AFRICA is calling us!! Plans are in place for January 2016 ~ Two fantastic months of exploring seven countries and learning more about the wild life, people and culture of the beautiful continent of AFRICA!

Ecuador Amazon Survival!

Ecuador Amazon!

VOLCANO DANCING1

Cindy and Roy Peru Part 4

Cindy and Roy Peru Part 5

Cindy and Roy Peru Part 3

Cindy and Roy Peru Part 2

Cindy and Roy in Peru Part 1

Meow!

Roy and I are definitely bringing smiles to the faces of the Ecuador people. However, usually it’s while they are laughing at us.  Needless to say, today was no exception. After going to a local market for some fresh produce and seafood we boarded our bus back to our little seaside home. While waiting for the bus to depart a young man got on the bus and started to meow! That's right meow over and over like a cat as he went up and down the aisle of the bus. Since the bus fee is predicated by your destination, Roy got his $1.00 out to pay for our customary ride from the market. For some reason Roy thought that the meow' was the guy that collects the money on the bus, so he started to tell him we wanted to go to Playa Azul. Roy handed him the $1.00 and then the fun began. The boy signaled 2, Roy said 2 for bus, the boy said meow meow, Roy said huh? The boy held up one finger and said meow.  Roy said two, the boy held up two fingers and said meow meow and then he took Roy’s $1. Everyone was listening and they all started to laugh on the bus. The boy then got off the bus and came back on with two ice cream cones and a big smile. He handed us the ice cream and said meow meow! Everyone on the bus laughed and clapped. Apparently, the boy had a cart outside the bus, and he was the ice cream man!!! He meowed to let everyone know he was selling ice cream! OMG you probably had to be there, but we were both laughing so hard that tears were rolling down our faces and a few faces around us. Meow meow sure can bring a smile to your face in more ways than one!   

An Ecuador Bus Trip!

All aboard the Ecuador Bus!  We went to the bus station at 7am yesterday morning in search of a bus that would take us about 180 miles down the coast to our next destination. After lengthy discussions in Spanish with about a dozen kind Ecuadorians, we were escorted to the right bus and seated comfortably in the front seats. As our bus started down the dirt road we then kicked off our flip flops and settled in for a long boring ride. Imagine our surprise when our bus came to a stop about fifteen minutes later next to a large group of people on the side of the road. Instantly, with wicker baskets of all shapes and sizes in hand, they entered the bus showing their goods to the bus driver and his side kick. It became apparent that they both received free samples as the price of admission onto the bus. To our delight, moments later the baskets were all held in front of us the two smiling Americans in the front seat. Unlike many, Roy and I have never been geeked by street food prepared in some faraway place under God knows what conditions of cleanliness. In fact, we have eaten some of the tastiest delights prepared by locals. So, since it was early morning, our first choice were two warm corn muffins filled with a salty cheese for 50 cents. The next stop was about an hour later where we indulged in two huge plastic cups filled with an array of cut up fruit $1 dollar. Third stop twenty minutes or so we scored us a dish of french fries covered with ketchup, mayo and a hot dog on top just $1.00. I would like to say that’s where it ended but to be honest…it was only the beginning. In the next few hours stop after stop we managed to have warm honey filled cookies, fried bananas, ice cream cones, boiled corn with cheese, some drink concoction and several bottled waters. We did show some restraint and passed on the stuffed green rolled up thing and the deep fried bread filled with what we thought was fish. Time just flew between courses of food we purchased especially when a man standing in front of us started to sing and shake maracas as his little boy went around with a hat and collected money. Then there was a loose chicken for a bit that had everyone laughing and screaming. But the best was that at every stop a pitch man jumped on the bus to sell some special powerful lotion to keep you young. The men reminded me of the guys selling stuff at the State Fair every summer. Although I was tempted, it was clear from the looks of things that the pitchman didn’t benefit from their products… so I passed.

