxxuoYgu1_KDWovrq5vwlYEPA2NeigUXDB6mAz1NXqGV5w86pIbLD65C5m9FPBMlaUEl_p0L0NPTnEzelcsJa6E1RJD8IIukxJyF3MxFg_GqiSwg3Rc4am_T6Q/s320/Peru+273.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215956969228104578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I don't care for large cities, in general. I saw men urinating on the street...rather casually....and more squalor than I have seen anytime in recent history. The people are friendly and helpful, though visibly more stressed than they are in the small cities and villages. Still, I had no wish to linger, and stayed out of Lima on my second trip to Peru. I was coughing and gagging from the diesel fumes, so I was more than just a little bit cranky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44x_qyCJzDBqLuFs6pwFK1FRRw7riWzA8XJkWZTI7Ro1uv-t9a45bBc9gshJmk3xn6PrzejB8G29ChJQwPnhgFlv8zXEHe8S4gH3qqrXFu6Bt4QxvTi99pp3RSAkHuQx4WXTt8CtyIvYf/s1600-h/Peru+315.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44x_qyCJzDBqLuFs6pwFK1FRRw7riWzA8XJkWZTI7Ro1uv-t9a45bBc9gshJmk3xn6PrzejB8G29ChJQwPnhgFlv8zXEHe8S4gH3qqrXFu6Bt4QxvTi99pp3RSAkHuQx4WXTt8CtyIvYf/s320/Peru+315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215955137798553650" border="0" /></a>Though this city of almost 8 million people is choked with pollution from diesel belching cars....lots of them, taking up every square inch of the wide city streets without painted traffic lanes....there are gems of Colonial architecture to see among mostly unfinished building projects.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7Err4Jcw-epC7VNUd6tGQmtQypRRivw2mR5Dn46GeFxSgiNWhS2Iz3zNIsbG_9uyAcvnZAv6Uslmy8TyghKG2_IumkbC2fB9xFsIJLywG3oaCDJTyyYM6AtN1USE8PNGXw6CxelkVk2T/s1600-h/Peru+263.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7Err4Jcw-epC7VNUd6tGQmtQypRRivw2mR5Dn46GeFxSgiNWhS2Iz3zNIsbG_9uyAcvnZAv6Uslmy8TyghKG2_IumkbC2fB9xFsIJLywG3oaCDJTyyYM6AtN1USE8PNGXw6CxelkVk2T/s320/Peru+263.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215954110328106066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Peruvians are excellent drivers! We were very impressed both by their skill, patience, and courtesy. It's really amazing!Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-80951994976852682012008-06-21T11:39:00.000-07:002008-07-26T09:57:14.795-07:00Photos from First Trip to Peru, May 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBoeypS7wDivf9Akem9jSGsm4w6CZDb-LRCZA41Y3jwOjZn6ed-UZndlOspk7NpsCln87wZ-U1AoHWbn3Wf101r6JjuC43aI9RL8Bi4L-L5MOPt4WMSBwxeBIrQSmCztwqkVSOo2OPRxy/s1600-h/guineapigsPeru.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBoeypS7wDivf9Akem9jSGsm4w6CZDb-LRCZA41Y3jwOjZn6ed-UZndlOspk7NpsCln87wZ-U1AoHWbn3Wf101r6JjuC43aI9RL8Bi4L-L5MOPt4WMSBwxeBIrQSmCztwqkVSOo2OPRxy/s320/guineapigsPeru.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227366960983059458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A friend sent me this photo, but it is true that guinea pig is on most menus in Peru. As far as I know, it is the wild guinea pig that is eaten, and not this domestic one. We didn't touch any "pigs", but did try llama <span style="font-style: italic;">once.</span><br /><br /><h3 id="ss-title">Pretty Pigs</h3>Two Guinea pigs, wearing Peruvian local dresses, are displayed during the Guinea pig food festival in Huacho, Peru, Sunday, July 20, 2008. Guinea pigs are native to the high Andes, and have been an important source of protein for millennia. Nowadays, in Peru, the animal is served with a generous portion of Andean tubers. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4nLXMGJNk_kvxVJsMvFcHlqGG3timLhzb-PCBkK1NMSNgxeHlMmXAeQPTUH20q0n45sZKnk4nUoAG7v8Wq8FHklxOngJat9BnQT7Hk9RGr2UGnKc_v-qohBHDwO0lRmszhVsveeRMtyG/s1600-h/Peru+215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4nLXMGJNk_kvxVJsMvFcHlqGG3timLhzb-PCBkK1NMSNgxeHlMmXAeQPTUH20q0n45sZKnk4nUoAG7v8Wq8FHklxOngJat9BnQT7Hk9RGr2UGnKc_v-qohBHDwO0lRmszhVsveeRMtyG/s320/Peru+215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214415343792955394" border="0" /></a>Reliving that wonderful trip to Peru last year, I realize now that it was merely a warm-up for what was to come this year. My experience this year was so much richer....and, even more satisfying than before.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeOvv8LjeU5XRjiPk5MchCnOiAI_vjYreBWzOEv3fAEAtzjJUDF1Y6oTxj1-qa58kEmquwwr_AAndp8akFkkZF_j1WcCf-GXtF0RQ-ltfrtYUwkjK5jptCtyGEJSDD0-JKROQZP6hJqWw/s1600-h/Peru+303.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeOvv8LjeU5XRjiPk5MchCnOiAI_vjYreBWzOEv3fAEAtzjJUDF1Y6oTxj1-qa58kEmquwwr_AAndp8akFkkZF_j1WcCf-GXtF0RQ-ltfrtYUwkjK5jptCtyGEJSDD0-JKROQZP6hJqWw/s320/Peru+303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214414702924696274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJc0MEntIgdcTZp3LMDGvuT41vm6Savi-vNinGCeAo9EZ7rM5ysOv4QTOBbDrshX6_FaZwptqxr5BRGEHM6ZwGj_MSZlo3ZxStPGSMJDX7lsAPM_o6IY_phAN51VK6Sv3OcuKg9cDDlvJ/s1600-h/Peru+228.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJc0MEntIgdcTZp3LMDGvuT41vm6Savi-vNinGCeAo9EZ7rM5ysOv4QTOBbDrshX6_FaZwptqxr5BRGEHM6ZwGj_MSZlo3ZxStPGSMJDX7lsAPM_o6IY_phAN51VK6Sv3OcuKg9cDDlvJ/s320/Peru+228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214414080267997234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rtKKHT41AaCo64Wwy0bY1oIcaIVLR1hsAhyphenhyphenX0WG7k1sySLH_XzUKRrS7yQRtWq6VRp44RqXRNh6m4ZSwPWhwQTlL9BuJo_ZNSP4BNwPfEAz4gplDThQP_3D9GCFCXiQQNO0FwffDxGbk/s1600-h/Peru+225.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rtKKHT41AaCo64Wwy0bY1oIcaIVLR1hsAhyphenhyphenX0WG7k1sySLH_XzUKRrS7yQRtWq6VRp44RqXRNh6m4ZSwPWhwQTlL9BuJo_ZNSP4BNwPfEAz4gplDThQP_3D9GCFCXiQQNO0FwffDxGbk/s320/Peru+225.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214413751773486882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJF3BXNDc_BX6JWDajMXY_nQtg63_EjZUFLj_1xwskKuokftiLAeWvblYpSKh-35CEgJFnKfQ1buoWBXQbvlxOI0-L_xV10dG6E1eQusS87Zcta_4-IeNJKiEXyqzEYyFsvgCKYhTOx-RW/s1600-h/Peru+209.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJF3BXNDc_BX6JWDajMXY_nQtg63_EjZUFLj_1xwskKuokftiLAeWvblYpSKh-35CEgJFnKfQ1buoWBXQbvlxOI0-L_xV10dG6E1eQusS87Zcta_4-IeNJKiEXyqzEYyFsvgCKYhTOx-RW/s320/Peru+209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214412735984757826" border="0" /></a>There were so many men....and, also, alpacas....that I wanted to bring home with me!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUKnlBaETRCdTWHTQzHhnj08nSBh5btMRRCYApu7jf_lIQhn68scwtuZXvE7Q4VTxE1qXBLl1IKcwd8GORcr6EKiUm9Qtzc_fexo3mXQnrd0vdxM1ujVPvCQazLedLKK2p7q2n09S1lXx/s1600-h/Peru+191.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUKnlBaETRCdTWHTQzHhnj08nSBh5btMRRCYApu7jf_lIQhn68scwtuZXvE7Q4VTxE1qXBLl1IKcwd8GORcr6EKiUm9Qtzc_fexo3mXQnrd0vdxM1ujVPvCQazLedLKK2p7q2n09S1lXx/s320/Peru+191.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214412220012221474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqNuq3fDZTRDjkQuOg8GZoY3S5gjfx7yBnl5C_6qCo0ZSZ3JjGIm9_qO8CHsDzOLxavg0KNQt9-TqSQ28TajH1HAPPjF6StNuhIBUunkwvAz2zaJqqCHHZ7n-LdvJp2k-7Mw5Dx1dVheL/s1600-h/Peru+118.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqNuq3fDZTRDjkQuOg8GZoY3S5gjfx7yBnl5C_6qCo0ZSZ3JjGIm9_qO8CHsDzOLxavg0KNQt9-TqSQ28TajH1HAPPjF6StNuhIBUunkwvAz2zaJqqCHHZ7n-LdvJp2k-7Mw5Dx1dVheL/s320/Peru+118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214411642322349186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlTbF5vwJjM-4zgEns-9fo6mO2ojR1l8qN2rU-pQ1xDGPMzfWtBFXgUDhSfFlQfIjqAQ3QfNFcNnP9Vq1tigXdZDXTy0iHKYfM7XvY9lzl5Bm9vl-xWhCaNQFkEEJ4xO1eQrXbQw38naa/s1600-h/Peru+083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlTbF5vwJjM-4zgEns-9fo6mO2ojR1l8qN2rU-pQ1xDGPMzfWtBFXgUDhSfFlQfIjqAQ3QfNFcNnP9Vq1tigXdZDXTy0iHKYfM7XvY9lzl5Bm9vl-xWhCaNQFkEEJ4xO1eQrXbQw38naa/s320/Peru+083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214410097688426274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTgG_WNQ9BMRrQVNIdqLZZfu58zoyhR8Z3j01lkCawpDNynmd9CYwRmVXKEoz6AWngKxR2k6gDvu8WhGSIGzL3RbyTWhC29yfr7n9iXIsdLhw3o8tf__PTLmCxB8Qmpy4SGx_cAOjhamw/s1600-h/Copy+of+Peru+062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTgG_WNQ9BMRrQVNIdqLZZfu58zoyhR8Z3j01lkCawpDNynmd9CYwRmVXKEoz6AWngKxR2k6gDvu8WhGSIGzL3RbyTWhC29yfr7n9iXIsdLhw3o8tf__PTLmCxB8Qmpy4SGx_cAOjhamw/s320/Copy+of+Peru+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214409401946630754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_N8wGvLT3wSgT1keeyHRNxUDE_yyk4O850vofdBEIMf4lAS4fjsmSx5gldcFGzTnTY_HyBI-0lkC9bWoATKeZ6YPTn27Ls2xgjtc_ixcTebLYEHGs2njbik9dXR2ozQR0tMGgL6MmVDl/s1600-h/Peru+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_N8wGvLT3wSgT1keeyHRNxUDE_yyk4O850vofdBEIMf4lAS4fjsmSx5gldcFGzTnTY_HyBI-0lkC9bWoATKeZ6YPTn27Ls2xgjtc_ixcTebLYEHGs2njbik9dXR2ozQR0tMGgL6MmVDl/s320/Peru+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214409063345791698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTLWdTPgbLaJoh2IAeb1VbJedoS050es4nJZ-J69i6KhrYSmT1UQ4ulJ3NOlWPlhOK0tdVszGVsuHJR4XjWWI4Sel4WCeOZBb8K-GdTQyNLb9nPQNhud0VkbZZ5LvrVrTazrfTWFMzsxl/s1600-h/Peru+028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTLWdTPgbLaJoh2IAeb1VbJedoS050es4nJZ-J69i6KhrYSmT1UQ4ulJ3NOlWPlhOK0tdVszGVsuHJR4XjWWI4Sel4WCeOZBb8K-GdTQyNLb9nPQNhud0VkbZZ5LvrVrTazrfTWFMzsxl/s320/Peru+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214408447919422562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_6gen1XctG1AWA9JL1Om_ynBGCj5Cy3RtGpkqRYDMFDN2dVJL1oIOzRfrPXZA04N7fRbCHju6ICtgPxOdv89_owkuKN2wyCOO0pXgr0bt2UcGhS9EbwFjvZtFAV3OxcQBjqF2V_alaYQ/s1600-h/Peru+202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_6gen1XctG1AWA9JL1Om_ynBGCj5Cy3RtGpkqRYDMFDN2dVJL1oIOzRfrPXZA04N7fRbCHju6ICtgPxOdv89_owkuKN2wyCOO0pXgr0bt2UcGhS9EbwFjvZtFAV3OxcQBjqF2V_alaYQ/s320/Peru+202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407557725062114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX5szJ5ED6lFuXwLtlsuBCFxxkSB4_QTPjQ2yjLwRZ8Cupj7FOGHRZ6RgJTP8c-6yG_aHFhNa4RYOO3gdUXuuWPNklkOAgwF1tF9Dp1h9H5zzuRkvXmy1_-4sBWhixOqNCzvCO5THTpIF/s1600-h/Peru+048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX5szJ5ED6lFuXwLtlsuBCFxxkSB4_QTPjQ2yjLwRZ8Cupj7FOGHRZ6RgJTP8c-6yG_aHFhNa4RYOO3gdUXuuWPNklkOAgwF1tF9Dp1h9H5zzuRkvXmy1_-4sBWhixOqNCzvCO5THTpIF/s320/Peru+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407051177964578" border="0" /></a>Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-16350877792001712582008-06-08T09:43:00.000-07:002008-07-10T17:25:51.948-07:00AddendumI have debated whether to explain my references to the difficulties I had on this trip. Dwelling on any negatives isn't a good thing.....but, honesty IS. Hoping that my account may help someone else, here it is.<br /><br />Though I am old enough to have middle-aged children, I continue to be in denial about my real age. When I look in the mirror, I see an attractive woman who is in great shape. (Darn those lying mirrors!)<br /><br />On that last hike, when we climbed from a starting point of 12,000 feet to 13,000.....I came face to face with seeing the end in this physical body......and, let me tell you....denial feels a whole lot better! But, denial can kill you. My traveling companion asked if I wasn't proud of myself for having "done it" and my response was an easy "no". Unless you have a death wish, pushing yourself to the brink is nothing to be proud of. No, we must take good care of our bodies and our minds and not abuse them in any way. To push ourselves ever further is pure ego. And, my guess is that denial belongs to ego, as well.<br /><br />My lab work was back when I returned to Austin, and I finally had a medical explanation for how I had been feeling. The diagnosis: complete adrenal exhaustion and intolerance to glutens. If I needed a reason for my difficulties traveling, I had it.<br /><br />I share this for one reason. Always take how you are feeling seriously.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.innerbalanceintegration.com/"><br /></a>Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-32057498920499029592008-06-02T11:25:00.000-07:002008-06-02T13:06:23.066-07:00Day 13, Puno and Home, Sweet Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikF9tGqqYJ3o23e9bIAlPrSHUWkdKsf2q50KvlC2Hw1kI6eyQXPMsrJ_yplhBdJnezFplmPe1xiAnx6-suhgWZ-Mo5Pxqg16VqFXmr0MLzq0pLbtsJMWwtG_yBKXVmOy74MwGITU0iEzt9/s1600-h/Peru08+053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikF9tGqqYJ3o23e9bIAlPrSHUWkdKsf2q50KvlC2Hw1kI6eyQXPMsrJ_yplhBdJnezFplmPe1xiAnx6-suhgWZ-Mo5Pxqg16VqFXmr0MLzq0pLbtsJMWwtG_yBKXVmOy74MwGITU0iEzt9/s200/Peru08+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207377491345330386" border="0" /></a>These are random photos which include some of my favorites. Peru is a photographer's dream!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85bDFNBEYgbkBVM2Ga3N7T02dvIVkqIsJVWGoIBFh2y0eJNirvPRcpkgo-8JlQ-p07R0f5oHndPEgaw4mX1Kwl2PK7EqY8AUsqzCG-ggaghXi9NVKq96SQbpkt4J8Yz72HUlJeHrXogCt/s1600-h/Peru08+171.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85bDFNBEYgbkBVM2Ga3N7T02dvIVkqIsJVWGoIBFh2y0eJNirvPRcpkgo-8JlQ-p07R0f5oHndPEgaw4mX1Kwl2PK7EqY8AUsqzCG-ggaghXi9NVKq96SQbpkt4J8Yz72HUlJeHrXogCt/s200/Peru08+171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207373010816000610" border="0" /></a>It was finally our last day, and we walked into town for last minute shopping.....for things we had not been able to decide on previously.....and also for lunch. Our pick-up was not until later in the afternoon. We were happy to see Silvia with a driver! Our flight from Juliaca to Lima took an hour and a half....and then we had to negotiate the large airport with our now much heavier luggage. We had a long time to wait until the Continental counters even opened and we could finally get rid of it. It was shortly thereafter that I lost Doreen whose flight to the States was 45 minutes earlier than mine....but,<br />we still had hours more to pass. Remembering spending the night in the Lima airport last year, I was grateful to know my flight was expected to be on time!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Yf-BvXcFhy4v1YzS-3bciPDYq1OEp6cLzCLqA9RaTmiE0R8pWNt4RJzLm2s06Ee3WBjY6zf3JzuxHjh6NbEcyu8irpOYSA5sl80DrlLPi3gLq1wq-_XJXlW214wUOw1GM0MEVJS4WPeY/s1600-h/Peru08+180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Yf-BvXcFhy4v1YzS-3bciPDYq1OEp6cLzCLqA9RaTmiE0R8pWNt4RJzLm2s06Ee3WBjY6zf3JzuxHjh6NbEcyu8irpOYSA5sl80DrlLPi3gLq1wq-_XJXlW214wUOw1GM0MEVJS4WPeY/s200/Peru08+180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207371594784825986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEfF_9kfITsr09eSTD7LERNBezFdrTYMlnf899WEpyx-bmPYL9EFSItGR-z1Jg6ntueOgUdAT4VThbk5Ri3ejkEkW2jf9bmEkAtyt_yktB7S_4US9mCCOtWPbRf1fBMQcLLLWSWeu1noa/s1600-h/Peru08+062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEfF_9kfITsr09eSTD7LERNBezFdrTYMlnf899WEpyx-bmPYL9EFSItGR-z1Jg6ntueOgUdAT4VThbk5Ri3ejkEkW2jf9bmEkAtyt_yktB7S_4US9mCCOtWPbRf1fBMQcLLLWSWeu1noa/s200/Peru08+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207370949582562354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitE5rZgOEbAjWyADxbp-_AGqf48aqpLvYwFjJflxIDacv8aJIDvoQGobPqlFKhAyaC9FjUQKvS6kp1qpqSQGWeLXcUqESlfYI_NF4DAfcJUPcXN8g89oLheC9TxGJqbOfbl8zIMPykkrX/s1600-h/Peru08+048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitE5rZgOEbAjWyADxbp-_AGqf48aqpLvYwFjJflxIDacv8aJIDvoQGobPqlFKhAyaC9FjUQKvS6kp1qpqSQGWeLXcUqESlfYI_NF4DAfcJUPcXN8g89oLheC9TxGJqbOfbl8zIMPykkrX/s200/Peru08+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207369850724953410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeny3uNOgE91Uo2MMVpLdWmMyVeD8t2zLI7e1LdBWxtKCqHqIB8OvJ4BGP3Y_JwN-qUTVIOiUQLj1za0qVgXDf3X_TYcM5S60DUVTAryzifT-H44ZBXOAqu0qSwLQ48jO5EfgTibf80ojb/s1600-h/Peru08+217.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeny3uNOgE91Uo2MMVpLdWmMyVeD8t2zLI7e1LdBWxtKCqHqIB8OvJ4BGP3Y_JwN-qUTVIOiUQLj1za0qVgXDf3X_TYcM5S60DUVTAryzifT-H44ZBXOAqu0qSwLQ48jO5EfgTibf80ojb/s200/Peru08+217.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207368491740588610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNfKmcBF7mUbyuq8JzKaP8RcgY9Hl3GlyfvdqAqfz7dMnNHoJWtUxyj_sXLIYmKY9WppP50_O2j7ve5X3Ct0ppFmBzoe0e7Pnp9hX15OuH9K_yjG7Mi5gojStmns4R2iqMA5Amqd0cOti/s1600-h/me+with+Jorge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNfKmcBF7mUbyuq8JzKaP8RcgY9Hl3GlyfvdqAqfz7dMnNHoJWtUxyj_sXLIYmKY9WppP50_O2j7ve5X3Ct0ppFmBzoe0e7Pnp9hX15OuH9K_yjG7Mi5gojStmns4R2iqMA5Amqd0cOti/s200/me+with+Jorge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207368921857308130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNcswzlRXqS9ob2mf7JC1rKHD31wxosrugrov27vunys42-8eFagCCg3OIhyphenhyphen3z3iSskmvO5S11oGZ_4JZMxpIpQzCtisn3IzxKnNlRCa2g0yt3IBpWoQ_ZfQVF9QAdB1yNS_HXVoqOa5B/s1600-h/Peru08+091.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; 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float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EMT_Ig6MIZtthBjjBpDOok6Cs0G5aWWPJxCZHC3FLMKqUM9Q5gGwjaJGz26yGdriyt_pAWOd05KB5TcVSsiYtH8S8KqPmMiq9r9UvZcjI2WaKNzBAa78438xVOL5RWYOkqHDMAM9-ofu/s200/sep+9+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207352825219099954" border="0" /></a>The flight home from Lima was blessedly uneventful. No one wanted to sit by the door where the seats would not recline, so I had all 3 seats to myself. I slept most of the way!<br /><br />My cats greeted me at the door and then went back to bed. All was well!<br />For me the magic lies in Cusco and Machu Picchu....as well as the Sacred Valley. There, I could stay forever, I think.