tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28292458690621164442024-02-18T23:53:07.597-08:00GnTnZ's Big AdventureJoin us on our trip around the world.GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-39049832904134536682010-06-27T21:50:00.000-07:002010-06-27T21:32:44.100-07:00The EndOur around the world adventure draws to a close, and it is hard to believe we are at the end – or is it the beginning?<br />
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Thanks for sharing it with us, hope you enjoyed it – we sure did!<br />
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Here's a brief look at some numbers regarding the journey:<br />
<br />
292: Days Travelling<br />
13: Countries<br />
29: Flights<br />
103: Places We Spent The Night<br />
11: World Heritage Sites Visited<br />
6,000+ Kilometers Driven In Land Rover (Namibia, Botswana, S. Africa)<br />
1: Wrecked Land Rover<br />
2: Presidential Elections Experienced (Botswana, Costa Rica)<br />
4: Items Lost At Airport Security (2 Knives, 1 Pair Scissors, 1 Horseshoe)<br />
800+: Approximate number of bird species identified.<br />
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Till next time, happy travels!<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-8372840763055639852010-06-27T21:30:00.000-07:002010-06-27T21:30:11.195-07:00Tahiti Tahiti – last stop on our world tour. We spent 4 days here doing pretty much nothing. Seems that travel fatigue has finally caught up with us and we basically ran out the clock until our return home. Not that this was such a bad thing – the weather was warm, the beach was right across the street, and the supermarket was filled with tasty French food and amazingly fresh hunks of tuna. <br />
We did manage one trip in to the “big city” of Papeete, where we wandered around downtown, listened to the locals playing their ukuleles on the street corner, and visited the local market (Fresh fruits, more great looking fish, trinkets and some good lunch spots). Also the Orange Festival was on so I walked over there and was treated to a nice display of local dancing.<br />
We previously thought our Spanish was bad, but we revised that opinion when we realized here in a French speaking country we could count all the French we knew on the fingers of both hands. Luckily the locals were very friendly and helpful to us and we got by.<br />
Hard to believe we are at the end of our journey and tomorrow we trade the warm tropical breezes for the cold southerlies of New Zealand!<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-13407786944204922662010-06-24T14:06:00.000-07:002010-09-02T07:21:34.085-07:00Photos of Rapa Nui (Easter Island)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi809gqIZx5h7FWWMk0413-NiPStglkrFHLMDCrJBhuhaQNHmvvgRfV0kL1-ZFRX5KmGQWeKWl4jB_DGLe3SfI3xRkCP3riDFchaUsiZsW6p2pYhel9G2cSE-kIt4D7QEHGYpWFXbjbfDt-/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi809gqIZx5h7FWWMk0413-NiPStglkrFHLMDCrJBhuhaQNHmvvgRfV0kL1-ZFRX5KmGQWeKWl4jB_DGLe3SfI3xRkCP3riDFchaUsiZsW6p2pYhel9G2cSE-kIt4D7QEHGYpWFXbjbfDt-/s320/IMG_1252.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The crater of extinct volcano Ranokau, one of the few water sources on the island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j3zt5voQy8xo7n6_mHRYyr6KRJ3CDE1ozhQPWmWJDP8Ef2gXqGynh0gKk23I4RehR77C-OOqrIYCEOYsrMMdZ7XtyLHgFzU8ihKcdQKDdgQKWFD_EYJx3Cl466ml5yCyk-IZ-N62ug1F/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j3zt5voQy8xo7n6_mHRYyr6KRJ3CDE1ozhQPWmWJDP8Ef2gXqGynh0gKk23I4RehR77C-OOqrIYCEOYsrMMdZ7XtyLHgFzU8ihKcdQKDdgQKWFD_EYJx3Cl466ml5yCyk-IZ-N62ug1F/s320/IMG_1256.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Orongo, site of many stone shelters such as this. By far the most substantial structures remaining on the island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XaJKOgNGKjvR2AGJlpWaoyiTh0lZk3VLpxkUKBXWBasBe5FPtBMULb0cFMgCZxMLaT-83xgHOcJdMKam3qxNaZMAiYaniW64DqEPOrNpEb1sKx4Lsgzr1xJE-rzP7ig_1emUSoUo-RWF/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XaJKOgNGKjvR2AGJlpWaoyiTh0lZk3VLpxkUKBXWBasBe5FPtBMULb0cFMgCZxMLaT-83xgHOcJdMKam3qxNaZMAiYaniW64DqEPOrNpEb1sKx4Lsgzr1xJE-rzP7ig_1emUSoUo-RWF/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ahu Vinapu. This statue has been buried upright, probably to protect it from breakage. The platform behind has some fine stonework. Our guide said this prompted Captain Cook to blow it up, looking for gold. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCwqagsMp_RwVZ_XlRY1Dt12m1E8XYAAXIhDDAx8zJVXz6tLvbWG2sBDlQEnPARwFFreb5ZbNOXS907neg0WPkh0AgFlJ_g5P7XXrTV8dFIOcMXUrG1CbYu2xS9D2PYRisUOlyEnoA1xP/s1600/IMG_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCwqagsMp_RwVZ_XlRY1Dt12m1E8XYAAXIhDDAx8zJVXz6tLvbWG2sBDlQEnPARwFFreb5ZbNOXS907neg0WPkh0AgFlJ_g5P7XXrTV8dFIOcMXUrG1CbYu2xS9D2PYRisUOlyEnoA1xP/s320/IMG_1274.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A pukao, or "topknot". These were placed on the top of the moai (statues), and are believed to represent the typical hairstyle. We were amazed at how shallow the bottoms are - it takes some good balance to keep them on top of the moai.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0Frr3DFvdlpuFZdOnQ1IK1YMDvsvvxLRbVfK_sBSwizVJzDt12QRvkEPGvTnIaTVnZa1izK3YlI8f5pLIpIxCddtpG2C4LjgEo9lDZ7zMDhjWOnLBjxbk9lBKbOaXBXZZIMd_19_5LCC/s1600/IMG_1285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0Frr3DFvdlpuFZdOnQ1IK1YMDvsvvxLRbVfK_sBSwizVJzDt12QRvkEPGvTnIaTVnZa1izK3YlI8f5pLIpIxCddtpG2C4LjgEo9lDZ7zMDhjWOnLBjxbk9lBKbOaXBXZZIMd_19_5LCC/s320/IMG_1285.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fallen moai. The moai contained the "mana", or prestige of the men they were modelled after. Enemies would topple the moai in order to try and break the heads off, which would release the mana.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfCwfn58A5j0pl4I8NSAQtgHGothdWXP1YqOHl9Ddb8YFnxnCN2coAAHEUP4lwsbNd72UO_J79d7TRhsE2drCrK68gI2aJ4aO5IXBe6NRmHiNAeS0NLTOzlkTL3oswLbNDJVR9sXqKJT0/s1600/IMG_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfCwfn58A5j0pl4I8NSAQtgHGothdWXP1YqOHl9Ddb8YFnxnCN2coAAHEUP4lwsbNd72UO_J79d7TRhsE2drCrK68gI2aJ4aO5IXBe6NRmHiNAeS0NLTOzlkTL3oswLbNDJVR9sXqKJT0/s320/IMG_1246.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Restored moai near the town of Hanga Roa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFbQvRzsCzirwq-IyIGAQAQybmHLV4EjLibTTAURbx6Nv4v2M_jq2lEl0S0F0fWdpqHldi4vKoslTwaYx2uCyEqWKB41wxIchKGwKNCZ9DvxNWdeJEvH5CNOvz_KFCGiVEETazajWHT5O/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFbQvRzsCzirwq-IyIGAQAQybmHLV4EjLibTTAURbx6Nv4v2M_jq2lEl0S0F0fWdpqHldi4vKoslTwaYx2uCyEqWKB41wxIchKGwKNCZ9DvxNWdeJEvH5CNOvz_KFCGiVEETazajWHT5O/s320/IMG_1322.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Restored ahu (platform) and moai at Anakena Beach. These are particularly well-preserved - they were buried in the beach sand for many years. Also one of the many free-range horses found on the island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlVuN88b-OgMMtRHkR166OX2i554mVdt5pIBcq9FBVbNWCxiVkf-knUtSY-HG9EAu567MeLjxAXB3fNmWQ2JW0qgcaxyJESPrq5bGuUKMIvoBURFGumlFNLVu-vS-EEDSM4taK9l7NnYF/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlVuN88b-OgMMtRHkR166OX2i554mVdt5pIBcq9FBVbNWCxiVkf-knUtSY-HG9EAu567MeLjxAXB3fNmWQ2JW0qgcaxyJESPrq5bGuUKMIvoBURFGumlFNLVu-vS-EEDSM4taK9l7NnYF/s320/IMG_1339.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Moai at Anakena Beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzhZvJZB2cs3y8FFLNbZlRDyoUe2kuEPFnKj64I2dLu5ZkVTyUL8km3kgA-0CK0jzJx_XjAapXq6iB5-9MkBZm5lETfvvSSKPdG2dnyWWKcMQc8oy2xpxkSLb35VPsZZJdSNPX13XFGZ5/s1600/IMG_1296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzhZvJZB2cs3y8FFLNbZlRDyoUe2kuEPFnKj64I2dLu5ZkVTyUL8km3kgA-0CK0jzJx_XjAapXq6iB5-9MkBZm5lETfvvSSKPdG2dnyWWKcMQc8oy2xpxkSLb35VPsZZJdSNPX13XFGZ5/s320/IMG_1296.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Showing detail of carved tatoos and rope (to tie clothing) on the back of a moai.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7BVwBf9zF1EEiZcq-gN7eGr6R3hWwfHeqdh8vq9fk0gMrqyQ81dywfgBv-s-rDV9SjfGMAG89R0QfNKIyaT9TA9KrQ-QdCDqjaUTI0fCPU2eHHiXowEUh90vICrr0HG59vjj_cn2XQbr/s1600/IMG_1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7BVwBf9zF1EEiZcq-gN7eGr6R3hWwfHeqdh8vq9fk0gMrqyQ81dywfgBv-s-rDV9SjfGMAG89R0QfNKIyaT9TA9KrQ-QdCDqjaUTI0fCPU2eHHiXowEUh90vICrr0HG59vjj_cn2XQbr/s320/IMG_1317.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ana Te Pahu, a large cave system that was home to many natives. Openings in the cavern were used as gardens. Even today we saw taro, bananas, and grapes growing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnGxy_F7gzVWzQ75meqyjtWo0GaxEN6fUN04P3DScmZEv5gp5vq0M38pQrEuNADWrQ0rfLs976u1xAOWw9Bm-l8WgOJEEKN_cF-HsfG7X3NLVbBxo3RFDFz_3cQeH0XXxUWTpPNmG445Y/s1600/IMG_1343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnGxy_F7gzVWzQ75meqyjtWo0GaxEN6fUN04P3DScmZEv5gp5vq0M38pQrEuNADWrQ0rfLs976u1xAOWw9Bm-l8WgOJEEKN_cF-HsfG7X3NLVbBxo3RFDFz_3cQeH0XXxUWTpPNmG445Y/s320/IMG_1343.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A cave where residents hid from slaving expeditions. The entrance had been filled in and hidden with rocks, leaving only a small passageway.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUam1paDf9tPyDQZYdJPDqfisbb4BIlI3-Nt9qhzLW9m8S356LRw9FXXdELnRL9gubzip76xxxIzca0N5M4B28Q6-h3rRcveY4ZSedMxLIrkZJoODoSjSDn0hZtSXgC0ZNqKUzbwl7-y0/s1600/IMG_1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUam1paDf9tPyDQZYdJPDqfisbb4BIlI3-Nt9qhzLW9m8S356LRw9FXXdELnRL9gubzip76xxxIzca0N5M4B28Q6-h3rRcveY4ZSedMxLIrkZJoODoSjSDn0hZtSXgC0ZNqKUzbwl7-y0/s320/IMG_1398.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ahu Tongariki, with 15 standing moai, is the largest shrine on the island.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbUh_oRpkNlDWq-2v4mqaK4OlNoe2UXc1k4c7xFBsIsGRKMBAn_WjcGqwvv2dsAbEeAy0BbIsMIwZi-2MrQB6bn9tpF3cLZWE5vSqygaJMEAnHvdy6jvkkAT40bB7DhRuXb3MjZO7gICU/s1600/IMG_1373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbUh_oRpkNlDWq-2v4mqaK4OlNoe2UXc1k4c7xFBsIsGRKMBAn_WjcGqwvv2dsAbEeAy0BbIsMIwZi-2MrQB6bn9tpF3cLZWE5vSqygaJMEAnHvdy6jvkkAT40bB7DhRuXb3MjZO7gICU/s320/IMG_1373.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ahu Tongariki, an impressive row of moai. Note the hawk seated on the moai 5th from the left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD2ewHnZXSJNSYcpfcUTza5cM8WAT1_PK7ksUMQuoJhA33S8XkLksQdqIvyd5T5RpGGEjUkBQCv4yOmV9AhFmhfvc5J_KlESoGIwiU__xI6t-Vpy1ptNoaCg5a3mzLv0J3sBqvwz_uVKm/s1600/IMG_1353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD2ewHnZXSJNSYcpfcUTza5cM8WAT1_PK7ksUMQuoJhA33S8XkLksQdqIvyd5T5RpGGEjUkBQCv4yOmV9AhFmhfvc5J_KlESoGIwiU__xI6t-Vpy1ptNoaCg5a3mzLv0J3sBqvwz_uVKm/s320/IMG_1353.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ahu Tongariki.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMnttqWUe70lVD6xxJLViL6vsi_NdfaWOSh3ZGofZNHyp_w3iLsFbHJUUQUu-JDCS2E4CcT3DaRy1erujQglLobGSiQ2pCQ-Y83tsJMbyVjjpY3BaZNN62viTy1WLrZuTZ809E9u47Glq/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMnttqWUe70lVD6xxJLViL6vsi_NdfaWOSh3ZGofZNHyp_w3iLsFbHJUUQUu-JDCS2E4CcT3DaRy1erujQglLobGSiQ2pCQ-Y83tsJMbyVjjpY3BaZNN62viTy1WLrZuTZ809E9u47Glq/s320/IMG_1394.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although they look like they are lying in state, these moai were in the process of being born when work ceased at Rano Raraku, the quarry where the moai were created.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyb7GI5yg1UbDflMUiymVW5SPKM3OcJdgiQvXaaK1F_1j4frG6dEO8H_Uiw1tvmUZU6LBMA5NdRIUohmaDi0X5dU2FnPi5w9aOd2UK4NMrpuUe_29cQhPpDg0X-9A6uxklhHCcDcidggPJ/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyb7GI5yg1UbDflMUiymVW5SPKM3OcJdgiQvXaaK1F_1j4frG6dEO8H_Uiw1tvmUZU6LBMA5NdRIUohmaDi0X5dU2FnPi5w9aOd2UK4NMrpuUe_29cQhPpDg0X-9A6uxklhHCcDcidggPJ/s320/IMG_1421.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Work in progress at Rano Raraku. Tana providing some scale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglNDJlyKBB2_AWJrvOCVDPlGFc2g4HHj4saNSqWfvT7ljAtFwkraSdBa0I5MfE8daPyqLDmJvA37X_Ib3ax9NdOEXjTGFcLgv4JItyph9wLjCiVuX6JVYYW8N20wzzg4fthophSXwjsLe/s1600/IMG_1387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglNDJlyKBB2_AWJrvOCVDPlGFc2g4HHj4saNSqWfvT7ljAtFwkraSdBa0I5MfE8daPyqLDmJvA37X_Ib3ax9NdOEXjTGFcLgv4JItyph9wLjCiVuX6JVYYW8N20wzzg4fthophSXwjsLe/s320/IMG_1387.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Moai seeming to sprout from the ground at Rano Raraku.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxxOScbrmifTYudur0RFEm5QJQwJ6ndGojdBibqABnpwEAtSHJTV8nf7fEUgothwW96MWLWcbeEE1u2t96Tv2DLEDpugQMz8tOYqEChnhqXJxhESuSXt_zMEqTkjv9rxaWDhLfzCblLlq/s1600/IMG_1425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxxOScbrmifTYudur0RFEm5QJQwJ6ndGojdBibqABnpwEAtSHJTV8nf7fEUgothwW96MWLWcbeEE1u2t96Tv2DLEDpugQMz8tOYqEChnhqXJxhESuSXt_zMEqTkjv9rxaWDhLfzCblLlq/s320/IMG_1425.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Zane with a moai that fell during transport. It is believed that the moai were transported standing upright. If they fell over, that was the end of the journey.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-47891479081281994842010-06-24T13:41:00.000-07:002010-06-24T20:19:27.345-07:00Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Rapa Nui, or Easter Island – one of the world's most isolated islands yet world famous and home to the iconic mysterious statues, or moai. A place where a civilization flourished and essentially flared out before “discovery” by Europeans, leaving behind some very unique monuments, and many unanswered questions. Today it is a rather quiet place and does indeed seem far removed from the rest of the world.<br />