Most people would think that we would catch a little shut eye on a five hour bus a trip in Ecuador but who would want to sleep with all this amazing activity going on. The time just flew and I have to admit that we were a little sad when we finally reached our destination. It felt like we were leaving a big party filled with really good friends. But the time had come so we bid our bus driver, his side kick and all our new friends adios.

Today, while sitting on the best beach ever in Ecuador, I found myself imaging what might possibly be on the Ecuador traveling bus next week when we once again climb aboard.  Maybe we will even try that wrapped green thing or stand up and sing a song or two of our own! Gotta say we LOVE LOVE this place!

 

 

 

The Lost City of the Incas Part 2

The Lost City of the Incas Part 1

Meet our new BFF's in Peru. Not sure if we should make a sweater, eat them or kiss them!

The Birds!

Alfred Hitchcock’s movie may have changed the way many of us felt about the cute little creatures we call birds. Well, imagine if one of the Peruvian Condors is coming at you with their eight to ten foot wing spread swooping down to pluck out your eyes! Well you can rest assured that this will never happen because the Condor only eats dead animals. I won’t bore you with all the fascinating facts about the Condor but as the largest bird of flight on this planet it is definitely worth a fly by on our blog.

Thank You Mother Earth

Thank You Mother Earth! 
 
Today, I am in the Peruvian mountains in an adobe hut listening to Roy snoring softly. He is asleep on a lumpy bed that is covered with a thick wool blanket. The blanket perhaps once was brightly colored, but now shows countless years of wear. After consuming a lunch of alpaca soup, potato salad and fresh river trout browned over an open fire, it is now afternoon siesta time in Peru. Although I tried, I could not rest just thinking about Petro and Julia, the delightful couple that we are staying with for the next day or so.
 
After our siesta, Pedro’s wife Julia said that we were going to learn how Peruvian families farm. But before we started, she gave each of us a colorful and tightly woven blanket and carefully tied it around our neck. She also handed Roy a pick axe and some of the other men sickles. We then followed her up the mountain inching our way over loose rocks and stepping over streams of water coming from the snow on the top of the mountain. Julia, wearing her customary hat and colorful skirt, moved up the mountain only stopping occasionally to wait for us to catch up. The walk was hard due to the altitude and the fact that we are unaccustomed to the terrain.
Soon we arrived at a large garden that was filled with thousands of green plants that were all around a foot high and were all baring bright purple flowers.

Being a city girl, it was not immediately clear to me that these were potatoes. That was until Julia grabbed the pick axe with her small rough hands and with one large heave, she flung it high in the air and brought it down. Lifting the loosened plant she proudly exposed three large potatoes and a few small ones hanging from the plant. She told us to take the potatoes off, throw them on the blanket and replant the plant for future harvest. She handed the pick axe back to Roy and motioned for him to start on one of the many rows of plants that covered the mountain. As we all started to dig up the potatoes, Julia grabbed two of the women with us to go to the field below to pick beans.
 
Soon our old worn blanket was full of dirty mud covered potatoes of all sizes and shapes. Julia showed us how to bundle them up to carry them down the mountain in our blankets. The girls also picked a huge blanket full of the largest and greenest lima beans that I have ever seen. When we were all finished and together in the field once again, Julia started to sing and move amongst the rows of plants. We watched in amazement as she smiled and lifted her hands that were covered with mud and dirt to the sky. She twirled like a young girl with her many skirts bouncing in the air as she danced. Next she grabbed the other girl’s hands and they all danced together laughing and smiling. She told all of us that she was giving thanks to Mother Earth for the bountiful harvest.
 
Next Julia began to pick up all the discarded stalks from the beans and some tall grass and wrapped them in her blanket and threw the huge load over her back. When asked why, she explained that her bundle would be the food for the family cow. As we descended the mountain, we all had a huge sense of pride that tonight, we were providing dinner for our familia.

So, the next time we take our big steaming Russet’s out of the hot oven and we pile on the butter, sour cream and chives, we will remember Julia and Pedro and know that farming potatoes is really hard work. Maybe we will then go into our closet and Roy will wrap a blanket around his neck and I will put on my prettiest skirt and fanciest hat and together we will do a dance of thanks to Mother Earth!