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-51538570258184593312008-06-01T11:09:00.000-07:002008-06-01T13:28:45.786-07:00Day 12, Lake Titicaca<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91JPGwRoFs-1BEQoYrbIm35RwaGv_zrfGvLvhGAHhpJlq3PXzR2oaTvWf04OrBT8ob2IWDcm4u55KU8qppbSD-3mA1ILC3Is3d3xJmk8wXzr7cNjq778OQz5IrqSRHzcUlIaS_47YIfNO/s1600-h/Peru08+304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91JPGwRoFs-1BEQoYrbIm35RwaGv_zrfGvLvhGAHhpJlq3PXzR2oaTvWf04OrBT8ob2IWDcm4u55KU8qppbSD-3mA1ILC3Is3d3xJmk8wXzr7cNjq778OQz5IrqSRHzcUlIaS_47YIfNO/s320/Peru08+304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207009692761590594" border="0" /></a>We left Uros right after breakfast, and headed to Tacquile. I had read about the 500+++ steps, and had thought I could just lounge in a little restaurant while others checked out the island.<br />But, we landed on the opposite side of the island.....and there was nothing there. Nothing.<br />We set out on a stone path. I did not know it would go on for an eternity, straight up and up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVsU_OVx9XUzCR28d6eemhwY9w8NGD8Bde0A3QLVt8QugZ7yxtgMPzW5GguHl0d9Pg5oblAdAN1cfvhaBNrAz5-qU-acQScI4DBOjs0UTJmJe5H0OoZuidd_6DvkQPmsNafmej-xdwl8c/s1600-h/Peru08+305.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVsU_OVx9XUzCR28d6eemhwY9w8NGD8Bde0A3QLVt8QugZ7yxtgMPzW5GguHl0d9Pg5oblAdAN1cfvhaBNrAz5-qU-acQScI4DBOjs0UTJmJe5H0OoZuidd_6DvkQPmsNafmej-xdwl8c/s320/Peru08+305.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207008438391527474" border="0" /></a>The path went relentlessly higher. I had difficulty breathing. I would have chewed on my coca leaves except I was too sick to my stomach to even think about doing so. At first the landscape was barren, and then grew increasingly lusher and more beautiful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKAKzSyoESBU0gExQqB5MnA-0me26QbtrWidWUoEuanEM1Eg-29r5aPgSyENvEFhcuNJZ7eTRZakJL97jL3cxAvlnVXvG4tLwwBiOPx0FeCKjt3j4xwd-WvVXsToQLykjyb0ow_cTiUpy/s1600-h/Peru08+306.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKAKzSyoESBU0gExQqB5MnA-0me26QbtrWidWUoEuanEM1Eg-29r5aPgSyENvEFhcuNJZ7eTRZakJL97jL3cxAvlnVXvG4tLwwBiOPx0FeCKjt3j4xwd-WvVXsToQLykjyb0ow_cTiUpy/s320/Peru08+306.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207008033060010354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EuGKCp4lrh12eHrmwT51PWCsc2tDRduLCw-hTp_LRTjP6sVVZ3h4nnAbUWQsTOBiYLMEOLshySwwHWkzoyhmz01fjTiVXXGaysEDN0ewFhAXRx60k8ctgZaiUul6TowH5MzRN0pBuZo9/s1600-h/Peru08+307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EuGKCp4lrh12eHrmwT51PWCsc2tDRduLCw-hTp_LRTjP6sVVZ3h4nnAbUWQsTOBiYLMEOLshySwwHWkzoyhmz01fjTiVXXGaysEDN0ewFhAXRx60k8ctgZaiUul6TowH5MzRN0pBuZo9/s320/Peru08+307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207007575598799426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG7VmiWEmdq4IWXCi0MKkX6_ZhV_bl1owrPpd3YwdvkRVelis0V2rxQTuRi4UDUmABTn3urEhbxAMNqZobDTRYh_RX5iPkzznxlfc88ejKwZfc28QVfBYVRiYlgs49-q5k7kUR2815-Bf/s1600-h/Peru08+308.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG7VmiWEmdq4IWXCi0MKkX6_ZhV_bl1owrPpd3YwdvkRVelis0V2rxQTuRi4UDUmABTn3urEhbxAMNqZobDTRYh_RX5iPkzznxlfc88ejKwZfc28QVfBYVRiYlgs49-q5k7kUR2815-Bf/s320/Peru08+308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207006802208763602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgduepOZYVYOK2NvEGKMYXmQ3jPufucU16WK-eEn_wwFv-ciOaXAZLkIf1Y8pJTFKzcY-aLW1RFGNhkLl3MATQlmrU6PX9f0YRSHpZRU0jEiaMu9SfEQ0JhCQQudnLtewDIzZO48P23l6j/s1600-h/Peru08+310.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgduepOZYVYOK2NvEGKMYXmQ3jPufucU16WK-eEn_wwFv-ciOaXAZLkIf1Y8pJTFKzcY-aLW1RFGNhkLl3MATQlmrU6PX9f0YRSHpZRU0jEiaMu9SfEQ0JhCQQudnLtewDIzZO48P23l6j/s320/Peru08+310.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207006264129542962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVs0S5kgTIiLU_VBHhkKLTi_7NizoJjjtONF4WJdMCkZiK97zNKszax7QSn3fhgNpNzm6k6tFGl1DEGffN_r0GyjVOOjHxIsvRtB5mH1QtHqwI7Xw4HPNRBip4UWfL5xPDV1s513HliuY/s1600-h/Peru08+312.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVs0S5kgTIiLU_VBHhkKLTi_7NizoJjjtONF4WJdMCkZiK97zNKszax7QSn3fhgNpNzm6k6tFGl1DEGffN_r0GyjVOOjHxIsvRtB5mH1QtHqwI7Xw4HPNRBip4UWfL5xPDV1s513HliuY/s320/Peru08+312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207005386331879378" border="0" /></a>Clothesline of women's skirts. I do appreciate the beauty of the island, and the opportunity to capture these images to keep forever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG8pjbTk4C06qNJuZBzD8hGsFNz9KfSChgL9mSyNFD-xOf4U0y8t1Xmm_pvdotlDi9sqSdcedsM61K-gQr3pDf_ZigApz7RGzi63FXSqU7pGtLwbXeqbgywxI6q9xigzOTkeL9F0TOsLp/s1600-h/Peru08+311.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG8pjbTk4C06qNJuZBzD8hGsFNz9KfSChgL9mSyNFD-xOf4U0y8t1Xmm_pvdotlDi9sqSdcedsM61K-gQr3pDf_ZigApz7RGzi63FXSqU7pGtLwbXeqbgywxI6q9xigzOTkeL9F0TOsLp/s320/Peru08+311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207003507280266338" border="0" /></a>Reaching the end of our long upward hike was disappointing. There was nothing to see....just gray two-story buildings, housing local government offices....There were no stores, only one building for woolen goods. They were not doing big business. Solas only...no other currency, or credit cards accepted. No one had a smile for us, either.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAJUVrXKnLumrM1Xz3QH2T9Mbn2Kt8cXXXp2jCV-aT7ZelLuyjlrSLconmqUPS33lGlxwF8_Nxs4_RpPxWaZOMyJF5r8zpJJGshQLIcLMqQJPHlBXo1hE4x4KdcrxwBCOO6vGxC7LxwJY/s1600-h/Peru08+313.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAJUVrXKnLumrM1Xz3QH2T9Mbn2Kt8cXXXp2jCV-aT7ZelLuyjlrSLconmqUPS33lGlxwF8_Nxs4_RpPxWaZOMyJF5r8zpJJGshQLIcLMqQJPHlBXo1hE4x4KdcrxwBCOO6vGxC7LxwJY/s320/Peru08+313.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207001874062740194" border="0" /></a>There is a coop of knitted and woven goods. Both quality and prices are high. Women do the spinning, everyone does the weaving, but it is men who do the knitting. Here you see a married man as designated by his red hat. Unmarried men's hats are white. Men and women live together...even having children....from an early age. Marriage takes place only after years of being together, when they are ready to make that serious commitment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHIitE7gsdX7NfJseb4JoiQJR6DwP2k7osdP301qKYlEmooReZJnRGX3ZyLTWYcPnWu66__4Y2QdxhgMngcl-l7GGjdGEci3A5M1ERTZVdx1vvJg_UAhE1WoW9Msetm2pffBcc56I1s94/s1600-h/Peru08+314.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHIitE7gsdX7NfJseb4JoiQJR6DwP2k7osdP301qKYlEmooReZJnRGX3ZyLTWYcPnWu66__4Y2QdxhgMngcl-l7GGjdGEci3A5M1ERTZVdx1vvJg_UAhE1WoW9Msetm2pffBcc56I1s94/s320/Peru08+314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206999445962231522" border="0" /></a>Far down below where we were having lunch, laundry was being done, and fields tended. The village elders direct each tour group to a restaurant they designate. It is a socialist island, our guide told us. Had I known that I had no choice in where to eat, I may not have wanted to go to Tacquile......but, if I had known how much serious hiking was required....I'd known I had no business attempting this adventure.<br /><br />Silvia pointed out a group way down below us, saying they were "old people" who could not climb any higher. I asked her what she meant by old, and she said "Retired. From 55 to 70." Yes, Silvia....that's where I belong! I belong with<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">them.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uIoSbpWg-yfI3wJIJksxdBhI2mwM1xGby7ndezNRZchHrVJWEEuhEQNr_X-nYzz-4l0qM4cbx2WL3HvEBQN4UHVidpln14f25lovdn1DPeqxAW6f_n-esdkgVePLJnXCgwhDDHFoojZ8/s1600-h/Peru08+316.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uIoSbpWg-yfI3wJIJksxdBhI2mwM1xGby7ndezNRZchHrVJWEEuhEQNr_X-nYzz-4l0qM4cbx2WL3HvEBQN4UHVidpln14f25lovdn1DPeqxAW6f_n-esdkgVePLJnXCgwhDDHFoojZ8/s320/Peru08+316.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206997878421784642" border="0" /></a>I thought this looked like the subject of a long-ago painting.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9qnve3BVJlngTMxobfXi8ig6EEd0o4rWSwebT-rhL4cJ5DNDyH4lFJr7TYMFgax1OBRuq_zQH4u2FoBi2JGa0fUcgvqESh3YNsPBKRBdteW2Ja9G2Ec_mwtdWQawvMb5sbCyy0uSHA8E/s1600-h/Peru08+317.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9qnve3BVJlngTMxobfXi8ig6EEd0o4rWSwebT-rhL4cJ5DNDyH4lFJr7TYMFgax1OBRuq_zQH4u2FoBi2JGa0fUcgvqESh3YNsPBKRBdteW2Ja9G2Ec_mwtdWQawvMb5sbCyy0uSHA8E/s320/Peru08+317.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206997210165254098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MuqerhwJzO0YcAAbEwovPsz-NMoHOVZ0O1YbbbsnVjLdtWpQ1wzDeqkpzojxdnGcym5r1bTZkpKTSKJr8oBDrJc78Cd2s611cWFUQ3jDRuPpBZlLRiuCQkv5WeD6YfAisAA_3GIpcLs5/s1600-h/Peru08+319.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MuqerhwJzO0YcAAbEwovPsz-NMoHOVZ0O1YbbbsnVjLdtWpQ1wzDeqkpzojxdnGcym5r1bTZkpKTSKJr8oBDrJc78Cd2s611cWFUQ3jDRuPpBZlLRiuCQkv5WeD6YfAisAA_3GIpcLs5/s320/Peru08+319.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206996228820486402" border="0" /></a>We passed through a series of gates. They were similar, each with rough figures on top which seemed to be facing all in one direction.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-PBPbbkD30xYqK6z3hd-4GVhVpJzr5I9_kFep-2eYaG_AP_2KCmISGQGxwlLd6NatYjlHX2qFgvxqN44MJeTkG9z6Sh_fn1DhHILRXMW_k_TkvrV2auxQ9qyHX8bu8nxif9dbK9kV2e7/s1600-h/Peru08+321.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-PBPbbkD30xYqK6z3hd-4GVhVpJzr5I9_kFep-2eYaG_AP_2KCmISGQGxwlLd6NatYjlHX2qFgvxqN44MJeTkG9z6Sh_fn1DhHILRXMW_k_TkvrV2auxQ9qyHX8bu8nxif9dbK9kV2e7/s320/Peru08+321.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206994220303569842" border="0" /></a>Ah, the last gate and the lake at last! And, below, our waiting boat. I thought...how difficult can it be to go <span style="font-style: italic;">down</span>? Besides, I was going down from 13,00 ft. to "only" 12,000.<br /><br />It was a l-o-n-g ways down. The steps were uneven and there<br />was nothing to hold onto. Could I maintain my balance? Keep my weight off my left knee? The island had not felt that friendly, so staying was definitely not an option.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsbar7wV4QrO4B3zzy9LsnubNZLqMjiUGQ7LWF-wFSpJBOdhGNlyb3TnDiqcOcitYSjZidaEiiaCEaNP9W6tLXNqyt8NhCCJ1T-hfgwFFvHdp_gYVrpAaklCYscM7RNVAx3zFNuz9A0KT/s1600-h/Peru08,+me+descending+steps+on+Tacquile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsbar7wV4QrO4B3zzy9LsnubNZLqMjiUGQ7LWF-wFSpJBOdhGNlyb3TnDiqcOcitYSjZidaEiiaCEaNP9W6tLXNqyt8NhCCJ1T-hfgwFFvHdp_gYVrpAaklCYscM7RNVAx3zFNuz9A0KT/s320/Peru08,+me+descending+steps+on+Tacquile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206992488928672242" border="0" /></a>This nice man, a leader of another tour group, kept me sane by laughing at my quips, as well as physically assisting me down these 566 steps to the boat! We had crossed the entire island on foot, which would have been fine, except for the altitude.<br />I had difficulty with lagging behind, being the last one. I have difficulty accepting any limitations that I have.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MNicTkmswg_MLJR7ky8mimTM_xjnDqbfkxrV4HV0RXmWGAgUAw30K6E7Wc6ORop4pWioN5qFJBuGjgzm9E3Z30ypbgA_Jdo1vGvIXBrW69rF1DhDms8bSrN4s0co7RTFfiaIVzObq1uU/s1600-h/Peru08+279.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MNicTkmswg_MLJR7ky8mimTM_xjnDqbfkxrV4HV0RXmWGAgUAw30K6E7Wc6ORop4pWioN5qFJBuGjgzm9E3Z30ypbgA_Jdo1vGvIXBrW69rF1DhDms8bSrN4s0co7RTFfiaIVzObq1uU/s320/Peru08+279.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206988927522562498" border="0" /></a>As we headed back to Puno, the sky got darker and darker. It was then that I noticed the two boat "captains" were only barely out of their teens. Soon, it was raining heavily, and we were rocking in rather large waves. There were no life preservers on the boat. I knew this because it is the very first thing I had checked the morning before.<br /><br />By the time we reached the floating Uros islands, where navigating through the reeds might have been impossible without good visibility, we had left the storm behind. I was very grateful to get back to Puno and our hotel. Though we had been gone only one night, we had to check in all over again....doing the routine with passports and all. I was so ready to go home!:-)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBBt3lf0i376LFbQbREyX0oVBO0NDUHnhJKP4b4FL2AmJrIIWW6GR6qlJHKVusYNICY72eDZiNs2Ncq2Bkbs-FLUE5tJgsd1d68efI4F9QBbouELJ00zYaL9Ycwf5fEcqi3ezwoVciSOX/s1600-h/perumap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBBt3lf0i376LFbQbREyX0oVBO0NDUHnhJKP4b4FL2AmJrIIWW6GR6qlJHKVusYNICY72eDZiNs2Ncq2Bkbs-FLUE5tJgsd1d68efI4F9QBbouELJ00zYaL9Ycwf5fEcqi3ezwoVciSOX/s320/perumap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206988481285272194" border="0" /></a><br />Our route....based on as gradual a rise in altitude as possible:<br />Lima to Arequipa<br />Arequipa to Colca, back to Arequipa<br />Cusco to Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu<br />Cusco to Puno to Lake Titicaca<br />Puno to LimaChaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-33432751482676699662008-05-31T15:49:00.000-07:002008-06-01T11:02:40.373-07:00Day 11, Lake Titicaca con.t<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mempywwPbsPmBmp-zoqDdOgRoAfjxJKqseq_2QRC9ynMCoJacdNpYb-JTnuCXBtZ6Gz2FECZ4uVLaF7yshNFl5AdOHc0mtYsdM0JSZ9qxzt8vBfiGnCFQc8lDlJmtgxMfuHqOhyOJ5zY/s1600-h/Peru08+290.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mempywwPbsPmBmp-zoqDdOgRoAfjxJKqseq_2QRC9ynMCoJacdNpYb-JTnuCXBtZ6Gz2FECZ4uVLaF7yshNFl5AdOHc0mtYsdM0JSZ9qxzt8vBfiGnCFQc8lDlJmtgxMfuHqOhyOJ5zY/s320/Peru08+290.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206691044469104962" border="0" /></a>This is Amantani in the middle of Lake Titicaca. I had emptied my bottle of water obtained from a spring at Machu Picchu and emptied it into the Lake, thereby connecting them energetically. Male and female energy. I felt a surge of joy! All was well!<br /><br />It was Sunday, Mother's Day, and we were about to have an adventure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzTTbaqwFiBAHV8WX-88nqiXmoET49X5Fu24n5XtN7aegRo54RQ_evf2sEuL-f6BEfJY-r322qJwa484CEqeK88n-78PJCoccRhDx5eyvZwH_gCnu9TO4_ruGdHbcYVPgMtR6VxJ7InxD/s1600-h/Peru08+288.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzTTbaqwFiBAHV8WX-88nqiXmoET49X5Fu24n5XtN7aegRo54RQ_evf2sEuL-f6BEfJY-r322qJwa484CEqeK88n-78PJCoccRhDx5eyvZwH_gCnu9TO4_ruGdHbcYVPgMtR6VxJ7InxD/s320/Peru08+288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206689747977133154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Though it does not look very steep, but it was quite a climb from our boat to the house of our host family. I was the very last one. My chest hurt. I mean, I had serious chest pain. "Oh, no....please....not here" I was very clear that I did not want to have a heart attack <span style="font-style: italic;">here. </span>Doreen and I had a room to ourselves...and real beds! Hallelujah. I soon learned, that was not nearly enough.<br /><br />We had lunch soon. Each of us got a bowl of delicious little finger shaped potatoes and tiny fried fishes. I severed their heads and ate the rest. Dinner was served also in individual bowls...the same ones which had been washed out by hand in cold water. I was surprised to see rice, potatoes, and macaroni in my bowl. I was even more surprised that it was delicious! The Swiss man who was not winded and was not cold said that it was good to eat lots of carbohydrates in cold weather. For some reason, I briefly wanted to strangle him. I was not a happy camper. Breakfast for the survivors was fried bread. I heard that it was followed by corn on the cob.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY9lcQ0EO7BCwtym35fBmY3iKwmT6PtFmRcmi6HTYsXJXa9X_3pIFcvuJOWtYpumdhnbXayEzlMKL3RYLK32N9PhfVCCQ_AFDLgtdi47bIVF4ExC_cM2Yy44oEN7QoqoMj43ZsfhIQRyP/s1600-h/Peru08+289.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY9lcQ0EO7BCwtym35fBmY3iKwmT6PtFmRcmi6HTYsXJXa9X_3pIFcvuJOWtYpumdhnbXayEzlMKL3RYLK32N9PhfVCCQ_AFDLgtdi47bIVF4ExC_cM2Yy44oEN7QoqoMj43ZsfhIQRyP/s320/Peru08+289.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206687039209620178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8Y1-Os6JNsQ03Otm9GOymsrffolhyFBC-TYOm00CBcPE8xhl5LnyWVCM_WGmKZjE0JIXyKm72dosTR_VB176M9ZHkgW9xXiNcMkO_jmKu_D5u3uZUqj94i9GmbxEzfR_xEPJWR14coSy/s1600-h/Peru08+295.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8Y1-Os6JNsQ03Otm9GOymsrffolhyFBC-TYOm00CBcPE8xhl5LnyWVCM_WGmKZjE0JIXyKm72dosTR_VB176M9ZHkgW9xXiNcMkO_jmKu_D5u3uZUqj94i9GmbxEzfR_xEPJWR14coSy/s320/Peru08+295.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206686273465600962" border="0" /></a>Coming home.....We wished WE were.:-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3vbGINp_WhdDkOrcEA9kSQRppqS4R-gF_fZs2gfHa9CiXdT5YrVJ7mqUcnF28xOua2vDoJCWjsE8jj2iWDH3hIKvNs9Vw80xRDEQqhQgrgLQK5pM5I8oIp9at1JQE_gIM0P69s3kr3jv/s1600-h/Peru08+292.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3vbGINp_WhdDkOrcEA9kSQRppqS4R-gF_fZs2gfHa9CiXdT5YrVJ7mqUcnF28xOua2vDoJCWjsE8jj2iWDH3hIKvNs9Vw80xRDEQqhQgrgLQK5pM5I8oIp9at1JQE_gIM0P69s3kr3jv/s320/Peru08+292.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206684040805824594" border="0" /></a>There were solar panels, and rough electrical wiring had been done. However, only one of us had a room in which there was a lightbulb. Silvia tried to entertain us by reading coca leaves by candle-light.