The general theory regarding the history of Rapa Nui is roughly this: settled by Polynesians around 400 to 800AD, the population rapidly expanded in isolation over the next several hundred years, peaking at over 20,000 (today the population is about 4000). Unfortunately, the island was not particularly well endowed with biodiversity, and was unable to support this increased population. This resource crisis led to internal strife and warfare. The stone monuments and statues, mostly erected between 1000 and 1400 AD, were destroyed during the upheaval. By the time of European arrival on Easter Sunday 1722, some of the statues were found to be lying on the ground. By the mid 1800's none were left standing. At this time the population was estimated to be 4,000. In subsequent years slave raids removed about 40 percent of these, and disease reduced the population to about 150, essentially erasing a great deal of the unique culture.<br />
We spent the better part of two days touring around the island, and were lucky to have as our guide and host a man who had first come here in 1964 as an archeology student. He shared some great insights in to what they found at the time, and how in 45 short years many of the statues have eroded considerably. If some way cannot be found to protect these monuments, it will not be long before many are lost forever.<br />
Luckily for today's visitors some restoration projects have been undertaken over the years and a number of the statues are now standing (perhaps not exactly in their original location, but they are standing). Even in their various states of deterioration they are massive and impressive. Imagining the amount of work to produce and move them (without beasts of burden or anything beyond the crudest stone tools) is mind boggling.<br />
Perhaps the most interesting site is the quarry itself, where statues in all stages of completion can be seen. Many have been placed vertically in holes for finishing. The holes have filled in over time, giving the appearance that the massive heads are sprouting out of the ground, a literal statue garden.<br />
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Next, and final, stop: Tahiti!<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-25843379640215947392010-06-20T03:41:00.000-07:002010-06-20T03:41:20.783-07:00Photos of Valparaiso, Chile<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJTOKe0iDC1UrgOsUNDEtuzfBeyAlVFt7M18s1b8P-tuqyHtVsiAbPzRfQGq-ibcGMbt7U9XN0r1krjD_cq42uSwmlxI2kDiznLZZNZ1MnF_JYKY2y90rVnosjKaj8SjZZP8g83Fgqfaa/s1600/IMG_1212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJTOKe0iDC1UrgOsUNDEtuzfBeyAlVFt7M18s1b8P-tuqyHtVsiAbPzRfQGq-ibcGMbt7U9XN0r1krjD_cq42uSwmlxI2kDiznLZZNZ1MnF_JYKY2y90rVnosjKaj8SjZZP8g83Fgqfaa/s320/IMG_1212.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Valparaiso skyline.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V9TxWynUog5NOTFtr6aVDYsYPHClRAZyWdm3tTLrMTxHcokG72Lz5LjHYvWseCibQIVY0mf3hI-XaTKjBQHN18dn_RaLyAD-5ds0a7v3YA2n3rCUCKwx-75n9bUXj4lblwbpd_77yeWx/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V9TxWynUog5NOTFtr6aVDYsYPHClRAZyWdm3tTLrMTxHcokG72Lz5LjHYvWseCibQIVY0mf3hI-XaTKjBQHN18dn_RaLyAD-5ds0a7v3YA2n3rCUCKwx-75n9bUXj4lblwbpd_77yeWx/s320/IMG_1215.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Valparaiso is still a working port.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyJQ7n3DLWREF7EsuBIKhFxB7JiIBm7fGo7icwVIK4PmZ0KFJs5d_VEfSEEbWpal4PhgJv2uExFpbrZiZxGhXPzhbFuagDN_hRpSxxNyic00fYw8rpcIv2W-4KpUtvGJod5qKrwoIwglv/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyJQ7n3DLWREF7EsuBIKhFxB7JiIBm7fGo7icwVIK4PmZ0KFJs5d_VEfSEEbWpal4PhgJv2uExFpbrZiZxGhXPzhbFuagDN_hRpSxxNyic00fYw8rpcIv2W-4KpUtvGJod5qKrwoIwglv/s320/IMG_1222.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scenery in old town, corrugated metal clad buildings.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0SEvlAw4t4Xw_LImiKma3fs98vCXkTym_A02_iQqLb0VvbfdCNKHSJacolPF03a6Ej2Dcw6qBctmUArG38Xr4u0JMsK6-kyyQGUV_VqFZeHufFrfagaeLT_d3uj6MumU5HcLOv6t9TSQ/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0SEvlAw4t4Xw_LImiKma3fs98vCXkTym_A02_iQqLb0VvbfdCNKHSJacolPF03a6Ej2Dcw6qBctmUArG38Xr4u0JMsK6-kyyQGUV_VqFZeHufFrfagaeLT_d3uj6MumU5HcLOv6t9TSQ/s320/IMG_1226.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ascensors help residents up and down the hills. Half train, half elavator, most are well over 100 years old.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m4mPAx1jTGBQhD9_9yyWkVkXeClH99gcD4KnWZMNONh2TMejt0olMQoLRlgS-KsJnncMAj7pjDe4hyVnBmI7tDHnPanD9_QJDVPuKZaHiMPjjRF_myY3Y3Z-zKBiIxNc28_67yI_OEXD/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m4mPAx1jTGBQhD9_9yyWkVkXeClH99gcD4KnWZMNONh2TMejt0olMQoLRlgS-KsJnncMAj7pjDe4hyVnBmI7tDHnPanD9_QJDVPuKZaHiMPjjRF_myY3Y3Z-zKBiIxNc28_67yI_OEXD/s320/IMG_1218.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The World Cup was a big attraction wherever it was playing.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeLNcaBRHyVpO44EUvm5A5Qke6_es9xr1-G7GIPKkaA2VTsWiInd0GFFA1fA1c6cqEPkKgtXmeJRg8VRaMR6GBrws6sckBJyjQ5abiHurTwFOJCFZY0_vImQYdqtb-8fJK5iLruTh6w83/s1600/IMG_1219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeLNcaBRHyVpO44EUvm5A5Qke6_es9xr1-G7GIPKkaA2VTsWiInd0GFFA1fA1c6cqEPkKgtXmeJRg8VRaMR6GBrws6sckBJyjQ5abiHurTwFOJCFZY0_vImQYdqtb-8fJK5iLruTh6w83/s320/IMG_1219.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fine looking Chilean chiles.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge32DVgA7WETANR7BP2hDg7AHCGEC9z47-d-z5ktGV9YQyd8TzZlLe9oaTkM24l9ucXBoPwNHyGzgwLE7GQMY4AkTp2SpcWwjyTyZB7J_9Zp3RXnsm0yMMQonEQFtEcQXRpagWLKp6m8Pp/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge32DVgA7WETANR7BP2hDg7AHCGEC9z47-d-z5ktGV9YQyd8TzZlLe9oaTkM24l9ucXBoPwNHyGzgwLE7GQMY4AkTp2SpcWwjyTyZB7J_9Zp3RXnsm0yMMQonEQFtEcQXRpagWLKp6m8Pp/s320/IMG_1224.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many dogs in Valparaiso, few as well off as this one.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oPTl8t2REU9bMlDXlMOAxIItWyvO6VKhxm8OybiULqa_KoIW7YIgeHVVaaKnoqYeaGJo9y7CzlL4EBsa89G9Nx1puLwFeBXSgD7zTnYmvwOl3oObZWk8WxfUnGFMCxrAwrIdsDbm9Tc5/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oPTl8t2REU9bMlDXlMOAxIItWyvO6VKhxm8OybiULqa_KoIW7YIgeHVVaaKnoqYeaGJo9y7CzlL4EBsa89G9Nx1puLwFeBXSgD7zTnYmvwOl3oObZWk8WxfUnGFMCxrAwrIdsDbm9Tc5/s320/IMG_1228.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Artwork, authorized and not, covered many of the buildings we saw.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-90900177689952661282010-06-20T03:40:00.000-07:002010-06-20T03:40:46.247-07:00Valparaiso, Chile From the high desert of Chile, we flew to Santiago and caught a bus to the port city of Valparaiso. Santiago was surrounded by snow-capped mountains and very cold, so we were glad to escape to the slightly warmer environs of the coast. <br />
Valparaiso has been a port city for a long time – this was the first port that ships would encounter on the west coast as they made their way around the tip of South America. The glory days of the pace were abruptly ended with the opening of the Panama Canal. <br />
This bit of history seems apparent when looking around the old part of the city – many old buildings, but the majority in some state of disrepair. It is a quite interesting place to wander around, with many alley-like stairways making their way up and down the steep hills, but for me calling it beautiful would be a stretch. The amount of grafitti is amazing, and the large number or dogs roaming the streets leave their decorations on the sidewalks. Of all of the World Heritage Sites we have visited, this was the first one we seriously wondered aloud “Really?”<br />
That said, we did enjoy our time here wandering the streets detween downpours (had not seen rain since April in Ecuador), and eating way too much at the local cafes. We got up early one day and out to a local place to watch Chile play in the World Cup. We were the only people in the place who did not know everyone else there. It was a successful morning, as the Chileans won their first World Cup match in 48 years. Oh yeah and the food was great too!<br />
One feature of Valparaiso we really did enjoy were the ascensors. These are a cross between a railway and an elevator, and are sprinkled around the city to help transport residents up and down the steep hills. Most were built around 1900 or before, so in addition to a nice view you get the added excitement that the ancient equipment might fail and send you hurtling down to the bottom.<br />
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This is our last stop on mainland South America. On to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)!<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-54132697218786338922010-06-16T12:18:00.000-07:002010-06-16T12:18:28.573-07:00Photos of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile<div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFH0sIsJSD4JnXcGFL8jHccX07R7j0jBxx7VowNiSN1w3FClBITue6ZhD5lIW6KxP-Xn4Wm9ca0Xs5cOmPbtqkQD0DrzASpzawXD4zBHR_iaXfI5x7bHHt_30fwvKBRfcttjTqbJ2lpg1/s1600/IMG_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFH0sIsJSD4JnXcGFL8jHccX07R7j0jBxx7VowNiSN1w3FClBITue6ZhD5lIW6KxP-Xn4Wm9ca0Xs5cOmPbtqkQD0DrzASpzawXD4zBHR_iaXfI5x7bHHt_30fwvKBRfcttjTqbJ2lpg1/s320/IMG_1210.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heavy traffic, downtown San Pedro.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNGIzVrK-P3WV33Lni1S-JVqRyZEHUSRS2OTno9Gkxni0a2WaCNBC7YmcNrUnt19Pqxd4gFOLLQiFGk1x5lv0c5bG-HuN4DQknwED1dvxL9kc-AVeKtaqYEtUCs4tD7iiilJHUyZWNcv_/s1600/IMG_1080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNGIzVrK-P3WV33Lni1S-JVqRyZEHUSRS2OTno9Gkxni0a2WaCNBC7YmcNrUnt19Pqxd4gFOLLQiFGk1x5lv0c5bG-HuN4DQknwED1dvxL9kc-AVeKtaqYEtUCs4tD7iiilJHUyZWNcv_/s320/IMG_1080.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Zane showing some fine sandboarding form.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v8Q4MRelM55A_JTHpZA9M5zQtnUqcm7kst6M6LCy-qMxEfBbjR49dxliZDlJh7aWXEflMpubbYg-pt-ofp3sexjyrMAuqISN1uHC1Q9C0eglGn0G8UJ9BkvAzcH16iqq6QfnutKxL2aH/s1600/IMG_1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v8Q4MRelM55A_JTHpZA9M5zQtnUqcm7kst6M6LCy-qMxEfBbjR49dxliZDlJh7aWXEflMpubbYg-pt-ofp3sexjyrMAuqISN1uHC1Q9C0eglGn0G8UJ9BkvAzcH16iqq6QfnutKxL2aH/s320/IMG_1073.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tana heading down the dune.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu9ZXNaU5bEjgsTIFHkTG06SpN239hNgyy8bkxa4_WrmQtuMklPrEK0bR9s-J4461d4MVoV07C8cs1cVsP3a6dQP5kHrT2XLI31qr2zPTRTcp1MHrz2hIHzABeNMxhbadQ-5HOOL9ayVT/s1600/IMG_1058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu9ZXNaU5bEjgsTIFHkTG06SpN239hNgyy8bkxa4_WrmQtuMklPrEK0bR9s-J4461d4MVoV07C8cs1cVsP3a6dQP5kHrT2XLI31qr2zPTRTcp1MHrz2hIHzABeNMxhbadQ-5HOOL9ayVT/s320/IMG_1058.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Salt Mountains, Atacama Desert.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3POxYogVy1mTlowk4n2p5eZKUsDTeNciNhA0WRQIhYQP1yoWmeHhjHfsWZQxKdXyE8E2pNlFUgn7XdLsFUQQwo46gZxgwvcUbrfyv0k3GBKYr7A-9qAhBo7FMYDsHLaBptNJ7zZJoVJY6/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3POxYogVy1mTlowk4n2p5eZKUsDTeNciNhA0WRQIhYQP1yoWmeHhjHfsWZQxKdXyE8E2pNlFUgn7XdLsFUQQwo46gZxgwvcUbrfyv0k3GBKYr7A-9qAhBo7FMYDsHLaBptNJ7zZJoVJY6/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Sunset over the Atacama Desert.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zgpe30adrm7wbP70L1EMbMqGWf2_ktm8i3MPJ5IoIf9F2pCUJCXbPjKDn3BJ1A8ZhlzhwR2d6-xAQogP7kd0TKxpbVC_Dm6bTPiUQEWLfXCtKDGmKX8IPzQJJWOILEaQ1NejCUBvUsHA/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zgpe30adrm7wbP70L1EMbMqGWf2_ktm8i3MPJ5IoIf9F2pCUJCXbPjKDn3BJ1A8ZhlzhwR2d6-xAQogP7kd0TKxpbVC_Dm6bTPiUQEWLfXCtKDGmKX8IPzQJJWOILEaQ1NejCUBvUsHA/s320/IMG_1105.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View of Moon Valley area of the Atacama Desert.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqF39MddIejH-i5OiZrNTsW06nC2yhTY4FWSBUaWDBbBgC0-cqYt2oFp4yQtkbH5cUWB01AAPM5ed292lth055GSPmrDQXpYBEmeiCDhk2EV46fE1KOR9a5IxKqvP1dnzW95cTucRx4Rh/s1600/IMG_1137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqF39MddIejH-i5OiZrNTsW06nC2yhTY4FWSBUaWDBbBgC0-cqYt2oFp4yQtkbH5cUWB01AAPM5ed292lth055GSPmrDQXpYBEmeiCDhk2EV46fE1KOR9a5IxKqvP1dnzW95cTucRx4Rh/s320/IMG_1137.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Zane enjoys the Puritama thermal pools.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhH22LqHMr3gBzFMctFIpNDpQQrVkNpcv28Po7Sv3L31yppcVT1lJTsJlbTkO-ZRRbeMWZkYUpcAJR4ld0wWzE2Bo9XEdqbzAyI_FB0CsS1Jy-fzGlKqEns1LqkNXAX10T4jl2r_TM9gr/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhH22LqHMr3gBzFMctFIpNDpQQrVkNpcv28Po7Sv3L31yppcVT1lJTsJlbTkO-ZRRbeMWZkYUpcAJR4ld0wWzE2Bo9XEdqbzAyI_FB0CsS1Jy-fzGlKqEns1LqkNXAX10T4jl2r_TM9gr/s320/IMG_1134.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Puritama thermal pools, a desert oasis.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm84IBmcmaHgNiM_PQai3Y6Cg3AzKDOX2p_3i6RqbzWsGyZpdMMBKWUI9RJRGv7_bhJHD34DjMrnMBatcUiJywlQfKeen-Wj9Uu3ntO0LJf-CtQI4uqJWvbBE42LwLAIO0OsDlMYTp5ku/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm84IBmcmaHgNiM_PQai3Y6Cg3AzKDOX2p_3i6RqbzWsGyZpdMMBKWUI9RJRGv7_bhJHD34DjMrnMBatcUiJywlQfKeen-Wj9Uu3ntO0LJf-CtQI4uqJWvbBE42LwLAIO0OsDlMYTp5ku/s320/IMG_1140.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Rainbow Valley.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdeXPPBphBIjV06LCWl82uJu-FZ-UDNRRu6QtoMqoSn64oYLVaOvZAHwx0l5VVwMZetoeBcCGQDF2FP_AdccnXyz8EquozF6h_HjTxnmO_l2m0RrSO1tQ8UAB1q69mtDAOxCgtLsET2Nx/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdeXPPBphBIjV06LCWl82uJu-FZ-UDNRRu6QtoMqoSn64oYLVaOvZAHwx0l5VVwMZetoeBcCGQDF2FP_AdccnXyz8EquozF6h_HjTxnmO_l2m0RrSO1tQ8UAB1q69mtDAOxCgtLsET2Nx/s320/IMG_1160.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tana and Nikki in Rainbow Valley.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqiOvDUlazQ7t4UNUi9eU5pFiSnqQq5vBR0tYQ4DsprCuPRRXODxSXf7Xs5ESHGqfvzdCDBZA0pYk1Bz7KhXTcf9jKUsmstOIUliFPv2QqNrr3IZH6CiRVJYbkibN_vZWTJEXrgsG9Mel/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqiOvDUlazQ7t4UNUi9eU5pFiSnqQq5vBR0tYQ4DsprCuPRRXODxSXf7Xs5ESHGqfvzdCDBZA0pYk1Bz7KhXTcf9jKUsmstOIUliFPv2QqNrr3IZH6CiRVJYbkibN_vZWTJEXrgsG9Mel/s320/IMG_1170.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Furry little burro.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPO6TXjT1oolIXUJS88Qqx4_9eRZPzsyXxXushvZ-4X_TwAigV7dXHr2uOr4V-4armTfeRUWA74xPIQn5YrdrHz2b4Rcqwp50YXotveDFU-OPWF4eOoS2e9fE4VxR7aORtjd8MInDZA5-k/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPO6TXjT1oolIXUJS88Qqx4_9eRZPzsyXxXushvZ-4X_TwAigV7dXHr2uOr4V-4armTfeRUWA74xPIQn5YrdrHz2b4Rcqwp50YXotveDFU-OPWF4eOoS2e9fE4VxR7aORtjd8MInDZA5-k/s320/IMG_1179.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Panel of petroglyphs, many cross-legged men with headdresses.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUl4rn-3LDLtLYFWOgjhPdI_GY_6oQb_Qk5N2uidNE28J-gsbJPLat-t3JfczfHkXsn-4YjgigUKTYU51OOL8kxI5CkUuQQ2X4YoZGuF3BkroTlNAwYnQASyfr5rXXmIfCC3XsNGtDRww/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUl4rn-3LDLtLYFWOgjhPdI_GY_6oQb_Qk5N2uidNE28J-gsbJPLat-t3JfczfHkXsn-4YjgigUKTYU51OOL8kxI5CkUuQQ2X4YoZGuF3BkroTlNAwYnQASyfr5rXXmIfCC3XsNGtDRww/s320/IMG_1194.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Life size Llama petroglyph, carved over existing figures.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPX6EmU9bi2tp2yiuxvbYQpdPjs3ykYfrbxvuTeT5GSKGxYghSTocxg8V0b5utrILl35dC_vytSmzIej2u8-nDujugIsKy_31dQeAgkl3bNh-isArSBHrlQ9F31SPmbGYv-pLSWopnIkr/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPX6EmU9bi2tp2yiuxvbYQpdPjs3ykYfrbxvuTeT5GSKGxYghSTocxg8V0b5utrILl35dC_vytSmzIej2u8-nDujugIsKy_31dQeAgkl3bNh-isArSBHrlQ9F31SPmbGYv-pLSWopnIkr/s320/IMG_1198.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fox (pregnant?) petroglyph.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-81868776968318648902010-06-16T12:02:00.000-07:002010-06-16T12:02:48.229-07:00San Pedro de Atacama, Chile After leaving our Bolivian tour, we headed for the small touristy village of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, happily dropping 2,000 meters of elevation in about 40km. Aside from the lower and warmer climate, we knew immediately we were in a different country – the road was nicely paved and had road signs, the people spoke with a strange accent which we had trouble understanding (the first couple of people we thought simply had lisps), and the cost of living had increased dramatically. Welcome back to the modern world! <br />