Julia

Just cost a little chicken feed ...I mean feet!

This is not your mama's chicken soup! Today Roy and ventured out to walk around the absolutely beautiful city of Arequipa - Peru. We stopped by a small restaurant where delicious looking chickens were cooking over a fire pit on a handmade rotisserie. The girl that greeted us was cute as can be and spoke only Spanish. With my newly acquired mastering of the Spanish language, I ordered for Roy and myself. The waitress listened to me and then raddled something off about the chicken that I ordered. Although I didn’t totally understand her, I confidently said si or yes in Spanish. Imagine our surprise when we were served a chicken base soup loaded with little chicken feet. So, the Spanish lesson today is ....sopa de patas de pollo is soup with the feet of chicken!!!

 

Sands in my pants OH NO!!

Our penny from heaven finds a heavenly home! As you may have read in my earlier post, Roy and I were blessed to find a penny that we believe was from heaven, in a farm house that we were staying at near the orphanage in Peru. Well today we visited a beautiful nunnery that was built in 1579. At the time, as an honor, the second daughter of wealthy Spanish families were sent to the nunnery to live out their lives. The families paid in gold and silver the equivalent today of around $150,000 to the convent for their daughters. Once there, the daughters would become nuns and stay within the walls of the monastery. As I strolled through the long beautiful floral walkway and visited the many rooms of the nunnery, I felt like I could hear the voice of the nuns praying. Even though and honor, the thought of the girls that were just twelve years old being given to the nuns for a future life of seclusion and prayer was very sad. There were kitchens and sleeping rooms, chapels and gardens even a special cemetery for the remains of nuns that called this their home. As I reflected on all the thousands if not millions of prayers lifted up, I could not help but be moved. That is when I found this beautiful fountain surrounded by flowers in a secluded garden. Standing alone in this special place, I pulled out my heavenly penny that I had found in the dusty corner of the old farm kitchen. After saying a little prayer to all the nuns that called this special place their home, I tossed the penny into the very top of the fountain away from anyone’s sight. I sat on the fountain for a moment to give thanks for having found such a special home for my heavenly penny. Later that day, imagine my surprise when I looked at our pictures and saw that from the roof of the building, Roy had captured the moment.

 

SWEET DREAMS SWEET GIRLS! When we were at an orphanage in Africa last year, we were saddened to see that the children did not have pajamas to wear to bed. They actually slept in their clothes. This truly broke my heart because I remember so well the feeling of putting my pajamas on as a child and feeling so warm and cuddly. I pledged that when I went back to the orphanage, I would literally bring hundreds of pajamas so each child would have their very own. Well, the hundreds will have to wait until 2016 when we return to Africa to the large orphanage in Kenya. However, this year Roy and I brought about 40 beautiful pajama sets in all sizes for the girls in Peru ages 2- 17. On the second to last day of our stay, we came to orphanage with two very large suitcase and went off to a small room and closed the doors. The girls tried as they might to peak in to see what we had in our suitcases and all we could hear were little girl giggles on the other side of the old painted door. Inside we laid out all the pajamas by size so we could make sure we could match up the best choice for each girl. One by one starting with the smallest we let them select their brand new pj’s. Their eyes lit up when they saw how soft and cute each pair was. When the last girls came in which were the oldest, I told them because I had more in the bigger sizes that they could each pick two. How touching when they said that one was fine and they would save the extra’s for other girls in the future. We didn’t take many photos because the girls immediately took their new pj’s and put them near their beds. The next day when I arrived the girls were all excited to tell me how much they loved their pajamas and how soft they were. They had smiles that told me that they too felt warm and cuddly - maybe for the first time in a very long time. I hope that they all have Sweet dreams!

A vey sweet and tearful goodbye!

It is surprizing that those that are orphaned would love so freely. Perhaps they know the true value of connecting and being loved.

Learn Laugh and Love Expand Peru Orphanage

A very special message from heaven...