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB6QnIs4eFN7vVhYBBEiH0d8sG3MckQ_0uVgbuuFp_Xu0JvswWCVXgVo_q329-bFfsHcmqGjIBS4MQjmYJRtaNcLyeHOHgTvD74wgZ21VOX5-Aoxi7tsSG2-wauaISUkai6LFTRUJpJvD/s1600-h/Peru08+298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB6QnIs4eFN7vVhYBBEiH0d8sG3MckQ_0uVgbuuFp_Xu0JvswWCVXgVo_q329-bFfsHcmqGjIBS4MQjmYJRtaNcLyeHOHgTvD74wgZ21VOX5-Aoxi7tsSG2-wauaISUkai6LFTRUJpJvD/s320/Peru08+298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206681679391018434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In the evening there was a dance at the community hall, and the custom is for each host family to dress their guests up in native outfits, and dance with them. Good idea! Keeps everyone warm....only the community hall was not anywhere near, and tackling the rocky steep terrain in the blackness was not appealing.<br /><br />It was so cold, so miserable, that it was extremely difficult to keep from whining.....but, I didn't say all that was on my mind...only, "now, exactly WHY was it we wanted to do this?" We agreed that we were both home-sick. As we lay in our beds, I found myself describing my bathroom at home to her in every detail......All we had was a chamber pot for the night. (Oh, my God....I am so rich, so privileged! WHY do I need a bathroom that big?) The out-house was a long ways off, down stairs without railings.....It might as well have been in China. I was very grateful that Doreen was not pretending that she was not miserable, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2PIH6xFXRx2gqeaLZzoQmj7oqpDiNwyZI-0HyaYh-5pZL5J8TjO0WQim3OJlkYO0ME8kAN1vBLKV6xdIK24XUFu-KAyycy0LbleQ36IIRA7-IqZRJCz7s1Y3kkD6z-hehqWGfzkXEs7f/s1600-h/Peru08+297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2PIH6xFXRx2gqeaLZzoQmj7oqpDiNwyZI-0HyaYh-5pZL5J8TjO0WQim3OJlkYO0ME8kAN1vBLKV6xdIK24XUFu-KAyycy0LbleQ36IIRA7-IqZRJCz7s1Y3kkD6z-hehqWGfzkXEs7f/s320/Peru08+297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206680719508877874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFZVfE1PVW5NwLrEAODDP5Q0_nHxdRTwQJW9M1saCUInFbG_0wOxVqwIl838PJNG1E5UoP3YTFJ-CET4ocuibhfZZ-7D9jUr4C2TfbEfA3DU77ri_DLTwD3kpsLR5nSXoIZS6BO-zclhK/s1600-h/Peru08+299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFZVfE1PVW5NwLrEAODDP5Q0_nHxdRTwQJW9M1saCUInFbG_0wOxVqwIl838PJNG1E5UoP3YTFJ-CET4ocuibhfZZ-7D9jUr4C2TfbEfA3DU77ri_DLTwD3kpsLR5nSXoIZS6BO-zclhK/s320/Peru08+299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206680013203238610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzegTDbFOtnR8SpNps_nb_6jbwUKf6xNi4GAYm2bEaDKsvpbDgEptcsAidM2FxnhSzGurbVBhtUI1r7NXRNU7o0vGY_yTLYRBvZkbBvKayHKCl-yrP64NSBbePfbLBpwgDp2juQvqiSuH1/s1600-h/Peru08+301.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzegTDbFOtnR8SpNps_nb_6jbwUKf6xNi4GAYm2bEaDKsvpbDgEptcsAidM2FxnhSzGurbVBhtUI1r7NXRNU7o0vGY_yTLYRBvZkbBvKayHKCl-yrP64NSBbePfbLBpwgDp2juQvqiSuH1/s320/Peru08+301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206678566659386994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is Doreen.....and, even the red roses on the bed-covers could not cheer us. It was COLD. The good news was that we were alive, we were already dressed....having slept in every piece of clothing we had brought....and, we were leaving!<br />There are some miserable experiences in life which in retrospect are fun. This is not one of those....though I do see the humor in it. Oh, I have a LONG way to go on my spirituality!<br /><br />I had strong chest pain again, and this time with very little exertion. I was scared, but I did not tell anyone, choosing to keep my mind on calming myself.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-90404675505797924482008-05-31T08:15:00.000-07:002008-05-31T11:07:42.152-07:00Day 11, Lake Titicaca<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFMf9q2JUMocgtCdWJL5pr77_TJNUG1EdfkHrM5bHTUWjg5vgP-u9t-TmBvd5V_dkABuvQ576XvoBl9tuCFta_CnriN6h8o6P0CbdhMNBRUq7J7jxUHhIC-wyNIM_MRRCk5JbIjnUhFeT/s1600-h/me+with+Jorge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFMf9q2JUMocgtCdWJL5pr77_TJNUG1EdfkHrM5bHTUWjg5vgP-u9t-TmBvd5V_dkABuvQ576XvoBl9tuCFta_CnriN6h8o6P0CbdhMNBRUq7J7jxUHhIC-wyNIM_MRRCk5JbIjnUhFeT/s320/me+with+Jorge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206576400908001170" border="0" /></a>The evening before our two day trip on Lake Titikaka,<br />Silvia took us to meet with Jorge Delgado whom I had "stalked" unsuccessfully for many months in order to arrange some time with him. And, here he is at last!<br />Though I was feeling quite ill, I am obviously happy to see him!<br /><br />Jorge Delgado is known as an Andean shaman, healer, and mystic....the author of "Andean Awaking", and now an international lecturer.<br />However, he says he is "only" a chacaruna, a bridge person who assists others to cross from one state of consciousness to another.<br /><br />I now had three new names, Chasta...meaning star,<br />Tiki, meaning flower, and a word meaning light energy, the essence of a star, from Mr. Delgado. Since my purpose was to have a very simple name, Mr. Delgado's choice cinched it for me. I am Chasta. <br />How cool is that? Renamed by Peruvian shamans.<br /><br /><br /><br />The following photos look like postcards....but, I took them all myself. For me it was a step in time so far back, that it still boggles my mind.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTSNLT6yMJJY1IlTuS18kuteV6FDUZjZ_M5VsMos7koTY0ChEFbckvUrdlbbHUMUHvDDUQTdTFiBbo0nkpKwKAr7N2RFtkwyLYWAwcnLZZcijCLCC0KIN66p8Sogvhyphenhyphenak9JyEVJoFnxTu/s1600-h/Peru08+281.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTSNLT6yMJJY1IlTuS18kuteV6FDUZjZ_M5VsMos7koTY0ChEFbckvUrdlbbHUMUHvDDUQTdTFiBbo0nkpKwKAr7N2RFtkwyLYWAwcnLZZcijCLCC0KIN66p8Sogvhyphenhyphenak9JyEVJoFnxTu/s320/Peru08+281.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206575539608795474" border="0" /></a>Nearing the floating islands of Uros, our first stop at Lake Titicaca.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbriwI2pJwEs5ml6Si1StkpxMAdCwE1y83nFxVS6naXA0zAQXyfiIL7ZYG_nWQBDZ9IdRfRexogOs-yVwYyfg96EoKRiYQ5A6-PilgBwTY90oUwPmP-e-W-BQW0nb1bNXvUWdhYPw7XUGP/s1600-h/silvia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbriwI2pJwEs5ml6Si1StkpxMAdCwE1y83nFxVS6naXA0zAQXyfiIL7ZYG_nWQBDZ9IdRfRexogOs-yVwYyfg96EoKRiYQ5A6-PilgBwTY90oUwPmP-e-W-BQW0nb1bNXvUWdhYPw7XUGP/s320/silvia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206574406998855458" border="0" /></a>Our guide, Silvia, shows us how the reeds are peeled (just like asparagus!) and then cooked. Delicious!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCEwLDJ9kLsIf1FagmQw5kwSae4-GTKg9Dpsj9yB4yvfYRRWOpan8xox5EQTf55mGtbRepcGUqfEGyRCFNGK11FJ50odHvOKctCryqTX_wyZxDeAFblVnDzcB6A5mdF5i5sU0WGsPaU_Q/s1600-h/Peru08+283.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCEwLDJ9kLsIf1FagmQw5kwSae4-GTKg9Dpsj9yB4yvfYRRWOpan8xox5EQTf55mGtbRepcGUqfEGyRCFNGK11FJ50odHvOKctCryqTX_wyZxDeAFblVnDzcB6A5mdF5i5sU0WGsPaU_Q/s320/Peru08+283.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206569062088764962" border="0" /></a>Two women demonstrate how the reeds are tied together to form the islands which are constantly changing as storms rip them apart and they are retied. The women do most of the work, because most of the men have left the islands to go to work and live in Puno. Everyone is quite "heftig".....but, even though they work hard, there's not much walking to do on a very small, flat reed island.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J6fBWITO0C0gYwfAArVU3QSwEYWDuAuzy-rQa3zwsTcvDQvinwaCdKBskw5GpPbJuEcYyU1Q_B5KhUg7FqRgp0czIs2CegCu0PfXbwYzxNhF6_otmMayyTbvNlE4W9ZbB81DS7DD1FVJ/s1600-h/Peru08+285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J6fBWITO0C0gYwfAArVU3QSwEYWDuAuzy-rQa3zwsTcvDQvinwaCdKBskw5GpPbJuEcYyU1Q_B5KhUg7FqRgp0czIs2CegCu0PfXbwYzxNhF6_otmMayyTbvNlE4W9ZbB81DS7DD1FVJ/s320/Peru08+285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206567746660574706" border="0" /></a>Lunch, anyone? One moment I saw this little tern swimming in the lake, and the next moment she was in the stew-pot! She still had her head on, and there was no way I wanted to have anything to do with that meal. There are also many types of potatoes in the pot....and, most likely, a few tiny fish, and reeds.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7QydGoWO9wR6ZW9mcb2y1-rupvHsTOZIm15xh5zBSzRXQx0dQXigPNPFPzzAdC7GaC3n4Dp_4_rJwJpZlrZVbX91M8QjOTWxmsOCWAFiyK7Xv4vJENkRKQ8AiZ-jTUzz52DwlmNbaACk/s1600-h/Peru08+284.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7QydGoWO9wR6ZW9mcb2y1-rupvHsTOZIm15xh5zBSzRXQx0dQXigPNPFPzzAdC7GaC3n4Dp_4_rJwJpZlrZVbX91M8QjOTWxmsOCWAFiyK7Xv4vJENkRKQ8AiZ-jTUzz52DwlmNbaACk/s320/Peru08+284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206565333015186706" border="0" /></a>The residents of Uros were very friendly, and we had no difficulty communicating through gestures and smiles.<br />This mother showed us the inside of her home, which...of course...is made entirely of reeds. It contained one large bed, some kind of a rack from which hung a couple of changes of clothing for each family member....all looking exactly as you see here....and, a very small black & white T.V.!<br />Solar panels were used not for light....the homes were totally dark inside except for the light of the TV.....but, to keep their pride and joy...an ancient little TV going. It was tuned to English language cartoons.....in black and white, and with lots of "snow". I had a flash-back to the early 50's, only<br />we had electric lights first.:-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPnKej3L2JKzwAwShittmfhUnvlgtS8fsXx4c6LZURSg3X5JVi-M8ynQOhVysbe5bPYcYElrciCdmLp6_BVY4MtgAIo-tWbdNtWlMTFCncpTzClkFJvUE51i118Zh919x5b9zoL1pCOBP/s1600-h/Peru08+286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPnKej3L2JKzwAwShittmfhUnvlgtS8fsXx4c6LZURSg3X5JVi-M8ynQOhVysbe5bPYcYElrciCdmLp6_BVY4MtgAIo-tWbdNtWlMTFCncpTzClkFJvUE51i118Zh919x5b9zoL1pCOBP/s320/Peru08+286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206564795509139330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpCYMbVf8gWHRRuXKil67y1r3MVTqrXYRAiik7QoQp3vLq9dC6Uld_TXrTOGI5y69WAUlKc63BpotZOtkoLkr5mJ1kfjutSpF6-9yvlxYUNwGjKvLqM3T8L2uOSc6CeZsMKsdyJHkD00C/s1600-h/Peru08+287.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpCYMbVf8gWHRRuXKil67y1r3MVTqrXYRAiik7QoQp3vLq9dC6Uld_TXrTOGI5y69WAUlKc63BpotZOtkoLkr5mJ1kfjutSpF6-9yvlxYUNwGjKvLqM3T8L2uOSc6CeZsMKsdyJHkD00C/s320/Peru08+287.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206563128966095298" border="0" /></a>It still boggles my mind to think that people live on floating islands made entirely of reeds.....and that I was there among them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnHzzmBZgFLDUGmC45g3uwfUDNPRuuQ5P3wU1pS4MGKMfJ3TL_0OlMRTRyMmOcPl-1mFfFzNE6rmK1L3uiM_I-kN9cy3letIUzVYYfUEA3ToEt01oMUxyw8oOhlcmepGjZtEQ08Y3vDyu/s1600-h/Peru08+277.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnHzzmBZgFLDUGmC45g3uwfUDNPRuuQ5P3wU1pS4MGKMfJ3TL_0OlMRTRyMmOcPl-1mFfFzNE6rmK1L3uiM_I-kN9cy3letIUzVYYfUEA3ToEt01oMUxyw8oOhlcmepGjZtEQ08Y3vDyu/s320/Peru08+277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206562331451771890" border="0" /></a><br />It's on to another island (Amantani) where we will spend the night with a local family.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-25458765645018781512008-05-29T10:20:00.000-07:002008-05-29T11:37:55.221-07:00Day 10, Puno & Surroundings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9D819hoqT5tdfnxeQPdKSOBul1yj_IUCokC-pQyvIS6yg2-ePlr60rQTOs0RYWU_ELa7KHX0E10-ZDMzP7n-HovKcwzihNNYbRKA3jH25c-QA3DcWL2Ws8EsoclKlNW3OD_29bx3p-Yz/s1600-h/Peru08+263.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9D819hoqT5tdfnxeQPdKSOBul1yj_IUCokC-pQyvIS6yg2-ePlr60rQTOs0RYWU_ELa7KHX0E10-ZDMzP7n-HovKcwzihNNYbRKA3jH25c-QA3DcWL2Ws8EsoclKlNW3OD_29bx3p-Yz/s320/Peru08+263.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205868376440160722" border="0" /></a>The Amaru doorway was rediscovered by Jorge Delgado when he saw it in a dream.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >One of the legends is that<a name="amaru"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> when the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in Peru and looted gold and precious stones from the Inca tribes, one Incan priest of the <b>Temple of the Seven Rays</b> named <i><b>Amaru Meru</b></i> fled from his temple with a sacred </span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://wwww.labyrinthina.com/titicaca.htm">golden disk</a> known as "the key of the gods of the seven rays", and hid in the mountains of Hayu Marca. He eventually came upon the doorway which was being watched by shaman priests. He showed them the key of the gods and a ritual was performed with the conclusion of a magical occurrence initiated by the golden disk which opened the portal, and according to the legend blue light did emanate from a tunnel inside. The priest Amaru Meru handed the golden disk to the shamans, and then passed through the portal "never to be seen again". Archeologists have observed a small hand sized circular depression on the right hand side of the small entranceway, and have theorized that this is where a small disk could be placed and held by the rock. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">We three pressed our foreheads to the indentation....and I asked that it open for me....but we<br />remained in this reality.</span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7xhUC1tpbYS2ufcQJT9yk_4zBKmSWOGRdoLe-sLILIE2njN11aImmvhUtO29MZnE4sr7R8Y9CoZH9tHan7PdrkewjM3imTPdi60zVvKJyB0Wy0AOtjecAiK-qdurrrhkB4Kd_N4PO1qf/s1600-h/Peru08+Silvia+preparing+despachio+at+Amura.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7xhUC1tpbYS2ufcQJT9yk_4zBKmSWOGRdoLe-sLILIE2njN11aImmvhUtO29MZnE4sr7R8Y9CoZH9tHan7PdrkewjM3imTPdi60zVvKJyB0Wy0AOtjecAiK-qdurrrhkB4Kd_N4PO1qf/s320/Peru08+Silvia+preparing+despachio+at+Amura.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205866344920629698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Silvia, assistant to Jorge Delgado, is preparing a magnificent<br />despacho. It was all I could do to not grab the beautifully died alpaca wool in it. I hope Pachamama appreciated it as much as I would have!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfqEV_RWC8XKuXCioJa9ao2J_un4i8GQcuQJvXVMh3fFQhskGn7_CiauqQhIEot7dIcYJxFhzvt3Ke6tmHV1XXZP9zb81zIJMX1Wc0sTp1Nt08CIpxI1FUb4lVsk_20kprqoq_fD7c7oj/s1600-h/Peru08+265.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfqEV_RWC8XKuXCioJa9ao2J_un4i8GQcuQJvXVMh3fFQhskGn7_CiauqQhIEot7dIcYJxFhzvt3Ke6tmHV1XXZP9zb81zIJMX1Wc0sTp1Nt08CIpxI1FUb4lVsk_20kprqoq_fD7c7oj/s320/Peru08+265.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205864974826062258" border="0" /></a>Ceremonial bundle showing coca leaves and a condor feather.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNomPZLxzM8cN-CyyLC7mOZVRykbc4HKm3n3wpLK2_N7VvvXmdNr2P7BOIQg1izuWqv9atUZURCf54vGsU1ZEwloe_TH4_JQ8cwN3hethQs3248dgNJxwgbtwrumVTewVKe6mMoxehiMP/s1600-h/Peru08+266.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNomPZLxzM8cN-CyyLC7mOZVRykbc4HKm3n3wpLK2_N7VvvXmdNr2P7BOIQg1izuWqv9atUZURCf54vGsU1ZEwloe_TH4_JQ8cwN3hethQs3248dgNJxwgbtwrumVTewVKe6mMoxehiMP/s320/Peru08+266.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205864360645738914" border="0" /></a>Doreen is holding the offering, while Silvia pays her respects.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY_0GS_fXJam7fmnVfWukPagvM-xOmKV8vkc2ru2JhyYO488LOt-2KQmQTLO8FiYXRVNdlcIEOchyphenhyphenovhN7GwAlF2Xb_HmJCxV5SOvyNUq8ZgywBwBJyIdoSFKuNUT25-H0mUom_jBO3wG/s1600-h/Peru08+264.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY_0GS_fXJam7fmnVfWukPagvM-xOmKV8vkc2ru2JhyYO488LOt-2KQmQTLO8FiYXRVNdlcIEOchyphenhyphenovhN7GwAlF2Xb_HmJCxV5SOvyNUq8ZgywBwBJyIdoSFKuNUT25-H0mUom_jBO3wG/s320/Peru08+264.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205862028478497170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Silvia gave us an hour and a half free before meeting us again at the hotel for our tour to Sillustani. We spent it lying down for a half hour, and then walking into Puno for a soup lunch.<br />They make the best soups in Peru!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTmpKtJRm_6frgK8yRGf-d04-oPBgv-OkjauU8V7PBh7dgS5fx8oFjbq668lbCDzUWrGP5cdAtMoombVdZfVqTsLVfTggdDRtcixjvdJ2rWJMqEqu7wNMtbfPlHbejzbfFNVFupFuoN0d/s1600-h/Peru08Sillustani.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTmpKtJRm_6frgK8yRGf-d04-oPBgv-OkjauU8V7PBh7dgS5fx8oFjbq668lbCDzUWrGP5cdAtMoombVdZfVqTsLVfTggdDRtcixjvdJ2rWJMqEqu7wNMtbfPlHbejzbfFNVFupFuoN0d/s320/Peru08Sillustani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205859880994849154" border="0" /></a>Cold. Desolate. At first, I hated it.....then, became fascinated as I relaxed into it and stopped fighting with it. The sky wasn't really blue....It was drained of color just as the landscape was. It was necessary to relax to be able to see the color. A perfect setting for a Steven King movie.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYXlBBQTzsBMxNhjMOCipmDylCY0gYfyihBcwdS8yU_7ZxGDDTXHSz03mH-CmSievk8WmskPfLb_7zw8re3bww7D336RmG1UxA1Izu_O3kXO5IP8RDQ8ilR7OJCIMMEfBifMfojG3JKXR/s1600-h/Peru08Sillustani2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYXlBBQTzsBMxNhjMOCipmDylCY0gYfyihBcwdS8yU_7ZxGDDTXHSz03mH-CmSievk8WmskPfLb_7zw8re3bww7D336RmG1UxA1Izu_O3kXO5IP8RDQ8ilR7OJCIMMEfBifMfojG3JKXR/s320/Peru08Sillustani2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205859524512563570" border="0" /></a>What the place lacked in beauty, it made up for in "strangeness".