San Pedro is located in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth, and salty too – the nearby salt flats are the 3rd largest in the world (behind Uyuni in Bolivia and Bonneville in USA). The wide open and quite barren landscape was reminiscent of Death Valley, USA, only with less vegetation.<br />
Despite the harsh setting the area is rich in archeological history, as there were large organized civilizations here thousands of years ago. We did not make it out to visit any of the ruins, but did manage to see some nice prehistoric rock art.<br />
San Pedro is one of Chile's main tourist centers and we took advantage of some of the tours offered, going Sandboarding (snowboards + sand dunes), visiting desert hot springs and rock Aat sites, and downhill biking. There was plenty to explore for desert fans such as ourselves and we could have easily spent more time in the area. But sadly, our time is running short and we need to move on.<br />
<br />
Next stop, the port city of Valparaiso, Chile! <br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-13135582686570436392010-06-12T15:32:00.001-07:002010-06-13T04:17:06.774-07:00Photos of Desert Tour, Southwest Bolivia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFEWwPZ6cXAEssltSQXBIhIp1z3JhYKNgUdtM5_jsqYbo3_VonQun-4HWoJfgUSqNZSWudyKYBbSQ-d3TNm0ExwAqKmq-XBLm5qQMgEjU5IRzjWfgzG3LaqBNp1Mw4Yq3J4mxx5AZqNRb/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFEWwPZ6cXAEssltSQXBIhIp1z3JhYKNgUdtM5_jsqYbo3_VonQun-4HWoJfgUSqNZSWudyKYBbSQ-d3TNm0ExwAqKmq-XBLm5qQMgEjU5IRzjWfgzG3LaqBNp1Mw4Yq3J4mxx5AZqNRb/s320/IMG_0576.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lunchtime fun with Llamas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwbOHtw4OaQkFp2mjJtBe5lgrxRaAAeHCAM0VsHVcKi0e9EkrF1Tl1qVo9lfY6z8-hkF7E2iGkhC7kD01iZhGQPb53CGudEmucCIRRYfVcKkuHiZWmZrtSrfHXsGC44rH8OjcLRyLuIMG/s1600/IMG_0685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwbOHtw4OaQkFp2mjJtBe5lgrxRaAAeHCAM0VsHVcKi0e9EkrF1Tl1qVo9lfY6z8-hkF7E2iGkhC7kD01iZhGQPb53CGudEmucCIRRYfVcKkuHiZWmZrtSrfHXsGC44rH8OjcLRyLuIMG/s320/IMG_0685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uyuni Salt Flats, largest in the world and scenic too!</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7Noetv6Q9MRAaYgj6acPhwHkEKeqeZYogBQA8ST2ESgjTpzG7bbsSrJNLwzaG1_V4b1aXqPwsOAB3qZZA2sb_cO-alhhyphenhyphenvyUhmBeASf5mdIWj1-N6B5BDKAcAcbp-9rMSnji5KFVGo2e/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7Noetv6Q9MRAaYgj6acPhwHkEKeqeZYogBQA8ST2ESgjTpzG7bbsSrJNLwzaG1_V4b1aXqPwsOAB3qZZA2sb_cO-alhhyphenhyphenvyUhmBeASf5mdIWj1-N6B5BDKAcAcbp-9rMSnji5KFVGo2e/s320/IMG_0605.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Salt harvest. Simply scraped off the surface with hand tools.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBhvxHC6vJXaEqf76MV24G9YJoqiAhe-C2StTSMyiwW8vYZcBqfONsGYd2aSntaE7uP8tZqhwFjsSBcXP_qOSdjGkg6Miw7gbS_wanXkS2KAlGEnlNYQlfJxFk2w-gWoGPxc_nzUiszjy/s1600/IMG_0736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBhvxHC6vJXaEqf76MV24G9YJoqiAhe-C2StTSMyiwW8vYZcBqfONsGYd2aSntaE7uP8tZqhwFjsSBcXP_qOSdjGkg6Miw7gbS_wanXkS2KAlGEnlNYQlfJxFk2w-gWoGPxc_nzUiszjy/s320/IMG_0736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isla Incahuasi, center of Uyuni Salt Flats. Supposely the tallest cactus in the world too.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5h5RU-H_x9UfJHahGa9ulrZOA4K_2EHnd5GdcXPAb8VWcnF0tJ1OuhkhfHu49HtXiDZTKtIVuvnsiQ2shW0GHRMF8wEf8ljncg7ZGW8ncDs3mKwkc99vvozh8YZbfXRd1582xkviYUIY/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5h5RU-H_x9UfJHahGa9ulrZOA4K_2EHnd5GdcXPAb8VWcnF0tJ1OuhkhfHu49HtXiDZTKtIVuvnsiQ2shW0GHRMF8wEf8ljncg7ZGW8ncDs3mKwkc99vvozh8YZbfXRd1582xkviYUIY/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fun with perspective.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVZ4ztwmE1Wj4bpTvuxJtIJnGF2j47jFx4HbK9nNJZawr0ZdtitInQkkSVr9y4WlaRBATc4j8unHkTGSe6YkLOBK2_YP4vRhtVDNI6W0TX18SCCCXh2dOUgWBJ4oPFnbb_BhYsvW0eDG2/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVZ4ztwmE1Wj4bpTvuxJtIJnGF2j47jFx4HbK9nNJZawr0ZdtitInQkkSVr9y4WlaRBATc4j8unHkTGSe6YkLOBK2_YP4vRhtVDNI6W0TX18SCCCXh2dOUgWBJ4oPFnbb_BhYsvW0eDG2/s320/IMG_0648.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's not plaster, but a hotel built of salt. Yes, we did lick the walls.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg6kQl3BRZGaZibju9UOODk-wY4TF3IeenBJ2oYNfYjNPs3_U-6T4JIJFH7BeJ4m11ZG0AQhCiup4jnyA-tZbGjNRglpJ7WRNDmx2QuKoOj9L-y3PD0pgSu5_m_DVFgIvWZUAMJ86JPNo/s1600/IMG_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg6kQl3BRZGaZibju9UOODk-wY4TF3IeenBJ2oYNfYjNPs3_U-6T4JIJFH7BeJ4m11ZG0AQhCiup4jnyA-tZbGjNRglpJ7WRNDmx2QuKoOj9L-y3PD0pgSu5_m_DVFgIvWZUAMJ86JPNo/s320/IMG_0644.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nice view from salt hotel.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnxm-RHzpJMoJ9bUDZFVrXPNT6O3sUZPMn4TxVcV0LCOu6RORzCbOJmLfPIj8CKjGRoG-Wl-A-A-DYs0bU644g6wvLBrOWZtQMosNeNrl3r9TIIQZQj-iXsoEOd_ax5n11s7ActiwGaAd/s1600/IMG_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnxm-RHzpJMoJ9bUDZFVrXPNT6O3sUZPMn4TxVcV0LCOu6RORzCbOJmLfPIj8CKjGRoG-Wl-A-A-DYs0bU644g6wvLBrOWZtQMosNeNrl3r9TIIQZQj-iXsoEOd_ax5n11s7ActiwGaAd/s320/IMG_0776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inca cemetary at village of San Juan. Graves are at least 500 years old.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7MY0c_RiHbtcUQJF_onT89GPBZvXUEBNnGec_Xk5CZuSVpKsgbnRX-dtAmY9la9ReWynME8Ose5hngAlB-OzrNmXvpigHOjJIGFCgXgJjOi4d1fiJ3YNm4Ieud7dYOG6EJ3yFcOIqR5d/s1600/IMG_0878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7MY0c_RiHbtcUQJF_onT89GPBZvXUEBNnGec_Xk5CZuSVpKsgbnRX-dtAmY9la9ReWynME8Ose5hngAlB-OzrNmXvpigHOjJIGFCgXgJjOi4d1fiJ3YNm4Ieud7dYOG6EJ3yFcOIqR5d/s320/IMG_0878.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Desierto de Solili, view from hotel.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-fn3tSvAxfVbpd9BqPr9SbxFliFpeZPBIn13RMn1OBoiMQnqoMX9-5DYjDa95UyNAf2IYwv7U1iMBuKRUQE34_tEmNDfliedusJFegKCa_A83bD3VJMuaadnCpeFWUPjlfa7iS0zNyRk/s1600/IMG_0895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-fn3tSvAxfVbpd9BqPr9SbxFliFpeZPBIn13RMn1OBoiMQnqoMX9-5DYjDa95UyNAf2IYwv7U1iMBuKRUQE34_tEmNDfliedusJFegKCa_A83bD3VJMuaadnCpeFWUPjlfa7iS0zNyRk/s320/IMG_0895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arbol de Piedras, or Tree of Stone.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMETD5zCb4TL3mNDR5PW_WQzv_zuwmgn03xzYIngVjQuAPzXKD9ffFSJ70lnO0dh4suToST3pNx5W4ZtNXIv6px-buQjGl3As1xjVyzGcCChAt787v_YzJ9n8j4OQQrQPfIDOQALnsqPB9/s1600/IMG_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMETD5zCb4TL3mNDR5PW_WQzv_zuwmgn03xzYIngVjQuAPzXKD9ffFSJ70lnO0dh4suToST3pNx5W4ZtNXIv6px-buQjGl3As1xjVyzGcCChAt787v_YzJ9n8j4OQQrQPfIDOQALnsqPB9/s320/IMG_0825.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the many high saline lakes we passed.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQ0ln-9hIIhP07r3xa715FWtTexG_axp5gRFkOX6RxIHulbcUc5QPWmPcwR727bd18S_2gzUhqQnk3wqT3nJXKZ-D4BMlg__Acw1nDyz6fEzNmWc5LgXJ9C-xVz-4tZh7wzobY-A7Vrwc/s1600/IMG_0910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQ0ln-9hIIhP07r3xa715FWtTexG_axp5gRFkOX6RxIHulbcUc5QPWmPcwR727bd18S_2gzUhqQnk3wqT3nJXKZ-D4BMlg__Acw1nDyz6fEzNmWc5LgXJ9C-xVz-4tZh7wzobY-A7Vrwc/s320/IMG_0910.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Laguna Colorado, or Red Lake. 4300 meters high and steaming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERbNInpbKgv8CHVT8Ona1wjoF4gU2lvYWTU-p8NRtByCcqlyTgUdMZ34VOjtyKpF8HrX4fuEhBNi8q8iiv5mMiDCQ706ZwoSft1ONpd-YHT383COy54CvOADIpX6Ek6qRWMbBsy10kPEw/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERbNInpbKgv8CHVT8Ona1wjoF4gU2lvYWTU-p8NRtByCcqlyTgUdMZ34VOjtyKpF8HrX4fuEhBNi8q8iiv5mMiDCQ706ZwoSft1ONpd-YHT383COy54CvOADIpX6Ek6qRWMbBsy10kPEw/s320/IMG_0946.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fumaroles at nearly 5000 meters altitude.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUYLeJG3TfDwwMxAnKtnSnK2ICUGk8BUIQw0zUTMwKdVfeSx_V7cfEiBnGzSIyvf1EE6T1-QlsR-oB0o3ihqIV91tcRS4rWVp-ErDUbfqpvkmGYPWiIpq48U8287aqbtDp75iCiYkCNHw/s1600/IMG_0982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUYLeJG3TfDwwMxAnKtnSnK2ICUGk8BUIQw0zUTMwKdVfeSx_V7cfEiBnGzSIyvf1EE6T1-QlsR-oB0o3ihqIV91tcRS4rWVp-ErDUbfqpvkmGYPWiIpq48U8287aqbtDp75iCiYkCNHw/s320/IMG_0982.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Desierto de Dali. As if painted by the master himself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBv3sxajH2-et_2MR2rjk-gqBgwOqdTAoSGgdoVxXFYXe4Rw4wGNB4ahTvCZIHcI1n1IlsGkJjVLf5kMQA2oPMN4Xru-ULpf429sF9EdZcewEVc4wB7yBm7UtSZsbDqWm5taBdBbbd4B-T/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBv3sxajH2-et_2MR2rjk-gqBgwOqdTAoSGgdoVxXFYXe4Rw4wGNB4ahTvCZIHcI1n1IlsGkJjVLf5kMQA2oPMN4Xru-ULpf429sF9EdZcewEVc4wB7yBm7UtSZsbDqWm5taBdBbbd4B-T/s320/IMG_0985.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Desierto de Dali.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLRbOg04M1KPmkyApbiQ_tIK_fikafJL7LHoLFSxqQpWCzHrNaYc8Tu4745ZOBisryoewaIpZkOb5Z9rvGVlEb6mnGtDcnW-Oq2igcNdYxBWT3lieHmpSSEoIr5iA2MM6DyZLuXydqryb/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLRbOg04M1KPmkyApbiQ_tIK_fikafJL7LHoLFSxqQpWCzHrNaYc8Tu4745ZOBisryoewaIpZkOb5Z9rvGVlEb6mnGtDcnW-Oq2igcNdYxBWT3lieHmpSSEoIr5iA2MM6DyZLuXydqryb/s320/IMG_1008.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Laguna Verde. Water green from naturally occurring toxic chemicals. Supposedly does not freeze until -20C</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-nlNdI3Pqd_56vFX6WWqzutKKLaJuS5ArSa78qtawvgXMmCMSy21FQkLX6yAQ8ba-61mKXUBfItzO3oY5adVXQ1TLxSa0bGtIhVaLoVgy0Dy00I0UHuceKZXSsX-txG9tNWBpITTwRxb/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-nlNdI3Pqd_56vFX6WWqzutKKLaJuS5ArSa78qtawvgXMmCMSy21FQkLX6yAQ8ba-61mKXUBfItzO3oY5adVXQ1TLxSa0bGtIhVaLoVgy0Dy00I0UHuceKZXSsX-txG9tNWBpITTwRxb/s320/IMG_1006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scenery near Laguna Blanca.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8iReIMjg9ug5QHmTVf1h52WfheWuhyphenhyphent_5dusRErfVWgUIq0cUXwLApZX5qFvnC-AfCXVnPAJ1Lk9-oQ1Ms1VaiP6w9yxHlOggQWbfGm5dpWD2NLhlBZvMDr6kmhuc12l7WtFvmsAclKx/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8iReIMjg9ug5QHmTVf1h52WfheWuhyphenhyphent_5dusRErfVWgUIq0cUXwLApZX5qFvnC-AfCXVnPAJ1Lk9-oQ1Ms1VaiP6w9yxHlOggQWbfGm5dpWD2NLhlBZvMDr6kmhuc12l7WtFvmsAclKx/s320/IMG_1026.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicuna (wild relative of the Llama) at Laguna Blanca. Incredibly tough animals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORtDk7FprRLOxPzQDJLAb8gnMdtlP-uISP9I45APTwc6F3x0FUii3IpDp56BGJsNiZmPirQr8XNglSBpBJjwOvHUeQ6NcGt9CpvkmJJMYMRGo21ypojNWmxl6pk0LVvTcMb0C1Wxonpkw/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORtDk7FprRLOxPzQDJLAb8gnMdtlP-uISP9I45APTwc6F3x0FUii3IpDp56BGJsNiZmPirQr8XNglSBpBJjwOvHUeQ6NcGt9CpvkmJJMYMRGo21ypojNWmxl6pk0LVvTcMb0C1Wxonpkw/s320/IMG_1028.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Laguna Blanca, ice and salt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm0VtovZZUzbcv_QiYeGkTcwJHbl7NPRSdHZz6yftg1ELPMdWNkp3a9vZOsqqIIZbYrNHkRrLp3NvKhzQ2cuUdoiKZstlUlbaupPGtLkFTitwuaV-xILhmn_oEhieCXy2CerUDk8CS2SR/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm0VtovZZUzbcv_QiYeGkTcwJHbl7NPRSdHZz6yftg1ELPMdWNkp3a9vZOsqqIIZbYrNHkRrLp3NvKhzQ2cuUdoiKZstlUlbaupPGtLkFTitwuaV-xILhmn_oEhieCXy2CerUDk8CS2SR/s320/IMG_1038.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fox at Bolivia - Chile border. Our guide assured us he was Bolivian, and sure enough he never strayed onto the Chilean side.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-52549100344561205792010-06-12T15:32:00.000-07:002010-06-12T15:32:18.224-07:00Desert Tour, Southwest Bolivia It is said that a tour through the Uyuni Salt Flats and high southwestern deserts is a highlight to any visit to Bolivia. We could not agree more! We rode for three days in a Land Cruiser from Tupiza to the Chilean border, and witnessed some scenery that was at times simply hard to believe. Sometimes it seemed we were in Utah, sometimes Arizona, sometimes Death Valley, and sometimes another planet entirely.<br />
