Saturday, January 31, 2009
Cusco
Cuzco today has over 400000 people.
Main plaza and Inca temple door shown.
Tambomachay
Natural spring. You can see a 'hand' made from rocks on the 3rd wall.
Kids really enjoyed studying the fossils.
Qenqo literally mean zig zag
Saqsaywaman Ruins
Friday, January 30, 2009
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is the highest navegatable lake in the world. The pictured ship was the first large ship in the lake. It was carried in pieces by mules over a period of 6 years over 100 years ago.
Uros
Floating hotel
Actually looked nicer than you would guess...had 2 restaurants also.
Boat ride
Traditional clothes
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Puno, Peru
The guinea pig was tasty...tastes just like chicken...actually duck.
Arrived in Puno, Peru
Puno is on lake Titicaca...the highest lake in the world. The picture is obviously of a small bay in front of our hotel.
Sheep at 55 mph
Border crossing
Crossing between Bolivia and Peru...5th time we have crossed borders by foot (Argentina/Chile,
Kenya/Tanzania, Zimbabwe/Zambia, Mexico/USA)
Sucre
City was named after the founder of Bolivia
Bolivia has 2 capitals. The legal one is La Paz and the Judicial / Legislative is Sucre.
Potosi
More silver was produced here than any place in the world. At its peak it produced 170000 tons of silver and over 6 million workers died...so many that they had to import african slaves.
In its time Potosi was bigger than it counter part european cities.
Pucayo mine
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Fish island
Salt hotel
After more driving we arrived at a hotel where evething including the beds are made from salt blocks. Notice the swimming pool.
Cactus
Salt angels
More views from Fish island
Salt piles
Ready for processing... Tasted like...salt. Alex was in heaven.
Cave
This cave was just discovered in 2003 and is at the edge of the salt flat.
Old sea bed
It is hard to believe this is an old sea. However, here you can see old coral.
The sea bottom has been lifted to over 12000 feet and has created an inmense plain...we have been surprised how flat Bolivia is. The salt flat is in the middle of the plain.
Burnt village
This per Inca village was next to the hotel. It was originally built in the 1300s and destroyed during the Chile Bolivia war in 1870s.
There are llamas everywhere. The hotel served it for dinner and it was delicious.
Stone Hotel
Finally arrived in La Paz, Bolivia at John F Kennedy El Alto airport at 13325 feet. Only the boys (all 3) had altitude sickness :)
Apparently there was a new constitution passed last night so there was a demonstration on the way to the first hotel. The demonstration included fire.
Next day after an early morning departure we drove to the Stone hotel. The drive was 13 hours...5 dirt roads and 2 in the salt flat. 2 of those hours were in the dark.
The hotel was nicer than you would guess and as you would guess everything was made from stones. The generator was turned off at 11PM so only candles after that.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Uyuni, Bolivia
is in the middle of nowhere. There are a surprisingly large amount of
tourists here. The indiginous culture is still strong.
Arrived in Bolivia
Landed at the highest commecial airport in the world...El Alto John F Kennedy at 13325 feet.
No we are off to the Uyuni Salt flats where we will not have phone access for a few days.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Center of the earth
Alex was a little worried about going to the 'center to the earth'...thought it was suicidal
We went to the exhibits at 0 0' 0"
It was more amazing than you would expect. Especially seeing the Coreolis effect in action.
We did the 'water drains clockwise' in the south, 'counter clockwise in the north,' and straight down on the equator experiments. The kids got a big kick when the guide told them to walk 'to the northern hemisphere.'
Walking in a straight line is very difficult on the equator. Amazingly just 1 foot to the side you physically can notice the difference.
We also did the egg balancing on a nail experiment.
The original 300 year old monument is off by about 600'.
Cathy hopes this fixes Roger's bipolar disorder :)
Blow dart
Official equator monument
Off by 600', but not bad for the 1700s.
You would have thought they would have moved it .... but private business beat them to it ... with better exhibits I may add.
Rabida Island
Eric had a fantastic time snorkling. Seals and sharks came right up to
him ... no cages this time. Will try to post under water picts later.
In this picture Cathy and kids are freaked out about sea lions getting
to close as they swim.
Two Boobies
Oldest of these birds pecks at youngest to kill it....Eric gave Rebeca a
michievious grin :)
It was interesting seeing them fish. 3 would circle, dive bomb, and
enter the water at same time...they would catch the dish on way up. A
minute later the process would repeat.
