tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1892322513800785212024-02-22T03:41:24.227-05:00Patrice and Teds Big Adventure Part IIIThis is to describe our adventure of traveling around the world and let friends and family join us. just click the black arrows below to expand the blog day-by-dayTDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-29617281495215389902023-03-04T11:29:00.001-05:002023-03-04T18:55:37.672-05:00Costa Rica Day 9<p><b><font size="5" style="color: rgb(242, 195, 63);">Butterfly Garden</font></b> </p><p>After bidding a sad farewell to Ed and Julie we went across the street to check out the Sukia Butterfly Garden.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dqaoxH4Wbk7XXMmh2lffU_qGckDZ8NU6" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">And yes, I do know this is a cheesy picture. It wasn’t my idea.</p><p>The butterflies were in a huge screened enclosure. The Blue Morphos were the most difficult to photograph because their flight patterns were so random. So we pushed our cameras and skills to the max captured the following stills and one video.</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VOA5C9nme61jcjj1CkEdnmPKqDpfvf-2" alt="Patrice charms a butterfly" width="0" height="0" data-x="0" data-y="0" style="width: 370.574907px; height: 370.574907px;"><br></p><p>The blue ones were so hard to capture in mid flight but here’s my best shot.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1V491efpraQ_r30ZGORc3l3YoPgZfLL8J" alt="blue butterflies of Costa Rica" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; transform: rotate(0deg);"> The Blue Morphos weren’t the only stars of the garden.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Te5aPsNLgBs1nEAmOb8HXdvdVnbKgg-4" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> And this one too…<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1wFHK6JZU20pvi6fvt-AjTAf6ESVaE-5L" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"></p><p>Here’s the only video on the blog. It’s really the only way to show the beauty of the Blue Morphos in flight. Tap the “Play” button and see them fly in slo-mo.</p><video width="300" height="220" controls=""><source type="video/mp4" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1PQnomshTbYyMTMRB2v5Ml-R4z9aotDpk"></video><p>Nothing too exciting for the rest of the day. Lunch at Emilio’s hanging out at the “adult” pool. We are basically trying to bypass Charlotte-in-July heat.</p><p>One Last Sunset</p><p>We’re taking in Happy Hour with one last sunset before we leave tomorrow.</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=155-wft09v2OEos3vQzliOeLPm3WFLqgS" width="300" height="300">The toucans keep flying in and out of the tree in the center.<br></p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-73887086232595371412023-03-03T14:56:00.001-05:002023-03-04T11:27:15.237-05:00Costa Rica Day 8<p><font size="5" style="color: rgb(81, 176, 26); font-weight: bold;">Manuel Antonio Nat’l Park</font></p><p>This is Costa Rica’s most famous national park. It teems with wildlife and has a beautiful setting between hills and pristine beaches.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1nsU-YwWtH4P_7kNWxTvn7kF5IIKcuz5M" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Like this one. So here was my misconception of the wildlife. It seemed like they’d be on display. Nope. They are shy and usually hidden by dense underground. That’s where your guide comes in. Here is Aaron. Our guide for March 3rd! Patrice is watching him while he quickly and skillfully sets up his telescope to quickly capture some wildlife in his lense.</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1hc9NJgUxqfmFUB0yFTsA0sJsh-ETEdrq" alt="Aaron and his telescope " width="300" height="300" style="transform: rotate(0deg);">So… the best way to see the wildlife is thru his lens. Here is a monkey we have only seen at the park.<br></p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1rvoz-HKzZ-k1hTvkl0LdotDCbaUqaweC" width="300" height="300">We also saw sloths and iguanas. Here’s one on the beach: <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1wFEl-RTfoBVKd1cUVV5nQiCRJZ_7p3L5" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></p><p>By the Time this trip ended, the temperature had climbed to well over 90 degrees. And we were ready to come home. Here we are, leaving and dying for a cold drink.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1nCGsI_0A9Fd4LRsN7TNbsABQZDnZvPCa" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; transform: rotate(0deg);"></p><p><b><font size="5" style="color: rgb(33, 216, 243);">Chillin at Si Como No</font></b></p><p>We had a late lunch if leftovers from dinner. We were so beat by the heat we took a long siesta in the afternoon. Sadly, our travel partners Ed and Julie were called home due to a family emergency. So dinner was just a quick pizza by the pool while Ed made last minute travel changes. <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pA6Zg23EaT0oCxb2Gho2da-7GrJHUIbr" alt="bottle sign or sculpture " width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">On the way for pizza, Patrice found this interesting bottle sign/sculpture.