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The salt flat at Uyuni are the world's largest, and sit at roughly 3500 meters above sea level. We spent approximately 3 eerie hours driving across the wide white expanse, an experience that was slightly unsettling. We spent the night in a hotel made of salt, and just to be sure we did lick the walls, as we guessed most guests do.<br />
After leaving the salt flats we continued through an incredibly barren, cold, and scenic series of landscapes, often above 4000 meters, sometimes 5000 meters. Even in these enviroments the salty lakes had birds, and we often saw Vicunas (wild relatives of llamas) that seemed to survive on nothing but the thin air. <br />
We visited a very interesting cemetary near the village of San Juan. Incas, or their antecendants, had carved crypts out of a group of volcanic rock outcrops. Corpses, soon to be mummies, and their worldly belongings were placed in the open cavities, many are still there today for the viewing.<br />
Another highight was a stop at a nice hot thermal pool at the edge of a saline lake, well above 4000 meters in elevation. The warmth and setting were quite enjoyable. More warmth would have been appreciated, as that night was spent in an unheated hostel – in bed under a pile of blankets by 7PM! Although sorry that the tour was over, we were looking forward to lower elevations and higher temperatures.<br />
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On to Chile!<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-37380868586685167582010-06-12T15:31:00.000-07:002010-06-12T15:31:04.571-07:00Photos of Tupiza, Bolivia<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij21ie4rlEotF6-gjH-2lmEFHOpACg7hGBPy-7ZOYAhEDZBmj6wuwS8771Ce5djaQ9A2RIe_kU1hWMgMph9GnAvWknhgHMfJgYjYMXqtgDhaXaqfz7dE2o2vxmajlAPgCf1X2xqYyahe93/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij21ie4rlEotF6-gjH-2lmEFHOpACg7hGBPy-7ZOYAhEDZBmj6wuwS8771Ce5djaQ9A2RIe_kU1hWMgMph9GnAvWknhgHMfJgYjYMXqtgDhaXaqfz7dE2o2vxmajlAPgCf1X2xqYyahe93/s320/IMG_0497.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The town of Tupiza, surrounded by nice scenery.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Gabo_4S3Tz7U_9JDW7mmDARfnSV3QbBdx0E0-Fs0HoWwwSWPG1L_QWAvwBNiXyVMcn9lMF9AklsZJHbwKFBMkwfEX8RwwndumiieNbrwL4iCd9LtS-a84NzvxoNRQmPUnJLftz1-uvA/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Gabo_4S3Tz7U_9JDW7mmDARfnSV3QbBdx0E0-Fs0HoWwwSWPG1L_QWAvwBNiXyVMcn9lMF9AklsZJHbwKFBMkwfEX8RwwndumiieNbrwL4iCd9LtS-a84NzvxoNRQmPUnJLftz1-uvA/s320/IMG_0501.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saltenas, our favorite Bolivian food.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvKyMH33_BZFmcItK-d7fn8ZBS7YaKKyHj6ydA5ELw-dJ8w6RIC4QcBwbEBkpP-dSiySbe8azb8PlcoNliroDFx3QWGAoC0UhATZkgWVWUDVMjmANKyA90AP_geyil0o11lkDssQYA-lh/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvKyMH33_BZFmcItK-d7fn8ZBS7YaKKyHj6ydA5ELw-dJ8w6RIC4QcBwbEBkpP-dSiySbe8azb8PlcoNliroDFx3QWGAoC0UhATZkgWVWUDVMjmANKyA90AP_geyil0o11lkDssQYA-lh/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buying Tamales on a cold morning at the Mercado.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVyA4mdCkwiceH7o8mGFpNMdhDrGFb6fdiARbJrO6-BF9Li55aKFosARDymxj5vULllSSiK1FaxSHQ8WD42HVBxeTsPCy_MGH1HxrmNTv0yNRvUWSuJ-WF57NOfVAATMlkjHS2pa215Ou/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVyA4mdCkwiceH7o8mGFpNMdhDrGFb6fdiARbJrO6-BF9Li55aKFosARDymxj5vULllSSiK1FaxSHQ8WD42HVBxeTsPCy_MGH1HxrmNTv0yNRvUWSuJ-WF57NOfVAATMlkjHS2pa215Ou/s320/IMG_0503.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some sights reminded us of being back in Utah.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExylMA4ZiZOV1LlucuLJNTv0pnUraUI408fCRoxIL88pjB6Mucuh9LjQKadDNryw7EYX8JYB_f5Zn2vQJR9vOeiQdo6A_iUVi67f7LVcLDNgISMEvrav5fyEY7ht1ajqHsYKr8bJswFgy/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExylMA4ZiZOV1LlucuLJNTv0pnUraUI408fCRoxIL88pjB6Mucuh9LjQKadDNryw7EYX8JYB_f5Zn2vQJR9vOeiQdo6A_iUVi67f7LVcLDNgISMEvrav5fyEY7ht1ajqHsYKr8bJswFgy/s320/IMG_0505.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was good to be out hiking in the desert again.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdamlfQRFaJzDlAC6lRTrcD4_V6LSRl15W4nPX-hHinDFufBiDLtflJ8YY0PvbHzR3dV57ByMZQ4g1f_A0r2m85u1ZZ_Hc9i-jgxXuS9rhEoiwrJ8me6iXTqfdp71D6ffEsQa-DS21-jXl/s1600/IMG_0506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdamlfQRFaJzDlAC6lRTrcD4_V6LSRl15W4nPX-hHinDFufBiDLtflJ8YY0PvbHzR3dV57ByMZQ4g1f_A0r2m85u1ZZ_Hc9i-jgxXuS9rhEoiwrJ8me6iXTqfdp71D6ffEsQa-DS21-jXl/s320/IMG_0506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These fins were remarkably sharp and tall.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHsjEI03A01L2ckxyVEAkCg_Akg4ptTYEtZ7mxOUZhZ-u4N-wZ40PoQ4nHuWQMYJ5p-ESD6iZYzFwaNhXziYjRwKoECkI_VaWdcKtrPpHU6pmcygDAEfACHDVW-7oapq0H9zlXjDGVYI2/s1600/IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHsjEI03A01L2ckxyVEAkCg_Akg4ptTYEtZ7mxOUZhZ-u4N-wZ40PoQ4nHuWQMYJ5p-ESD6iZYzFwaNhXziYjRwKoECkI_VaWdcKtrPpHU6pmcygDAEfACHDVW-7oapq0H9zlXjDGVYI2/s320/IMG_0536.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arizona or Bolivia?</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNA1E9ulyVAlgl1W1KkWzHVecl2yTmSxHxPfgI4Vo5wQS5WDbmQk7k9Fdm7Cs2Y6ptFlZD-0qMi6HzdWj8Za_u5VbqhgC4y3Jy_oqRLSwdkRH7DZp_B0MFVI6Iz80rGSwzhnmQ8cOOl_n/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNA1E9ulyVAlgl1W1KkWzHVecl2yTmSxHxPfgI4Vo5wQS5WDbmQk7k9Fdm7Cs2Y6ptFlZD-0qMi6HzdWj8Za_u5VbqhgC4y3Jy_oqRLSwdkRH7DZp_B0MFVI6Iz80rGSwzhnmQ8cOOl_n/s320/IMG_0524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mouth of "el canon" just outside Tupiza, right into the fins.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-60637348663640769372010-06-12T15:30:00.000-07:002010-06-12T15:30:28.352-07:00Tupiza, Bolivia We rode the bus for seven hours through the high mountainous desert, mostly unpaved road, to get from Potosi to the small desert town of Tupiza. We enjoyed the more comfortable altitude of 2950 meters. The town itself is rather unassuming (and extremely quiet on the weekend), but luckily it is surrounded by some terrific scenery of the wild west variety. We thought we had been transported to the southwestern USA.<br />
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We walked and rode horses through some nice desert canyons and sampled the local food. Really there was not much else to do except roam the dirt streets and climb up to the large statue of Jesus above town and check out the view. We rested up and got ready for the next big thing, a 4x4 tour of Southwest Bolivia.<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-77790593622092888782010-06-04T16:53:00.001-07:002010-06-04T16:53:38.652-07:00Photos of Potosi, Bolivia<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYJxAFyBAB3ZEh5i2nZNSvfN128kXyx22ABmWf155jWXsFwJIc-A5blEmZbIDz-ib-MqG6Z2FIJA2HZFx5rqNMf10HTWAqggRBsBKHAFtnBlvg61jfehJbrciy2PS0Bd0ICXzYbDnAddd/s1600/IMG_0453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYJxAFyBAB3ZEh5i2nZNSvfN128kXyx22ABmWf155jWXsFwJIc-A5blEmZbIDz-ib-MqG6Z2FIJA2HZFx5rqNMf10HTWAqggRBsBKHAFtnBlvg61jfehJbrciy2PS0Bd0ICXzYbDnAddd/s320/IMG_0453.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View over Potosi to Cerro Rico (Rich Hill), a silver mine for nearly 400 years.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uYN0x7E7C54ye8YifY88l84kRpf9K1S_RlT49PUdecvJuxiETfoNPHlX1YgC4204gc-gm0kp-wy2b5XkpAeNT7LK6L1xaRhQV8Kf9RxMGb6kVimElFQPEbke6QxlPXR0xG41z8h-h8s6/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uYN0x7E7C54ye8YifY88l84kRpf9K1S_RlT49PUdecvJuxiETfoNPHlX1YgC4204gc-gm0kp-wy2b5XkpAeNT7LK6L1xaRhQV8Kf9RxMGb6kVimElFQPEbke6QxlPXR0xG41z8h-h8s6/s320/IMG_0451.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Convent of Santa Theresa. After all-white Sucre, it was nice to see some color.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85RwFSs3QGfdM6_vhbyRXS1-w07AzfP3tOSO9ZMMu8szcAptuECq72ehwpzFc0pGwLf9aZIyxbH01pdU3YUFwXdu0yT4Id7j_jDwDCvZjU0qMDtYyOfSepbBtxB6rVAyR3HVxyBjcHVKP/s1600/IMG_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85RwFSs3QGfdM6_vhbyRXS1-w07AzfP3tOSO9ZMMu8szcAptuECq72ehwpzFc0pGwLf9aZIyxbH01pdU3YUFwXdu0yT4Id7j_jDwDCvZjU0qMDtYyOfSepbBtxB6rVAyR3HVxyBjcHVKP/s320/IMG_0457.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cathedral, main square.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2neU1CKTlqZ_Gw3V4Hrp4L2fIKI5Dz1OKkMZLlcarBBmpjLpXBsgHDSFZ_72wuKbdoDMbrvFoL4OMVpe4rfR9PqFFLZFaDTIaxLop4O8veG_9WLJKqkUSAaW7S6_2FDtAJnuji0G39yIF/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2neU1CKTlqZ_Gw3V4Hrp4L2fIKI5Dz1OKkMZLlcarBBmpjLpXBsgHDSFZ_72wuKbdoDMbrvFoL4OMVpe4rfR9PqFFLZFaDTIaxLop4O8veG_9WLJKqkUSAaW7S6_2FDtAJnuji0G39yIF/s320/IMG_0469.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A courtyard of Casa Nacional De Moneda, a mint from 1572 to the 1950's. </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1G9SsilGNP2GAUolzRNi5s7J4XATFn35zOXhxBkU8mgBtrQlFmMlcNfmZJEjNsW7eIw5N56Bw4N56WVeq9rBhiSXly4BL-1WPR8bQQFY-RAFg92v5eEuOdVuZYZRGhbcy4adsKgXO6mE/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1G9SsilGNP2GAUolzRNi5s7J4XATFn35zOXhxBkU8mgBtrQlFmMlcNfmZJEjNsW7eIw5N56Bw4N56WVeq9rBhiSXly4BL-1WPR8bQQFY-RAFg92v5eEuOdVuZYZRGhbcy4adsKgXO6mE/s320/IMG_0463.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This piece of machinery in the mint, driven by 4 donkeys, was used to flatten silver ingots, which were then made into coins.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKcCobfQlzbT5S1lY2uLZYBCnbBzxYJmZXpM8Q-c8nOu2L34qkzw7J16zIRcKozx_wq9o7Vmr34KWy7aFokiblP0AIHKdzLaeZJfbY-S_3Hc7Abr_uegX75m5Ydb6t2d1Nv2iZ0-rjTrV/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKcCobfQlzbT5S1lY2uLZYBCnbBzxYJmZXpM8Q-c8nOu2L34qkzw7J16zIRcKozx_wq9o7Vmr34KWy7aFokiblP0AIHKdzLaeZJfbY-S_3Hc7Abr_uegX75m5Ydb6t2d1Nv2iZ0-rjTrV/s320/IMG_0473.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inca or pre-Inca skull, showing deformation characteristic of the ruling class. (Mint museum)</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GRZYakc3NK6Ptgl4EUqbVtLWBtVo2uPcERt5AD8T1gc6HaMJ_j2m2gTSKMz0CEgowTQIB3WHkJx2vcwmVIfRYbGlhaIGTaevSDC_sxjpAr98Qrs_YiikaFGonl86QuRiSygWXLYnVCa6/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GRZYakc3NK6Ptgl4EUqbVtLWBtVo2uPcERt5AD8T1gc6HaMJ_j2m2gTSKMz0CEgowTQIB3WHkJx2vcwmVIfRYbGlhaIGTaevSDC_sxjpAr98Qrs_YiikaFGonl86QuRiSygWXLYnVCa6/s320/IMG_0467.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The mint museum holds many fine pieces of silver.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8Br1wcOhKdkKUyRyEbsHzupGtfoh22kaoEhC707kIh5WZIU4mx1uL89DmlLpdBtOtw_SyfArwmiQtZD8acvDsLPmBkWeY5trsBhio8ISFowa3SBwy8K0p8LNelOJeQ3QS0H5SCB8AwWU/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8Br1wcOhKdkKUyRyEbsHzupGtfoh22kaoEhC707kIh5WZIU4mx1uL89DmlLpdBtOtw_SyfArwmiQtZD8acvDsLPmBkWeY5trsBhio8ISFowa3SBwy8K0p8LNelOJeQ3QS0H5SCB8AwWU/s320/IMG_0465.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lock mechanism, made of silver, on Spanish trunk used to transport silver ingots from Bolivia to Spain.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7vuJxkMrhTyjmZkHOO28V8NzVJatDgk5M-qsPCqOQ1RHCHi2Imrt96VAcptseqY7sObqUUiAJHlPx0DcNwJcAjFStavNubYQPCEq7MNxnsb9V1I4sS9EX1F7Q1AOIB_YlvZgvMZfnK_W/s1600/IMG_0448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7vuJxkMrhTyjmZkHOO28V8NzVJatDgk5M-qsPCqOQ1RHCHi2Imrt96VAcptseqY7sObqUUiAJHlPx0DcNwJcAjFStavNubYQPCEq7MNxnsb9V1I4sS9EX1F7Q1AOIB_YlvZgvMZfnK_W/s320/IMG_0448.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did not read the sign to try and figure out the deal with the statue of liberty thing, but this pigeon did not seem to care one way or the other.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX19Ov-e5ns3x-mhFDoIfTmejct-vwbHziKH_yP9HBHZwcxFZ5cRKvoDOKi-_aI6VRUOA71H54ar2k5T8HXz0Kg9CnjoK32859Qy5ZQNIbgc7VGnA3IuzU00NMPPI8Z8pRftbL13FjZ22f/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX19Ov-e5ns3x-mhFDoIfTmejct-vwbHziKH_yP9HBHZwcxFZ5cRKvoDOKi-_aI6VRUOA71H54ar2k5T8HXz0Kg9CnjoK32859Qy5ZQNIbgc7VGnA3IuzU00NMPPI8Z8pRftbL13FjZ22f/s320/IMG_0493.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Feeding pigeons in the main square.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"></div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-52537184002700792192010-06-04T16:53:00.000-07:002010-06-04T16:53:17.869-07:00Potosi, Bolivia Potosi is an interesting place, for several reasons. At 4060 meters (or so), it is one of the highest cities in the world. Potosina, the local brewery, claims to be the highest (in altitude) brewery in the world. Potosi's other claim to fame is that silver was discovered here in 1544, during the Spanish Conquest. Spain took full advantage of this, forced the locals to do the dirty work, and the silver of Potosi funded the Spanish Monarchy for nearly 300 years. In the late 1500's and 1600's Potosi was easily the most populated city in the Americas, and had nearly as many people as London or Paris. Surely you knew that, right?<br />
Today some desperate souls still work the mines, which are now run as a cooperative. Working conditions are terrible, and a few years in the mines is guaranteed to shorten your life considerably. We passed on the opportunity to visit there.<br />
Otherwise Potosi is a fairly quiet town with loads of colonial buildings and churches to admire. The day we arrived the town was very quiet, as it was a holiday - Corpus Christi. We asked around, but nobody could tell us exactly what it was about, something having to do with 40 days since Easter. We wandered around town (slowly, this is over 13,000 feet!!) and soaked in the sights. The next day we visited the Casa Nacional de Moneda, or National Mint, where coins were made from 1572 until the 1950's. The fortress-like building features a collection of manufacturing hardware from all time periods, as well as a great museum with siver pieces (even a bedpan) artwork, mummies, and Inca artifacts.<br />
While in Potosi we went to a local place for lunch, and the meal was amazing. After a little potato salad, we were served a huge bowl of soup. This was followed by a very full plate of meat with rice or pasta (none could finish), with some ice cream to finish. We were bursting. Cost was USD $7 - for 4 people!<br />
