The Galapagos Islands

Red footed booby

We are back in Quito tonight having spent the last 4 nights on board the catamaran Galaxy II, our traveling home around the islands.  Our guide Javier had us on a brisk pace of 2-3 activities a day.  The weather was hot and humid, but we managed the walks/hikes and swimming/ snorkeling with a sense of adventure. I can even boast that I snorkeled with a hammerhead shark nearby!
Six of us will be returning home tonight. Mikey, Phil, Roger, Janet and Dick will continue on a post trip.

Mel on board looking for birds

Giant Galapagos turtle

Male frigate bird trying to attract a mate

Sea lion

Quito, Ecuador

We 're spending 2 nights in Ecuador ' s capital.  Here are some facts about Ecuador/ Quito.
The country is about the size of Colorado. The median income is about $360/month.  The currency is U.S. dollars.  The main export is oil, although they don't have the facilities to refine it. It is the biggest producer and exporter of bananas. The population of Quito is about 1.5 million.

The first place we visited was a music school for "special" students,  most of whom have Downs Syndrome.   Music is used as a therapy for the students who are allowed to attend the school until they are 50.  They dance, sing and play musical instruments.

Here are some photos from today 's exploration of Quito.

Street in the Colonial area of Quito

Lyn found a chocolate shop! 

Students perform a traditional dance

Tomorrow we fly to Galapagos for 4 nights. There is no WiFi on board our boat

Cusco 2

Our guide is from Cusco, so we had an advantage here. Since it is Holy Week, Corina  took us to see the Good Friday procession that lead to a church in the city square.  A bishop, priests,  nuns, altar boys, and lay people escorted the images of the crucified Jesus and his sorrowful mother complete with a Peruvian military escort and band.

Here are some photos from in and around Cusco.

Menu at our lunch stop

Our guide interprets as a shaman performs a healing ceremony 

Original Inca wall from 15th century
at the Temple of the Sun

Cusco #1

We are spending 3 nights in Cusco.  It's nice to be in one hotel for that long.  Getting laundry done and sleeping in the same bed for 3 nights feel luxurious. As always, the days have been packed with lots of activities to help us learn about Peruvian history and culture.
A major commercial center of nearly 500,000, Cusco and its surrounding areas have much to offer tourists.  The following photos chronicle some of our activities in and around Cusco.

A beautiful sweater from a "baby lama" factory where the first shearing of a lama is used

Linda and Bob are ready to help bake bread in a small town
known for its delicious bread

The local baker at work

Machu Picchu

We spent an afternoon and a  morning at this important center of the Inca Empire which thrived in the 15th century .There are many theories about the function of Machu Picchu in Inca life.  Our guide, who is a descendent of the Inca and finishing her Ph.D., believes it was a major religious center where the Sun God was worshipped,  especially during the solstices and equinoxes.  There is much archeological evidence of certain rituals involving astronomy.  To grow crops in the mountains,  the Inca developed sophisticated agricultural methods building terraces on the mountainsides for crops.

No camera can capture the beauty and mystery of Machu Picchu,  but here are a few snapshots of it.

A day in the Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley is a central agricultural area in Peru.  Corn, tomatoes,  pears, oranges, beans, and over 400 varieties of potatoes are among many of the crops  grown here.
Corina, our guide, called today " A Day in the Life of the Local People".  We went to a local market, visited a public elementary school,  went to an artist's country estate for a delicious lunch al fresco, visited the studio of a well-known ceramics artist, and had a home- hosted dinner with a family nearby.

Local market

Art studio

Jerry and Marilyn wait for their roasted guinea pig at the home - hosted dinner