A very special message from heaven...

The Andes Mountains must be very close to heaven because Roy and I received a very special gift one morning. As I mentioned in an earlier post, while volunteering in Huancayo Peru we stayed with a family on a farm. Tourists are not common in this area since it is very remote. In fact, in all the time we were there, we were the only tourist that we ever saw. One morning while Roy and I sat alone in the kitchen sharing a pot of wonderful rich Peruvian coffee, Roy stopped in the middle of a sentence and pointed to the old stone floor and said, “Oh my God”! Lying in the dusty corner was a shiny USA penny looking so small and out of place. I actually began to shake as I went to retrieve it and when I looked up Roy was wiping a tear from his cheek. It is impossible to describe what this special gift meant to Roy and me. Although we believe that pennies that are found are messages from loved ones in heaven, we also believe that pennies fall from heaven but are earned on earth. I hope the penny we found means that you are proud of us dad.  

We are FAMILIA!

While in Huancayo Peru, we stayed with a lovely family on a farm in a very rural area high up in the Andes. The farm had been in their family for many generations and aside from farming, they also in the last ten years added sewing of school uniforms to their work load. Three generations lived and worked the farm and family business. The family was up very early every morning and retired long after the sun set behind the mountains. Our room was small with a lumpy mattress and musty pillows. The blanket was heavy wool that made it impossible to move once it covered you. The bathroom which consisted of a toilet, sink and shower (with no hot water) was a five minute walk down a tree lined path. On most days we ate meals with our new familia. Meals which usually consisted of boiled potatoes, rice and vegetables all mixed together in a large pot served with a homemade roll. Sometimes breakfast consisted of the leftovers from the dinner the night before reheated and served with coffee. When we arrived we gave our hostess a nice set of dish towels and pot holders and our host a carved pocket knife. They were visibly moved by our generosity. Each morning and evening our new family greeted us with a big smile and a hug always inquiring about our day. On the day we left, the entire family woke up very early to see us off. Together they handed us a beautiful hand woven blanket and gave us one last hug. As I said my final goodbye to my host Antonio, he reached over and with a tear in his eye blessed my forehead with the sign of the cross. He told us to return soon and always know from this day forward we are familia!

Meet our girls at the Expand Peru Girls Orphanage!

Very excited to meet our host family, children and the staff at Expand Peru.

We are just one week away from our exciting trip to South America. We are very excited to explore Peru and Ecuador and volunteer, learn about different cultures and meet wonderful people. Our trip is outlined below if you would like to follow our journey.

South America Trip Itinerary

Start of our journey > Fly from Chicago to San Salvador to Lima Peru.  Lima to Huancayo via 8-9 hour bus trip to the high reaches of the Andes. There we will live with a host family and volunteer at a girl’s orphanage. The organization is a labor of love called Expand Peru if you would like to learn more go to http://www.expandperu.org After more than a week in Huancayo we will then take the bus back to Lima and prepare for our 21 day extensive trip through Peru.

 

 

                                                          21 Day Guided Trip

Day 1 Lima

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru.

While Peru's capital officially began life in 1535, when Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro founded the city on the Day of the Three Kings, settlements had been scattered through the valley since before the Incas. The city was built on top of an existing palace and temples that belonged to the local chief who had little choice but to move on. Lima was in its prime during the Spanish colonial days and much of the city's attraction now lies in its well-preserved historical centre. Explore the beauty of Miraflores. Go from Central Park (Parque Kennedy) to LarcoMar via Larco Avenue. Alternatively go to Parque del Amor (Love's Park) for a nice view of Lima's beaches. Other things to see and do include a tour to Pachacamac (approx 30 km from downtown Lima), the Museo de la Nacion and the Gold Museum. Limenos (Lima's residents) are friendly and there are plenty of great restaurants and cafes to sample ceviche, a local seafood specialty. Explore the 16th-century monastery of San Francisco which boasts a fresco of the Last Supper that has a distinctly Peruvian flavour: the disciples pictured dine on guinea pig and drink from gold Inca cups. The monastery's catacombs are the real draw card - they've been Lima's underground cemetery for hundreds of years. There are many fine museums in and around the city including the Museo del Tribunal de la Santa Inquisicion, which gives a fascinating insight into the Spanish Inquisition. Visit the Archaeological Museum, which offers a look at Peru's ancient cultures.