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<br />
Next - Tupiza Bolivia<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-57978566292071214852010-06-02T17:51:00.000-07:002010-06-02T17:51:11.350-07:00Photos Of Sucre, Bolivia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIPdXp6rSamPqsxY-L6HKxv9CFZbjV_TrKk7XkbXYmSlotgWYTPXFbIrlZD_1dqInCtdMZfJmJXo0I8YpId_p84LBHgVdLrJCDsr44G3NIK8BjS7ynbWcAMCfWjULsY9lJlYAdaijeu_O/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIPdXp6rSamPqsxY-L6HKxv9CFZbjV_TrKk7XkbXYmSlotgWYTPXFbIrlZD_1dqInCtdMZfJmJXo0I8YpId_p84LBHgVdLrJCDsr44G3NIK8BjS7ynbWcAMCfWjULsY9lJlYAdaijeu_O/s320/IMG_0392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Church of Santo Domingo.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3unYo5IH5Sszrc5BP8NUQqGH-p49FIcF-2DFWRDesNG1vsBcFJ-gBtNxeSFyr5oTIAqIqNQtzd8GQH-5QgBZxRQb9UPJlK3J8dOUncQl4FQfjh-SNHyya5oGSsnLrVa7SxQiJY3Z2BiX/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3unYo5IH5Sszrc5BP8NUQqGH-p49FIcF-2DFWRDesNG1vsBcFJ-gBtNxeSFyr5oTIAqIqNQtzd8GQH-5QgBZxRQb9UPJlK3J8dOUncQl4FQfjh-SNHyya5oGSsnLrVa7SxQiJY3Z2BiX/s320/IMG_0429.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Convento de San Felipe Neri</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1iGWPagK-qU5A_bNNqKKz3vNsFwIav28qJKTebU7bf6L-vXYfnQm7psIHn0dgFnnIkFGmJnWJba5dg7x-ad9mNr-CFyYLoiorXQygtgEjlOcilFmmZyGyvBhMdzwmgCdhv1ITYvjZTQp/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1iGWPagK-qU5A_bNNqKKz3vNsFwIav28qJKTebU7bf6L-vXYfnQm7psIHn0dgFnnIkFGmJnWJba5dg7x-ad9mNr-CFyYLoiorXQygtgEjlOcilFmmZyGyvBhMdzwmgCdhv1ITYvjZTQp/s320/IMG_0416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Convento de San Felipe Neri</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceShweBSsaeuH-sSCkTtgiGUFN6W_kE98lsWPH13_0peqEBtwb6Fzhx_J8aqGq4GlDvNV1Rdr34SYtnH7TIgrVSvWWjXAGCLGP8YcxiCghHsXPCVW9P8RkmJ8_u5wEiaBPqRRfsDF1wzi/s1600/IMG_0437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceShweBSsaeuH-sSCkTtgiGUFN6W_kE98lsWPH13_0peqEBtwb6Fzhx_J8aqGq4GlDvNV1Rdr34SYtnH7TIgrVSvWWjXAGCLGP8YcxiCghHsXPCVW9P8RkmJ8_u5wEiaBPqRRfsDF1wzi/s320/IMG_0437.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plaza Anzures</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSciuNsABjCKf_WQHaFgaWHxn8vMzRwQRVGwB472I2sm-w6relV5IGN0LiCVtc3Wl1vgn6yjn6ctphyphenhyphenlXuCG-H6diU-B4S4yazHbVg2IDNC-Kc6eXeaZ3eueonDsxR0NsMygNEmxpehBm/s1600/IMG_0413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSciuNsABjCKf_WQHaFgaWHxn8vMzRwQRVGwB472I2sm-w6relV5IGN0LiCVtc3Wl1vgn6yjn6ctphyphenhyphenlXuCG-H6diU-B4S4yazHbVg2IDNC-Kc6eXeaZ3eueonDsxR0NsMygNEmxpehBm/s320/IMG_0413.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is This Boliva or Santa Barbara, California?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9TvB2wBvhiks2vXDC2sqjpmlof8RfdQtWMs75z-rp3butLIWXoMkQQIR7ZjL3fySUIt-awGENOjJpoDyxEX-EToE-e2K1o5fVs-NkdiegMWYYSO0_TJTIxKFVdM_QdwZgaNnCMgTmH1D/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9TvB2wBvhiks2vXDC2sqjpmlof8RfdQtWMs75z-rp3butLIWXoMkQQIR7ZjL3fySUIt-awGENOjJpoDyxEX-EToE-e2K1o5fVs-NkdiegMWYYSO0_TJTIxKFVdM_QdwZgaNnCMgTmH1D/s320/IMG_0422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apparently, selling veggies and baskets can be very tiring.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHEBUzyDSmFzhHd06_-SjJdjkBFuKODnLxnJkfk46OnIjQkLZM3x1-gx6K0d9uGMWHA5QN-soF1UooMiiiVUD9FpgcmzpX6TPDJSjEkyFNcGKSCR3W7Xjn60F9OV0Ain2J1ZsYRZVocsz/s1600/IMG_0419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHEBUzyDSmFzhHd06_-SjJdjkBFuKODnLxnJkfk46OnIjQkLZM3x1-gx6K0d9uGMWHA5QN-soF1UooMiiiVUD9FpgcmzpX6TPDJSjEkyFNcGKSCR3W7Xjn60F9OV0Ain2J1ZsYRZVocsz/s320/IMG_0419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">The potato section of the local market.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUAHN_hHblXJA6q3q6Q1Bwp5WAWSQPbvsbY0rT2t-G9zyM5L_wY4CQ7liJOVX1FYdOYvSoClVtRDqIcB043y0YVKfun2bt2IUC-9L1MLSQn21G4ZIC7YQhr79drxA-Vpp_COtUclvY52S/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUAHN_hHblXJA6q3q6Q1Bwp5WAWSQPbvsbY0rT2t-G9zyM5L_wY4CQ7liJOVX1FYdOYvSoClVtRDqIcB043y0YVKfun2bt2IUC-9L1MLSQn21G4ZIC7YQhr79drxA-Vpp_COtUclvY52S/s320/IMG_0424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cow noses anyone?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KjSTJ8JvRDCGdt9EP365SkdJ-bwL38iJ4uxsbaEkdehJpKWQYmP_OhutnI0bhphXSngA3bmexhBM5nnTSuQD4xyKOgc25ZIiydy0t2fh1RRegSiLYMAMkHRmpewzWYk8PRQOtHITB8oN/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KjSTJ8JvRDCGdt9EP365SkdJ-bwL38iJ4uxsbaEkdehJpKWQYmP_OhutnI0bhphXSngA3bmexhBM5nnTSuQD4xyKOgc25ZIiydy0t2fh1RRegSiLYMAMkHRmpewzWYk8PRQOtHITB8oN/s320/IMG_0395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Parade in celebration of Santa Maria.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnsjF7RbfTlr0r2jAtUk6b9X5t9LCR47G24eEYRubfJjjVEmQ-o5MzZ2URkU_cTN6BEv9MaWAvvXv1N_tvbYzUI8ZOIwz0KbfzAavBZr6wwkI4Ftx5UrHYUNyA637vcjOvWH649EjuKch/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnsjF7RbfTlr0r2jAtUk6b9X5t9LCR47G24eEYRubfJjjVEmQ-o5MzZ2URkU_cTN6BEv9MaWAvvXv1N_tvbYzUI8ZOIwz0KbfzAavBZr6wwkI4Ftx5UrHYUNyA637vcjOvWH649EjuKch/s320/IMG_0398.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Young fans of Santa Maria.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrdmFh_65nnWf6_LWdCEYay-xsRdR3Fq4pzbvz4-m_cr6m6yrMzfsLVa55JY5TIRoK5QvzETvQD5YlBfuSHcp_hxWyULqUnY1JUBjKKeAUanmbyVJBtJtwdgkD29QpdKNx6jmoUSbvRaL/s1600/IMG_0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrdmFh_65nnWf6_LWdCEYay-xsRdR3Fq4pzbvz4-m_cr6m6yrMzfsLVa55JY5TIRoK5QvzETvQD5YlBfuSHcp_hxWyULqUnY1JUBjKKeAUanmbyVJBtJtwdgkD29QpdKNx6jmoUSbvRaL/s320/IMG_0405.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center">Brass band on parade.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-6656931330667756912010-06-02T17:50:00.000-07:002010-06-02T17:50:31.277-07:00Sucre, Bolivia Next stop, the city of Sucre, billed as “Bolivia's Most Beautiful City.” We would not argue with this description (Not that we have seen much of Bolivia, yet) The old town of the city features many whitewashed buildings with red tile roofs. We thought we had been transported back to Santa Barbara, California. <br />
Sucre also has a rich history. This was the site where Simon Bolivar declared independence from Spanish rule in 1809, and is the judicial capital of Bolivia to this day. Also, the city features approximately 100 historic churches.<br />
We spent a good deal of time walking about the city, enjoying the scenery and eating far too much. We enjoyed the "low" elevation of 2700 eters, and the relatively flat terrain. We found the local market and enjoyed ogling the fruits, veggies, meats, and of course the potato room (this is still the Andes, after all).<br />
We were also treated to a couple of unique parades (although not nearly as exciting as the big parade we saw in La Paz). First was a religious procession in celebration of Santa Maria, featuring many very well dressed young people, a brass band, and even a banner for Radio Santa Maria FM 95.5. Another evening, we were enjoying dinner on the main plaza, when a candle-lit procession came by. We asked the waiter what was happening, he replied it was a protest against the government. We asked what they were protesting, and he merely shrugged his shoulders. <br />
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Next up, Potosi Bolivia.<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-59773421739668585702010-05-30T14:16:00.000-07:002010-05-30T14:16:28.642-07:00Photos of Cultural Parade, La Paz, Bolivia<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are some photos from the Cultural Parade we saw in La Paz.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luckily Tana had her camera along.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K1ijhlbt5r-Ey_HxO8G0KAUy0of4V8GFraNbvg4DieKUaB4U5UESjV6K7KTKm4ZqfwF-9pLncukmVggW3SWQzxr3RgjYxxipdCF4wfc_cKWgFRwqIGwuqbmzGBejizEKzjGTM4eNXbib/s1600/IMG_7856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K1ijhlbt5r-Ey_HxO8G0KAUy0of4V8GFraNbvg4DieKUaB4U5UESjV6K7KTKm4ZqfwF-9pLncukmVggW3SWQzxr3RgjYxxipdCF4wfc_cKWgFRwqIGwuqbmzGBejizEKzjGTM4eNXbib/s320/IMG_7856.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Great costumes. We saw several groups with this style.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkKY2msf5vfVx0NPCKN8_5vbkcDa6Yokzm0Uqzm0wo85tb_vf-NFXjiosMjvM45AhqJxxBMdn7p1bfbLSV5tEsiOYfulrQOVXOKaPNhywz8wB7wo-glmM4oFLzbAHvMBe5ox9aV-ipkwg/s1600/IMG_7858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkKY2msf5vfVx0NPCKN8_5vbkcDa6Yokzm0Uqzm0wo85tb_vf-NFXjiosMjvM45AhqJxxBMdn7p1bfbLSV5tEsiOYfulrQOVXOKaPNhywz8wB7wo-glmM4oFLzbAHvMBe5ox9aV-ipkwg/s320/IMG_7858.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brass band. Note policeman in foreground trying to talk on the phone. It was LOUD.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpsMEWk7k6FmrDu6kq13_AmcKODT_0Ij5KJlnI4CZ2LmQHk0UJt7e0YWs5Xoz9OkKOYhINGak-0f4I-XEJa-pDLoryMGtGlE5MJfLDn42cRPFlfM5NVqM1hyphenhyphencdtCNNzwO5HJi8HKCIxHq/s1600/IMG_7865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpsMEWk7k6FmrDu6kq13_AmcKODT_0Ij5KJlnI4CZ2LmQHk0UJt7e0YWs5Xoz9OkKOYhINGak-0f4I-XEJa-pDLoryMGtGlE5MJfLDn42cRPFlfM5NVqM1hyphenhyphencdtCNNzwO5HJi8HKCIxHq/s320/IMG_7865.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andean women strutting their stuff.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsm_K-BOAW6Op5bCoRpkn6_OqeV_tYjB0R6L27cbJY2wE6Lb6TrExseFGZxAGAhdXwbx6DryAQ54IVJTzoWAIYkfFulR_hWOwPsIj0Gug0Z7W4o0Y3_KcsN68hTSjvdMTSG87giFsDXSq/s1600/IMG_7874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsm_K-BOAW6Op5bCoRpkn6_OqeV_tYjB0R6L27cbJY2wE6Lb6TrExseFGZxAGAhdXwbx6DryAQ54IVJTzoWAIYkfFulR_hWOwPsIj0Gug0Z7W4o0Y3_KcsN68hTSjvdMTSG87giFsDXSq/s320/IMG_7874.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the groups were huge.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P5-onMojg5R9vqZW2o-A3lAgpyAWkySX6CmyeDh_AQHwwNGTRTUuQCE4ggOH-KJ6HKatmD9O5PDnzvMc1cddD0naVPj-n_QANDwFcxdhyphenhyphenizU_Sa0HqhHU_fUBVH273PsLL4SZ-vwG6Ec/s1600/IMG_7877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P5-onMojg5R9vqZW2o-A3lAgpyAWkySX6CmyeDh_AQHwwNGTRTUuQCE4ggOH-KJ6HKatmD9O5PDnzvMc1cddD0naVPj-n_QANDwFcxdhyphenhyphenizU_Sa0HqhHU_fUBVH273PsLL4SZ-vwG6Ec/s320/IMG_7877.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More great costumes.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-65685798671438876982010-05-30T07:07:00.000-07:002010-06-01T04:12:22.534-07:00La Paz, Bolivia We have spent the last few days in La Paz, Bolivia. Claim to fame - highest capital city in the world, at 3600 meters above sea level. Luckily this is a slightly lower elevation than lake Titicaca, so no problems with the elevation (climbing stairs is a chore, though).<br />
We find La Paz to be reasonably nice, by South American standards, but not full of historic buildings such as Quito or Cusco. There is an interesting mix of odern high rise buildings ane crumbling adobe wrecks. What you get, more or less, is a fairly prosperous city going about its business.<br />
We spent (at least part of) most days walking around, visiting the fruit and veg market, which was huge and very colorful with the locals in traditional dress. We visited the Coca Museum, which was very interesting, and of course the artisan shopping areas.<br />
Our biggest score was on Saturday, when a shopkeeper told us there was a cultural event happening in the center of town. We walked down there just after noon and found the main street lined with grandstands, with a parade going on. We got some seats, and were treated to a procession of costumed dancing groups being backed up by brass bands. The costumes were quite varied and spectacular, and moany of the groups had about 200 members, some of the bands had up to 10 sousaphones. We watched for about an hour, and the groups just kept coming. We then wandered back to our hotel, the street was full of vendors selling food, drinks, and many other items. Amazingly enough, we turned on the TV at 9PM, and the parade was still going! Were the marchers just going around in circles, or were there really that many participants?<br />
(We heard later there were 30,000 people in the parade!)<br />