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-24725310206115705212023-03-02T10:07:00.001-05:002023-03-02T20:24:27.282-05:00Costa Rica Day 7<p><span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Breakfast with a </span><font size="6"><span style="font-weight: bold; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: rgb(243, 110, 33);">To</span><span style="font-weight: bold; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: rgb(234, 242, 22);">uc</span><span style="font-weight: bold; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: rgb(243, 123, 33);">an</span></font><br></p><p>I have been hearing Toucans and hearing about seeing toucans for days but never saw one. This was frustrating because one of my stated goals was to see one. Then at breakfast it finally happened!! H<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">ere is a close-up of that bird: </span></p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1v-wTyrgaeUKI6sol-mBJCt88wxxEzZde" width="0" height="0" data-x="0" data-y="0" style="width: 347.22557px; height: 347.22557px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></p><p> Here is the same picture zoomed out. If you look closely you can see a little yellow spec on top of the tree..<br></p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1UA4Xjx9FoEfhWI_NaEELDgNPatj_X7Qo" width="300" height="300" style="transform: rotate(0deg);"><br></p><p><b><font size="5" style="color: rgb(39, 162, 213);">Beach at Manuel Antonio</font></b></p><p>We had a wonderful excursion to the beach today. The hotel had a concierge service that set up chairs and a cabana for you.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1YRAQ04em807Z1tHfny9LqFpyzswiusAm" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> From our spot we watched surfers, para-sailers and other beach occupants.</span></p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1UOExf-9J6mgaUzqFF6DPoD7wmwXJoTQ9" width="300" height="300"> After enough body surfing to twist us around and turn us upside down. We returned to the hotel for a quick swim in the pool and a late lunch. The pool was fun because it had a water slide. Unfortunately, it also had a concrete bench at the edge of the pool painted the same color as the bottom. I smashed one of my toes into it! Walking is kind of painful and one of my toes turned black.</p><p><b><font size="5" style="color: rgb(199, 179, 27);">Lunch</font></b></p><p>We had some unexpected guests who really just wanted to hangout at the bar.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1wcXvTS5jGxx2HZmR_uHgciC2wvft4ZgN" alt="monkeys" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> Several of our new friends brought their “kids” along. If you look closely at the picture above you’ll see a baby monkey riding on its mothers back. Here’s a close-up of a monkey momma suckling her baby.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1gJrXEcm0BuT-o1LuT5rRlFhbIm-Z2SMF" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></p><p>After spending late afternoon hobbling around and doing some shopping we found a great restaurant up the street. OK, it was actually recommended by Melissa. (We are tired of the hotel restaurant) It’s just up the street from our hotel. And I do mean UP.</p><p>Even though it’s a short distance, it’s difficult to walk because there’s sections of sidewalk missing and it’s a curvy road. But the food was delicious. It’s called Emilio’s.</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1KyoGnHvavwT9nE4PxuCt6dQIZmeL0qce" width="300" height="300"><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-34927062574067055222023-03-01T13:51:00.001-05:002023-03-02T09:53:58.680-05:00Costa Rica Day 6<p><font size="5" style="color: rgb(33, 150, 243); font-weight: bold;">Journey from Monteverde to Manual Antonio </font></p><p>We started our 4 hour journey at 10a. In the first hour we dropped about 3000 feet and some very windy roads. But the views were spectacular.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1rOsMkke_4aXS2Xn2o1X4XttAhHUL3w-M" width="0" height="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 314px; height: 314px;" data-x="0" data-y="0"></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Halfway there we stopped for a lunch break. It was near a river (</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Rio Tarcoles) </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">And there was a long bridge there. Here’s what we saw looking over the railing..</span></p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18om44lWlXp3R5JXCmll9cLmhPKMM630f" alt="crocs " width="300" height="300" style="transform: rotate(0deg);">Just look at the size of those footprints in the mud!