<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZS3QqU1K4kyMcf__G4IYGbWuenxGqArf6mhGq_SWmEbUrja-JniU23r-W3_qJI6wtjtG19pqu2zNEPuIF5DojmsDGm3wHgKA6xgqVwwrvfiND343lXDjDFTGQh5u3qAwhCTR6zIX5yZ2/s1600-h/Peru08+270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZS3QqU1K4kyMcf__G4IYGbWuenxGqArf6mhGq_SWmEbUrja-JniU23r-W3_qJI6wtjtG19pqu2zNEPuIF5DojmsDGm3wHgKA6xgqVwwrvfiND343lXDjDFTGQh5u3qAwhCTR6zIX5yZ2/s320/Peru08+270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205857557417541986" border="0" /></a>I would love to have had the opportunity of being at Sillustani when I was feeling better. It looked quite "other worldly", and the energy was strong.<br />The rocks seemed to be alive.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXhScf8eMw94WoKH9TaSq5nSBdXCoeO5A4GAh64_dPtzV7GiIX6TECpY9fvjmxhnmc-CgVtK2FwtnQ-JshHDqfeILYLxI0-s5qUhX_RnZGU7mk9iRoEXSJGSXSPUzJ1IVqZUvymjiwMIl/s1600-h/Peru08+276.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXhScf8eMw94WoKH9TaSq5nSBdXCoeO5A4GAh64_dPtzV7GiIX6TECpY9fvjmxhnmc-CgVtK2FwtnQ-JshHDqfeILYLxI0-s5qUhX_RnZGU7mk9iRoEXSJGSXSPUzJ1IVqZUvymjiwMIl/s320/Peru08+276.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205854465041088850" border="0" /></a>This is what's left of an ancient sundial at Sillustani, and I strongly felt the presence of a great and wise energy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzQ6mcJ3FrLG1SGPnNjM3zxJbv7iJBDzoLJLQcs5DQtLrg1pJ0w0NAMRXAv8mstgM5BK9uSXauSfRgDhOmS4V8dQNUAb9PMwHSrIksdMTA-pbBOOJPnr3TNDVU4IgiodvtCosYxpKHxlH/s1600-h/Peru08+272.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzQ6mcJ3FrLG1SGPnNjM3zxJbv7iJBDzoLJLQcs5DQtLrg1pJ0w0NAMRXAv8mstgM5BK9uSXauSfRgDhOmS4V8dQNUAb9PMwHSrIksdMTA-pbBOOJPnr3TNDVU4IgiodvtCosYxpKHxlH/s320/Peru08+272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205853172255932738" border="0" /></a>For the most part, llamas and alpacas are taken to "pasture" in the early morning, watched all day by elderly women or children, and then herded back home. It's a job I can see myself doing!:-) This herd was being tended at Sillustani by a little boy and an elderly woman. I sat and observed while Doreen and Silvia climbed higher. The little boy was using a switch on the animals, and it was all I could do to keep from interfering.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXC8Gf8SiZiHL8yPhgdn02ISitSl3QUiTdPcwJjUj88kVAlWauyU8F3susMmtGPtbHULM8v4PlelEzWAliuWI9Fdk5kV1DhEaHMm1hOgLSYqL0FLw9hUZccYJRmTwksvKqMH-LvrGDrI_/s1600-h/Peru08alpaca.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXC8Gf8SiZiHL8yPhgdn02ISitSl3QUiTdPcwJjUj88kVAlWauyU8F3susMmtGPtbHULM8v4PlelEzWAliuWI9Fdk5kV1DhEaHMm1hOgLSYqL0FLw9hUZccYJRmTwksvKqMH-LvrGDrI_/s320/Peru08alpaca.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205851342599864626" border="0" /></a>I know everyone believes I have a special love for cats, but the truth is that I believe I could easily have been an Alpaca farmer in another time. I yearned to kiss every single one of them on their cute white nose! This one has not had its shearing, obviously. The wool, if it comes from the very first shearing is called "baby alpaca"....soft as a cloud....though babies don't have enough wool for shearing. I bought a couple of baby alpaca items, and when it's cold, I will happily remember these sweet animals.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-74551077386878423702008-05-27T14:00:00.000-07:002008-05-27T15:15:48.188-07:00Day 9, CuscoWe were the first ones in the door at 8:30 when the doors do Koricancha were opened. If it had not been for Cucho telling us that we HAD to go here, we may have missed it! Soft classical music was playing. For a glorious half hour we had the place entirely to ourselves! The energy which is at Machu Picchu, and in Cusco is especially strong here. <br /><br />There were signs stating that photos were not allowed. I immediately squeezed off a few, first doing so surreptitiously, and then in view of the guards. This upset Doreen, I think, and I understood my daughter a bit better. I do not behave "appropriately". I realized that the fear might be that we would be asked to leave. I solved that by separating, so that Doreen would not need to suffer if I were asked to leave. :-) I don't follow arbitrary rules that I don't understand and which don't serve me. I don't understand why others do.....especially, without thinking.<br /><br />Later, it turned out that all the tourists were taking photos! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbLxx2N3pYfMfv4_Kofw5CFU5uxMD_9V9rer_kgyqaaVwzZMUsXVlBHYjM7fSqaldyVcFkP26uJPw1OzPuaAyUMxQ74UgGnnd03lhFzpOKkGD59BiDLurQDxH8yQaDoX98Mv5EQOTv1s0/s1600-h/Peru08+262.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbLxx2N3pYfMfv4_Kofw5CFU5uxMD_9V9rer_kgyqaaVwzZMUsXVlBHYjM7fSqaldyVcFkP26uJPw1OzPuaAyUMxQ74UgGnnd03lhFzpOKkGD59BiDLurQDxH8yQaDoX98Mv5EQOTv1s0/s320/Peru08+262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205176616122564818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKDXpZeeL9rcnMx8TL9mF3gWGavyRJru6ps0V37nFlMVVdBjKsZDL2mzxe6epA57lNoML4oSQ_LDdYR4ms5O-vn48lwmGtqKNZ8dww-OAnWN8fBP-uaLpCtM3ELl7vPK_cMDxnQF1jA6D/s1600-h/Peru08+251.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKDXpZeeL9rcnMx8TL9mF3gWGavyRJru6ps0V37nFlMVVdBjKsZDL2mzxe6epA57lNoML4oSQ_LDdYR4ms5O-vn48lwmGtqKNZ8dww-OAnWN8fBP-uaLpCtM3ELl7vPK_cMDxnQF1jA6D/s320/Peru08+251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205175679819694274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgG4JhBFZPz0Jg19pp8Bqk_brjTC3uSs0_PKr_xt-3XcjNm0U8N0p1qbsGirYgNMz9wSn8VW9xpwAmrPH_A7PF6ES0p6HeH0lue7W84ew14nSo4j4QJjpRaLkIsi7cpBXFR6CgnkxrLdO/s1600-h/Peru08+260.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgG4JhBFZPz0Jg19pp8Bqk_brjTC3uSs0_PKr_xt-3XcjNm0U8N0p1qbsGirYgNMz9wSn8VW9xpwAmrPH_A7PF6ES0p6HeH0lue7W84ew14nSo4j4QJjpRaLkIsi7cpBXFR6CgnkxrLdO/s320/Peru08+260.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205174747811791026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xfx3F3sF4qQwbgbciA0jQB9jkFxxYbmLbWJkyOkrloqe6dVaTcy5Qnwu0fedDIIaN8hqzy05DbqoRUoOcePCYn3r4O7cuSNtrU3cXACFIaTS6qGbggY1kXVJywuKNWgjHVQ73_YgWU6E/s1600-h/Peru08+257.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xfx3F3sF4qQwbgbciA0jQB9jkFxxYbmLbWJkyOkrloqe6dVaTcy5Qnwu0fedDIIaN8hqzy05DbqoRUoOcePCYn3r4O7cuSNtrU3cXACFIaTS6qGbggY1kXVJywuKNWgjHVQ73_YgWU6E/s320/Peru08+257.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205174133631467682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq5npRQCWPFxPNTlzblCS-DaTSNnzv8CJPJoisP-HyQLoyav6j_stBYOPHf2oGPSaL5kXxzZ-aHGOrR6QrV2dxMbcosOmGOI26Q-mU_MR4y9e_U3HS8PfU_tnGJa3ms2B6NGfhVfb4LML/s1600-h/Peru08+253.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq5npRQCWPFxPNTlzblCS-DaTSNnzv8CJPJoisP-HyQLoyav6j_stBYOPHf2oGPSaL5kXxzZ-aHGOrR6QrV2dxMbcosOmGOI26Q-mU_MR4y9e_U3HS8PfU_tnGJa3ms2B6NGfhVfb4LML/s320/Peru08+253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205173682659901586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeZiU1WkA6BCOexdAwiSQagFQJVpItCCdIldBfKeMieXCbGAfmMcg7hU2n5q73olOkNtbrisF4vUd5ecvfVs3D6PALfwrY9eF0Mxg0WkY9Z0TdEYbrpIndtZa17WLr8Y6bnBTjwVZXDxp/s1600-h/Peru08+255.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeZiU1WkA6BCOexdAwiSQagFQJVpItCCdIldBfKeMieXCbGAfmMcg7hU2n5q73olOkNtbrisF4vUd5ecvfVs3D6PALfwrY9eF0Mxg0WkY9Z0TdEYbrpIndtZa17WLr8Y6bnBTjwVZXDxp/s320/Peru08+255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205169920268550274" border="0" /></a>I loved these creatures Doreen discovered in the circulating exhibit gallery upstairs. I'm sure that this one will some day be reborn as a doll....or, maybe I will combine them all.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuITTrQ9mqPQpl80fgG0diMK76jTQjnAWI2Q40yIHGLTt1VZWGEV3msgRISf3gfVllT0vYnhMlZyzO9VL47e3ttNjrKkBlFBOzBrm0L1yfKMiQTckxx7Nv8yFOYwhrWj3zdIkx8cncBIW/s1600-h/bracelet+and+birds+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuITTrQ9mqPQpl80fgG0diMK76jTQjnAWI2Q40yIHGLTt1VZWGEV3msgRISf3gfVllT0vYnhMlZyzO9VL47e3ttNjrKkBlFBOzBrm0L1yfKMiQTckxx7Nv8yFOYwhrWj3zdIkx8cncBIW/s320/bracelet+and+birds+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205166419870203970" border="0" /></a>Silver and Peruvian turquoise. From my favorite store inCusco, Maqui Arte. I purchased this bracelet in the last hour I was in Cusco, perhaps, forever. We cannot know these things.....and I was not going to leave it there forever!<br /><br />We made it back to our hotel for check-out and pick-up to the airport in plenty of time. Our tour guide, was once again wearing a heavy scent, and dressed like Barbie. I wanted to take a photo, but was too tired to crawl out of the car.<br /><br />We arrived in dirty, gritty Juliaca a couple of hours later, and were driven to Puno and our hotel.<br />At 12,000 ft. , it was definitely colder here.....and, also much, much grimier. People looked very different....The Aymara have flatter features from the Chechua. The Aymara are visibly also much less Westernized, and much poorer. Although not at all unfriendly, they are more reserved.....their faces more serious.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-47290337687556573312008-05-26T08:51:00.000-07:002008-05-26T09:52:08.343-07:00Day 8, Aguas Calientes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXEp39Jj2KPB2z7kE-14HgoQ5B1fjERg5pmX_pGRgJcETUmdRWd86r5UaFTkHCg8ehyf5p_EPMCVoUXxWbLOf-mA4x7myJTW5IV3BcjhMRYWU0lVLVVIzlBlTQT3dUSkS72KmaGQG0caU/s1600-h/Peru+161.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXEp39Jj2KPB2z7kE-14HgoQ5B1fjERg5pmX_pGRgJcETUmdRWd86r5UaFTkHCg8ehyf5p_EPMCVoUXxWbLOf-mA4x7myJTW5IV3BcjhMRYWU0lVLVVIzlBlTQT3dUSkS72KmaGQG0caU/s320/Peru+161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204727147795038194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqwIIv9NcsdxW8OVR3YLaMKUK4uRGAfgdviV4xnPhXAoCYUn58H247Qg58Kbt7oC174ouu46OUI5Gf3sKWVRiQzpFMVTIDijhquy6IJ80aEUi3eFTZw1mDEClgR5ofoQJgtVo5WD15VgT/s1600-h/Peru+163.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqwIIv9NcsdxW8OVR3YLaMKUK4uRGAfgdviV4xnPhXAoCYUn58H247Qg58Kbt7oC174ouu46OUI5Gf3sKWVRiQzpFMVTIDijhquy6IJ80aEUi3eFTZw1mDEClgR5ofoQJgtVo5WD15VgT/s320/Peru+163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204717183470911458" border="0" /></a>Exhausted from our day at Machu Picchu, I told Doreen that I was not up for returning a second day. I didn't tell her, but I fantasized just staying in bed all morning! She wasn't up for going back to MP by herself. Perhaps, she was tired, too.<br /><br />We showered and had breakfast. Most of the hotels do include a breakfast of some kind. The coffee is thick and dark....yes, a spoon would stand up in it! It makes a wonderful drink if one uses is as a "starter", adding 1/2 a cup of hot milk. I noticed a lot of tourists preferring instant coffee! Amazing.<br /><br />Aguas Calientes is reached only by rail, and it exists for one purpose only: to accommodate tourists on the way to and from Machu Picchu. Built into the mountain, with a fast running river below, it reminds me a little of a California mountain town.<br /><br />It had grown tremendously in the year since we were last there. Or, had we just missed seeing it all last year? We spent the day wandering around, checking out the shops which all had the same things. One notable exception was a store with crystals, altar objects of all kinds from Buddhas to dream catchers and rattles. None of it was for sale! It was the shop owner's altar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-xfAfL-rMimXyNBcvrzChIv56FQNXwogo7SF78V8Uqet8QMyDtrHVvh7yRt0KGqRiYffVGgdNHic1FfGBBVDRvrKomAkd0ISJAoVS2HR3fIHv1In2IT7na_AOVjPTXVXtwhA_TIY9Wi3/s1600-h/Peru08+249.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-xfAfL-rMimXyNBcvrzChIv56FQNXwogo7SF78V8Uqet8QMyDtrHVvh7yRt0KGqRiYffVGgdNHic1FfGBBVDRvrKomAkd0ISJAoVS2HR3fIHv1In2IT7na_AOVjPTXVXtwhA_TIY9Wi3/s320/Peru08+249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204715572858175426" border="0" /></a>Time passed quickly. Soon it was time for lunch, and then we had less than an hour at the market stalls outside the station before getting on the train back to Cusco. We were assigned to what at one time had been the dining car. Tables! We rode backwards, and there were no curtains on the windows to shield us from the hot sun. On the other side of the table were two young Japanese ladies who, with two other friends, had done the entire Inka trail. When I asked whether they carried their own packs, the laughed. The four of them had a guide, 9 porters and donkeys, and a variety of support personnel. They had 3 meals a day served to them on white clothed tables, cooked by white hatted chefs! So incongruous! They even had a white tented toilet set up for them, and when they complained about just HAVING to wash their hair, water was heated and a shower rigged.<br /><br />I was feeling sick, and so grateful to get back to our hotel in Cusco. We had big plans for the next morning.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-81050354204696067212008-05-25T14:57:00.000-07:002008-07-10T17:00:59.793-07:00Day 7, Machu Picchu<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-75ppyhxGZAhzWZNvCbnIPARbWxfDMSOZLSYxyJlJ0MbGCGx260lQQVEQYo8Luf5UudbH1rL69dBtwu38v_I8ru9zENzKgtzRSbCeFOP3rfAffGCLcOr1JXiDQPZKyCL35saKQI0Qmqnb/s1600-h/Peru+078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-75ppyhxGZAhzWZNvCbnIPARbWxfDMSOZLSYxyJlJ0MbGCGx260lQQVEQYo8Luf5UudbH1rL69dBtwu38v_I8ru9zENzKgtzRSbCeFOP3rfAffGCLcOr1JXiDQPZKyCL35saKQI0Qmqnb/s320/Peru+078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204474165631369122" border="0" /></a>We rode the Vistadome to Aguas Calientes where we were met by our hotel representative and also the shaman's wife. It wasn't even 11AM, yet! Getting up early pays!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHCYw9SMwKxZencvwIOzqbb7Tzp3bgDkt4LepWWhiInG6Hp7gjwbs7fq4wz2ImnJIahxrcHaKKCuxN_TKoiozFEow3pdyK1rDm8wKoSlb5UOWNSfHcABicF_SXIVhj-ESS9yXAPAeFC2I/s1600-h/Peru08+215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHCYw9SMwKxZencvwIOzqbb7Tzp3bgDkt4LepWWhiInG6Hp7gjwbs7fq4wz2ImnJIahxrcHaKKCuxN_TKoiozFEow3pdyK1rDm8wKoSlb5UOWNSfHcABicF_SXIVhj-ESS9yXAPAeFC2I/s320/Peru08+215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204472275845758866" border="0" /></a>Within an hour of arriving at our hotel in Aguas Calientes, we met our shaman guide, Cucho, whose favorite phrase was "mui beee---ennnnn."<br />We quickly became very grateful for his presence as we slowly climbed higher and higher....well above the crowds. It was so beautiful! So peaceful!<br /><br />Kucho (Juan de Dios Garcia)<br />Kucho is the principal shaman of Machu Picchu. As a young man he came to Machu Picchu to work as part of the rescue team. While working in the Sanctuary he was called by the spirit of Machu Picchu to train and work as a shaman. His calling took the form of a seven-day period of experiences that completely changed his life. Shortly after his calling, he worked with a Maestro and was later given the great responsibility as the principal shaman of Machu Picchu. Kucho is a powerful shaman, healer and expert in the mysteries of Machu Picchu.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyOSoN6GhKgViCsSB-w0sPba-5vRtkWV1jLJFneV8GEgttSg72A4JNdllMrFVMLcVe8vTqlhmuaQ3HdIBrMmf938Q3latmXLdGxt2CdyEi5IdWBY5607NGgHlqIy1TQRI6FMDKB92q5ME/s1600-h/Peru08+217.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyOSoN6GhKgViCsSB-w0sPba-5vRtkWV1jLJFneV8GEgttSg72A4JNdllMrFVMLcVe8vTqlhmuaQ3HdIBrMmf938Q3latmXLdGxt2CdyEi5IdWBY5607NGgHlqIy1TQRI6FMDKB92q5ME/s320/Peru08+217.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204470935815962498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was Cucho's idea to set up this shot. I felt a little uncomfortable. Cucho was completely disconnected from us the entire time. His eyes were soft, always slightly out of focus. Looking for spirits? Or, stoned?.....not that it mattered.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1mPocamuxCafVnOaAFq7IZau5Hr1gn2hfzgysDGS0dcxS58JvokklG1_TLh527pSrVs-pRhlH-dRTu-xdVcMWnBHXA28FwDfbwkOG8uKSWEgopJUT7foMZ04cAHHfvHFmrhPcLQyOyBs/s1600-h/Peru08+222.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1mPocamuxCafVnOaAFq7IZau5Hr1gn2hfzgysDGS0dcxS58JvokklG1_TLh527pSrVs-pRhlH-dRTu-xdVcMWnBHXA28FwDfbwkOG8uKSWEgopJUT7foMZ04cAHHfvHFmrhPcLQyOyBs/s320/Peru08+222.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204470076822503282" border="0" /></a>Paying my respects to Wayna Picchu and to Macchu Picchu. I became a condor and felt I could fly off at any moment a gust of wind lifted me. This felt so real it scared me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimdoEoG00lnNQfRXcNx8q3164h4ydtqryxQY5drMayU47rdiF7b3Z9DpKJ0bfUPSZREp1WtortbsJNwBu47vyBtt-eI0HeudCLgeiXjfCifSG3WfUHSnG95e92gajWSqAC7u2VU0i_ve7/s1600-h/Peru08+225.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimdoEoG00lnNQfRXcNx8q3164h4ydtqryxQY5drMayU47rdiF7b3Z9DpKJ0bfUPSZREp1WtortbsJNwBu47vyBtt-eI0HeudCLgeiXjfCifSG3WfUHSnG95e92gajWSqAC7u2VU0i_ve7/s320/Peru08+225.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204469290843488098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzTRiYFoXKO2lk10hYS-tIXIcWpJwQxFFz5C8heDtMgq5sy35gqePTS7hbEQigspnhRR2VMfwoO3dfKgZZ3Oux8g0BcjeXaP3rajgNsmUOljOKD5tEabtkG7tqkxFZ2e_vpqOBDZNJIhN/s1600-h/Peru08+230.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzTRiYFoXKO2lk10hYS-tIXIcWpJwQxFFz5C8heDtMgq5sy35gqePTS7hbEQigspnhRR2VMfwoO3dfKgZZ3Oux8g0BcjeXaP3rajgNsmUOljOKD5tEabtkG7tqkxFZ2e_vpqOBDZNJIhN/s320/Peru08+230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204450603440783186" border="0" /></a>We sat in the shade, high up over Machu Picchu and performed a ceremonial cleansing. I had laid out my stones in on the bare earth, asking that they absorb the healing energy of the son. Cucho performed a long ritual which involved humming, soft singing, whistling, "cleansing" us first with the "whisk" and, blowing tobacco smoke on us.