Day 2 Pisco

Your leader will take you on a walking tour of downtown Lima, including the city's historical centre - so there's no need for you to visit the downtown area prior to the trip. Flanked by streets of ornate colonial mansions, palaces and churches, Plaza Mayor is the best place to start any exploration of Lima. Take a walk through the old streets to get a feel for colonial life. On one side of the plaza is the Cathedral, which houses the remains of Lima's founder, Francisco Pizarro. Travel to Lima's bus station and take a local bus to Pisco (approx 4 hrs). The bus will stop three or four times before reaching our destination. This small fishing town is the gateway to the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve but it’s most famous as the birthplace of Peru's national drink, the pisco sour, made from a local brandy of the same name. For some local food specialties, head to the Plaza de Armas where the locals hang out and munch on tejas and dried fruits.

Day 3 Nazca

Sometimes called the 'Galapagos of Peru', the Ballestas Islands are a haven for wildlife including hundreds of pelicans, red-footed boobies, flamingos, sea lions and even penguins. Get up close to this amazing wildlife with a boat tour of the islands (approx 1.5-2 hrs). Travel on to Nazca (approx 3 hrs), stopping en route at the oasis of Huacachina. The town of Huacachina is built around a small natural lake surrounded by dramatic sand dunes, which offer endless photography and sandboarding opportunities. The entire desert in the Nazca area was once home to the ancient Nazca and Paracas cultures which preceded the Incas by over 500 years. Remains of their cultures are still visible - Nazca is home to the famous and enigmatic Nazca lines, enormous designs inscribed in the desert on the arid high plateau. The enormous lines have been etched into the ground by scraping away the top darker layer of gravel which then contrasts with the paler one underneath. Animals, insects and birds are depicted, and some of the simpler line formations are up to 10 km (32 miles) in length. Who drew them, how and why, can only be guessed at, but theories range from alien invaders to complex Nazca calendars. These mysterious shapes are better seen from the air. Small four/six seater planes offer 30 minute flights that allow viewing all 26 figures scattered through the desert floor. Warning! Planes turn sharply from one side to another to facilitate viewing from both sides of the plane. Plastic bags are provided on board but needless to say, this flight is not recommended for those with a weak stomach.

Days 4-5 Arequipa

Early in the afternoon we travel from Nazca to Arequipa by local bus (approx 9hrs)

Standing at the foot of El Misti Volcano and oozing the best of Spanish colonial charm, Arequipa vies with Cuzco for the title of Peru's most attractive city. Built out of a pale volcanic rock called sillar, the old buildings dazzle in the sun, giving the city its nickname - the 'White City'. The main plaza, with its cafes and nearby cathedral, is a lovely place to while away the day. For a glimpse into a bygone way of life, visit the Monasterio de Santa Catalina. When the convent was built in the 16th century it was traditional for the second son or daughter of a family to enter the religious service. The Santa Catalina accepted only women from high-class Spanish families, with each family paying a hefty dowry for her acceptance. But life inside the convent was far from modest - each nun had between one and four servants, many brought rugs, fine silk curtains, and they often held parties.