<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></p><p>We got to our hotel (Si Como No) in midafternoon and waited while they got our room ready. Patrice says there’s a gift shop right outside the main entrance. This is the view from the lobby…<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=16MPBYUrs3fHuA0p3_LzMdEsWShhYU5iR" alt="Si Como No" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; transform: rotate(0deg);">After a couple of drinks and a lazy dinner we got together one more time with our new friends Melissa and Eric. Thought I was capable of taking a good selfie but apparently not. 😐 <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ublbGO-ALRool6QBDpYS8_sXTsYUi2Wz" alt="Si Como No" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"></p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-82788180979237423062023-02-28T14:31:00.001-05:002023-02-28T18:24:27.645-05:00Costa Rica Day 5<p><span style="color: rgb(198, 160, 22); font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">Monteverde Sky Park Adventure </span></p><p>Like most days when there’s an excursion we are up at 6a to grab breakfast before the bus comes.</p><p><a href="https://order.picthrive.com/43aebed7-40ed-43b9-af13-9955997751af/photo/43aebed7-40ed-43b9-af13-9955997751af.p368ce702-e5bd-4dee-9b11-e121e2e26d4b"></a>Here we are all trussed up and ready to ride.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ZYv9bLBhvz-_bmnSj_w9415rI-BwubtT" alt="cheesy shot from photographer " width="0" height="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 322px; height: 322px;" data-x="0" data-y="0"></p><p>We took a tram up 1000 feet into mountains. We were truly in the Cloud Forest at that point. Nothing makes your heart rate like zipping into the clouds!</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1bt6sTjYkigSXquK3BeMX4yUs9w21wL-W" alt="shooting into an abyss" width="0" height="0" style="transform: rotate(0deg); width: 307.607216px; height: 307.607216px;" data-x="0" data-y="0"><br></p><p>Here’s Ed coming in for a landing on one of the seven zip lines you have to take to get to the bottom.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1k6IjpYs45wNmTUVCo9yitijsmdYaI0Nx" alt="Ed coming in for a landing out of the clouds" width="0" height="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; transform: rotate(0deg); width: 302px; height: 302px;" data-x="0" data-y="0"></p><p><br></p><p>We survived!<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1oW1dCjMQcL8Kdx1ffEEyOjhcHd7hqp91" alt="bonded by fear" width="0" height="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 177.96875px; height: 177.96875px;" data-x="0" data-y="0"></p><p>We will spend the rest of the afternoon resting and recuperating.</p><p>We are planning to go to a restaurant in town called the Treehouse. It looks to be a building built around a giant Ficus (fig) tree.</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1IPreTcF3GtZsjOvCyblTrN2P7NAmgASM" alt="restaurant " width="300" height="300"><br></p><p>Drinks and dinner were delicious </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-59169296722955653592023-02-28T08:28:00.001-05:002023-03-02T16:58:50.630-05:00Costa Rica Day 4<p><font size="5"><b style="color: rgb(33, 150, 243);">Transfer from Arenal to Monteverde</b></font></p><p>We said goodbye to great couple we met hiking, Melissa and Eric. We might catch up to them later in Manuel Antonio </p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1DWq7TmMxqZgRxA9oayhETH4Do5IfmsyW" alt="Melissa and Eric" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">As </p><p>usual, Julie and Patrice never miss a chance to clown around. <br></p><p>The ride from Arenal to Monteverde includes a shortcut across Lake Arenal, CR’s largest lake.</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=12rQRjATrooy3mMM3KyZB3jBUuFKJelGn" alt="crossing Lake Arenal" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">we are saying goodbye to the volcano as we take the 45 minute ride across the lake. This actually cuts our travel time by an hour and it’s a whole lot smoother!</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1SgJh7__Gpgtf-N4Cvusj4Dq7t0dl_TNa" alt="Ibis by Lake Arenal" width="0" height="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; transform: rotate(0deg); width: 192.078125px; height: 192.078125px;" data-x="0" data-y="0">Along the way, our boat captain hugged the shore to show us some of the wildlife. We saw cormorants and this Ibis.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(36, 128, 18);"><font size="5"><b>On to Monteverde</b></font> </span></p><p>Once we got across the lake we began the arduous journey on mostly gravel roads to Monteverde. It took over 2 hours. It was a rough and jarring journey. You could see the scenery change from the dense rain forest to rolling mountain hills.