<br />We held the healing stones, we blew on coca leaves after placing them into a bouquet of four, two in the back, and two in the front. We, then released them into the breeze as an offering to Pachamama. I felt at peace, and very happy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-XqZPaX05DDY6FJN3fw0IOuGHdkQxXdv-KmD2HsepsIshqpipTuaSStSdEUWespPCw6JPqHEamNCMLY4bOWUZ2qaHs_We1g0eMCH_3JdPoiEJ2WDvUswwEJ5udzOVLcn5V5ovojRnAwr/s1600-h/Peru08+232.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-XqZPaX05DDY6FJN3fw0IOuGHdkQxXdv-KmD2HsepsIshqpipTuaSStSdEUWespPCw6JPqHEamNCMLY4bOWUZ2qaHs_We1g0eMCH_3JdPoiEJ2WDvUswwEJ5udzOVLcn5V5ovojRnAwr/s320/Peru08+232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204449516814057282" border="0" /></a>Here is Cucho's mesa spread out before him. Included are healing rocks, a bell, a rattle, a conch shell, a puma paw, and a well worn down "whisk"made from large dried leaves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMbR_aBaaBYy6gNQc2NE6v0d8mVmMtLjGoI-Y9sixSTfGJruJ0hx21owNOppCzwnn_pze78uomyJUb0069zbf925g2UR8XB706AKh_Lp-SUA_lCvnUGTSnGxrEPXACsNtQ6iTayo972HY/s1600-h/Peru08+229.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMbR_aBaaBYy6gNQc2NE6v0d8mVmMtLjGoI-Y9sixSTfGJruJ0hx21owNOppCzwnn_pze78uomyJUb0069zbf925g2UR8XB706AKh_Lp-SUA_lCvnUGTSnGxrEPXACsNtQ6iTayo972HY/s320/Peru08+229.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204448842504191794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgActdJcVqGXp6ZCcdSfp2kVrwex2eiq1p67zI6Ux5v65rG4OEoBiHJB5euOykv5iHtlw_7s1X9wHBFUN9WcqFbOsCp86oQPxHnOBgi8MJHnUwVyPApjV0vZ21D8SfEHmR1UfAV8btthBjL/s1600-h/Peru08at+MP+with+Cucho.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgActdJcVqGXp6ZCcdSfp2kVrwex2eiq1p67zI6Ux5v65rG4OEoBiHJB5euOykv5iHtlw_7s1X9wHBFUN9WcqFbOsCp86oQPxHnOBgi8MJHnUwVyPApjV0vZ21D8SfEHmR1UfAV8btthBjL/s320/Peru08at+MP+with+Cucho.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204446179624468258" border="0" /></a>Getting up close with our shaman-guide, Cucho.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVJC4cqeWLfXCsZD5OJc0KdfuRGPoAfyBthV-CFVa0MULB4l0N6s3Bwmrad8adUKt9jrAaIH2elxyQv5XS70810SXZGl0y4KldNAJFMU8yIixijCxKwnATN8YMioqrg6TQuuxX7WpLrQe/s1600-h/Peru08+234.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVJC4cqeWLfXCsZD5OJc0KdfuRGPoAfyBthV-CFVa0MULB4l0N6s3Bwmrad8adUKt9jrAaIH2elxyQv5XS70810SXZGl0y4KldNAJFMU8yIixijCxKwnATN8YMioqrg6TQuuxX7WpLrQe/s320/Peru08+234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204445513904537362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9I_9M8JKdZHUX0fSn8nmun-QzMIOm-SE7U09YIANFURQpky-mQXls03Ra0jSZkozAaAe56N2r5Hpd79HVnKbp4gtjh-ZpOh0bTY0LOV4NO2ntocT6GW5QowdcHsHQX7jdzZvjW2xTmmJ/s1600-h/Peru08+228.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9I_9M8JKdZHUX0fSn8nmun-QzMIOm-SE7U09YIANFURQpky-mQXls03Ra0jSZkozAaAe56N2r5Hpd79HVnKbp4gtjh-ZpOh0bTY0LOV4NO2ntocT6GW5QowdcHsHQX7jdzZvjW2xTmmJ/s320/Peru08+228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204444225414348546" border="0" /></a>We saw Machu Picchu from much higher ground, and from a different angle we had seen it last year. Still, as magnificent as the site itself is, it is the energy here which makes it so extraordinary.<br />Here, I feel the presence of God more strongly than anywhere else I have ever been.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sUVG6G4E-3vQ-LLdkeQfQvygMAPv3bPuNgw0YEWIkFmYJRelqmsYtF3ZG3iEkhnAlpUYeEK_BQYHxownm93K8QCb1v7SBu15aE0ebS3nHng_BrRy7JPa-UeeM0h-dJNzdP6FIhD5LVK_/s1600-h/Peru08+241.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sUVG6G4E-3vQ-LLdkeQfQvygMAPv3bPuNgw0YEWIkFmYJRelqmsYtF3ZG3iEkhnAlpUYeEK_BQYHxownm93K8QCb1v7SBu15aE0ebS3nHng_BrRy7JPa-UeeM0h-dJNzdP6FIhD5LVK_/s320/Peru08+241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204442911154355938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP7dg8-4DDrEhSRPBQGoDmWtqE6OxGHuMR_6V0gxcq3a4qorWDnRWznLzgz-v_wDfjI5QhDEr8TuEOpI0TFBOOY8_3xdc5656OZvfCnaAsWv04HkxQKsdOKRi8_rb215E5DnT6p2RlNBP/s1600-h/Peru08+244.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP7dg8-4DDrEhSRPBQGoDmWtqE6OxGHuMR_6V0gxcq3a4qorWDnRWznLzgz-v_wDfjI5QhDEr8TuEOpI0TFBOOY8_3xdc5656OZvfCnaAsWv04HkxQKsdOKRi8_rb215E5DnT6p2RlNBP/s320/Peru08+244.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204442365693509330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEqtSpoN5mGX-2PZpaku7VoJKnUhSosIMPg1TsptUXr-qDrRwivJzc5MWgarcW0puryxhJvvoLT_8V5h19QjcfSywx9W0ZkRKAMNKCkW0ux5w_Umuh9GGsSuN9yHVmCpbn39F9hIosnFE/s1600-h/Peru08+247.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEqtSpoN5mGX-2PZpaku7VoJKnUhSosIMPg1TsptUXr-qDrRwivJzc5MWgarcW0puryxhJvvoLT_8V5h19QjcfSywx9W0ZkRKAMNKCkW0ux5w_Umuh9GGsSuN9yHVmCpbn39F9hIosnFE/s320/Peru08+247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204441682793709250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg9lbK4SwocHhKaKy2uowd3MpsgPIepOH9ofWLD3Ww4jTZLOaXo2tTx5n2R0VCx6dryYmoJMJw5akF1eABR7i-r3mn-5LGcGANlNqwK_rwVFxs3YU0xpDK8maSxQqUOxxQEKFiKqfihNi/s1600-h/Peru08+me+sitting+at+MP.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg9lbK4SwocHhKaKy2uowd3MpsgPIepOH9ofWLD3Ww4jTZLOaXo2tTx5n2R0VCx6dryYmoJMJw5akF1eABR7i-r3mn-5LGcGANlNqwK_rwVFxs3YU0xpDK8maSxQqUOxxQEKFiKqfihNi/s320/Peru08+me+sitting+at+MP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204440299814239922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I rather like this picture of myself, hat-hair and all. This is how I would look were I athletic. :-) It had been a glorious day at Machu Picchu, and even better than last year's visit.<br /><br />This was my favorite day of our trip!Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-57154983120247843862008-05-24T16:44:00.000-07:002008-05-24T18:02:35.614-07:00Day 6, Ollantaytambo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaoci65Z3KHjvoDvjQgHwjI2LgIjvRdIs2CJK3HthJo4Gcg-9bAH_f8M2e05UCmkP5wrIayFvDagXve6Qq50tV6ckT5NV_jv80KhwVhbThPkRk_NWkeKamE0wCC-9jTqnp9MgKTFUksr8/s1600-h/Peru+on+the+way+to+Ollantaymbo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaoci65Z3KHjvoDvjQgHwjI2LgIjvRdIs2CJK3HthJo4Gcg-9bAH_f8M2e05UCmkP5wrIayFvDagXve6Qq50tV6ckT5NV_jv80KhwVhbThPkRk_NWkeKamE0wCC-9jTqnp9MgKTFUksr8/s320/Peru+on+the+way+to+Ollantaymbo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204113169335172706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />On the way out of Cusco we saw the site Sacsayhuaman (jokingly pronounced "sexy woman") in the distance. Even though the stones are laid in jagged lines, they look like straight lines from the air.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB3WxbJzOGhEt3cdKsEWj8KgcioNZ78I0P2oZabnA_01voJq5KXtX6dlQyVhY_GZDgxnXj5PMeGlzA6_2ozX1eTt981i2NHYjqLJNLSJb_VWn72U8izzDADqqNpLWXHNB244iiyKR2x9L/s1600-h/Peru08+180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB3WxbJzOGhEt3cdKsEWj8KgcioNZ78I0P2oZabnA_01voJq5KXtX6dlQyVhY_GZDgxnXj5PMeGlzA6_2ozX1eTt981i2NHYjqLJNLSJb_VWn72U8izzDADqqNpLWXHNB244iiyKR2x9L/s320/Peru08+180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204110338951724594" border="0" /></a>This is the beautiful Sacred Valley, the breadbasket of Peru. Here farmers farm the way they always have, praying to the sun, and the mountains, rotating their crops, and leaving their fields to lie fallow every fourth year.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fP51NvxYFy9zZIjacHQRXMyQDAPh8tcKI8j0Ikxqx4otdaIBTi_6z5Fc7_NLpbH4wvlWM7PkZFhFB8cJgUgtElosAMbgtdp9isCCgbQQLUhhngtE-0tUGC8enKSIV3jz3yhLTimtX5XG/s1600-h/Peru08+181.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fP51NvxYFy9zZIjacHQRXMyQDAPh8tcKI8j0Ikxqx4otdaIBTi_6z5Fc7_NLpbH4wvlWM7PkZFhFB8cJgUgtElosAMbgtdp9isCCgbQQLUhhngtE-0tUGC8enKSIV3jz3yhLTimtX5XG/s320/Peru08+181.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204108522180558370" border="0" /></a>We had an hour and 15 minutes at the Pisac Market. Since we had a private driver, I figured it was our decision how long we wanted to spend, but I deferred to Doreen who did not want to make a fuss. I wasn't very happy about this, as the cost of the excursion was too high for the return. I did learn that I am rather stubborn about wanting value for my money.<br /><br />At the market I bought a bag of maca nuts, a bag of coca leaves, and a cheap acrylic shawl which I should have left there. I don't make good quick decisions.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVocLqnuD6oM6MGrwDXgEz9OSjdHfYWUZ62-au41bDGb0LXtMZQCSJU_y37hBE3iLL50CzmmJbW3v2-5tZOC-Hh1N8wVv_WPRzWdrxZoeA5KjYi64TU4mTG0hLp3cxTNtIrXNXhrABo5-/s1600-h/Peru08+182.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVocLqnuD6oM6MGrwDXgEz9OSjdHfYWUZ62-au41bDGb0LXtMZQCSJU_y37hBE3iLL50CzmmJbW3v2-5tZOC-Hh1N8wVv_WPRzWdrxZoeA5KjYi64TU4mTG0hLp3cxTNtIrXNXhrABo5-/s320/Peru08+182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204108096978796050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />scrawny feet for dinner, anyone?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuLugbOE4J_5ZPFWoIs0rGpwajxeD06zZI-6jaV0ulWeuqm33hQ_plaMQSj6Zt1EOKBGXBfG3c2I8FTp3YGNqJF6GkVJdlSq2RIGLqIXxFxbroUSwYpl2iqdGPsU2LGCl_2_OyZV-fidO/s1600-h/Peru08+185.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuLugbOE4J_5ZPFWoIs0rGpwajxeD06zZI-6jaV0ulWeuqm33hQ_plaMQSj6Zt1EOKBGXBfG3c2I8FTp3YGNqJF6GkVJdlSq2RIGLqIXxFxbroUSwYpl2iqdGPsU2LGCl_2_OyZV-fidO/s320/Peru08+185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204106443416387074" border="0" /></a>This is the Pakaritampu where we had also stayed last year. This time, there were even more flowers. We didn't see the llamas being used as lawnmowers, though!<br /><br />Taking a bath became laughable, as the power went out and there was no hot water. Still, we were the only folks in town with lights, as the hotel has a generator.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpPpQEB-iDCheV9kVEzfP6BkxMJWuxdPph5A9HOyvgwJ06R2qOmUkL0YuYXwS47rE9iAn_D7hyphenhyphen50KIheEmTLB_r6wPloNf2OySG1ZhIRyLaYrH3pEO36LtzIUqWd30UWSWRcFmk4Il7dG/s1600-h/Peru08+186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpPpQEB-iDCheV9kVEzfP6BkxMJWuxdPph5A9HOyvgwJ06R2qOmUkL0YuYXwS47rE9iAn_D7hyphenhyphen50KIheEmTLB_r6wPloNf2OySG1ZhIRyLaYrH3pEO36LtzIUqWd30UWSWRcFmk4Il7dG/s320/Peru08+186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204105421214170610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbZtDeIItl9hSs8no6h4M34cK9QQaygy2ExQ9M4IvyFNYuH-JM1mNdsi48i9NlIvSdWgRlVZS-vPpZmWcX4viRa4VMNNXYuymjNcsCf316Lq0U3tELQHmsLRMVwPATcvXA1N3AtIPaCZT/s1600-h/Peru08+189.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbZtDeIItl9hSs8no6h4M34cK9QQaygy2ExQ9M4IvyFNYuH-JM1mNdsi48i9NlIvSdWgRlVZS-vPpZmWcX4viRa4VMNNXYuymjNcsCf316Lq0U3tELQHmsLRMVwPATcvXA1N3AtIPaCZT/s320/Peru08+189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204104042529668578" border="0" /></a>This romantically beautiful setting clutched at my heart just as it had last year, bringing me to tears. Sometimes, it's just about an Eden-like beauty which I am privileged to witness; other times it's about missing a soul-mate. Yet other times, it's a spiritual thing. I cry often in Peru.<br />Even the music....so beautiful.....makes me cry.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09CRBkkgbf0YGLv_btm7qpngRTWLu-zXf-mOfV5muN2LIJhPDLaIU22qVvXg18xfOul5lq0K29McuZwvFQRJaWkJv9vz3DiRLrKT-0C5XIolurolomsPqeuiqRmNFt61BpPG18p1BH-OO/s1600-h/Peru08+191.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09CRBkkgbf0YGLv_btm7qpngRTWLu-zXf-mOfV5muN2LIJhPDLaIU22qVvXg18xfOul5lq0K29McuZwvFQRJaWkJv9vz3DiRLrKT-0C5XIolurolomsPqeuiqRmNFt61BpPG18p1BH-OO/s320/Peru08+191.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204102784104250834" border="0" /></a>Kittens played under foot at the restaurant where we had lunch. I shared my lunch with their hungry mom, but was unable to make Doreen feel guilty enough to part with hers. It <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> a very small sandwich.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCz-hZtvorDVrnirjk5ouD30n6WiEIIfufHveJapoMLzrKFejU82obX_UXaMrLTW_BywQsalz9FhlElIVxbIci67_gEK_qGz3NDkwEKTwATlP0Xw-gDfRd2F9UzVlGScGuut6dEEGL4nv/s1600-h/Peru08+203.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCz-hZtvorDVrnirjk5ouD30n6WiEIIfufHveJapoMLzrKFejU82obX_UXaMrLTW_BywQsalz9FhlElIVxbIci67_gEK_qGz3NDkwEKTwATlP0Xw-gDfRd2F9UzVlGScGuut6dEEGL4nv/s320/Peru08+203.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204102234348436930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F4_3nD7pOPJmY13SmESyk2daLFm0pB9KhTKwrtWyiLqh2juTdC0eV46aT8iKk8sd3dfipeTxwJyq4Vgr5x6091e9fxHS_M18Q5AUQQ7Bib4BrKh1fXilX7zzKrWSY9psQPwurNlkr3pf/s1600-h/Peru08+194.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F4_3nD7pOPJmY13SmESyk2daLFm0pB9KhTKwrtWyiLqh2juTdC0eV46aT8iKk8sd3dfipeTxwJyq4Vgr5x6091e9fxHS_M18Q5AUQQ7Bib4BrKh1fXilX7zzKrWSY9psQPwurNlkr3pf/s320/Peru08+194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204101130541841842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No, we did not go into the Quetchua Blues Bar Cafe! In fact, we did not dare have one single drink the entire trip, taking the warnings about alcohol at high altitude warnings seriously.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVZBnpGFuxrcoKX6dsfCL08xS4H_PRdhWbCiEZ8YKnMv6WO5LJ9ZJkYAei4D8nXr0h1w7b32y_jcXHzZCTrOxVb5Th-ghPQ9SmvnPWjOWqZWdPTRlcuQkRHV6NFRppUvziTQEkYvxR68M/s1600-h/Peru08+204.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVZBnpGFuxrcoKX6dsfCL08xS4H_PRdhWbCiEZ8YKnMv6WO5LJ9ZJkYAei4D8nXr0h1w7b32y_jcXHzZCTrOxVb5Th-ghPQ9SmvnPWjOWqZWdPTRlcuQkRHV6NFRppUvziTQEkYvxR68M/s320/Peru08+204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204099013122964866" border="0" /></a>I could have sat a long, long time at the Ollantaytambo square! The indigenous people appeared oblivious to us....and except for one very old toothless woman begging for money....we were left alone. We noticed later that she had been well supplied with food which people shared with her.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWc7lCmxSrFvCQX6QeNbhV9pKVMz3lb3Oh5etIAOfktI9zeCm1afpF_BwR9YVB8NY6TvkCmrvJYUVNGXDNT-MEb4abArHfad2ok4okOxsEiVHpoy9_zOx5gDDLJiOQNX6kva9gtHLTAGR/s1600-h/Peru08+206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWc7lCmxSrFvCQX6QeNbhV9pKVMz3lb3Oh5etIAOfktI9zeCm1afpF_BwR9YVB8NY6TvkCmrvJYUVNGXDNT-MEb4abArHfad2ok4okOxsEiVHpoy9_zOx5gDDLJiOQNX6kva9gtHLTAGR/s320/Peru08+206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204098227143949682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd61nklG1hJOoBmy1nNvbuKnjr8UhuiJA0O629XVtbdkVjMorAhBAQtF8kGsnGB9zVyoml3zw1cXFV-QDy1XkrTD1t8nrwTuiqO0ib9XMSymOJxGyPcpX_YKNx-UH2iQl1OXE5xNZRvhrn/s1600-h/Peru08+200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd61nklG1hJOoBmy1nNvbuKnjr8UhuiJA0O629XVtbdkVjMorAhBAQtF8kGsnGB9zVyoml3zw1cXFV-QDy1XkrTD1t8nrwTuiqO0ib9XMSymOJxGyPcpX_YKNx-UH2iQl1OXE5xNZRvhrn/s320/Peru08+200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204096973013499218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4Nz0CLRjo9m84xQSocai3EQWL4H8C5hy60fmk3HVxUuxx4zHyv9BlJAEdDTc_xQ8-p6EU6ej3YCKvpV5VAijXccxk2H9mxeMpnjklyBY4WsSgNMt-38GkAIhdCQULCawFKvaWi6dxdCG/s1600-h/Peru08+196.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4Nz0CLRjo9m84xQSocai3EQWL4H8C5hy60fmk3HVxUuxx4zHyv9BlJAEdDTc_xQ8-p6EU6ej3YCKvpV5VAijXccxk2H9mxeMpnjklyBY4WsSgNMt-38GkAIhdCQULCawFKvaWi6dxdCG/s320/Peru08+196.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204095409645403458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The sun was going down and it was quickly getting cold, though for a while the stone benches we sat on at the square remained warm.<br /><br />Tomorrow would be an early day for us! We had to be at the train station at 7:20 to take the Vistadome to Aguas Calientes.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-23316980939412083542008-05-23T16:38:00.000-07:002008-05-23T17:42:16.105-07:00Day 5, Cusco<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8VTpgIOX5UwO1q7xkNfCO39d6TjfOpBAGd5hM9iRkxZfSoYvmcp920QtvQhUmBKsD_oZCksKZJSFieSoEgUDFGqFczib2tywJhVTg6QC5m2cjfKk21VNS-kr3jci2iz1Y0VuDxYrUxlu/s1600-h/Peru08+165.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8VTpgIOX5UwO1q7xkNfCO39d6TjfOpBAGd5hM9iRkxZfSoYvmcp920QtvQhUmBKsD_oZCksKZJSFieSoEgUDFGqFczib2tywJhVTg6QC5m2cjfKk21VNS-kr3jci2iz1Y0VuDxYrUxlu/s320/Peru08+165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203733713269538082" border="0" /></a><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />We woke up to a sunny day with nothing to do other than wander the streets of Cusco to our hearts' content! Such luxury! We passed this woman weaving in the hotel courtyard, fully intending to make some purchases from her very fine weavings on the way back to our room. But, she was long gone when we returned after a glorious day.