Days 6-7 Chivay/Colca Canyon

Travel by minivan to Chivay (approx 5 hrs). Along the way you'll see llamas, alpacas and vicunas and discover the differences between these similar creatures. There will also be the opportunity to stop for pictures. At our second stop (after approx 2 hrs), you'll have the chance to try some coca tea. After a third stop at Patapampa (4800 m above sea level and the highest point on our tour), we descend to Chivay - our base for exploring Colca Canyon. More than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon provides some breathtaking views. The Incan and pre-Incan terraces that are carved into the walls are still cultivated and traditional Indian villages are dotted throughout the canyon. After lunch at Chivay, your local guide will organize a short trek, finishing at the local hot thermal baths. You may choose to spend your evening soaking in the baths, dining on llama steak or listening to live Andean music at a pena. Our accommodation in Chivay is in a very basic hostel. There are en suite toilets, however there is no heating (you can request extra blankets) and some rooms can be noisy. The main star of the canyon is not the amazing scenery but the magnificent Andean condor, the world's largest flying bird. Wake up very early to go to the viewpoint where you can admire the condors, followed by an opportunity to explore the incredible canyon. In the afternoon, we'll meet our host families for a one night homestay. You might like to offer to help your host family with their daily activities such as planting, collecting water, peeling potatoes or preparing the family meal.  The Colca community homestay is also very basic with shared family toilets and no showers. There is however a proper bed with blankets and a basic local breakfast.

Days 8-10 Puno/Lake Titicaca

Say goodbye to your host family and take an easy trek back to Chivay along an old Inca trail (approx 2 hrs). From there, take a bus to Patahuasi (approx 4 hrs). Travel by bus through the dramatic scenery of the high Altiplano to Puno (approx 5 hrs). Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Puno is a melting pot of Aymara and Quechuan Indian culture and traditional Andean customs are still strongly represented here. The town is known as the folklore capital of Peru and is famous for its traditional dances. Many festivals are celebrated here, so if you're lucky your visit might coincide with one of the colorful evening parades, when the streets fill with costumed dancers and musicians. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, sitting at 3,820 m above sea level. From the shoreline, the water stretches out almost as far as the eye can see, its expanses just waiting to be explored. Take a tour of the lake by slow motor boat, stopping off to visit the Uros floating islands. The Uros originally built their islands to isolate themselves from rival tribes. The islands are built from many layers of totora reeds that grow in the shallows of the lake. As the reeds closest to the water begin to rot, more layers are added on top. These reeds are used for making everything on the islands, including the boats which can last up to 12 months. To get a closer look at daily life in the Lake Titicaca region, we'll be welcomed into local homes for an overnight stay on a local community. Make the most of your visit by helping your host family with their daily activities or trying to chat in the local language, Quechua. A game of soccer is also a great way to make local friends. Our homestay is a mud brick house. Rooms have beds and many blankets; there are shared drop toilets but no showers. After breakfast the next day, board the boat again for a visit to Taquile Island (approx 1 hour), where knitting is strictly a male domain and women do the spinning. This is a great place to pick up some high quality, locally knitted goods. An uphill trek of about an hour brings us to the main area of the island and after the visit we descend about 500 steps back to our boat. Transfer back to Puno by boat (approx 3 hrs).

Days 11-13 Cuzco

Travel by local bus across the spectacular Altiplano to Cuzco (approx 6 hrs). The Cuzco region truly is the heart and soul of Peru. The city itself is the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city and was the home of the Incas for two centuries before the Spanish built their first capital here. Today Cuzco is a fascinating combination of both cultures. Inca-built walls line the central streets and many of the elegant colonial buildings are built on or around Inca foundations. This is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend and is a perfect base for explorations into the Inca world or to enjoy a range of outdoor activities. Take the time to acclimatize to the city's 3,450 m (11,150 ft.) altitude and explore the many Baroque churches and ancient temples that dot the city. Your leader will take you on a walking tour including a visit to the Coca Museum - where you can learn more about this infamous plant which has been an essential part of life in the Andes for centuries - and the local San Pedro market. You have a free day to discover some of Cuzco's highlights. The Boleto Turistico (Tourism Ticket) is a good option if you to visit the many museums in Cuzco. This ticket also includes the archaeological around Cuzco such as Saqsaywaman, Q'enqo, Pica Pakara, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Some museums in town, like Contemporary Art Museum, Regional History Museum and Qosqo Native Art Museum can only be accessed by purchasing the Boleto Turistico. There are several impressive Inca ruins within the city. The most easily accessible is Coricancha, which was the Inca empire's richest temple. Once plated in thick gold, the Spanish built a Dominican church atop its sturdy walls. Take a bus to the Sacred Valley where you can visit a local community and learn about Andean lifestyle and daily activities.