Rabida island
Notice sea lions swiminng around Cathy and the kids.
Eric snorkeled with sea lions and sharks ... No cage this time. Hope to
post underwater picts later.
Land turtles
form the word saddle which these turtles seem to have. Eric was in
heaven.
'Lonesome George' is over 100 years old and is the last of the
species...no other of that species exist.
There are so many species because lava fields do not allow these land
turtles to mate with other turtles that are nearby.
Arrived in Quito
Quito was founded in 1534. 2 million people live here. The city is
between volcanos and is 5kms x 50kms.
City
Crab
Espanola, Galapagos
it.
Definitely not scared of humans...to an unnatural level. Had to be
careful not step on an animal by accident.
San Christobal
we we there.
Seals and beaches
out s little) and a minute later he almost stepped on one because he
thought it was a rock.
Espanola
Eric learned a lot.
Rebeca finally was not that afraid of lizards.
Sand
Arrival to Galapagos
In Lima connecting
We were supposed to leave iquitos at 5:10PM. That flight was delayed
until 8:10PM. Thankfully we had the extra time since the airline had no
record of our reservation and we had to buy new tickets ... A process
more painful than you would guess.
Now we connect to our Ecuador flight leaving at 12:40am arriving 3:00am.
We get picked up from our hotel for our flight to the Galapagos at
7:00am....you read correctly.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Quito in a very rainy afternoon.
Quito was founded in 1534. 2 million people live here. The city is between volcanos and is 5kms x 50kms.
Rabida Island
This red island was caused by oxidation after an eruption.
Eric had a fantastic time snorkling. Seals and sharks came right up to him ... no cages this time. Will try to post under water picts later.
In this picture Cathy and kids are freaked out about sea lions getting to close as they swim.
Two Boobies
Not what you thought.
Oldest of these birds pecks at youngest to kill it....Eric gave Rebeca a michievious grin :)
It was interesting seeing them fish. 3 would circle, dive bomb, and enter the water at same time...they would catch the dish on way up. A minute later the process would repeat.
Rabida island
The island is red due to oxidation.
Notice sea lions swiminng around Cathy and the kids.
Eric snorkeled with sea lions and sharks ... No cage this time. Hope to post underwater picts later.
Espanola, Galapagos
Crabs and seals. There were thouands of lizards...Rebeca really liked it.
Definitely not scared of humans...to an unnatural level. Had to be careful not step on an animal by accident.
Land turtles
Only found in the Schelles and Galapagos. The name of the island comes form the word saddle which these turtles seem to have. Eric was in heaven.
'Lonesome George' is over 100 years old and is the last of the species...no other of that species exist.
There are so many species because lava fields do not allow these land turtles to mate with other turtles that are nearby.
Crab
City
Friday, January 23, 2009
Seals and beaches
Alex literally had one swim over him and rubbed against him (freaked us out s little) and a minute later he almost stepped on one because he thought it was a rock.
Espanola
Alex was a little bored.
Eric learned a lot.
Rebeca finally was not that afraid of lizards.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
San Christobal
Our first stop was amazing. Sea lions everywhere and none of them cared we we there.
Sand
Arrival to Galapagos
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
In Lima connecting
Off to our crazy flights.
We were supposed to leave iquitos at 5:10PM. That flight was delayed until 8:10PM. Thankfully we had the extra time since the airline had no record of our reservation and we had to buy new tickets ... A process more painful than you would guess.
Now we connect to our Ecuador flight leaving at 12:40am arriving 3:00am. We get picked up from our hotel for our flight to the Galapagos at 7:00am....you read correctly.
Sloth
Store owner just happened to have one as a pet. Loud crying and sharp nails.
Sloth
Store owner just happened to have one as a pet. Loud crying and sharp nails.
Manatee rescue center
Village
We stopped by a village.
We have been to many places, but have not seen people so exited for basic gifts such as pen and paper. Roger gave one his shirts away and the villager gave back one of his necklaces (anaconda bones...which Eric has now claimed as his own).
We also joked about leaving Alex for a week...he actually took it better than you would think...if they had a Wii he would have stayed even though he was scared of being 'killed in the jungle.'
Monday, January 19, 2009
Jungle
We had a 2 hour trek throug the jungle were we saw fire ants that are so poisonous that 2 to 3 bites can threaten a human. Our guide removed the stinger from one of them.
