jwg

This year we went to South America twice. In March we went to the Galapagos. And in November we went to Peru primarily to go to Machu Picchu and Easter Island. Originally the Machu Picchu visit was to be after the Galapagos trip but major rain storms in Peru in January washed out the railroad and the site was closed to visitors since there was no way to get there - and Aqua Calientes, the village at the base, was flooded too. This turned out to be a boon since the Machu Picchu trip was rescheduled to November and the opportunity to go to Easter Island arose.

These were two incredible trips - both organized by Ken McFarland - the Greek Island trip in 2007 and the Tanzania trip in 2008 were his also. In March we go to Egypt on one of his trips.

Highlights of the Galapagos were blue and red footed boobies, great frigates, land and marine iguanas, tortoises and turtles, sharks, penguins, and lots more.
All my LJ postings for the Galapagos trip are here.

Highlights of the Peru trip were day-of-the dead at Lima Cemeteries, churches in Lima and Cusco, Inca structures near Cusco, and just about everything about Machu Picchu - structures, overall site, history/mystery.


Highlights of the Easter Island trip were the Moai, the carvings, the history/mystery too, the banana sled racing, the native dancing, our dancing, the overall ambiance, the flora, and the volcano crater.


My LJ postings of the Peru and Easter Island trip can be found here.

Oh yes, and don't forget the Pisco Sours!