<br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpJkDZ9g9z4&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpJkDZ9g9z4&feature=related</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zZdh7qWoFNzAypJ8hNc8m3FeYWYE6RwIaiidUDN8TsM61T_0NKRUrmzq0SKgkEOg8Krh49abDg2zRjiudqm4SZlhc3s7NPBVX9paMr8lkGuwYgCF95F77pL37d_gM_tw6ebimoQX9HjI/s1600-h/Peru08+175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zZdh7qWoFNzAypJ8hNc8m3FeYWYE6RwIaiidUDN8TsM61T_0NKRUrmzq0SKgkEOg8Krh49abDg2zRjiudqm4SZlhc3s7NPBVX9paMr8lkGuwYgCF95F77pL37d_gM_tw6ebimoQX9HjI/s320/Peru08+175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203731024620010770" border="0" /></a>The name of this store is "Maqui Arte". I know that because it's on several receipts I brought home! We were there FIVE times, each time buying something. Doreen shops quickly, but I have to ponder over my purchases, so I was glad that she found someone to play with. :-)<br />This store is fabulous!!! Gorgeous alpaca items, but mostly beautiful artist made jewelry. By the third time in the store, everyone was hugging us like long-lost friends. I can't think of ever before having been in a store where I could point blindfolded and been ecstatic with what I selected. Come to think of it, that would have been a whole lot easier than choosing between gorgeous and gorgeous. Gracias por me compra.<br />Oh, it's a good thing they don't have a website! I don't shop much any more, but this store really made me crazy with desire to buy, buy, buy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8X40hjvY6GW7cX3lsjVbzfa4wzgjOHOBERodYFOO58vlL2EOuigoC685HdBmBBn2mn5W_0kMsZKRHem6LNJJn7Wkz2DpEitbgdGa3HTjPgJmbpZoWlRxQfBb_lV5YhbZvrc3r8vt-hei/s1600-h/Peru08+138.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8X40hjvY6GW7cX3lsjVbzfa4wzgjOHOBERodYFOO58vlL2EOuigoC685HdBmBBn2mn5W_0kMsZKRHem6LNJJn7Wkz2DpEitbgdGa3HTjPgJmbpZoWlRxQfBb_lV5YhbZvrc3r8vt-hei/s320/Peru08+138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203730363195047170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXFIDwIr5crskj3Zxy6_YkREowyhTS4-e-Ly1_XOPxn26Q9GttqaAqlfIIF8qliFliu4Nt96ik0ZvxunTI5VUGt1ZT3swoXq_1Cufwl7i6yJWRTmwsDy4OwmxGqtIDOck3Sai8I5ajLOa/s1600-h/Peru08+162.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXFIDwIr5crskj3Zxy6_YkREowyhTS4-e-Ly1_XOPxn26Q9GttqaAqlfIIF8qliFliu4Nt96ik0ZvxunTI5VUGt1ZT3swoXq_1Cufwl7i6yJWRTmwsDy4OwmxGqtIDOck3Sai8I5ajLOa/s320/Peru08+162.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203728795531984114" border="0" /></a><br />This is one of my favorite photos. It's definitely one I will print and frame.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWsI8mMWrW0rrayfDfFH3TKqgAhe7GWFubPv1UVwpLYg5VKrIAfzkYpObsQU1F85nubhqXEy9evuabunkouNMhX0k70NX10hcvrny_3CkUSuBsZXZArg8wnLiUPKA-Bc_U08Umxh1KP9g/s1600-h/Peru08+164.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWsI8mMWrW0rrayfDfFH3TKqgAhe7GWFubPv1UVwpLYg5VKrIAfzkYpObsQU1F85nubhqXEy9evuabunkouNMhX0k70NX10hcvrny_3CkUSuBsZXZArg8wnLiUPKA-Bc_U08Umxh1KP9g/s320/Peru08+164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203727730380094690" border="0" /></a><br />So festive. So over the top!<br />Given different circumstances, I could have been a good Catholic. I appreciate the drama and the staging!<br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQCjVhsC3gxKhBfh10h8wooTn982o1E2LOxF5C18DpfNfEElW8xucNhma4DcnAg1sTF3UR-kxGaSiK3HYMxYTP-vxEHTfq24WsvqBYaV48zFJ9tCDL3oZ-Co3Ag2b-r_BCnUPOqbypBsm/s1600-h/Peru08+160.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQCjVhsC3gxKhBfh10h8wooTn982o1E2LOxF5C18DpfNfEElW8xucNhma4DcnAg1sTF3UR-kxGaSiK3HYMxYTP-vxEHTfq24WsvqBYaV48zFJ9tCDL3oZ-Co3Ag2b-r_BCnUPOqbypBsm/s320/Peru08+160.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203727253638724818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZ86eIi_yC2cIgxtuBINR53z8WDbbb0Rleey3eO20FvdTKQ4OpjG3O1esIEIs9KfhqImUePG9CJT-C2Yfg-7UEn12dVgI4kz-7k125EICyCyeVRkXwRwLcm5wP27tDqVZbm5505pGESu_/s1600-h/Peru08+170.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZ86eIi_yC2cIgxtuBINR53z8WDbbb0Rleey3eO20FvdTKQ4OpjG3O1esIEIs9KfhqImUePG9CJT-C2Yfg-7UEn12dVgI4kz-7k125EICyCyeVRkXwRwLcm5wP27tDqVZbm5505pGESu_/s320/Peru08+170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203726733947681986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6srbwhIBuak5m4hCRWaSNSEZkwVmsGo-ESU4DxkQSYI9HMj9wAE3gqeV20eJv9Honx-g_FnpIYLcAi1bX-dpn7cn3S7ChFp6xQ2RQxv0lbtOf4n6x52lEbWDrn7jsUXz4ZjvsNKcSVmg/s1600-h/Peru08+168.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6srbwhIBuak5m4hCRWaSNSEZkwVmsGo-ESU4DxkQSYI9HMj9wAE3gqeV20eJv9Honx-g_FnpIYLcAi1bX-dpn7cn3S7ChFp6xQ2RQxv0lbtOf4n6x52lEbWDrn7jsUXz4ZjvsNKcSVmg/s320/Peru08+168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203725179169520818" border="0" /></a>This work is by Juana Mendivil Due'nas de Olarte. She carries on her father's work, whose figures all had extremely long necks. The museum is on the Plaza San Blas.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRFH9i-hOpuPAa4i7dOJe40JWHGBBu9bhk7oDQm78WoKjJVvEP1hHpHkLfdhWXL3tvlD4PWM0nmf9fBvKRSzZxn2ywJSHlsMU6VLeKjKyo3WSZqxeY3B9qJW0qtdlG1K5igQq7R2wP9ai/s1600-h/Peru08+169.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRFH9i-hOpuPAa4i7dOJe40JWHGBBu9bhk7oDQm78WoKjJVvEP1hHpHkLfdhWXL3tvlD4PWM0nmf9fBvKRSzZxn2ywJSHlsMU6VLeKjKyo3WSZqxeY3B9qJW0qtdlG1K5igQq7R2wP9ai/s320/Peru08+169.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203724728197954722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjXOSwePfOoqoeIAsSla9lGQK9Cy3oncvcdEZnlQvtM8Inv0ITiIqyxR3XYexHUBNWfhcm6PXNiTpLE_rGgRd_D5y3ePe3gTQNJZOHjN0Yl_7ERuBbl1fK8EEe-QA-bvAzfpOnAH2FS34/s1600-h/Peru08+152.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjXOSwePfOoqoeIAsSla9lGQK9Cy3oncvcdEZnlQvtM8Inv0ITiIqyxR3XYexHUBNWfhcm6PXNiTpLE_rGgRd_D5y3ePe3gTQNJZOHjN0Yl_7ERuBbl1fK8EEe-QA-bvAzfpOnAH2FS34/s320/Peru08+152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203723486952406162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We ended the day by having dinner on the porch of this restaurant. Doreen bought this man's CD. I should have, but felt I had already spent too much on this day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLIkUVfc8rUxM9uQGCSrQEZB0gW_kqwdxRJRt9EEjaJ9VDKCED4csRuLhCWS5WZFJHOIMBQYQtGBwt1oiXea4HY7Ne6LubstxirRo_gsSGdrs3hzdi2F3cgOKoItOQdFFYJQ_FGwIa3Au/s1600-h/Peru08+176.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLIkUVfc8rUxM9uQGCSrQEZB0gW_kqwdxRJRt9EEjaJ9VDKCED4csRuLhCWS5WZFJHOIMBQYQtGBwt1oiXea4HY7Ne6LubstxirRo_gsSGdrs3hzdi2F3cgOKoItOQdFFYJQ_FGwIa3Au/s320/Peru08+176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203722911426788482" border="0" /></a>Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-8911712073795627232008-05-22T14:35:00.000-07:002008-05-22T15:51:23.198-07:00Day 4, Cusco<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2BTwt6Z-HNjggrmoY9hDJNWW6l3r5pFrm4jDkVrhRanPzTLLFX6mRbZCYisCiueXoK3zRAti_qm2JtmOx4rUipNQCwo1Ue0LzQJ4powmpPblGlNqf5R7DHBQXpzTUo5A1uKZKaYm1w64/s1600-h/Peru08+139.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2BTwt6Z-HNjggrmoY9hDJNWW6l3r5pFrm4jDkVrhRanPzTLLFX6mRbZCYisCiueXoK3zRAti_qm2JtmOx4rUipNQCwo1Ue0LzQJ4powmpPblGlNqf5R7DHBQXpzTUo5A1uKZKaYm1w64/s320/Peru08+139.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203332172482067378" border="0" /></a>I love Cusco! We also really like our hotel, Los Marquese, a quaint combination of old wooden timber construction coupled with Spanish style tapestries, heavy draperies, interior courtyards, and we loved finally getting a shower! I think I took a short, but luxurious nap while Doreen accessed the hotel's internet (When I travel, I like that feeling of having dropped off the edge of the world....I never make contact with anyone. This time, I left my cell phone at home.)<br /><br />We both felt pretty good after the busboy whipped us up some sandwiches in the tiny hotel kitchen. I felt like I was home. I love Cusco! Doreen and I agreed that "the energy" was here, and it was absent in Arequipa and Colca.<br /><br />The city was crowded with tourists! Many, many more than last year. (sigh) Machu Picchu would also be crowded, we feared. Still, for me, I don't think Cusco can be ruined. I love the combination of international flavor, colonial architecture, and overall....a friendly and happy population. The street vendors, on the other hand, are getting a bit annoying. :-) It's the whiney voices uttering the same phrases which got to us. "Ees teepical. All naturall. I made it myself. Missuus', please buy...ees teepical. Maybe tomorrow? You pro'mees?" I took note of the fact, that there were other tourists who were not hounded! :-) We really needed to wipe those smiles off our faces!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfcbEtvGHsLVvEEFem3lFKDgrf01yXyN1C1CX1dPKFmvLilcqW3jf_mYEIB3SjtHn1Gr2alSFDVIlwJcwCI0yZkLi65C7ecPVv-3CfQl99Tsw2DPGN0rQub6nFUKk24BnqcX0RwJgFLS5/s1600-h/Peru08+141.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfcbEtvGHsLVvEEFem3lFKDgrf01yXyN1C1CX1dPKFmvLilcqW3jf_mYEIB3SjtHn1Gr2alSFDVIlwJcwCI0yZkLi65C7ecPVv-3CfQl99Tsw2DPGN0rQub6nFUKk24BnqcX0RwJgFLS5/s320/Peru08+141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203331429452725154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHEIIKIl4jTI8jANN13VbIXdOl2sy1fJ-kAIyqK82SkkRhy4n2YfPwb1E74Z_iD_0rmYRUlTQNT8STr7Tsec12xo3Gve-RjDNxhPcyTwPsjAnnVczP_kofxT_L_lYOHiM8eMxbX5kAtj3/s1600-h/Peru08+142.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHEIIKIl4jTI8jANN13VbIXdOl2sy1fJ-kAIyqK82SkkRhy4n2YfPwb1E74Z_iD_0rmYRUlTQNT8STr7Tsec12xo3Gve-RjDNxhPcyTwPsjAnnVczP_kofxT_L_lYOHiM8eMxbX5kAtj3/s320/Peru08+142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203330557574364050" border="0" /></a>I'm quite sure that this same dog was sleeping on this same stoop last year! I remember the beautiful contrast of colors!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9VhCkO128FzoO94iyfjcNOR2dY1QeKjCez-0rgVLpk_eTrIoGA0X7ZxMnWn41oqPRZi4zg3lR_OfS0r8mbQz0i5eCA5WXw3S2ce8gJjggJ8MGztKqu9l2AZYSq3rjDQCFAyEYBE8lpIL/s1600-h/Peru08+147.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9VhCkO128FzoO94iyfjcNOR2dY1QeKjCez-0rgVLpk_eTrIoGA0X7ZxMnWn41oqPRZi4zg3lR_OfS0r8mbQz0i5eCA5WXw3S2ce8gJjggJ8MGztKqu9l2AZYSq3rjDQCFAyEYBE8lpIL/s320/Peru08+147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203325772980796290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Look at the door on the far right. That is the door of "Magic Hands" which belongs to Je'sus de Jarnu. We walked over there both this day and the next one, and found the door tightly shut. We had run through several scenarios on the way there, with me joking that I would do PSYCH-K on him to see whether he really believed he is a shaman. I think I decided that was silly, as I would just know. We also wondered whether Je'sus could top his story of last year, and whether he had made different "talismans" for us. We also discussed the possibility of letting him know about the power of the Internet......I haven't any idea what we actually might have said to him had he ever been there! In retrospect, I should not have written him to tell him when we were coming. Still, the only thing I am mad about is the fact that I fell for a story of someone as uncreative as he. The same pendants, the same colors, the same past lives, the same stories.<br />Je'sus de Jairu is a fraud. May he not get any more tourist money. <br /><br /><br />Blue is the favorite accent color! It's the color of Cusco's sky.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUeEWN5EF-dzhQfjs6fNIyG_xPvA1oBNLtwsrNTPuqKfAN4eWRjL67EhsFPDyK7c5MDZWY9m4YYkS0TV_tAbGs0DJSCB1DiGghCaw26xEiDBQTZaMY5wTnb9NeoiOBFzIttzhzMIXFN1O/s1600-h/Peru08+144.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUeEWN5EF-dzhQfjs6fNIyG_xPvA1oBNLtwsrNTPuqKfAN4eWRjL67EhsFPDyK7c5MDZWY9m4YYkS0TV_tAbGs0DJSCB1DiGghCaw26xEiDBQTZaMY5wTnb9NeoiOBFzIttzhzMIXFN1O/s320/Peru08+144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203324106533485410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-_6AA95cEfQiERpRE_3L3B1dX_n6hgGip-_PqaSd83vpUNwX3uhPkrKfv8kEwErvDWgMWug9CK68NvFUV1XXLq2OCdn9pp2AtsD4G-F76lsFHZBtLxiCh7blGGQmYkMjtZBLv9FVrXRD/s1600-h/Peru08+149.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-_6AA95cEfQiERpRE_3L3B1dX_n6hgGip-_PqaSd83vpUNwX3uhPkrKfv8kEwErvDWgMWug9CK68NvFUV1XXLq2OCdn9pp2AtsD4G-F76lsFHZBtLxiCh7blGGQmYkMjtZBLv9FVrXRD/s320/Peru08+149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203321898920295250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHnqSoOGn0J4t6_wO91XLu5VEJCtgvYqBncUS-XpKLVSFGZMp5xHuEFTrhm7aAQe0ln5KHYYIHYU4m_reRcEhLjRoC5hs0qSjntu22x2a1BW4qJp4vz9-MCefG_JOoxc052BLm4wJfiqp/s1600-h/Peru08+167.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHnqSoOGn0J4t6_wO91XLu5VEJCtgvYqBncUS-XpKLVSFGZMp5xHuEFTrhm7aAQe0ln5KHYYIHYU4m_reRcEhLjRoC5hs0qSjntu22x2a1BW4qJp4vz9-MCefG_JOoxc052BLm4wJfiqp/s320/Peru08+167.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203320438631414594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">You never know just what surprises await in the steep, narrow streets of Cusco! Here I found a would-be Inka, only too happy to allow me to be his "wife" for a few pennies.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDFFg9jCDrdSFMufUEWwMHWiLyjD8Z02PASwU00XKLLPTBEc2xqG_tGD954j5dMtiVrb4709R6PL-WJ2jhm-dd-pLImqeV830UKaRmW2R6wVVSsDsFK-2u7Al1bb5AeEBYymXUk3ixUtg/s1600-h/Peru08+174.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDFFg9jCDrdSFMufUEWwMHWiLyjD8Z02PASwU00XKLLPTBEc2xqG_tGD954j5dMtiVrb4709R6PL-WJ2jhm-dd-pLImqeV830UKaRmW2R6wVVSsDsFK-2u7Al1bb5AeEBYymXUk3ixUtg/s320/Peru08+174.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203319931825273650" border="0" /></a>This street is barely wide enough for one car, and I kept stepping off the uneven, narrow side-walk. Doreen had to worry about my getting run over. Given the uneven ground, and the altitude of 10,800 feet, I definitely felt a little bit unsteady. The drivers are excellent, though! I knew I had a much lesser chance of getting run over in Peru than I do on my own street here.<br /><br />Oh, did I say that I love Cusco?Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-18588928703606465112008-05-21T17:01:00.000-07:002008-05-21T17:56:49.707-07:00Day 3, Colca Canyon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMauRQb_9i-JFNnC28YsEtLjAxuobZlP1dXDLEOccUnYARV9hyphenhyphen90kDdKVp3oSHAPEBGzkgUbTJBCHiC20YXMYVQcZKacXHiZ7A8p1qHCOUhnjK2NUJv0kH05TaNSWpibc44UVrCeFeYmgm/s1600-h/Peru08+075.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMauRQb_9i-JFNnC28YsEtLjAxuobZlP1dXDLEOccUnYARV9hyphenhyphen90kDdKVp3oSHAPEBGzkgUbTJBCHiC20YXMYVQcZKacXHiZ7A8p1qHCOUhnjK2NUJv0kH05TaNSWpibc44UVrCeFeYmgm/s320/Peru08+075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202992835332317698" border="0" /></a>We got up early, and fortified with a thickly blended fruit juice and bread for breakfast, we hurried off to be the first people at the Condor look-out. We had come to far to see these......I can't imagine how we might have felt if they had not graced us with their presence.<br /><br />Weighing up to 33#, the Andean condor cannot fly, but rather waits to be lifted up out of the canyon on warm air currents, then gliding for miles and miles .<br /><br />It was cold, but warming up by the minute. Bus loads of tourists were arriving, but we had our spot staked out. No amount of jostling by men tall and large would move me from my spot! It was a bit of a stretch for me not to assign blame to the nationality of said jostling large people.<br /><br />Finally, to my silent internal scream of "WHERE?", our guide announced, "There it is!" The streamers tied to the cross on the opposite hill fluttered in the wind. WHERE?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fH-UoGVUXuvofIPx5FmG_0y2g0YzYTTcqGx_PB96i9IAPCCKHSe-E0MFuFoaezGXGLFxt530-zOmnJ5hvpASxXTXP1f6Z95urJ8_InvI9LazEGR0UrgcPci7jVWnDQQorFSjn3izbSwV/s1600-h/Peru08+101.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fH-UoGVUXuvofIPx5FmG_0y2g0YzYTTcqGx_PB96i9IAPCCKHSe-E0MFuFoaezGXGLFxt530-zOmnJ5hvpASxXTXP1f6Z95urJ8_InvI9LazEGR0UrgcPci7jVWnDQQorFSjn3izbSwV/s320/Peru08+101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202992289871471090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finally, I saw her! I took for granted that the guide was correct about the gender.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4godnUfwjLXOn-ESc_srYjTwRmG4kd24P0BHoFc2L_riKzRSxHEW2oC8XzP6cStXH6iKh5_2rpVrBuQGCJZhxgf-WnaZ-hPhuXaDDT6sxozyHBMToBCeVjUXhCy1dtPpKzTqPCBHWNBie/s1600-h/Peru08+118.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4godnUfwjLXOn-ESc_srYjTwRmG4kd24P0BHoFc2L_riKzRSxHEW2oC8XzP6cStXH6iKh5_2rpVrBuQGCJZhxgf-WnaZ-hPhuXaDDT6sxozyHBMToBCeVjUXhCy1dtPpKzTqPCBHWNBie/s320/Peru08+118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202990554704683474" border="0" /></a>On the left is a juvenile, brown. Adults are black and white.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPQozewcJzJjMIEKUmew3upyJKnHEszbJ_G5m84FsJN5xVA8hGcd4EFV39K4yeFJSQhCJe-GVWI6AXzeWLGytx_b8zOqt11K25T2k99og2MbsiYS0C9cgtsChXyMgeyYvPbAsLRaFFoWp/s1600-h/Peru08+123.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPQozewcJzJjMIEKUmew3upyJKnHEszbJ_G5m84FsJN5xVA8hGcd4EFV39K4yeFJSQhCJe-GVWI6AXzeWLGytx_b8zOqt11K25T2k99og2MbsiYS0C9cgtsChXyMgeyYvPbAsLRaFFoWp/s320/Peru08+123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202989266214494642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was split between feasting my eyes on these magnificent, huge birds and trying to capture their image with my camera. Looking through the lens of a camera is not the same as seeing with the naked eye. I would stare, and forget to press the shutter. Awesome! Several condors glided in the near distance, but one young female (brown) came right over our heads....back and forth....as if to show herself off. So large! You definitely would not want one to poop on you.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OBg5TGu5Zd-WQut0U5hKbriwlMowpsWjp0hLuHxeMvom2ex39hu4PN9_vRYktJHGA6afy1M8am2Ue7EbhY0gUljALVY3jkDsq8og7jaq8TacS1k7QkdXlhX8xXVoLUI_Tq4iW-YnHxdb/s1600-h/Peru08+124.