Next stop, the city of Sucre.<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-85936539883185800632010-05-27T12:59:00.000-07:002010-05-28T05:20:39.102-07:00Photos of Lake Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq70o4CV4gUawBfIYsgK4yy-Rv1QGLeTmvsnho2jkBtw8EmbLcLRXwrnYIAgh62IW-Zb4ZBUcHYEUX0bvNeXp1QjyflBROOTjViT_QWCGjyTLhMJ-aghcuOlWFORCNGt402kienrkHeYs9/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZZPRsc2X2v9H5SCg-apbaBP1NaS90PhTAOont6a_AkkBD_UPMepKfLQ28FAAVkVfeOl8TCPssV2qMgMIFd8HkFUGLmlDHDbxseTFhQ2ARTIWc58bdSaoTNaGLiDg7IEvahrzuzdzOC07/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZZPRsc2X2v9H5SCg-apbaBP1NaS90PhTAOont6a_AkkBD_UPMepKfLQ28FAAVkVfeOl8TCPssV2qMgMIFd8HkFUGLmlDHDbxseTFhQ2ARTIWc58bdSaoTNaGLiDg7IEvahrzuzdzOC07/s320/IMG_0226.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Floating Islet of Uros, made of reeds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq70o4CV4gUawBfIYsgK4yy-Rv1QGLeTmvsnho2jkBtw8EmbLcLRXwrnYIAgh62IW-Zb4ZBUcHYEUX0bvNeXp1QjyflBROOTjViT_QWCGjyTLhMJ-aghcuOlWFORCNGt402kienrkHeYs9/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq70o4CV4gUawBfIYsgK4yy-Rv1QGLeTmvsnho2jkBtw8EmbLcLRXwrnYIAgh62IW-Zb4ZBUcHYEUX0bvNeXp1QjyflBROOTjViT_QWCGjyTLhMJ-aghcuOlWFORCNGt402kienrkHeYs9/s320/IMG_0223.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Woman on floating island, traditional buildings in backround.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VCpDgqZvaX710VSeokDQ6mllSHUIXbHnWHEKGJABz76IZ9RUUOImI9zMz7yV6z_BvKnky2GwYyeDI3CG0Mwv7AEG0eANYbhdaZC63l94iA4ST-rAz-etcBQb1eyuTHza8rz-_EZzSetn/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VCpDgqZvaX710VSeokDQ6mllSHUIXbHnWHEKGJABz76IZ9RUUOImI9zMz7yV6z_BvKnky2GwYyeDI3CG0Mwv7AEG0eANYbhdaZC63l94iA4ST-rAz-etcBQb1eyuTHza8rz-_EZzSetn/s320/IMG_0233.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Man rowing traditional reed boat.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTyH1qCepP6o74sreO4vQpPVeFIgqtcwEgj86WhJjIJBlZieGYeYgA8kKP6myK4pYKISR1jPkm6Ph8lxEoKjYeYtM4nMvJjHS3c-7uwGtai7SVz-jurd-i4z4MEfDJNJ91glb6XAHmoSW/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTyH1qCepP6o74sreO4vQpPVeFIgqtcwEgj86WhJjIJBlZieGYeYgA8kKP6myK4pYKISR1jPkm6Ph8lxEoKjYeYtM4nMvJjHS3c-7uwGtai7SVz-jurd-i4z4MEfDJNJ91glb6XAHmoSW/s320/IMG_0255.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View of harbor and lake from top of stairs, Isle of Taquile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirB2GFQAby0VOjit0YGrQtA_o4IpqLD9f_gUBDvP7Uv3Qm7BOxISQqca0qHSnkLCxDawI_AGl3-H41kfkvQUNXaMQbcJa31eqNOWziO2RaSEiCu8hOR8y2VRL2Qe69npF5LKSkAN63sZAY/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirB2GFQAby0VOjit0YGrQtA_o4IpqLD9f_gUBDvP7Uv3Qm7BOxISQqca0qHSnkLCxDawI_AGl3-H41kfkvQUNXaMQbcJa31eqNOWziO2RaSEiCu8hOR8y2VRL2Qe69npF5LKSkAN63sZAY/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Isle Of Taquile, note agricultural terraces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHTiFRKYrG5ZeWAPhbidsheVOhAPNvVTJOyXnuV4WvlnCSWHynfh__V0TqHFICwdqXKpuBCxprP-ajs-NrKeDQuOJa0TMn9mPGPAq0rtisMnaCDf3tXTkjO8P78pqFlDklRvBIMR85AYn/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHTiFRKYrG5ZeWAPhbidsheVOhAPNvVTJOyXnuV4WvlnCSWHynfh__V0TqHFICwdqXKpuBCxprP-ajs-NrKeDQuOJa0TMn9mPGPAq0rtisMnaCDf3tXTkjO8P78pqFlDklRvBIMR85AYn/s320/IMG_0289.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tana and Nikki make way for local transport, village of Yumani, Isla Del Sol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mmMQ9vm36kdk-7F6MIbnKmngvqJD5rSXM4rg_bmvQPaozb61428dv1tnsmycB8YWSiAa4a29r8yIH-1GryVTNzg3P7fhgg7zsNHaoro_zjTZ-WiThx-4fW-mUpqCo6buuZx7X55kqiJw/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mmMQ9vm36kdk-7F6MIbnKmngvqJD5rSXM4rg_bmvQPaozb61428dv1tnsmycB8YWSiAa4a29r8yIH-1GryVTNzg3P7fhgg7zsNHaoro_zjTZ-WiThx-4fW-mUpqCo6buuZx7X55kqiJw/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Local agriclture, shore of Lake Titicaca.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRV-n0j0DC8da6-1lyOZrWHRfcVKJbzZ3uM6jGQXpg4t5xcS9K2nA8cLx-CEYjQwzoDWvK49axhiH5c37FeuAyL8XbIGncOtl-N75WwIWhiIBCMuzgVOoVaHjwyBdslFk_dg3-WDU76cd/s1600/IMG_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRV-n0j0DC8da6-1lyOZrWHRfcVKJbzZ3uM6jGQXpg4t5xcS9K2nA8cLx-CEYjQwzoDWvK49axhiH5c37FeuAyL8XbIGncOtl-N75WwIWhiIBCMuzgVOoVaHjwyBdslFk_dg3-WDU76cd/s320/IMG_0297.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Extensive terracing on Isla Del Sol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjzxTrKodLVA3PSz-SbM06NKmVavpLrvivEPKtbP78lJhlJTGj9OL23VceSjLiPQrSQv3DF6H4qBRi-o0AT50vxsnDSy_cyyzr2Py-O-dDlFspHZXEKxQlEc8qAns8kaEnp7B5Wf-7bT2/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjzxTrKodLVA3PSz-SbM06NKmVavpLrvivEPKtbP78lJhlJTGj9OL23VceSjLiPQrSQv3DF6H4qBRi-o0AT50vxsnDSy_cyyzr2Py-O-dDlFspHZXEKxQlEc8qAns8kaEnp7B5Wf-7bT2/s320/IMG_0306.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Woman walking her sheep (and pig) up the trail, Isla Del Sol.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissKGUV1nkhHTL0M0Q7RzCKcIo4g2tOEXKmuQkUgAikEE7TEo6ElOAVhq2UFc_bDDJGVQdF9decyJSjlHkjYfJmW0cyck55qFef-S5_wn3xmb-ljwb3QeJhsAcucnnYjbzUk8m6JR-rKf-/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissKGUV1nkhHTL0M0Q7RzCKcIo4g2tOEXKmuQkUgAikEE7TEo6ElOAVhq2UFc_bDDJGVQdF9decyJSjlHkjYfJmW0cyck55qFef-S5_wn3xmb-ljwb3QeJhsAcucnnYjbzUk8m6JR-rKf-/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Walking the trail, Northern Isla Del Sol.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvE6o1hVt0FIMjfcOzPPgzAi4-rR0lwNZzwHMpmM8zXwLlitGXKcp7PHEPqdztW3V2fz4yERBJgM_8005bqQLeJRsmYXU4BKuL0mV67L3PX8O83ZTyC4JpGavM4zhUh0KVpk-APVLclnUD/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvE6o1hVt0FIMjfcOzPPgzAi4-rR0lwNZzwHMpmM8zXwLlitGXKcp7PHEPqdztW3V2fz4yERBJgM_8005bqQLeJRsmYXU4BKuL0mV67L3PX8O83ZTyC4JpGavM4zhUh0KVpk-APVLclnUD/s320/IMG_0322.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Village of Challa, Isla Del Sol.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVulRUtB_sFTYk0x4W3FWJSFkorzSojD0LgGte-yhiqrZORu8MpgkDaRb4h2cUHHOFv-MbU0IaEy9yuQt-XDkmqZwEk2f2-zYPAeMGLPxSTjZZdqlb4P5KdT-CRNxI9iw5Rc7abGkKyX-/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVulRUtB_sFTYk0x4W3FWJSFkorzSojD0LgGte-yhiqrZORu8MpgkDaRb4h2cUHHOFv-MbU0IaEy9yuQt-XDkmqZwEk2f2-zYPAeMGLPxSTjZZdqlb4P5KdT-CRNxI9iw5Rc7abGkKyX-/s320/IMG_0345.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Palacio Del Inca, Isla Del Sol.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFwolRZhOrMuZqNB_x5fKXojO9e3JSH5VGNJa_ucFEXGZxKKBpsdI7FUh6GHAVhJLYPl9JKLYdyiuTYfCIyNk9PbiaV7PzWvyh3BV3EfiSpsy5F25vPFI32HBuYM_ZPdCq4dVZsYgbI0F/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFwolRZhOrMuZqNB_x5fKXojO9e3JSH5VGNJa_ucFEXGZxKKBpsdI7FUh6GHAVhJLYPl9JKLYdyiuTYfCIyNk9PbiaV7PzWvyh3BV3EfiSpsy5F25vPFI32HBuYM_ZPdCq4dVZsYgbI0F/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The high road across Isla Del Sol, going straight uphill off into the distance.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXw4JroLF9HdkJRZcxT5oO8q0Bg5_6rpUobVm-Jta8YTccOFER-v3kuYwL8ZaPL1O-1RJisnCkc030qhLRlUW1Wqf-RpOnj_3dQghlgjAHhOZ1IJqf3FeG0iuPFaHVITrPoFI3-kOS4aQf/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXw4JroLF9HdkJRZcxT5oO8q0Bg5_6rpUobVm-Jta8YTccOFER-v3kuYwL8ZaPL1O-1RJisnCkc030qhLRlUW1Wqf-RpOnj_3dQghlgjAHhOZ1IJqf3FeG0iuPFaHVITrPoFI3-kOS4aQf/s320/IMG_0366.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Terraced Isla Del Sol with Cordillera Real (Mtns) in background</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBxg0FKqkmGh6_xw8XPd_3biHpzcuL-QbYJFZXMOPTo2NdnvyWmHWguamlk1yDd6IkD-8T308AMUrqhctdEJs2pxJHrqKPdXuLQ4Mmn2Y5WV5N-AGVvx5SWvIfvxiDjnUl5CsnuBv9NPF/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBxg0FKqkmGh6_xw8XPd_3biHpzcuL-QbYJFZXMOPTo2NdnvyWmHWguamlk1yDd6IkD-8T308AMUrqhctdEJs2pxJHrqKPdXuLQ4Mmn2Y5WV5N-AGVvx5SWvIfvxiDjnUl5CsnuBv9NPF/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Descending Inca Staircase (easier than ascending!!), Isla Del Sol.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b1ph3iKRTYueoYY35aMgxjFXK4AkRzhzsw2GFNtw44QqopP-vjnrpyFZc8CkGoYZSJqU7gTrE6Xll47HDv5zyVaAqy2XLz9IuRFVtQEizC8Nu04-YDJoeM9pejoDTrNwJUPqFMqSGq8P/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b1ph3iKRTYueoYY35aMgxjFXK4AkRzhzsw2GFNtw44QqopP-vjnrpyFZc8CkGoYZSJqU7gTrE6Xll47HDv5zyVaAqy2XLz9IuRFVtQEizC8Nu04-YDJoeM9pejoDTrNwJUPqFMqSGq8P/s320/IMG_0377.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the boat from Isla Del Sol. Note steering technique.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-85332755337610022552010-05-27T12:38:00.000-07:002010-05-27T12:38:32.332-07:00Lake Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia After leaving the Sacred Valley we headed south towards Lake Titicaca and Bolivia. Lake Titicaca, also known as the “Sacred Lake”, is located at the ridiculous altitude of 3800 meters (12,350 feet). We first explored the lake from the Peru side, taking a day trip from the lakeside city of Puno. From here we visited the floating islands of Uros and Isla Taquile. <br />
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Nowadays the floating islands are primarily a tourist attraction, although the local people do actually live there. We expected the worst in terms of “dog and pony show” but our visit was actually reasonably enjoyable and informative. We were given basic demonstrations about how the islands and buildings are constructed from reeds, how the locals hunt and fish, etc.<br />
We continued to the Island of Taquile, which is a “real” island (not floating) inhabited by approximately 2500 people. Most of the island is covered in terraces built long ago to improve the agricultural situation, and there are only footpaths and many stairs, so no vehicles of any sort (exception: Donkeys). The people here have unique and colorful clothing, and we saw several men knitting their stocking-type caps. After climbing to the top of the island where the main plaza for views and shopping, followed by lunch with a great view of the lake and the western shore. We then walked back down the million steps, got on the boat, and returned to Puno.<br />
We continued south by bus, crossing into Bolivia, transferred to a boat in the town of Copacabana, and headed for Isla Del Sol (Island of the Sun), the largest island in Lake Titicaca. Historically this island is important to the people of Bolivia and Peru, as legend has it this was the birthplace of the first Inca, and even the sun. Somewhat similar to Isla Taquile, this island has about 2500 residents, and donkeys are the only vehicles. It also features some nifty Inca ruins, and pathways and stairways built by the Incas are still in use today. Also, the scenery is great.<br />
After arriving at the island we hauled our gear up 382 steps (yes, we counted) and some uphill as well, to the village of Yumani, where we 1) caught our breath 2) tried to stay out of the way of the donkeys 3) found lodging and 4) enjoyed the great views.<br />
The next morning we set out on a walking tour of the island. As we followed the Inca road north, we were passed by ladies with their flocks of sheep, typically accompanied by a pig or two. We also people with cows, and of course donkeys. Most were very friendly. After passing by a couple of villages and some nice beaches, we arrived at the northern village of Challapampa in time for lunch. Here half the party took the boat south, the other half continued north to visit the ruins and return south by the high road. The ruins were interesting mostly for their spectacular setting high on a peninsula with great views of the lake. With regard to the high road, let me point out the the Incas' favorite direction to go is up, straight up. The road took us directly over the highest parts of the island, which literally takes one's breath away at approximately 4000 meters above sea level. The scenery was not bad, which provided a nice distraction. The next morning it was down the 382 steps with our luggage for the return boat ride. We all appreciated how much easier it was going down than up.<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-11049623331761065272010-05-20T18:59:00.000-07:002010-05-20T18:59:25.735-07:00Photos of Ollantaytambo, Peru<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZL81cPEuu7uRAZTlDFo1qiwXPxTawRkPg2Wo0OuYJyZ6rk0mEb4QsyktFaXG5VTSpqFkpE4M597itd3ZMV8dXwEFJpRuq6dELxvdSxukZ7IuR2fq6o-eEcdmrR8LWJYO5YhJfmneXfkj/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZL81cPEuu7uRAZTlDFo1qiwXPxTawRkPg2Wo0OuYJyZ6rk0mEb4QsyktFaXG5VTSpqFkpE4M597itd3ZMV8dXwEFJpRuq6dELxvdSxukZ7IuR2fq6o-eEcdmrR8LWJYO5YhJfmneXfkj/s320/IMG_0092.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inca terraces and ruins overlooking the town of Ollantaytambo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETE-7PL-PxYeQAGxS64yWU5ioEzHtCVHMFejFkF3AlGlMFvzH55iHO9KMZG0BqipULmdQ-f9BesjadERxydNyy5sJwbA2jjrRP3ReX7tmbeMW0OozI-PUQoHHmqTyWx8rmr8MXVf3_BKZ/s1600/IMG_9914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETE-7PL-PxYeQAGxS64yWU5ioEzHtCVHMFejFkF3AlGlMFvzH55iHO9KMZG0BqipULmdQ-f9BesjadERxydNyy5sJwbA2jjrRP3ReX7tmbeMW0OozI-PUQoHHmqTyWx8rmr8MXVf3_BKZ/s320/IMG_9914.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Urubamba river valley near Ollantaytambo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJz03UiFkCyGHM7K74RErSiZZ_QjaM8c-0HyjefoHlUJ_5zIZLJNeixNGQNoIF9tHlGGrwFJSaUxO4DvQEYs09HJzZ4WfrgguTSZDeo9WMaaTNI6FHkNA6PqmiF6xdgFRDLMQA7P8HfB4/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJz03UiFkCyGHM7K74RErSiZZ_QjaM8c-0HyjefoHlUJ_5zIZLJNeixNGQNoIF9tHlGGrwFJSaUxO4DvQEYs09HJzZ4WfrgguTSZDeo9WMaaTNI6FHkNA6PqmiF6xdgFRDLMQA7P8HfB4/s320/IMG_0085.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Local bridge built in Inca foundation. Modern pilings are unused.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad5LmTJiGPgRFkEaftl54OdiIuMPU40tIal71wOdwirCz3MhHmSkiBFpSgwM5EtGJ-Lf6btoiOM1-pMBmXz8i0Bt4ZYqZFUXLAfqkEjNrWzIiL1RZAMs55Fp22y6zafCbe4crj2IT4bcZ/s1600/IMG_9484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad5LmTJiGPgRFkEaftl54OdiIuMPU40tIal71wOdwirCz3MhHmSkiBFpSgwM5EtGJ-Lf6btoiOM1-pMBmXz8i0Bt4ZYqZFUXLAfqkEjNrWzIiL1RZAMs55Fp22y6zafCbe4crj2IT4bcZ/s320/IMG_9484.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Edge of old town Ollantaytambo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WHtrP-vKzc9yUet__HdwJkZy6p4nP4Xwhgpkak5Cw-xFT2gbnTLqYw3pUzcCnjEmDN6xJe-NQeAdJ-6ThziLNBaBTMrLnZR-7b_earokfWoSZyuiAKu1zMNh3LsW3vGj1vMWpA8M1j_p/s1600/IMG_9487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WHtrP-vKzc9yUet__HdwJkZy6p4nP4Xwhgpkak5Cw-xFT2gbnTLqYw3pUzcCnjEmDN6xJe-NQeAdJ-6ThziLNBaBTMrLnZR-7b_earokfWoSZyuiAKu1zMNh3LsW3vGj1vMWpA8M1j_p/s320/IMG_9487.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful Inca stone doorway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0-xG9S4GzO5vPTADzkxICxdlYvJH__Sbbe5pbNGYnNRq-YQbbb-xdf42oDi0S0Y50RGyxFRvuT1w_GRfhrHusm3r2waxzWnJ0xRcCLFYAQtLEeTUAx_E2webk3hn4lAAvk1MIXSN4kqu/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0-xG9S4GzO5vPTADzkxICxdlYvJH__Sbbe5pbNGYnNRq-YQbbb-xdf42oDi0S0Y50RGyxFRvuT1w_GRfhrHusm3r2waxzWnJ0xRcCLFYAQtLEeTUAx_E2webk3hn4lAAvk1MIXSN4kqu/s320/IMG_0082.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Woman washing her clothes in the water channel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpI5SvR5QDWL5Mg1U83gUdX5EkDo7FR1Rogf2krtcC9EUfu1SCSyZOIEHTvJtzH6KxKYSlvvmwXi8GrHbJRuzN2HLechtk0KrPR-ywA3FPmfU9KaStewf6iwd9CRTHJa_f1SFUT62EU24/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpI5SvR5QDWL5Mg1U83gUdX5EkDo7FR1Rogf2krtcC9EUfu1SCSyZOIEHTvJtzH6KxKYSlvvmwXi8GrHbJRuzN2HLechtk0KrPR-ywA3FPmfU9KaStewf6iwd9CRTHJa_f1SFUT62EU24/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This woman was watching the parade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm6ONWTG9NP2SLWxkc2iqsBeDDR0bYUlL8BhjyDtC_azdTnbNVe_sEytUByQ98sL1gbzWbxPMv14zfEANwiPFtC02Con4CO-ZHh5WeotvsSgSPgefbxjWMbcmuAOPE4VC_k3HFSjR0N1K/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm6ONWTG9NP2SLWxkc2iqsBeDDR0bYUlL8BhjyDtC_azdTnbNVe_sEytUByQ98sL1gbzWbxPMv14zfEANwiPFtC02Con4CO-ZHh5WeotvsSgSPgefbxjWMbcmuAOPE4VC_k3HFSjR0N1K/s320/IMG_0080.