<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18_ZDPjcRChe3GVa7azhXB1xDj3WWisXH" alt="view on the way to Monteverde " width="0" height="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 282.78601px; height: 282.78601px;" data-x="0" data-y="0"><br></p><p>We arrived at our hotel, the Poco a Poco in late afternoon.</p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-50878150585970547512023-02-27T20:52:00.001-05:002023-03-02T16:50:33.734-05:00Costa Rica Day 3<p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: x-large; color: rgb(33, 150, 243);">Hike Up Arenal</span></p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=12njUj9rMo-HiErwKU547WS-i2tbOHcMK" alt="Arenal Volcano vantage point" width="300" height="300"><br></p><p>We hiked about a third of the way up this guy. It was only a “Costa Rica Mile” or so up to the vantage point… in other words, very steep.</p><p><font size="5" style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250); color: rgb(62, 243, 33);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sloth</span> </font></p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VbU4vQ9ulm1B6KuafMRZUBcoH_oaIfvh" alt="sloth" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; transform: rotate(0deg);">This looks like a fake picture but it was taken thru a monacular of an actual sloth and her baby that we saw at the top of a tree.<br></p><p><br></p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-14127452850255230152023-02-27T16:48:00.000-05:002023-03-02T15:44:23.242-05:00Costa Rica Day 2<p><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">This</span> day was all about exploring the tropical rainforest near the base of the volcano, Arenal. Like all are excursions, the day began at 6a to allow time for breakfast before an early pickup.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(39, 153, 75); font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">Swinging Bridges</span></p><p>We were picked up at the hotel and driven 30 minutes to the hanging bridges, set in a 620-acre reserve of primary forest. <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1mcLN5b8mdxxlZQAKLj20chR9AOeaXuhE" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">The 2-mile hiking trail has 16 state-of-the-art hanging bridges that introduce you to the forests rich biodiversity. The forest is home to many animals and birds like howler monkeys, poison dart frogs, red frogs, snakes, toucans, and parrots. (Only saw a Toucan thru a telescope and and a very tiny red frog) During this fun and informative 2.5 hr walk we had close contact with nature and learn more about the primary forest.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(243, 33, 33);"><font size="5">Hot Springs</font> </span></p><p>Then we went to the nearby Ecotermales thermal hot springs, famous for their therapeutic benefitsand well known for helping to relieve stress and tension in both the body and mind whilst detoxing the skin. Ecotermales is the smallest of the Arenal Hot Springs and accepts only up to 100 visitors at a time, perfect for couples, families, and groups looking for a unique and authentic experience in a tranquil rainforest setting. Owned by a local Costa Rican family, Ecotermales has 4 pools total varying in temp from 91º F and 105º F.</p><p><br></p><p>We spent 2 hrs bathing in the mineral enriched hot springs before enjoying an authentic, traditional Costa Rican meal at the Ecotermales.</p><p>A<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">fter dinner it threatened to rain again so we hung out in the bar. </span><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BwhD99ITgRys49JO-REf3qxjL3k-MI3b" alt="bar at Lomas del Volcán" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></p><p><br></p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-57592295382147967152023-02-27T07:33:00.001-05:002023-03-02T10:19:04.809-05:00Costa Rica - Day 1<p>We left Charlotte early Saturday morning. Our good friend Murph gave us a ride to the airport.</p><p>We landed at SJO Airport on time and were greeted by our ride company before we even got to customs.</p><p><br></p><p>Our driver, Adrian was great. The trip from SJO to Arenal volcano was over 3 hours so he offered to stop someplace along the way for a light lunch. We told him we would like to try authentic Costa Rican coffee. He said he knew a little coffee bar and sandwich shop in Los Angeles which was along b the way. It happened to be owned by his wife!