Alex's quote of the day was 'So glad I do not live here.'
We used almost a whole bottle of off :)
Turn around
After walking for an hour we had to turn around because of high water.
Animals
We saw many intersting animals including this owl butterfly.
Maranon river
Past the birthplaceof the Amazon, Marsnon river is one of the biggest tributaries of the Amazon.
Anaconda
2 local kids had caught this anaconda in their fishing net. We took it up river and released it.
Fishing the Amazon
Amazonia 2
Giant water lillies ... Largest aquatic plant in the world ... Can support a 1 year old child on it (up to 25lbs)
There is also a sloth in the middle of one of these picts. Probably impossible to see.
Even though we are 2300 miles away from the ocean, the river is already about 2 miles wide. Near the ocean it is 50 miles wide! There is even an island the size of Swizerland in the middle for part of it!
Amazonia day 1
Impressive seeing the boat in the middle of nowhere....we got here about 3am and we still have 1 bar of cell ... Actually got an email from amazon.com .... 30% of TV's :)
Our first excursion by tender was at 630am.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Aqua
Very odd looking boat. It is like 12 rooms of the Hilton were stacked on top of a boat. Needless to say very nice inside.
Iquitos
Interesting city. 30,000 3 wheel taxis that came from Thailand (tuk tuks).
Some interesting storeis such as a building designed by Eiffel (tower). They think it was being shipped to Quito (Ecuador), but arrived in Iquitos by error.
Aqua
This will be our transportation for the next 3 days. The boat has 12 cabins and just started to operate March 2008. More picts later.
Iquitos, the town were we landed, is the largest city (pop 500k) in the world with no road to it. The nearest road is 6 days by river and then you are still in the middle of no where.
Arriving in the Amazon
Friday, January 16, 2009
Oasis
We have been surprised by the desert's of Peru...they are true sand dunes.
We drove 10 minutes to this oasis...first one we have seen. People were swimming, boating, and having a nice time.
Turtle
Nazca lines
Discovered by accident in 1939.
The theories behind them are 1 landing strips for extraterrestrial ship, astronomical calendar, images of magic origen.
More Nazca
Condor, Lama
And scale model of 'lineas del Nazca' which was featured in the last 'Indiana Jones'.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Dinner
We had dinner at Huaca Pucllana restaurant which is inside the archological site.
Lima city center
Aztec ruins
Arrived in Lima, Peru
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Bridge representing tango?
El gaucho
San Isidro
Parana Delta
Mate
Trying the local drink....like sour tea were everyone shares the same 'filter' straw.
5 years and 2 months
After 5 years and 2 months Alex is finally getting one of his permanent front teeth.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tango show
Main square
Quick trip to Washington DC
Necropolis
Big Ben
Took a quick side trip to London...now back to Argentina...
Actually it is a monument given to the UK to Argentina. Across from it is the memorial to the UK vs Argentina Falkand war (islas Malvinas).
Buenos Aires
Monday, January 12, 2009
Zoo
More punta del Este
Punta del Este
First world cup
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Uruguay
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Playland
painting, climbing tubes, fuseball, ping pong, a pooltable, a computer
and a wii. The grown ups napped.
Iguacu
Iguacu
The longest (2km) waterfall in the world seen from the Brazil side.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
More Bariloche
Bariloche area
Stunning sunny day. Took a chair lift to the top of the hill.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Arrived in Argentina
Peulla, Chile
We spent the night at the midway point between Chile and Argentina. Very pretty. Reminds us New Zealand.
This is our second international border crossing on a dirt road...last one was between Kenya and Tanzania
Petting animals
The kids really enjoyed petting sheep, jabali, reindeer, alpacas, and ostrichs.
Boat
Crossing the first Andino lake....Lago Los Santos. Incredible scenery.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Los Saltos
We are on our way from Chile to Argentina. Will involve multiple buses and boats.
This waterfall was a side stop for us....remnind is of new Zealand.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt is on the ocean--Puerto Varas is on lake Llanquihue.
Church Puerto Varas
Sunday, January 4, 2009
German
Everything here is German. German beer. German speakers. Odd. Cathy looks native.
Volcano Osorno
Playground
Lake district
After spending the night at the holiday inn airport Santiago we landed in Osorno in the lake district of Chile....very beautiful.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Monument
Sao Paulo
We arrived safely in Brazil.
Our first stop was at a snake museum which the kids really liked.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Off again
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