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This donkey knew his way home and did not need any help getting there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ilvmP4tlqJMITY-jl9rb5wrY3gl3OuADbiqmf3lzgc00mcbV5WBGdQIErgUpeKkIo2scPIQrxxHXZp7xaGyuSpwgVV93M2RrRTDhZ-5Jv2JZCLL0MaEUsRdMvJnqoRLB8M16g6ZVodcb/s1600/IMG_9895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ilvmP4tlqJMITY-jl9rb5wrY3gl3OuADbiqmf3lzgc00mcbV5WBGdQIErgUpeKkIo2scPIQrxxHXZp7xaGyuSpwgVV93M2RrRTDhZ-5Jv2JZCLL0MaEUsRdMvJnqoRLB8M16g6ZVodcb/s320/IMG_9895.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ruins at Ollantaytambo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca2RUUz5yPMTuvzFBFWWD7v3Fjrgpq5o3eZsatQNlE3ULQmq-u_1JG-aGRU5gQKFb7xe6dsdfU_0byLNxsHup7F8J9Ya1a_GOyzE3Z_YgdjpLrujcVgPy4tB-6X7UcvB8oFwXVRXitrPf/s1600/IMG_9884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca2RUUz5yPMTuvzFBFWWD7v3Fjrgpq5o3eZsatQNlE3ULQmq-u_1JG-aGRU5gQKFb7xe6dsdfU_0byLNxsHup7F8J9Ya1a_GOyzE3Z_YgdjpLrujcVgPy4tB-6X7UcvB8oFwXVRXitrPf/s320/IMG_9884.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gateway to temple area of ruins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOghyDvSHJt5ndrWXblX6G8fqeVKgEejE3OMlGW4is0SGrNn0Lx4AVCVJpJjcAK6gZjzq88zF1lDDqbiWLu-GsLhJoLGaeCb8MvTjYFAbFDTi8dwx-PYCs-ytvKaqKQ1xvF6o80ZTM6lE1/s1600/IMG_9928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOghyDvSHJt5ndrWXblX6G8fqeVKgEejE3OMlGW4is0SGrNn0Lx4AVCVJpJjcAK6gZjzq88zF1lDDqbiWLu-GsLhJoLGaeCb8MvTjYFAbFDTi8dwx-PYCs-ytvKaqKQ1xvF6o80ZTM6lE1/s320/IMG_9928.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is left of the temple of the sun at Ollantaytambo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj383cFVHGfEk3i5gTqoHfpMEF_1Mkh1MlrXtp63z7FubFRKcTaOiZ2lS4JT4xa8yXE3FmszPJ3ifetGFF-2X-nswp7JEbKxY4qWLZos3qMauHD4W4i8c5PtmnPLUQ-ymnC8hab93rlDuKc/s1600/IMG_9888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj383cFVHGfEk3i5gTqoHfpMEF_1Mkh1MlrXtp63z7FubFRKcTaOiZ2lS4JT4xa8yXE3FmszPJ3ifetGFF-2X-nswp7JEbKxY4qWLZos3qMauHD4W4i8c5PtmnPLUQ-ymnC8hab93rlDuKc/s320/IMG_9888.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finely fitted pieces in the temple of the sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_oYE417yqaWuvXvIQpevS_sL2ovTk_USkWKBAZqjXq6P9gr3V5E9wX75DIcWR4J-CFvhiNv02BBf31YbWEIzMfmaK4W3jqox1QiYQ1Q_aSV8kblgtTKDbWFI3wUwsO1ZLK-IWkaGbk2E/s1600/IMG_9881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_oYE417yqaWuvXvIQpevS_sL2ovTk_USkWKBAZqjXq6P9gr3V5E9wX75DIcWR4J-CFvhiNv02BBf31YbWEIzMfmaK4W3jqox1QiYQ1Q_aSV8kblgtTKDbWFI3wUwsO1ZLK-IWkaGbk2E/s320/IMG_9881.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More whimsical Inca stonework.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIXi7dWTJGZGC_c51lEpctvPNOfV4d8PdWNkqtDrtLyXm2SA2tZA714wlU3ShHO0jLEnEo19X9pR-ag3yyTZry8Silao1prA0bgpAbPJu23LzFFEikXyg_1ANZI4FBsCw1yhS1Iku563W/s1600/IMG_9921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIXi7dWTJGZGC_c51lEpctvPNOfV4d8PdWNkqtDrtLyXm2SA2tZA714wlU3ShHO0jLEnEo19X9pR-ag3yyTZry8Silao1prA0bgpAbPJu23LzFFEikXyg_1ANZI4FBsCw1yhS1Iku563W/s320/IMG_9921.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Temple located higher above the main ruins. Unusually, this faced the setting sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWLFGQVhj2GgUurp0vvpICmDSkJ2VD3nZt1FsUdc2EWtSOtygufhChCT2YWP5S6FxJ2gHozSDp9_nM7AxkIulamHzB7ap3EJin_iNSaWqa-9IhJRF0a25ly577gp7Tq1eOHFPtP6-Dk0J/s1600/IMG_9878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWLFGQVhj2GgUurp0vvpICmDSkJ2VD3nZt1FsUdc2EWtSOtygufhChCT2YWP5S6FxJ2gHozSDp9_nM7AxkIulamHzB7ap3EJin_iNSaWqa-9IhJRF0a25ly577gp7Tq1eOHFPtP6-Dk0J/s320/IMG_9878.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stairs and terraces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tByyGXWORa-jH4HdchcMuYidLW9rga5ExkQZHpTQeD5L2LR-BON5_12q-52KX4i99CTo8oBhVLY6-4aURoLdhcIB7ciI53fINNcBlAvw-fsKnoxgzXm_1F1psmoFyY_pRRbQ239M87ck/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tByyGXWORa-jH4HdchcMuYidLW9rga5ExkQZHpTQeD5L2LR-BON5_12q-52KX4i99CTo8oBhVLY6-4aURoLdhcIB7ciI53fINNcBlAvw-fsKnoxgzXm_1F1psmoFyY_pRRbQ239M87ck/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The side of the mountiain itself was sculpted. The horizontal line on the face of the rock was a lipped channel that carried water far across the face of the rock to a fine fountain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7pNfS76cOh02HrsEI-IodiWGYS83tUOGOmv1jFjhyphenhyphenr7Yea72-6xs54gtfGPzbcGbWW3htMW8wGZdok5oynFmI5FWBB3MbSo5RJX1FChmfSCsEx4mOiP_2KBPgFQFz5lRZM7AkoQFESzd/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7pNfS76cOh02HrsEI-IodiWGYS83tUOGOmv1jFjhyphenhyphenr7Yea72-6xs54gtfGPzbcGbWW3htMW8wGZdok5oynFmI5FWBB3MbSo5RJX1FChmfSCsEx4mOiP_2KBPgFQFz5lRZM7AkoQFESzd/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautifully intricate fountain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxakb5fj9V6G6kr7r5zUIzH6aybzawewCcTDRz2eLiVZLoJRpbdTENsgrv2G1FNvh-8DxUW2l64ntVSQ7rV1rFrYAHfHaFb-aUTAc8a7FPUf-xfDYQEbMjCALWuMqbBIJjPHFqc_7cKY3/s1600/IMG_9943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxakb5fj9V6G6kr7r5zUIzH6aybzawewCcTDRz2eLiVZLoJRpbdTENsgrv2G1FNvh-8DxUW2l64ntVSQ7rV1rFrYAHfHaFb-aUTAc8a7FPUf-xfDYQEbMjCALWuMqbBIJjPHFqc_7cKY3/s320/IMG_9943.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oxen decorated for blessing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrHLxoCiJo5EDlec4s15mpIRuufL0gvCL20Yxt7ECyXQ-69es0Uj_zwXInyGTxbpgbXyHn84VKvkbHKMBfezGW2_PlfgdXZGGoBBB1rWxQmUU42bhu8VgodE2V4bknOFs4rY9vgj4zAqX/s1600/IMG_9945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrHLxoCiJo5EDlec4s15mpIRuufL0gvCL20Yxt7ECyXQ-69es0Uj_zwXInyGTxbpgbXyHn84VKvkbHKMBfezGW2_PlfgdXZGGoBBB1rWxQmUU42bhu8VgodE2V4bknOFs4rY9vgj4zAqX/s320/IMG_9945.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Priest blessing farmer and his oxen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GsHo1kfMWdm__kuG0JhgrH7H0LnYn25CxUK30AuOXPHT0n1UX2I-hoxu6jjLIuYcMMGZFL8EAb9HND84NKlButaSU7mtaXFxIHeEwmMCJhK0UEvrTt0PEfZvZoDqHA6-1o5EWov6obN2/s1600/IMG_9955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GsHo1kfMWdm__kuG0JhgrH7H0LnYn25CxUK30AuOXPHT0n1UX2I-hoxu6jjLIuYcMMGZFL8EAb9HND84NKlButaSU7mtaXFxIHeEwmMCJhK0UEvrTt0PEfZvZoDqHA6-1o5EWov6obN2/s320/IMG_9955.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Procession leaving the Catholic church.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX9OHByTKDDn2BzlQLzBGzx9ktDSBKhoTvvNDwNRE6pr_Ho3MW2oIKi7hYjvFounr12UQKk_kQaxfdTikz9kwej1eFz7DRKCxfD05iRa5glxl_nj6o10UlmsMCtJ-ww1e96LzSZOuDGqV/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX9OHByTKDDn2BzlQLzBGzx9ktDSBKhoTvvNDwNRE6pr_Ho3MW2oIKi7hYjvFounr12UQKk_kQaxfdTikz9kwej1eFz7DRKCxfD05iRa5glxl_nj6o10UlmsMCtJ-ww1e96LzSZOuDGqV/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Costumed statue bearers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dqMLxO9r5_z6-oWk6yktDA38IplZ9TU6TOl2pJSJ3J680gz-0L6CXzjQ02WSCFDPFLoy-9z7hQXWx7TLX_VQmzShkhx9ovH-ghD9S0LQ6S9ZGeQRFF5RoKh9nedrcDtmqBiMiJfzwvZg/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dqMLxO9r5_z6-oWk6yktDA38IplZ9TU6TOl2pJSJ3J680gz-0L6CXzjQ02WSCFDPFLoy-9z7hQXWx7TLX_VQmzShkhx9ovH-ghD9S0LQ6S9ZGeQRFF5RoKh9nedrcDtmqBiMiJfzwvZg/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More costumed statue bearers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjuUu3L0Sf1m79PRItRAfsR-41xf6Ksbs6fiAVVUnlL3XAW3zVGXeoWwq6Zal-1RPUuKo_6ipsWUlohQ8_xLc6SIBCLRUBPMqD-dOHtSJJ7nYhVRxoJZr7D4ui-j_GgfmuzeLuxT_jXqv/s1600/IMG_9946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjuUu3L0Sf1m79PRItRAfsR-41xf6Ksbs6fiAVVUnlL3XAW3zVGXeoWwq6Zal-1RPUuKo_6ipsWUlohQ8_xLc6SIBCLRUBPMqD-dOHtSJJ7nYhVRxoJZr7D4ui-j_GgfmuzeLuxT_jXqv/s320/IMG_9946.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The start of the parade, which almost turned into the running of the bulls.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-74749280425663790912010-05-20T18:58:00.001-07:002010-05-20T18:58:52.045-07:00Ollantaytambo, Peru After leaving Machu Piccu we spent some time in the small town of Ollantaytambo, located about 50km up the Urabamba River in the Sacred Valley. The Inca fortress ruins located here are probably the next most significant in the area after Machu Piccu. This was the site of the only battle defeat of the Spanish by the Incas. The old town itself was originally built by the Incas, and has been continuously inhabited in more or less the same configuration since the 1300's. The original town was organized in blocks, each block is surrounded by stone walls with a single impressive Inca doorway for access to the internal courtyard and buildings. Some appear to be in near-original condition (filled with near original trash, too). The town also has an interesting system of channels that distribute water through the streets, something the residents find very handy for washing clothes, sidewalks, etc. The town and fortress are surrounded by large areas of Inca terraces, still in use by local farmers. In small villages outside town (and actually some people in town) life continues fairly similarly to the way it was hundreds of years ago. Many people in the area speak primarily, I not exclusively, the Quecua (Inca) language, and not Spanish. All in all a very interesting and scenic place, we wish there was more time to explore the area.<br />
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In addition to vitisiting some of the sites in the area, we were treated to a small bit of local culture, as on Saturday there was a ceremony and celebration to bless the start of the agricultural season. (I am not sure how this works, as the dry season is just starting and essentially no rain is expected for 6 months). First, there were a couple of small parades that ended at the Catholic Church. Then some local farmers gathered outside the church with their teams of oxen, whose heads had been decorated with produce and ribbons. The priest came out and sprinkled holy water over the animals and the men, after which the men and their teams started to parade through town. At first some of the animals were not cooperative and it looked like we might also see a local version of the running of the bulls. Then a procession started from the church, with the priest out front followed by three statues, each on a platform surrounded by cornstalks, being carried by festively costumed men, and finally the brass band. They went around town, joined up with the blessed oxen, and the united group took a few laps. It was all quite festive and fun, and we were sure to be extra careful where we stepped as we walked around town for the rest of the day.<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-7607136428945492722010-05-20T18:58:00.000-07:002010-05-21T07:15:10.199-07:00Photos Of Machu Picchu, Peru: Animals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even with the many people visiting Machu Picchu every day, there were a surprising number of animals around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgu1jf8-Zd4a4cT8ACRns1TcAPxpUGK15LOZdmF80-yHfuLUJIZc8Gu8l-obowrUYZnzMdx56POHj9o-lIImfHKkSuxMq7bqXrwCqWOMgSFDf9V2T1GQ_YLF51NMdMf64jv-bx6bt0-ny/s1600/IMG_9796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgu1jf8-Zd4a4cT8ACRns1TcAPxpUGK15LOZdmF80-yHfuLUJIZc8Gu8l-obowrUYZnzMdx56POHj9o-lIImfHKkSuxMq7bqXrwCqWOMgSFDf9V2T1GQ_YLF51NMdMf64jv-bx6bt0-ny/s320/IMG_9796.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">White-Bellied Hummingbird, and Orchid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PwfK57INvCpmUomJpF_nG70oOnRDzUIJMU-EOj-IG6WR0iuLi_l12OUecgrMnelGwEWXNgkxydrwaHb2N4HR1NQM0ueG-UxKBQ-dcJ8vG222seTJZ1-pXlwD2OxndTbwxnGsDJG-k3g8/s1600/IMG_9791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PwfK57INvCpmUomJpF_nG70oOnRDzUIJMU-EOj-IG6WR0iuLi_l12OUecgrMnelGwEWXNgkxydrwaHb2N4HR1NQM0ueG-UxKBQ-dcJ8vG222seTJZ1-pXlwD2OxndTbwxnGsDJG-k3g8/s320/IMG_9791.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Green and White Hummingbird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuT7l57_-4iuGKXNTSG9QjDK6tA9UXXcibFgjdCQkh-XCqzpCzZAnFo7up-fJHYXog_u9SxODrfr7NXBSDI04OX7KtX5GTI5gvaml5HG0mRK4qemHT4F8O3MbjIw798ccNZvDaoXHaMck/s1600/IMG_9631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuT7l57_-4iuGKXNTSG9QjDK6tA9UXXcibFgjdCQkh-XCqzpCzZAnFo7up-fJHYXog_u9SxODrfr7NXBSDI04OX7KtX5GTI5gvaml5HG0mRK4qemHT4F8O3MbjIw798ccNZvDaoXHaMck/s320/IMG_9631.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rufous Collared Sparrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrux5q9qVofF3g5OmGqoLVfn4yUswudEQWKPPzfXnOKy9_d_R7v1roZNY_gL1ZhTGvPUH9ySenPdi8a6vi7xn4leqGdzfDxqy4HXfMPw-Ljn1h2Qmv24L6Btpl5AJBGZmDhvXvCTZlOSEI/s1600/IMG_9813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrux5q9qVofF3g5OmGqoLVfn4yUswudEQWKPPzfXnOKy9_d_R7v1roZNY_gL1ZhTGvPUH9ySenPdi8a6vi7xn4leqGdzfDxqy4HXfMPw-Ljn1h2Qmv24L6Btpl5AJBGZmDhvXvCTZlOSEI/s320/IMG_9813.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blue and White Swallows were nesting in the ruins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCb61_z3TpS6ObAGf1_bHcJPqzHH9Fw1gLO-GRvSuI6boVMS3SN5Pko0IMrrJWZBAcyvsU5dxni15M3exhezGLADzLK4ZrX9i8gBh8pAOoRs7Z8d3Ve2-Q4bm_xB5InDJm55nb4Nd4Imp/s1600/IMG_9804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCb61_z3TpS6ObAGf1_bHcJPqzHH9Fw1gLO-GRvSuI6boVMS3SN5Pko0IMrrJWZBAcyvsU5dxni15M3exhezGLADzLK4ZrX9i8gBh8pAOoRs7Z8d3Ve2-Q4bm_xB5InDJm55nb4Nd4Imp/s320/IMG_9804.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Chinchilla enjoying some early morning sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPkAE9Z4HINkNOHsmz97ZN4PrxwvFL4_X9SoDkYMTYfzs8gYMa5tDUTkgERfP9j6rTENOXmor7ZGIwjPFO6G1wyYUJA7YCAgjBSDZyS2pG4khcMGtSz36XdIDc3qdRIPsbShr0l1osiol/s1600/IMG_9608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPkAE9Z4HINkNOHsmz97ZN4PrxwvFL4_X9SoDkYMTYfzs8gYMa5tDUTkgERfP9j6rTENOXmor7ZGIwjPFO6G1wyYUJA7YCAgjBSDZyS2pG4khcMGtSz36XdIDc3qdRIPsbShr0l1osiol/s320/IMG_9608.