</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1WclgCOfFMlEKR0lYCrNndpXosTB1s9WK" alt="Alexandra, Adrian and Abigail" width="300" height="300"><br></p><p>We got to Lomas del Volcan hotel in time to crash and get dinner. Our cabina had a great view but you had to climb this hill to get there. <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1LFUCFVM29oNE6ZknNWJtI6_1NYam2xMF" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">It’s like </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">getting a top floor room without an elevator. But …</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Here is the view from our cabin…</span></p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=12VS90q38Lnt334b709Y2JSN7znYZSgs7" width="300" height="300"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br></span></p><p>The dining room where we had breakfast also had a great view..</p><p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1t0hPHmvN6KzPGxgo_2pwVXN6JRlQA2eE" alt="breakfast" width="300" height="300"><br></p>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-41095510038370514982017-01-30T16:21:00.001-05:002019-05-22T14:44:41.767-04:00On the Way Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Yesterday's post was supposed to be the last one for this trip, but some inspiring things happened this morning that I just <b><u>can't </u></b>leave unmentioned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">It started at breakfast this morning. Our favorite waiter, Jesus, stopped by to chat as he usually does. He tells us he's sad to see us go and does so by name. Then he presents these to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Its a brass llama and all the fixings for some Piso Sours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Next, getting on our first flight home I pull a ligament in my knee trying to get our carry-on bags up the flight steps. We sit next to a sweet nun who has me pull up a pant leg and apply witch Hazel to my knee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Now we're checked in to our airport hotel in Lima and can't wait to catch our flights home tomorrow!</span></div>
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TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-25988334200150812062017-01-29T17:01:00.001-05:002019-05-22T14:23:31.344-04:00Exploring Cusco - Day Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. 25 days into our 28 day trip the dreaded stomach bug has hit me. It looks like the Immodium we brought along has it under control. But just in case, I decided to stay in the hotel this morning and take some pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">We've probably stayed in over 200 different Marriotts during various travel adventures and a handful of those were their top-of-the-line J.W. Marriotts. The ones in Rome, Dubai and Shanghai have been the most memorable. But none of them can top this one right here in Cusco. It's certainly the oldest. This building was originally an Augustinian monastery built by the Spanish in the early 1600's. By the late 1900's it was a bakery. Marriott bought the property and refurbished/rebuilt it to standards imposed by its historic significance. As the pictures below will show, the transformation which took place between 2010 and 2013 is nothing short of amazing.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_8fcc_d46b_6fa8_51cc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PJIMvAebjOw/WI5fFWi3H_I/AAAAAAAAagE/FGuMNtLu4Us/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_1a01_2b8a_5a47_e50e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_LPYgyczbDA/WI5fFXife_I/AAAAAAAAagA/7ys4dXM4LUM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Front Entrance on the corner</td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> As you come in the entrance, fresh flowers</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfz4tq8FoIQWHWTQ20TfdI26V3D9-Z1khKEnyjm8nUSyx79Tlc7FwSUdeotzmpERl7N7N2vaw7nUeyznfS1lq6Ev5ftb773aHZ4s45KTy_o9r9wA4B6c652CamQbb8JmBdBOBU-PJVDc/s1600/P1030573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfz4tq8FoIQWHWTQ20TfdI26V3D9-Z1khKEnyjm8nUSyx79Tlc7FwSUdeotzmpERl7N7N2vaw7nUeyznfS1lq6Ev5ftb773aHZ4s45KTy_o9r9wA4B6c652CamQbb8JmBdBOBU-PJVDc/s320/P1030573.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlxsTwBnsszkddTHYdPM0LJqjgKa9FTOn05yxuSKgUCGrLANHWiWF8ggqs-KyKXb3iIsE2Sdhs-nCVewZBhkl7ncq7S8d29uWZLNadStMbGRgw1yWvZdKLJWHMendWXlehiWYCwa-HTw/s1600/P1030574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlxsTwBnsszkddTHYdPM0LJqjgKa9FTOn05yxuSKgUCGrLANHWiWF8ggqs-KyKXb3iIsE2Sdhs-nCVewZBhkl7ncq7S8d29uWZLNadStMbGRgw1yWvZdKLJWHMendWXlehiWYCwa-HTw/s320/P1030574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Entrance courtyard</td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Reception with 3D gold and crystal mobile</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_61c6_5f76_3836_6c66" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VSA7wPrqDdM/WI5fILff6FI/AAAAAAAAagU/XBQr5bs4dc8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_130e_a41f_c187_6ca4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R1z8y8OyK7s/WI5fH1B_k9I/AAAAAAAAagQ/CXk127O3WWc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Antique art from another