Day 14 Sacred Valley/Ollantaytambo

We'll head to a community along the valley to learn about local lifestyle and activities, and if our visit coincides with market day, we can spend time browsing the stalls in search of hand-painted beads or warm ponchos and maybe practicing a little bit of the local language, Quechua. Your leader might also suggest an optional local meal or an Andean picnic with the locals.The town of Ollantaytambo has been built over an ancient Inca town, which is a magnificent example of Inca urban planning. This is one of the few places where the Incas defeated the Spanish.

Day 15 Aguas Calientes

Travel by train through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes (approx 9
90 mins). Sitting at the base of Machu Picchu in a picturesque valley, Aguas Calientes takes its name from the numerous hot springs that are dotted throughout the area.

Days 16-17 Machu Picchu/Cuzco

Take a very early (5:30am) bus along the winding road to Machu Picchu (approx. 30 minutes) where we are joined by a guide who will take us through the ruins. Looking at Machu Picchu for the first time, as it sits against a backdrop of forested mountains, is a truly breathtaking experience. No matter how many photos you've seen, it is hard to prepare for its awesome beauty. Machu Picchu is one of those genuinely magical places, and catching your first glimpse of the lost city of the Incas through the early morning mist is definitely a moment you’ll never forget. The ruins of this forgotten city are stunningly located, perched high in the Andes surrounded by verdant cloud forest, with the river Urambamba running through the gorge far below. Hidden away on a ridge between the mountains, Machu Picchu is invisible from below, so it's no surprise its ruins remained a secret for so many years. Historians believe the city was probably completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed all its inhabitants and watered by natural springs. It's thought that the city was the location of a royal palace and estate, home to the Inca emperors, or possibly a sacred religious and ceremonial sight. Discovered in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham, although the ruins were heavily covered by dense jungle foliage, many of the buildings were well preserved and in excellent condition. The city consists of more than 200 buildings, from houses to temples, storage buildings and public spaces. It's fascinating to be able to gaze down on the city and imagine how it would have looked the height of the Inca Empire.

Days 18-19 Amazon Jungle

Take a 30 minute flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, the lodge staff will take us to their office in town where you will leave most of your luggage in a safe storage and continue travelling with a small pack with just the necessary items for our next two nights in the jungle. Then take a motorized canoe up river to our jungle lodge in the Madre de Dios Area. Head into the jungle with our local, multilingual guides and encounter magnificent fauna and flora in their natural habitat. The guides can also teach us about the medicinal properties and practical uses of the plants. After exploring the wilds, it's time to jump back in the canoe and return to civilization. The lodge is eco-friendly and combines low-impact architecture with traditional native style. Rooms are simple, but comfortable with flush toilets, showers (cold water only), mosquito nets and kerosene lamps.

Days 20-21 Lima

Travel back to Puerto Maldonado before taking a short flight to Lima (approx 2 hrs).

End of Peru 21 day trip

Last Month Abroad----Beginning in Lima we are now exploring the remainder of Peru and crossing the border to Ecuador unguided. First we take a flight from Lima to a border town call Tumbes. There we stay overnight near the border and cross the Peru Ecuador border the next day. For the next few weeks we move down the coast by bus and visit small fishing village soaking up some sun and hopefully catching some fish.

The last week of March we have saved for a guided trip deep into the Ecuadorian side of the amazon jungle. We start out being picked up in Quinto by a driver who transports us to a waiting small plane that will drop us in the amazon. From there we will canoe to our destination Huaorani Eco Lodge. Once there we will be canoed deeper into the jungle and spend almost a week with a guide camping and exploring the amazon jungle and learning about the vast eco system. We will eat, sleep and travel throughout the jungle.  We will also spend time with a tribe that was only discovered in the 1960's. After our amazon trip we will return to Quinto and several days later fly back to Chicago.