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OBg5TGu5Zd-WQut0U5hKbriwlMowpsWjp0hLuHxeMvom2ex39hu4PN9_vRYktJHGA6afy1M8am2Ue7EbhY0gUljALVY3jkDsq8og7jaq8TacS1k7QkdXlhX8xXVoLUI_Tq4iW-YnHxdb/s320/Peru08+124.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202988914027176354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPKr5RfFqtpOrofX-faK3q_RW7onHlCH7gckik6uZBOv5FN0wXzyd0a5lye98-SFHSefDIwJKAGXUalfArE84_n5ZDHX5zMLlMXWpmo0B0Ue-Y8ChMl52KtXyJEdt2-_qPYIlI0oUwEUW/s1600-h/Peru08+128.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPKr5RfFqtpOrofX-faK3q_RW7onHlCH7gckik6uZBOv5FN0wXzyd0a5lye98-SFHSefDIwJKAGXUalfArE84_n5ZDHX5zMLlMXWpmo0B0Ue-Y8ChMl52KtXyJEdt2-_qPYIlI0oUwEUW/s320/Peru08+128.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202987827400450450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What a majestic sight, a mature condor against the blue sky of the Andes! I don't know whether we saw 4 or 5 adults and two juveniles, or whether they all were the same birds. We did hear later on that we had been extremely fortunate to have seen them.<br /><br />Then, it was back on the road! Finally warm, I snoozed most of the way.<br /><br />"Hanging" tomb in the mountainside. Originally, full of precious artifacts along with silver and gold, all were cleaned out by robbers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxF5br2gla8plzcBcNDA4-6hcI-FQgEdnwSm311CzB1sV6fSCITonLdzOdnTpcNmrmOZ6k2lJ5lg5m0eqKsx3C_s3aT8bmGSlt65NEgmIeXtdES0rKphyphenhyphenT09IqZIVyEfPAg8JXg2foQGyl/s1600-h/Peru08+132.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxF5br2gla8plzcBcNDA4-6hcI-FQgEdnwSm311CzB1sV6fSCITonLdzOdnTpcNmrmOZ6k2lJ5lg5m0eqKsx3C_s3aT8bmGSlt65NEgmIeXtdES0rKphyphenhyphenT09IqZIVyEfPAg8JXg2foQGyl/s320/Peru08+132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202987165975486850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-nTR3mBHsTevsfac3bmwUJzQrSgGOZQ5Z8ii8yU1ox2V-JRQHuEtvBeDAWl_UpgMHpaJ1BQWs42ckAIb4FdbPIheT_fOV-KGggjBSXYqVIk6Kw1EPheN7gBQd9SEDXetcbjtCiOr6yhg/s1600-h/Peru08+134.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-nTR3mBHsTevsfac3bmwUJzQrSgGOZQ5Z8ii8yU1ox2V-JRQHuEtvBeDAWl_UpgMHpaJ1BQWs42ckAIb4FdbPIheT_fOV-KGggjBSXYqVIk6Kw1EPheN7gBQd9SEDXetcbjtCiOr6yhg/s320/Peru08+134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202986637694509426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqOViZdeB80IXcTOu0pBe4X_x-6FInBBwfZbsXtq6qZ4qAvuyiHGHQ_6pFjbVQIgjR2szCHfZJPybU8Pgw0YEVuWurba3bTl22JqZw09Rtlxjyx405q7b2S1YU2XsD9PO2CbzkvkMnZ3x/s1600-h/Peru08+135.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqOViZdeB80IXcTOu0pBe4X_x-6FInBBwfZbsXtq6qZ4qAvuyiHGHQ_6pFjbVQIgjR2szCHfZJPybU8Pgw0YEVuWurba3bTl22JqZw09Rtlxjyx405q7b2S1YU2XsD9PO2CbzkvkMnZ3x/s320/Peru08+135.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202986169543074146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When we got back to Arequipa, our guide offered to show us an herbal pharmacy and a good alpaca shop. I bought lots of maca to bring home, and the alpaca store was heaven! Doreen and I each bought a gorgeous wrap! We were elated with the price and the ladies of the shop were elated with the sales.<br />Both of us crashed rather suddenly. We managed a bite to eat, before falling into cold beds without a shower......again. We were going to be picked up at some ungodly early morning hour for our flight to Cusco.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-63921891858071004532008-05-20T16:03:00.001-07:002008-05-20T17:00:37.984-07:00Day 2, on the Way to Colca Canyon, con't<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5D34qBklE1L5XxnEh39pN_H00-osCQ_rwuXcCb8dGTxsjjEh_WqwrpzTm7BxhHsZaXilBgRaoZmP3wXdW6tBENUxBZeS0I6YwszxwBLYjsWdUpBBkKEPW2Jhw6smZjogVFmMl-EjlL0q/s1600-h/Peru08+088.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5D34qBklE1L5XxnEh39pN_H00-osCQ_rwuXcCb8dGTxsjjEh_WqwrpzTm7BxhHsZaXilBgRaoZmP3wXdW6tBENUxBZeS0I6YwszxwBLYjsWdUpBBkKEPW2Jhw6smZjogVFmMl-EjlL0q/s320/Peru08+088.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202609891753238786" border="0" /></a>The Kuntur Wassi, meaning "home of the condor" in Quecha, looked promisingly cheerful, though the fact that no one spoke Ingles' and that we were the only guests was a bit strange. I was grateful that our driver and our English speaking guide were also staying in the hotel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOOsQd50uG7jooZO4LrEGNU_I6UlWAV5qyd7Lj7YEjNiiPI4WVSVV3uX52ve4GW2JZmmXpv-QMHoM7dstJqsEbBdSS9nO5ikYF8zXmzP3WxnLglqmLF-sQXOi3PbjHG4uu1AVu-XLNulY/s1600-h/Peru08+094.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOOsQd50uG7jooZO4LrEGNU_I6UlWAV5qyd7Lj7YEjNiiPI4WVSVV3uX52ve4GW2JZmmXpv-QMHoM7dstJqsEbBdSS9nO5ikYF8zXmzP3WxnLglqmLF-sQXOi3PbjHG4uu1AVu-XLNulY/s320/Peru08+094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202608586083180786" border="0" /></a>The street in front of the hotel was very steep and narrow. It was shared by little boys, old women, and herds of sheep and llamas. The surface was slippery with excrement, so we did not attempt any walks.<br /><br />The hotel in itself, built into the hillside, was endless stairs! It's funny how such an ordinary thing can be so annoying in a high altitude setting with a hurting knee. I tried not to whine, but definitely was aware that my nose was quite out of joint.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvK-UQT4c55CF5KLrtG2HDP6fRfi3x1xDmn34km4R_NwBF_aQhQQzYdHdhxq2VCBkhUQYzoQOlDgoPMF7Pc1lCMc_nDKok1_DSZJpE-WEigsxgSwkxB6F2krI8aU6IAxrUgdBzY7Oas1WU/s1600-h/Peru08+097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvK-UQT4c55CF5KLrtG2HDP6fRfi3x1xDmn34km4R_NwBF_aQhQQzYdHdhxq2VCBkhUQYzoQOlDgoPMF7Pc1lCMc_nDKok1_DSZJpE-WEigsxgSwkxB6F2krI8aU6IAxrUgdBzY7Oas1WU/s320/Peru08+097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202607709909852386" border="0" /></a>Detail from the hotel's restaurant's oven...which sure could have used a fire in it, but we were the only guests!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aUxppQQGeh1uFZXxZCHZ1IGM7H0gWLvdiXrJWx_EYK-PfSkKlNKtR1x4bLS1T9CKkUjgSHFJrA5e_RxiYyOdMGRl9ZC-drNpkm0KuY_1JyzhHxbcVxEwh8kAdApfiliECrMjMhwyfWe1/s1600-h/Peru08+076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aUxppQQGeh1uFZXxZCHZ1IGM7H0gWLvdiXrJWx_EYK-PfSkKlNKtR1x4bLS1T9CKkUjgSHFJrA5e_RxiYyOdMGRl9ZC-drNpkm0KuY_1JyzhHxbcVxEwh8kAdApfiliECrMjMhwyfWe1/s320/Peru08+076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202604548813922498" border="0" /></a>On the left you see the door to our room. Everything was bathed in the golden warmth of the sun. The patio was full of flowers. All was well.....until the sun went down. It's one thing to say "It gets cold at night." and an entirely different thing to actually experience the cold of the Andes! And, they don't heat their rooms!<br /><br />Doreen and I wondered whether we could stand another day without baths, but then it was decided for us, when all the water leaked onto the bathroom floor and we used one of the two towels we had been given to mop up the water. The office was three stories up, and neither of us felt like braving the cold to go get help. What, a phone in our room? Of course not. Neither did anyone speak Ingles'.<br /><br />Doreen thought there must be some kind of message in our "water problem". I stubbornly refused to accept it as a problem. To me, it was of no significance at all. If anything was a problem, I thought, it was being so damn cold, so damn high, so steep, and having a hurting knee! How could it be possible that only two full days in Peru had passed.....and here we were in the middle of nowhere?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56K8W2OKtuyPamwzcCwT-q8wT-Elh1JnvTXh9PcHhnk8_mF8oZ-Ss8G9PoA1WsyWD5CN20ZbJVm8tVFD7ZN07pHp8rhbDXJYhhEkhWAd9qgbVszkNh7dqCElhNK7jdwxvhBMrvPaAsOyV/s1600-h/Peru08+083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56K8W2OKtuyPamwzcCwT-q8wT-Elh1JnvTXh9PcHhnk8_mF8oZ-Ss8G9PoA1WsyWD5CN20ZbJVm8tVFD7ZN07pHp8rhbDXJYhhEkhWAd9qgbVszkNh7dqCElhNK7jdwxvhBMrvPaAsOyV/s320/Peru08+083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202604016237977778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl7dkQX-aoHIYXDZGNfCxt6yaficx0mO3pCGFHDQaL-86l6RcOdMqN2jmdZPo4LbcAnNZtJMdxapFfGDWtmmEHnjSHqfQUWr8-ap3rKpe77E34vlhGV4wLTKhZCDNLn_abuVtKeqyhKRX/s1600-h/Peru08+080.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl7dkQX-aoHIYXDZGNfCxt6yaficx0mO3pCGFHDQaL-86l6RcOdMqN2jmdZPo4LbcAnNZtJMdxapFfGDWtmmEHnjSHqfQUWr8-ap3rKpe77E34vlhGV4wLTKhZCDNLn_abuVtKeqyhKRX/s320/Peru08+080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202603414942556322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hd12NAlis0qoGiXm0auu1arujYpPkwRQ_TmXgsU2nAP7fmUb2VnZm4tI0hkHr-TGDEAuf_5lxN61owY82hIWpKtUpcOEICr95v33HVIwkJj4tUxtPoFavNO5blIR9zylsfrIpGiNcGRy/s1600-h/Peru08+093.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hd12NAlis0qoGiXm0auu1arujYpPkwRQ_TmXgsU2nAP7fmUb2VnZm4tI0hkHr-TGDEAuf_5lxN61owY82hIWpKtUpcOEICr95v33HVIwkJj4tUxtPoFavNO5blIR9zylsfrIpGiNcGRy/s320/Peru08+093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202602096387596434" border="0" /></a>Everywhere in Peru, dogs lie in the middle of the street if it pleases them while patient drivers navigate around them, and children clamor to have their picture taken so they can proudly run home with a few cents.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW0tUTJk90_x5k-_Nxjd-m2hof3jfM7daTSFJk_PnblYem5V62AnW4qU0kJUkIo5YlHiv39uxf5MRm4BUZnsC_loFXpKR5eZBLcbab1dcryPLWhxx3TzQ-7sB9ZVnr6hgKLOUtQPRTh18/s1600-h/Peru08+090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW0tUTJk90_x5k-_Nxjd-m2hof3jfM7daTSFJk_PnblYem5V62AnW4qU0kJUkIo5YlHiv39uxf5MRm4BUZnsC_loFXpKR5eZBLcbab1dcryPLWhxx3TzQ-7sB9ZVnr6hgKLOUtQPRTh18/s320/Peru08+090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202601559516684418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aqx4m3NjFQOmm5_FPKPGLq8cih3DbXxEpwT23a4xel4tWrVkFqI6xZ_b4F0KXihc6_M4HWRcdlt_gAS5efsRG-Ys020JblKyXwlxzalaxEqGY5Ow_qjH0aFtBzJFd3Owj45MMrVippPq/s1600-h/Peru08+091.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aqx4m3NjFQOmm5_FPKPGLq8cih3DbXxEpwT23a4xel4tWrVkFqI6xZ_b4F0KXihc6_M4HWRcdlt_gAS5efsRG-Ys020JblKyXwlxzalaxEqGY5Ow_qjH0aFtBzJFd3Owj45MMrVippPq/s320/Peru08+091.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202600790717538418" border="0" /></a>Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-28299981666249813322008-05-19T10:19:00.000-07:002008-05-19T11:31:25.351-07:00Day 2, on the Way to Colca Canyon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlR9I2n1uLdAJCj29XLe-YbakemK3D2EwFM9SWd5RJ3LVv8rOwiRene3HuqA68UBKQkgS5VxKAMlq3WhM-HIwmfEOd5UDhS2bZEkeT9okOgg4NIT52j4O4w4Eo7uzlsGWLwbV4v-BWhpj/s1600-h/peru08misty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlR9I2n1uLdAJCj29XLe-YbakemK3D2EwFM9SWd5RJ3LVv8rOwiRene3HuqA68UBKQkgS5VxKAMlq3WhM-HIwmfEOd5UDhS2bZEkeT9okOgg4NIT52j4O4w4Eo7uzlsGWLwbV4v-BWhpj/s320/peru08misty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202149024582508578" border="0" /></a>Our driver and guide picked us up at 9 AM, and fortified with coca tea, we set out for our next adventure. On the way out of town, we saw Misty, the volcano, in the distance. I did not get a shot, so bought this post card.<br /><br />Most of the long ride was through open country of scrub turning into lush, marshland of ducks. For the most part, though, it was non-stop vicunas (never domesticated), llamas, and alpacas. There were so many, and from the distance, they looked a lot like rounded rocks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMQ1ETCwvoB2LA9JERaxggYhGpOgI2Xacnm_nBr6UrVIa-4EoQqfjAJc_4BKDlN5BjQGjM0g7qr3KXgyrHEl7bz6SPUeD_Tg-Nj8TxSB4A7Yx8irJjRmYNwZjfU4wSd4y0yShlRvz2ITn/s1600-h/Peru08+055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMQ1ETCwvoB2LA9JERaxggYhGpOgI2Xacnm_nBr6UrVIa-4EoQqfjAJc_4BKDlN5BjQGjM0g7qr3KXgyrHEl7bz6SPUeD_Tg-Nj8TxSB4A7Yx8irJjRmYNwZjfU4wSd4y0yShlRvz2ITn/s320/Peru08+055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202147190631473154" border="0" /></a>Tiredness and lack of dinner or breakfast caught up with me....though I've always had difficulty staying awake in a moving car that I was not driving myself.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCE4JwRqP5LQxutn8eYGR-60FXGQn2L0KeqRat0_TlSs7HWRf6Hi1cDFzbvXsdiDf-J-r-qIZW7JzFCJvafWsbjtCRiOhqRuVoHzQJgR-uqeeba3hnJoICSjJ7NDPX5YTUkaXpD8Z9-rK/s1600-h/Peru08+064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCE4JwRqP5LQxutn8eYGR-60FXGQn2L0KeqRat0_TlSs7HWRf6Hi1cDFzbvXsdiDf-J-r-qIZW7JzFCJvafWsbjtCRiOhqRuVoHzQJgR-uqeeba3hnJoICSjJ7NDPX5YTUkaXpD8Z9-rK/s320/Peru08+064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202146739659907058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GvNOuE5-tfrQBu-SDqqN90-xZVKW2GnSmBwZJdjuCtYMt9pAczz8ZeQ-yx1l0SXdPtsN7mxIRkLN6bgdh92jEBXGTuGtHanBhSkbqgxQYvg2CTOxijlH-bbLNUSXQV48iAAp87kdPk_Z/s1600-h/Peru08+061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GvNOuE5-tfrQBu-SDqqN90-xZVKW2GnSmBwZJdjuCtYMt9pAczz8ZeQ-yx1l0SXdPtsN7mxIRkLN6bgdh92jEBXGTuGtHanBhSkbqgxQYvg2CTOxijlH-bbLNUSXQV48iAAp87kdPk_Z/s320/Peru08+061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202146091119845346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhBtUU947l7DuNh9BKXGdiGP7GeFrX29LFsOpflF8Dljs3L_hOBw4SzBV52dlLy2TcDCim80vC4s2GzdobHv8YDQ6MUaq0WMG7Vv2ocPU9OO4Q88bwrKNmEhj4Qo5gTnlcBRYkDQKNv3d/s1600-h/Peru08+062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhBtUU947l7DuNh9BKXGdiGP7GeFrX29LFsOpflF8Dljs3L_hOBw4SzBV52dlLy2TcDCim80vC4s2GzdobHv8YDQ6MUaq0WMG7Vv2ocPU9OO4Q88bwrKNmEhj4Qo5gTnlcBRYkDQKNv3d/s320/Peru08+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202145416809979858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I welcomed every opportunity to get out of the car and breathe in what little bit there was of fresh air. There were handicraft sellers at every look-out, and I searched in vain for something a bit different. How could it be possible that they all made exactly the same things? Did they not understand competition? One of the places where I boldly ventured out to do my handicrafts inspection was at 16,500 ft. The fact that someone was lying flat on the ground being administered oxygen, didn't deter me. After all, I<br />figured, I would just have some, too, should I need it....thank you very much. I had selected one trinket with great care, but when I went to pay, it became immensely difficult. I returned to our van as quickly as I could manage, and only then realized how fool-hardy I had been. Simply administering oxygen is not sufficient in many cases, and people have to be quickly returned to lower altitudes. It's considered a medical emergency. I promised myself I would not jeopardize our trip like that again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCmyimzc15h8t02V5FHk0dqiFWYoTukzOwGwhKpsNWbyTGF7XjMeN9FsHB7g8lCEES1VMd5uWZj2DyPzSza3kkQKxGJ7q43DDnN9Ny6SMYe6SFrcteKGEqr-splGMmKQJNvgtSdgbvHPa/s1600-h/Peru08+067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCmyimzc15h8t02V5FHk0dqiFWYoTukzOwGwhKpsNWbyTGF7XjMeN9FsHB7g8lCEES1VMd5uWZj2DyPzSza3kkQKxGJ7q43DDnN9Ny6SMYe6SFrcteKGEqr-splGMmKQJNvgtSdgbvHPa/s320/Peru08+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202144287233580978" border="0" /></a><br />I was so relieved when we arrived at Chivay, a bustling little frontier type town. Give me my box lunch, I cried, and let me OUT. I don't think Doreen or our guide thought the busy square was a good place to eat, but I prevailed. Chivay looked truly foreign, and besides being desperately hungry, I wanted to get some photos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHyukF3kNpcdjlwhznl8PfxblD7b-zj9tDMpo3cQr81XfHuqRxNlVLb7d1Eir-ligOOeKT5Vx_gK87X3l1qqiJjcwJ6FN-Fn0VGgJmlSB_ve4dphwpaIJpSAI7sInUyicGkXu8soBbvRA/s1600-h/Peru08+066.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHyukF3kNpcdjlwhznl8PfxblD7b-zj9tDMpo3cQr81XfHuqRxNlVLb7d1Eir-ligOOeKT5Vx_gK87X3l1qqiJjcwJ6FN-Fn0VGgJmlSB_ve4dphwpaIJpSAI7sInUyicGkXu8soBbvRA/s320/Peru08+066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202143831967047586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am not a really serious photographer, as I was too lazy to get my other lens to grab some good close-ups. Then, again, the lack of oxygen made each task seem too cumbersome. Lunch sure<br />helped, though!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUlFEJri3hIG6o7VaqsrgW-3gecL2lL0NkzMsHbeSNr7p91e166BzzzUEmq0K0RQQ0Bv7aYYVEGfe5r-4YEhoy7aKufrDHQS4ZFODQtgaeXfv2-3-xp7jOwt93Z-pZRygdjEvJX2ssLEK/s1600-h/Peru08+069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUlFEJri3hIG6o7VaqsrgW-3gecL2lL0NkzMsHbeSNr7p91e166BzzzUEmq0K0RQQ0Bv7aYYVEGfe5r-4YEhoy7aKufrDHQS4ZFODQtgaeXfv2-3-xp7jOwt93Z-pZRygdjEvJX2ssLEK/s320/Peru08+069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202143217786724242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYPZQidwm7lonlBBZxaUuxdIgBI8q52cIsQrlXQb-Bsr1S0YoYafZ4njzw9Gw8JmA-pASEI_46Pih58_XCYmfkhyphenhyphenhXlFOm89u5xZ43hBY0aS2udWfRvm9t7pjEqhm1I4NEiwRK0nnt6DT/s1600-h/Peru08+072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYPZQidwm7lonlBBZxaUuxdIgBI8q52cIsQrlXQb-Bsr1S0YoYafZ4njzw9Gw8JmA-pASEI_46Pih58_XCYmfkhyphenhyphenhXlFOm89u5xZ43hBY0aS2udWfRvm9t7pjEqhm1I4NEiwRK0nnt6DT/s320/Peru08+072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202142491937251202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2QZSNEoxjAuULea_9PZpPYLScQX0_-eKsQkrk9wwnxJgHkZffvRhWVqGKFwysGlWz6KgFJ_33q0VxXaZjd1k-YaOLSzY8aKba9wamYzA9xj0Rsc0dY-QutjAqmkS80dlUmZBzDAvZ1WI/s1600-h/Peru08+071.