monastery</td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Fireplace and lounge. Great piped in music but couldn't find the subwoofer. Xthe </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_b11_66a3_5c88_73bd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72t9X0g8oAdhGQznTs97IZg3L6-W3YzvQHmdrsM717RgzAElcDi2QFDsTT6Ye1TlVQksjlU4EfcYVyhBB_S4RUHiJIU1rDernegKDLTCdK8_l7Pl3abRKM2tnIKgqmindmL8IxQ2pZk0/" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_e567_fb13_1159_6555" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E465XEU4Fv4/WI5fIy5lftI/AAAAAAAAagc/8tzAeQ7YdJs/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Piano lounge with easy chairs</td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Bar area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> "Relaxing" Pool connected to the spa</td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Preserved Inka and pre-Inka walls displayed on the lower level</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> 3rd floor loggia behind the arched colonnade shown on the right</td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Courtyard and fountains</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_c147_7905_1835_7ae1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0kR3cf4gQeA_FJE4EANDOZBhWWGP1TrZd8EcP_EE6dSI3pbhlZkJjyjOmlxgEhFdbjirzQsU4-gte6uRHcbQ6t-dnSOlnm8tc4Pk_Mq3mkcPDhPZKWAQ0RU2vRC-ZsYC0IPjJA43sz0/" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_da5a_5d2f_c26_b68b" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-R_xNtAm0WNWusmnkmegwS9FIUGkhcBRDbGLMGyu6TnUNcYeGRskxanzkSWv9w6jMGL76Oe13SrLLaD2deILKB-xUAhATexitKjW-mjIPVTw-gRTqJf27x4IJIO35_Td3xNzfxPJ42A/" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> View from the windows on floor -2. Nothing but the original monastery wall is seen</td><td style="border: 3px solid black; min-width: 90;"> View from our suite</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">By afternoon I was brave enough to venture out and visit a pre-Columbian art museum.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 4px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_a89d_3502_9d4d_3e6a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGd2w8Jd4YdI9sT-SZaG4KV3aMVtYDES7ZBH_9LG5FYTwmfucAm39Fse2y2Kmoru6cszZdKwDyNwjReRcZ3HaXDztNXhnYC5mNyDHfIdSDniao3x6MoUzKJKykUpX-rxFsT_-Spgmi_4/" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Pre-Inca jewelry made of solid gold.<br />
</td><td style="border: 4px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_8d13_51c5_328_f0d7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XfxLOGGaH_o/WI5mNRYbgZI/AAAAAAAAahU/6rKr6MmHaEc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 518px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 4px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_9d2a_dadc_1a5f_7ba4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMN73WwyxAzY7hS9Xh7Aw4PzKIfsqijAVq45sUnzVYL7I1JdcB_3EDgjMAzcXKO8E7G4brTpZ2tpEjfddECEy7dA9m9Y0GRL0BmDOGBOMXeIAQEeWDTJDCq6-Odxm7KLWsBCpLfZDbtM/" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 4px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_5328_b44a_ebe5_731c" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi276RdyuIMMD8gl9wxhb0ENh9lrxinV-ZZm-mlw3pufEd8YUgDIGijcY-N2sga971YiYK8FtRkuiJBxj-kzqhT7lIDyv_VD2rE92vznqtJz2dbiBImoe41WL0mnm2Pi_RbsaPZ5GwFeCA/" style="height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 571px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">We are always amused by the llamas and this one was no difference. The sign refers to perros (dogs) so the llamas think it's OK to do or go wherever they want.</span></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_2260_f58f_e9a2_a9d2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGbN6dnxnjSa8oB6N7bYROllqN6SOWrIBV8qpB6i5SwfpmuopdqoCOLEN0R-6p0T0tCFNW8td3_3syrCamrhmTIJaya2NjAvzt90vhAzp3MwGwqm3fDoFBWCNl80xNapssoopk8nCweA/" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">It's time to go back to the hotel for one last supper and start packing for our flight tomorrow. I hope everybody enjoyed our blog.</span></div>
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TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-88669579263479389342017-01-29T10:24:00.001-05:002017-01-29T10:24:47.601-05:00Cusco - Day 2<div><font face="Arial" size="4">We</font><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> decided to take a walking tour of Cusco. It's SO much more commercial / touristy than anything else in the Inca Valley. </span></div><div><img id="id_779f_df1_374f_63d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1EV3wgNazME/WI4JJ4EV3-I/AAAAAAAAaes/-35zRrDZsAY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 559px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"><font face="Arial" size="4">These folks stand around all day in their best Quechua outfits just to pose for pictures for 50 cents. They are irresistible to Patrice when it comes to taking pictures.