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This llama seemed to be playing King of The Hill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb03G3jjraSc-OvroPyVhEWYO33DqtnAaYtLyZsfV-AHlxm12B0wAi4YshY0pznx5rHBc1l2z-Dw2HaghSRGnQff0HWrGEo3FaDcqj9stV4V4PVbu97mK5ooDiHyKXNL0pVUarlgr8kk7/s1600/IMG_9712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb03G3jjraSc-OvroPyVhEWYO33DqtnAaYtLyZsfV-AHlxm12B0wAi4YshY0pznx5rHBc1l2z-Dw2HaghSRGnQff0HWrGEo3FaDcqj9stV4V4PVbu97mK5ooDiHyKXNL0pVUarlgr8kk7/s320/IMG_9712.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not sure what type of lizards these were.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZL66u8tVs1cX-xcTduSRNTAMkMddGnA4NpRcqqzVbAfK4SmpKDaSKWZqG-mpLle8po6Ie32OdRyZoMIH0hQwVrMmOWEhG8wkay4zx5aYmKkFWLpY6ZtePe9BFmDwoOpnRlozS1raRZ6d2/s1600/IMG_9614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZL66u8tVs1cX-xcTduSRNTAMkMddGnA4NpRcqqzVbAfK4SmpKDaSKWZqG-mpLle8po6Ie32OdRyZoMIH0hQwVrMmOWEhG8wkay4zx5aYmKkFWLpY6ZtePe9BFmDwoOpnRlozS1raRZ6d2/s320/IMG_9614.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The resident llama herd was popular and entertaining.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-728177287231112682010-05-20T18:57:00.001-07:002010-05-21T07:14:45.881-07:00Photos Of Machu Picchu, Peru<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZhSFrxxmBsM8XMxD8zyZprRZMW61qe-F9oRxnKtHpnDditTX8Qjvmnc9Vjk-gaCrASrhKgHo6rledy7kznBkfbDdFoO0m3uFx-aHlJ8B5xxx1I2bg_9lVyqA8BHHl33jYLdAyeq3qqex/s1600/IMG_9724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZhSFrxxmBsM8XMxD8zyZprRZMW61qe-F9oRxnKtHpnDditTX8Qjvmnc9Vjk-gaCrASrhKgHo6rledy7kznBkfbDdFoO0m3uFx-aHlJ8B5xxx1I2bg_9lVyqA8BHHl33jYLdAyeq3qqex/s320/IMG_9724.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A classic view of the ruins, with Waynapicchu behind.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZuKMrPkqDy4jLQ4nJtqP8by1lLwZhXsnqw3g9AfWSmb2z4pl8VSXj0zqDtFu2Lb6IRLACrYM2xKDBb28JUYRIHvlKLJNRtFLNbcC-M9XRgPvpASCtciDOX25iFMHEA47JTlasLO_YrSI/s1600/IMG_9844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZuKMrPkqDy4jLQ4nJtqP8by1lLwZhXsnqw3g9AfWSmb2z4pl8VSXj0zqDtFu2Lb6IRLACrYM2xKDBb28JUYRIHvlKLJNRtFLNbcC-M9XRgPvpASCtciDOX25iFMHEA47JTlasLO_YrSI/s320/IMG_9844.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Royal Residences section. Uptown Machu Picchu</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EPWW4dOh5DCRyHUytCXWpIEBaQaxidTGOEIOkke5Go0cJUMgz2MOsCw7l7DFMBQ_EqhFQH3oZ4NwQaOgQxQSiZ7VYDrzsWqsiG16D3ByKZ0rDZI1ZyFiu28EJMw8CJSzIxA-8HbwoTjQ/s1600/IMG_9835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EPWW4dOh5DCRyHUytCXWpIEBaQaxidTGOEIOkke5Go0cJUMgz2MOsCw7l7DFMBQ_EqhFQH3oZ4NwQaOgQxQSiZ7VYDrzsWqsiG16D3ByKZ0rDZI1ZyFiu28EJMw8CJSzIxA-8HbwoTjQ/s320/IMG_9835.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looking north from the main plaza.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxppKiN9Yq33XW4t8TH6CyoQdTbS1nHjp1mP6fSIzlX0hBMnbOw4t1ukzcKl7xfifbyyIAfUl_noQTyrg8sqAXZuBl3DYPMYFjeinuf_1obNk2Yngqoz5mTk0f3cp86B3Bw2sFX-JQ8YsZ/s1600/IMG_9691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxppKiN9Yq33XW4t8TH6CyoQdTbS1nHjp1mP6fSIzlX0hBMnbOw4t1ukzcKl7xfifbyyIAfUl_noQTyrg8sqAXZuBl3DYPMYFjeinuf_1obNk2Yngqoz5mTk0f3cp86B3Bw2sFX-JQ8YsZ/s320/IMG_9691.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucky residents enjoyed incredible views.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQuTDp7Aj040rUD93DU3Ef1Gt_GhKFmxPVI-vzgM3FsH0XeTd4G2UqWVeSnKTwz-N6cPgJIDE7tojgOUVWcwF4Y4GTfFv9MZ_rzzCUDUwNy0A4nnrTyt1t3QmB1fXMVZ81rU3EeNDMgCl/s1600/IMG_9704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQuTDp7Aj040rUD93DU3Ef1Gt_GhKFmxPVI-vzgM3FsH0XeTd4G2UqWVeSnKTwz-N6cPgJIDE7tojgOUVWcwF4Y4GTfFv9MZ_rzzCUDUwNy0A4nnrTyt1t3QmB1fXMVZ81rU3EeNDMgCl/s320/IMG_9704.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Temple with fine stonework.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8xXpRRFqi_P_PXDkA5SenDXpE-OKOsUM8moPKhJBOHcGfO495yBhfTRLPUcqkeks3OxwipjbAJow-dMDKwpZ1vQWDiDmWw1HcINdNM5Nz53bE6s0f6-s8AUKztfrV_8gxpkDwvDJjEPG/s1600/IMG_9706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8xXpRRFqi_P_PXDkA5SenDXpE-OKOsUM8moPKhJBOHcGfO495yBhfTRLPUcqkeks3OxwipjbAJow-dMDKwpZ1vQWDiDmWw1HcINdNM5Nz53bE6s0f6-s8AUKztfrV_8gxpkDwvDJjEPG/s320/IMG_9706.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Incas - the original stairmasters.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWIZoNBUAGc3K2PbZboxOACJFpYosfVxfsKD0bztZFU0f3D88tHLMXT7K-XnllwENm_hyphenhyphen5KL906QMRWrLjwNF-05RBHvlLt-8fpgsP-1Y6h6Dh332U-Fcc2QbO0wGxtZ2f3fbhyj1Sv57/s1600/IMG_9700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWIZoNBUAGc3K2PbZboxOACJFpYosfVxfsKD0bztZFU0f3D88tHLMXT7K-XnllwENm_hyphenhyphen5KL906QMRWrLjwNF-05RBHvlLt-8fpgsP-1Y6h6Dh332U-Fcc2QbO0wGxtZ2f3fbhyj1Sv57/s320/IMG_9700.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The only circular building in Machu Picchu. Fitted perfectly to stone below.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFx4gXQdetsDr9UHv-Ii-MUXGH20hm179fP-Y-FoA8jz4Tz5-O673zU0GIr6OjtKNY3fFVXHR-DmwIpLxVmBVJFwBEo5RowQ2ocVYeNRDdcw9ihf-MXoy_dC3Broz-XSvX_Jy01ORuFwZy/s1600/IMG_9763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFx4gXQdetsDr9UHv-Ii-MUXGH20hm179fP-Y-FoA8jz4Tz5-O673zU0GIr6OjtKNY3fFVXHR-DmwIpLxVmBVJFwBEo5RowQ2ocVYeNRDdcw9ihf-MXoy_dC3Broz-XSvX_Jy01ORuFwZy/s320/IMG_9763.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunrise at the Temple of three windows.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyQzW0ZJBr_1rT89150lduXLb5XeXfzAVscNBmfm-jhYvbmCuq45FsUB6e1lDkXHmRIQWc9JHFccXsL5zG2GN-_0jOMA_x34hP04-6oOzo4nsLluzx0_F9YLnddqZ1V0y15gIlCaae1KX/s1600/IMG_9793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyQzW0ZJBr_1rT89150lduXLb5XeXfzAVscNBmfm-jhYvbmCuq45FsUB6e1lDkXHmRIQWc9JHFccXsL5zG2GN-_0jOMA_x34hP04-6oOzo4nsLluzx0_F9YLnddqZ1V0y15gIlCaae1KX/s320/IMG_9793.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Insteresting stone details were everywhere. This staircase was carved out of solid rock. </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANN77gfj85ZIZdoNc8tScz8hG6m34t3Yqw6L1zx8ZnK8kuESbfND_IH2ESnuaJOwH0MEmCk5n3YqTfCfFPtZsNXPcl4ywsiHAb2EbkM-AHHLyLhJO1kKkfsqOUqk7C6Tw1nZUadIHUXiy/s1600/IMG_9626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANN77gfj85ZIZdoNc8tScz8hG6m34t3Yqw6L1zx8ZnK8kuESbfND_IH2ESnuaJOwH0MEmCk5n3YqTfCfFPtZsNXPcl4ywsiHAb2EbkM-AHHLyLhJO1kKkfsqOUqk7C6Tw1nZUadIHUXiy/s320/IMG_9626.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rooms with a view.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJku5L2NvpvtHGtlgp7NZifPo5V0OStHtUL_h03H148EtqkcMdkG7EjzuRWKrs9Jm2knFf22KXH8gfDCcYJAB48Bo41G_fIpRlITYaysKnqVmZLEC_BBS5qLTKayQaiRX2azlrttWRGP3C/s1600/IMG_9574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJku5L2NvpvtHGtlgp7NZifPo5V0OStHtUL_h03H148EtqkcMdkG7EjzuRWKrs9Jm2knFf22KXH8gfDCcYJAB48Bo41G_fIpRlITYaysKnqVmZLEC_BBS5qLTKayQaiRX2azlrttWRGP3C/s320/IMG_9574.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Temple of the three windows.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwq_XcM9GIxnx5mCssVmUa5ywJb0Wj3HrOG9Gn2aRwFGqIGH0p2nH-tsdQzKvC6gzBPgBHGZGmxQkLunrygVwdDMdHtnAdaJnm0DDkicEWWlODVbjbvns8VjlGtzCJ4H3rS6fG_khufU9/s1600/IMG_9569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwq_XcM9GIxnx5mCssVmUa5ywJb0Wj3HrOG9Gn2aRwFGqIGH0p2nH-tsdQzKvC6gzBPgBHGZGmxQkLunrygVwdDMdHtnAdaJnm0DDkicEWWlODVbjbvns8VjlGtzCJ4H3rS6fG_khufU9/s320/IMG_9569.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The wooden roof supports were tied to these stone pegs. </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhzumUEumw6m0qYneQO4nbFORC-zTvXt8Lv0nNHaq58Ur5rL1w6iulewqHTLqc6K4zzr5w2UaGaUk1MhQvOPE6reXbgCaFZTrshfCiRmJn3RmcOqjcmceUf1kQoslhMfMWUYRpbdDZF7_/s1600/IMG_9520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhzumUEumw6m0qYneQO4nbFORC-zTvXt8Lv0nNHaq58Ur5rL1w6iulewqHTLqc6K4zzr5w2UaGaUk1MhQvOPE6reXbgCaFZTrshfCiRmJn3RmcOqjcmceUf1kQoslhMfMWUYRpbdDZF7_/s320/IMG_9520.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Intiwatana, stone for tracking the sun. Perhaps the most important stone in Machu Picchu. These were typically destroyed by the Spanish.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzXA9SuftmwlwCaUAGiL4dsfwgEHAO_37uKm1KWERro289qOUFYKin8z90tsOTfgsgRD0Pc78rJVX8mcfUKB8hZ-RuHJ5tCuHp_NClAxiC4th6bViZRSXRezMI5DfKUF6hHuDGo4Osu9-/s1600/IMG_9775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzXA9SuftmwlwCaUAGiL4dsfwgEHAO_37uKm1KWERro289qOUFYKin8z90tsOTfgsgRD0Pc78rJVX8mcfUKB8hZ-RuHJ5tCuHp_NClAxiC4th6bViZRSXRezMI5DfKUF6hHuDGo4Osu9-/s320/IMG_9775.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shallow dishes carved of solid stone. When filled with water they make fine mirrors.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The caretakers said that often the Llamas come and drink all the water.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6DCAXV0l0VogbNSBkdEmyiAPVRZasaTCnnTgMr7eeLWXo-cC6jz11VdlBkrbwD6e0-NsSeFEFWuS2ewXBEjKVt6JLkWPKfr6ZKgpKMu4fa6Nmet-4sEvVQ9vUSxWtLGP3QAxrBnVfuKw/s1600/IMG_9675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6DCAXV0l0VogbNSBkdEmyiAPVRZasaTCnnTgMr7eeLWXo-cC6jz11VdlBkrbwD6e0-NsSeFEFWuS2ewXBEjKVt6JLkWPKfr6ZKgpKMu4fa6Nmet-4sEvVQ9vUSxWtLGP3QAxrBnVfuKw/s320/IMG_9675.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Subject carving in the Condor Temple.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_gNQj2u4r2TaifXRtYDtktrrl485zq2JYbqEvv2sHW25_ZOC2BoRNC87WX3Iv7eKNK8_2TsJY_TaI0GZfbX-gRx-F12oQYmeolSFsANknnm5l5FDxJNp6FbCKfKoJDEjQRjxHVXyrK3z/s1600/IMG_9560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_gNQj2u4r2TaifXRtYDtktrrl485zq2JYbqEvv2sHW25_ZOC2BoRNC87WX3Iv7eKNK8_2TsJY_TaI0GZfbX-gRx-F12oQYmeolSFsANknnm5l5FDxJNp6FbCKfKoJDEjQRjxHVXyrK3z/s320/IMG_9560.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the many terraces at Machu Picchu.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCsP0k0BXIcOQ0JaT292Mxu0qSRXw0PwJ7VJlrQAiuCWu9odgix9BDJhHixzLo47cSxyzKE3JMjGrTOiW0trc6mmDsubEdmIIn6MACTJJN2NnQ9ez-yigQ92eOikFhlAu7aauFV28sI3u/s1600/IMG_9513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCsP0k0BXIcOQ0JaT292Mxu0qSRXw0PwJ7VJlrQAiuCWu9odgix9BDJhHixzLo47cSxyzKE3JMjGrTOiW0trc6mmDsubEdmIIn6MACTJJN2NnQ9ez-yigQ92eOikFhlAu7aauFV28sI3u/s320/IMG_9513.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Channels carved in a temple bench. To drain blood away during scrifices?</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrJymNYHlYVWUFHwoxtwz0MhvxnGXKkkdLGMFnL28i_PYCGfLfoTLJCzWxXEz-3zQsRsK94QBgN9O8Fsxgo2wb-fzknxBanDIswaxl8MQORLK7L0uc2HRlLKtlXP7xW3cxFb5BQX-sCOh/s1600/IMG_9572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrJymNYHlYVWUFHwoxtwz0MhvxnGXKkkdLGMFnL28i_PYCGfLfoTLJCzWxXEz-3zQsRsK94QBgN9O8Fsxgo2wb-fzknxBanDIswaxl8MQORLK7L0uc2HRlLKtlXP7xW3cxFb5BQX-sCOh/s320/IMG_9572.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whimsical Inca stonework.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooDfRUcdPng2PVG7VivzIQLjo_r4nis3hm823ydX8rNaXUiaXwVKQNnhjAVo8mr3ONTvxlilrrfK7-1MAhDtQjVRMGAcFV0T7K4z3WCuGUcBHINindAxNbDkvd3RmKcFA9NuirEGBz_m6/s1600/IMG_9515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooDfRUcdPng2PVG7VivzIQLjo_r4nis3hm823ydX8rNaXUiaXwVKQNnhjAVo8mr3ONTvxlilrrfK7-1MAhDtQjVRMGAcFV0T7K4z3WCuGUcBHINindAxNbDkvd3RmKcFA9NuirEGBz_m6/s320/IMG_9515.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Great detail on a huge stone block.</div>GnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2829245869062116444.post-44952850769465090612010-05-20T18:57:00.000-07:002010-05-21T07:13:28.110-07:00Machu Picchu, Peru You may have heard that Machu Picchu was closed for a couple of months earlier this year due to flooding. The actual site is basically on top of a mountain, so the problem was not there, but down in the valley bottoms, where flooding killed several hundred people and caused widespread destruction. We saw plenty of the evidence as we made our way through the sacred valley towards Machu Picchu. Most towns were sporting a new bridge, and there was obvious damage to roads and railway. The train is only running the last section to the town of Aguas Calientes – this had to be fixed as no road exists in this section. From what we did see, do not expect the train to be running all the way to Cusco for some time. <br />
After arriving in Aguas Calientes late in the evening, I started things off right by spending several early morning hours being sick in the bathroom. Way to go! The next day as I basically could not get out of bed, Tana ran around rearranging our tickets to push everything back a day. By the next day I felt better so away we went – the others caught the 5AM bus, I held off until 9. The place must have some positive energy, because after that day I felt fine. The next day we all caught the early bus and spent a few more hours up there before departing.<br />
OK, so Machu Picchu itself? Insanely fabulous, as good as you might hope. Of course the ruins themselves are something, but as I arrived, two things stuck in my mind. 1) The view from up there is just stunning, and no photos can do it justice. 2) Being at the relatively low altitude (for Peru, anyway) of 2300 meters and surrounded by cloud forest, there are many tropical plants there, and the smell of the place reminded me very strongly of Hawaii.<br />
Due to the train being limited, there were fewer visitors around than normal, and we had plenty of time and were able to avoid what crowds there were. We wandered around the place scraping our jaws off the ground and pointing a lot, lying in the grass and petting the resident Llamas. <br />
Simply the sheer amount of work that went into the place, in such a remote location, was impressive. Not to mention the fine masonry in the temples, or the whimsical details in the stone walls and structures. But the thing I like best about Machu Picchu is the mystery. The Spanish never found the place (thank god, it was not wrecked like so many other Inca sites), and there is no direct record of why it was built or who lived there. We heard many stories from tour guides, some more believable than others. But the fact remains we will never really know the exact story. Down with history, up with mystery!<br />
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GGnTnZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238041451364529170noreply@blogger.com0