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2QZSNEoxjAuULea_9PZpPYLScQX0_-eKsQkrk9wwnxJgHkZffvRhWVqGKFwysGlWz6KgFJ_33q0VxXaZjd1k-YaOLSzY8aKba9wamYzA9xj0Rsc0dY-QutjAqmkS80dlUmZBzDAvZ1WI/s320/Peru08+071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202141667303530354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We were now about an hour and a half from our hotel, the Kuntur Wassi, and we thought about a luxurious bath in luxurious surroundings. We had seen photos and we were definitely looking forward to it!Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-45437445612705811012008-05-18T11:00:00.000-07:002008-05-18T12:25:28.392-07:00Day 1, Arequipa, cont.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOth3ERu2AXWpupcL7PnzJH3POmBqVBJLKboeVaK7W6M7_XlZwAg-4jD5gzAjubgRiCxvGUk0fO4-uF6wr6U6yCQ3UDewQqLNTZHfCS7P6gNO7nqGuTIeLhytqxBMFYejm8jpnryYadAB/s1600-h/Peru08Arequipa+postcard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOth3ERu2AXWpupcL7PnzJH3POmBqVBJLKboeVaK7W6M7_XlZwAg-4jD5gzAjubgRiCxvGUk0fO4-uF6wr6U6yCQ3UDewQqLNTZHfCS7P6gNO7nqGuTIeLhytqxBMFYejm8jpnryYadAB/s320/Peru08Arequipa+postcard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201791189382242130" border="0" /></a>The first two pictures are scanned postcards showing the ornate colonial architecture and native costumes of Arequipa. The buildings are white granite from Misty, a grand snow-capped mountain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm1_gc-9Nyp118KKKt4lexs4LdSyCv_gMnZsaR1CpGxQLUKqnl-AdPIcO-BrSkAmRtH_e4pqEJ8CYS-2IaDSDv7KAVTRkbBdNI6zvvqf779QRyZ3wRULT3jEo3lwVV68zZNXUzo6ahkmx/s1600-h/Peru08Arequipa+postcard+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm1_gc-9Nyp118KKKt4lexs4LdSyCv_gMnZsaR1CpGxQLUKqnl-AdPIcO-BrSkAmRtH_e4pqEJ8CYS-2IaDSDv7KAVTRkbBdNI6zvvqf779QRyZ3wRULT3jEo3lwVV68zZNXUzo6ahkmx/s320/Peru08Arequipa+postcard+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201791017583550274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLXAPAHGZH4LWwqsunvL2fK4ZlGZxAOWxzeOBSmUI3PemdfM32pGu2zzrMCHfMzSF6uFxq7CiMoJxW9ldBxIXD1OYzTkTGldatj29S6WQ3hp-LvtE7KQLPGPV68qyrVLGyVvBABWtmE9X/s1600-h/Peru08+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLXAPAHGZH4LWwqsunvL2fK4ZlGZxAOWxzeOBSmUI3PemdfM32pGu2zzrMCHfMzSF6uFxq7CiMoJxW9ldBxIXD1OYzTkTGldatj29S6WQ3hp-LvtE7KQLPGPV68qyrVLGyVvBABWtmE9X/s320/Peru08+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201790162885058354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW-ZVM0Xgfwjz37xOSMf3hxLUfn0dKehnPtjv3Hqet0VXzVXfupAtq9xDDfhpy0r7YTMxp9wffQFfO5VnKBFGt9T5PUnMX4qICoL4SeQq2xbJN89Noh0HmiR5nnjAF1O-4CTsu_MYnu7w/s1600-h/Peru08+024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW-ZVM0Xgfwjz37xOSMf3hxLUfn0dKehnPtjv3Hqet0VXzVXfupAtq9xDDfhpy0r7YTMxp9wffQFfO5VnKBFGt9T5PUnMX4qICoL4SeQq2xbJN89Noh0HmiR5nnjAF1O-4CTsu_MYnu7w/s320/Peru08+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201789699028590370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After our lunch, we went for a walk, wanting to see it all, and not miss anything. We saw a dog on a roof-top, and a religious processional which took up the entire width of the street. We kept popping into stores until we finally could get through to make it to the Convent de Catalina before closing.<br />This convent carries a naughty reputation of having housed young ladies from wealthy Spanish families who didn't know just what to do with them, so sending them luxuriously outfitted with fabulous strappings, including servants, to this convent where they continued their partying ways.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO1-9iZpDu0MnZ_fEsaKU9MNF2BsOgEir3-geFKIZFjQEFw1QQDza3LXqpueCnLyJXSN9KDEI9u-LN3IaxGNLtjnMlh91OkTx2fg0ne3oXhwvz0kWvr4atlnNsaI40VYVH7yGYIcvYHfW/s1600-h/Peru08+Arequipaconvent+entry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO1-9iZpDu0MnZ_fEsaKU9MNF2BsOgEir3-geFKIZFjQEFw1QQDza3LXqpueCnLyJXSN9KDEI9u-LN3IaxGNLtjnMlh91OkTx2fg0ne3oXhwvz0kWvr4atlnNsaI40VYVH7yGYIcvYHfW/s320/Peru08+Arequipaconvent+entry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201789136387874578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the rather unassuming entry to the Convent. It was only the memory of interior photos which got me to pay the fee and enter. It was fabulous!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKGMtVt75zoMScF82Ji596yVU1VnlAqCQI7NFSzCZkec4puYV8RK7nya9nug3mRV2XXsrFoAIWmu0XBHiDCZ2Y6ceVOU2rCwKDli197tBS0lZ0UsGCN8i12YFz6sjJs8LkCcBqdX4cA2i/s1600-h/Peru08+041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKGMtVt75zoMScF82Ji596yVU1VnlAqCQI7NFSzCZkec4puYV8RK7nya9nug3mRV2XXsrFoAIWmu0XBHiDCZ2Y6ceVOU2rCwKDli197tBS0lZ0UsGCN8i12YFz6sjJs8LkCcBqdX4cA2i/s320/Peru08+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201788470667943682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was quite late, the sky was white, the shadows long. Yet, the architecture and the colors were breathtaking!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4TxMtkIe-vrTkaYmxNBzL_EuJfPwNdpGTdi6gttSdGtFDf-Kw6_4JaRFzu94d-PELXeNRE4r9r0R7Y0TevhjD69pP5mUpKusfZ5fS6crLKHh7tb0M9qvrvyLyZR5LRzprTMtuUVib4lx/s1600-h/Peru08+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4TxMtkIe-vrTkaYmxNBzL_EuJfPwNdpGTdi6gttSdGtFDf-Kw6_4JaRFzu94d-PELXeNRE4r9r0R7Y0TevhjD69pP5mUpKusfZ5fS6crLKHh7tb0M9qvrvyLyZR5LRzprTMtuUVib4lx/s320/Peru08+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201787920912129778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtwtISH06OQ2r_pYhu1B4dMizaOItf8XxbNMB1WHUElPzSmtUcy3GPHaT2J43x53ty02AXHgQMBbCo4h2it1wVty5uky_FnAyUEa_VrNC22802aRBfg24X5g-c_JRPmTUKBCs29DnwIZw/s1600-h/Peru08+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtwtISH06OQ2r_pYhu1B4dMizaOItf8XxbNMB1WHUElPzSmtUcy3GPHaT2J43x53ty02AXHgQMBbCo4h2it1wVty5uky_FnAyUEa_VrNC22802aRBfg24X5g-c_JRPmTUKBCs29DnwIZw/s320/Peru08+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201786005356715730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_Sth7fiKyRb7qqVv2SdBG5QbtReDzAmKOGqM8n18-MvzDyMczM88yHpNPClS_AaMxOmKXRVR6CkkAFMTdkGnaYyjY-sRP7eaJfSJlvScXHHGs0SZ-RLu6XFCxDg0bpKGSdKn1I8WESKM/s1600-h/Peru08+028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_Sth7fiKyRb7qqVv2SdBG5QbtReDzAmKOGqM8n18-MvzDyMczM88yHpNPClS_AaMxOmKXRVR6CkkAFMTdkGnaYyjY-sRP7eaJfSJlvScXHHGs0SZ-RLu6XFCxDg0bpKGSdKn1I8WESKM/s320/Peru08+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201785163543125698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This was the only interior flash shot I managed to get while out of the watchful eye of the guards. I later was grateful for them, because they found Doreen who had gotten lost. Oh, I think she could have stayed there forever, but we had no idea how cold it would get!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Na5MffmGlrhF2WR-UohwXfn7VsW8jeyK0fyRkq15qqsyFLtvJppo3lhcUkzO1RuwSNN6qiiXUJVqWPgSjgC3NzTwZBv70FrjgGa6sVrlA-AGtLosZnde6MvOisFSox3k9eT-itJ2qTCr/s1600-h/Peru08+051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Na5MffmGlrhF2WR-UohwXfn7VsW8jeyK0fyRkq15qqsyFLtvJppo3lhcUkzO1RuwSNN6qiiXUJVqWPgSjgC3NzTwZBv70FrjgGa6sVrlA-AGtLosZnde6MvOisFSox3k9eT-itJ2qTCr/s320/Peru08+051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201784716866526898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was surprised that this cute little boy never smiled, unlike his mom and his aunties. I noticed that there were quite a few children who could not be encouraged to smile, though they appeared healthy and well cared for.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA7sq4C4gvo-noAoftO35fzH6l2xasT-kjqcQNoGEetE3EH9Hl8oPuQ1BBMhGHQduWA7bc2f3nxK0IfQfjglW7xSjrS06T9tqVNh1tfKpUayi-ogrsquIOF0lPQeicnRuklotu4UAo4KZ/s1600-h/Peru08+044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA7sq4C4gvo-noAoftO35fzH6l2xasT-kjqcQNoGEetE3EH9Hl8oPuQ1BBMhGHQduWA7bc2f3nxK0IfQfjglW7xSjrS06T9tqVNh1tfKpUayi-ogrsquIOF0lPQeicnRuklotu4UAo4KZ/s320/Peru08+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201784051146596002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is a typical Peruvian oven used for baking and other cooking. We didn't get a guide, so perhaps this was the young ladies' sauna?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3LWle3SpX50As8XYd1dd4CYbPoa0nzUG-RwZWhAJkAzb97o8QE-UsDrUyHS-HuWCmYkABotL4_ZZ58pnFNx5XAuXHgsItXuIxJUi0jxgr-BMDwR0kqP7Y_o1r6WOfqll1-AnzbdkxeBA/s1600-h/Peru08+047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3LWle3SpX50As8XYd1dd4CYbPoa0nzUG-RwZWhAJkAzb97o8QE-UsDrUyHS-HuWCmYkABotL4_ZZ58pnFNx5XAuXHgsItXuIxJUi0jxgr-BMDwR0kqP7Y_o1r6WOfqll1-AnzbdkxeBA/s320/Peru08+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201783278052482706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQIivd52-Gy7PCm_zitPpY7i6zWNcdEVLOEQOSQU-I5n7sGOgVMXefqDbjQq4GtiVtXn-I4pPJGdndNkhO_C9dBpd_XD69PklXPelMFvZA6ryGg0IsOFqeQh9Gqbq8PaRJrbX_BIxA5qH/s1600-h/Peru08+026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQIivd52-Gy7PCm_zitPpY7i6zWNcdEVLOEQOSQU-I5n7sGOgVMXefqDbjQq4GtiVtXn-I4pPJGdndNkhO_C9dBpd_XD69PklXPelMFvZA6ryGg0IsOFqeQh9Gqbq8PaRJrbX_BIxA5qH/s320/Peru08+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201781663144779378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These are some of the guides waiting for the stragglers to come out so they can close their tallies and go home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNS0z_CBPHK0alI-aR1gEKOeNmlx2iQyOFvJbKfHwZxBIrNJseWZrKRfOz33gG-lpkQ0cutbs1LlVfQLH0quydQd_JyXKjgkmO2x1OI9wb576V8Yw1Rd2FLTEGLyguyd6ZHJBbh3JdEcA8/s1600-h/Peru08+033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNS0z_CBPHK0alI-aR1gEKOeNmlx2iQyOFvJbKfHwZxBIrNJseWZrKRfOz33gG-lpkQ0cutbs1LlVfQLH0quydQd_JyXKjgkmO2x1OI9wb576V8Yw1Rd2FLTEGLyguyd6ZHJBbh3JdEcA8/s320/Peru08+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201781044669488738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Doreen and I took a taxi to Case de Ana, paying the driver a flat 3 soles...the equivalent of a few cents over a dollar. Showers were impossible. First, there was only cold water, and then...no water at all.<br />The room was so cold there was nothing to be done other than crawl under the blankets. We went to sleep without dinner.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871446753734317808.post-51872454343098078822008-05-17T12:19:00.000-07:002008-05-18T08:47:54.144-07:00Day 1, Arequipa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJXn0R-VWTv9SlUo28iWgetSR_2AE51zTX_XXDNManxoCm-NeZ6jKL3q7xleAgS3G0G_CgxP7uNC-GPC1KWVoZZK5Gj6CQZzlFJuGOh5RPGIdRyXUbSGqePgRi_5e_XTKQrc0cgFO8yut/s1600-h/Peru08+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJXn0R-VWTv9SlUo28iWgetSR_2AE51zTX_XXDNManxoCm-NeZ6jKL3q7xleAgS3G0G_CgxP7uNC-GPC1KWVoZZK5Gj6CQZzlFJuGOh5RPGIdRyXUbSGqePgRi_5e_XTKQrc0cgFO8yut/s320/Peru08+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201435823788170802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the left, is Ana, our hostess at Casa Ana in Arequipa. She is standing on her upper patio.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The "Airporter" picked me up at 9 AM, April 30th. It was so easy! There was only one pick-up on the way to the airport, a fun Cuban lady on her way to Florida. She talked non-stop, but I didn't mind a bit.<br /><br />It's amazing how complicated and time consuming flying has become! The actual flight to Houston was half an hour; the actual flying time to Lima, 6 hours. However, it was 2 AM when we arrived! Only part of that time was replacing a valve on our plane......the rest was waiting in endless lines. Bureaucracy has grown incredibly both in this country and in Peru!<br /><br />Our travel agency who did an overall good job, failed to provide us with anyone to meet us in Lima. More correctly, no provisions were made for our flight's late arrival. We had an emergency number, but the tourist help desk told us it could make no phone calls. We weren't prepared to use the Peruvian pay phone, nor did we had we converted any money, yet. The taxi drivers all wanted to give us rides, however. (Our hotel was supposed to be attached to the airport) Finally, a nice taxi driver understood our plight well enough to call the emergency number on his cell phone, and after a rapid conversation in Spanish, asked us to follow him. Doreen was all for that, with me lagging behind. What.....follow a strange man we met in the busy Lima airport at 2AM? I had been expressly told to NEVER do such a thing! :-)<br /><br />Doreen's hunch was on target. We were walked to hour hotel where we gratefully took a quick shower and fell into our beds.....for 3 hours. I didn't feel as bad as one might think. I was ready to get out of Lima and on to our adventure.<br /><br />Our plane landed a bit out from the entry to the airport. No tarmac here. I was glad I had a cane to take much of the weight from my left knee which Doreen....accurately, as it turns out....diagnosed as a damaged meniscus. We were met by our guide with driver. I remember nothing of our drive to Casa de Ana other than the exceptional narrowness of the streets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXT08emJhgpumjcdm9pr_3fb5vkowIbQQDbgCNCuIJR9lgHaiLMouY0Diwe8CZZ_GZyB1EZupxGBhPaEJGNqFH54ldiRJGgJWmOjr2mBhb1qNMVWFlYOf2Z1VFzDyq47t6kBD3-Zbfc3J/s1600-h/Peru08+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXT08emJhgpumjcdm9pr_3fb5vkowIbQQDbgCNCuIJR9lgHaiLMouY0Diwe8CZZ_GZyB1EZupxGBhPaEJGNqFH54ldiRJGgJWmOjr2mBhb1qNMVWFlYOf2Z1VFzDyq47t6kBD3-Zbfc3J/s320/Peru08+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201435308392095266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the view of the guest house's entry patio, taken from our second floor room. (Yeah! ALL our rooms were on the second floor throughout our trip, and I felt the pain of each stair. I vowed to not ignore my knee once I got home back home to flat ground.)<br />Below is our view from the rooftop patio.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsBvZftibtKsgFtrMGO9xaA2xWDfWkEbX4l71dTaxEeGvzXwmxMRtLutpOMz2lMkLwI_5-W7L4pYms0KSd-BhIA79OtfTwgrPI8EOt08-X5GoPfOkm3ruTeXXstyGbkFTCTu218j3ysP-/s1600-h/Peru08+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsBvZftibtKsgFtrMGO9xaA2xWDfWkEbX4l71dTaxEeGvzXwmxMRtLutpOMz2lMkLwI_5-W7L4pYms0KSd-BhIA79OtfTwgrPI8EOt08-X5GoPfOkm3ruTeXXstyGbkFTCTu218j3ysP-/s320/Peru08+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201434702801706514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbPnoEwaL0X_BmSR79VjR7vuAgF7IE5S4orupp-xZyzWXYEFW3apNklO6GTF2lFL8cqV9jKLKueVkRiLWJY4VobuctUrckU2oSQQ2shFSWOlrmst0C9GvehC6zNUTRtsbaCs4tQypz00z/s1600-h/Peru08+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbPnoEwaL0X_BmSR79VjR7vuAgF7IE5S4orupp-xZyzWXYEFW3apNklO6GTF2lFL8cqV9jKLKueVkRiLWJY4VobuctUrckU2oSQQ2shFSWOlrmst0C9GvehC6zNUTRtsbaCs4tQypz00z/s320/Peru08+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201434183110663682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These photo above and below are of the main square. Nice palms! Arequipa has the same temperate climate throughout the year....Glorious....until sunset. The altitude is only about 8,500 ft, but it's enough to be very<br />cold at night. As we learned later, we had no idea what "cold" was! :-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mpiG87-sAHtS_Pes-S9I9aL3P24C0aQ9hoH29D55NyDEDTpcMgNW6yf2DqB-mQ_fNdBdJTHv8XFqRhmjQE8oss__WiD3l7iAfY8nDdrIg3aiLqeRD06RjV2HB2aTQWCydeZzMHb4jclP/s1600-h/Peru08+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mpiG87-sAHtS_Pes-S9I9aL3P24C0aQ9hoH29D55NyDEDTpcMgNW6yf2DqB-mQ_fNdBdJTHv8XFqRhmjQE8oss__WiD3l7iAfY8nDdrIg3aiLqeRD06RjV2HB2aTQWCydeZzMHb4jclP/s320/Peru08+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201433130843676146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ana hopped into a small taxi with us to direct us to a restaurant. This taxi, as well as all which followed had<br />many religious cards dangling on the inside windshield. All were exceptional drivers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE6HhcDcmPVya7RXUqA0NpqP7TRVSaEn2PCOmziwtctgN4aCm2GzCS5OATng3z-dLWgZiGRZ33IsnQOjLjGJ9dNQif4yuxH39gR0oGqU3SLYtC5vw6GAAU3N71T91MYDlCNOL3H2IgSB2/s1600-h/Peru08+in+Arequipa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE6HhcDcmPVya7RXUqA0NpqP7TRVSaEn2PCOmziwtctgN4aCm2GzCS5OATng3z-dLWgZiGRZ33IsnQOjLjGJ9dNQif4yuxH39gR0oGqU3SLYtC5vw6GAAU3N71T91MYDlCNOL3H2IgSB2/s320/Peru08+in+Arequipa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201430760021728722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lots of steps led us up to this balcony restaurant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGAKuAVkchOUMvnJQ2OHxHmfmHBDRB-fqmYXH1AhLSu8QMPPHcSoEVVDaBL8Oc5xFPlAN2Y6Qe6dQ2cdZ687hpU6gmLY1WAXRFtiTvpHsV_2RcOvqg5RJnoPDmSZwcfBPJM3lkpwR1-Ph/s1600-h/Peru08+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGAKuAVkchOUMvnJQ2OHxHmfmHBDRB-fqmYXH1AhLSu8QMPPHcSoEVVDaBL8Oc5xFPlAN2Y6Qe6dQ2cdZ687hpU6gmLY1WAXRFtiTvpHsV_2RcOvqg5RJnoPDmSZwcfBPJM3lkpwR1-Ph/s320/Peru08+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201430029877288386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Doreen is watching Ana sketching out directions on a little map while I pray for food. I had forgotten that one does not visit Peru for its food, though happy surprises can be had. The best part of the day, though, definitely came<span style="font-style: italic;"> after</span> lunch.Chaska Peacockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07024653595124708783noreply@blogger.com1