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Note the sidewalk in the background. They are incredibly narrow in this old part of town. You can see how people walk single file.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Here are some other street scenes.</font> </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br clear="left"><div><img id="id_5c42_675d_d056_6347" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NyVnCL3dxgk/WI4JJ-PnBfI/AAAAAAAAaew/G8-kZwTBQ3o/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 674px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> <font face="Arial" size="4">Many of the homes and businesses have courtyards and they encourage you to wander in and look around. Or, in some cases the courtyard is a restaurant.</font><br></div><div><img id="id_643d_67df_3470_ed57" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1XcowZKDyM4/WI4JJz6fyUI/AAAAAAAAae0/hIVgq6C5iv8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 618px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"><font face="Arial" size="4">Just like other places we've seen, Cuy is a delicacy here.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Apparently, it's the skin that is the tastiest part of the Guinea Pig. There's not a lot of meat on the carcass.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"> We stopped for a coffee break on our way to the San Pedro market. It was up on a hotel balcony overlooking a pretty square. No less then 20 street vendors selling everything from artwork to alpaca sweaters to shoe shines dropped by our table.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Sure it was annoying, but we realized that everybody's got to make a living too. <br clear="left"> Our goal is to reach the San Pedro Market. It's the big market where all the locals shop. And it's conveniently on the path of our walking tour. Here are a number of pictures from inside the market.</font></div><div><table id="id_e56a_af26_76ac_53a9" style="border: 3px solid black;border-collapse:collapse;margin:7px;"><tbody><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> <img id="id_8fc5_7ffa_8eb7_5369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhsLukEDzGbG2cPlvfdBbK2HaxkHevBXr2xpa4aII64D9EdLwpimDMiKHHAIuRHyNo8xn4nY_KuLaABsaxfaiiv1Z_5-br1rWUiiMZaZhOf4s7kAP8B7AaIReh11uV-93bvkVwjDh2t0/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 518px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> <img id="id_8819_8fb2_65c6_be9a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L2urF-wCfJ8/WI4JM49hzfI/AAAAAAAAae8/8N2Q68tFBqk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 571px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> Here's one of many entrances. We didn't see this until we were on our way out</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black">The market has a lot of fresh stuff, including flowers </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> <img id="id_da2e_b855_6067_9663" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-47DbRvB_gAE/WI4JM21ltsI/AAAAAAAAafA/U3Thgfg-vaQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 548px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> <img id="id_a4b6_b89e_42d5_b329" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t2fGxiBm9SE/WI4JMlmZ4yI/AAAAAAAAae4/xT03wq7Zr6U/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 571px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> Lots of inexpensive fresh food. Looks like chicken is the specialty</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> <img id="id_a04c_20f1_2e3f_7c6b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5NRSlGX842M/WI4JM8riT0I/AAAAAAAAafE/qOWpPURfg_k/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 571px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> <img id="id_d465_957a_1ec1_b30" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IrOcTxRMF7A/WI4JPKnmixI/AAAAAAAAafM/lLjLZiG_rgk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 571px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> Every kind of jugo (juice) you can imagine</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 3px solid black"> We saw some fruits we'd never seen before</td></tr></tbody></table><font face="Arial" size="4">Here's Patrice and the artist buying some artwork for a friend:</font></div><div><img id="id_8a1e_5fb2_25cb_a2d4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1CbEKMYLz3Q/WI4JPKazsYI/AAAAAAAAafQ/TAfZeoAH5G4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 713px; height: auto;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_5ccf_78d0_1e8e_be9c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3bTeBaHswq4/WI4JO6E5AHI/AAAAAAAAafI/ze0l-CubqF0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div> <font face="Arial" size="4">All those Inca artifacts had to end up somewhere. Besides the ones that Hiram Bingham (discoverer of Machu Picchu) took back to the U.S., many of them ended up here in this History Museum.</font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Today is our last full day in Cusco. Tomorrow we start our journey back to North Carolina.<br></font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-3920660273030843752017-01-28T21:17:00.001-05:002017-01-28T21:17:20.760-05:00Our First Day in Cusco<font face="Arial" size="4">On our first day in Cusco, we're moving pretty slow. It's another 3500 feet higher than the Inca Sacred Valley. We checked into a fantastic hotel, the J.W. Marriott. More about that in subsequent posts.</font><div><font face="Arial" size="4">We set out Friday morning to explore Cusco. We spent most of our time in the main square, Plaza de Armas. </font></div><div><table id="id_5ea2_e006_e863_e6f5" style="border: 3px solid black; border-collapse:collapse;margin:7px;"><tbody><tr><td style="min-width:90; border:3px solid black;"> <img id="id_813f_5f5e_1431_1724" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-255zw7t0Yzg/WI1QrRqTYbI/AAAAAAAAaeI/_aqQpfH0v8c/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 502px; height: auto;"></td><td style="min-width:90; border:3px solid black;"> <img id="id_1f65_9dd4_5257_97f8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1hb3bk734VA/WI1QrBCCfXI/AAAAAAAAad4/j2B4x8jY3FA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 504px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border:3px solid black;"> <img id="id_c5ea_f794_7b15_5a01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqpQbhSIVdRjgkSJGzkZMVuggC6TqwQAArCDivav4TjCKGOkVd0guRdDFPQbnx-x1piHjaj5oLl-ewZsXQossuEedh6vjbiqZkgVAwZ9rvgxrFvTgXJZEippBiZ5Rr8C0z0zcHfVBXzQ/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 504px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border:3px solid black;"><img id="id_8b73_cbe7_d36e_9cbe" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXl-xzlthHPBQQ3Y9HY3QvVg9vG3rCJnPgK7tv_m0jQBqLC0ts5vbHyXtLXsryVncbryGbOUzd5P8Poo-PJpNIi211jiXeZDdt-D-JXMQI7gP8HNGWRQxqvWx56Wyl_mNiOJ6xB8eiHEg/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 504px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><font face="Arial" size="4">As you can see this square is huge. These pictures show you various aspects of it. The last one was a small balcony where we all had lunch. It is so nice that they don't allow cars in the square during the day. The rest of the streets are pretty narrow and so are the sidewalks. </font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">We walked about half a mile up hill to the San Blas square, shopping all the way.</font><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><img id="id_6fd7_6c25_6be3_1a59" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WJjHXj3wbKw/WI1Qrk_VC7I/AAAAAAAAaeE/OIuk20uTpUI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 605px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"><font face="Arial" size="4">This picture is of an existing Inca wall we saw along the walk. There aren't Inca ruins in Cusco because the Spaniards built their houses on top of the Inca walls. Look how tightly these stones fit together.</font><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> <div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-28423339646335224822017-01-27T06:43:00.001-05:002017-01-27T10:08:44.661-05:00Exploring Ollantaytambo<font face="Arial" size="4">Hernan picked us up in Huaran as we said goodbye to our glass-walled house there. We headed west in the Inca Valley to explore Ollantaytambo. </font><img id="id_2937_fa3c_3209_2589" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aIJtwAPpKnk/WIsyYgPWFqI/AAAAAAAAaP4/48EmeuiQhFg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 503px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4">Along the way we spotted these weird cylindrical objects hanging from the mountainside.</font><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Here's a closer look:</font></div><img id="id_ec78_9857_511d_cff2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lo7juLZ12SI/WIsyZItf4MI/AAAAAAAAaQE/KoJkRzOlzLo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 508px; height: auto;"> <div><font face="Arial" size="4">Apparently you can pay to spend the night dangling on the mountainside. Each of these is fully equipped with a bed, toilet and sink. OK, on to Ollantaytambo.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">If you think, as I did, that exploring the Inca civilization is doing nothing but looking at ruins, you'd be wrong. The Inca city of Ollantaytambo is alive and well. And their Quechua descendants are still living there. Here are a few street scenes:</font></div><table id="id_3475_b36e_49bc_c39a" style="border: 2px solid black;border-collapse:collapse;margin:7px;"><tbody><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> <img id="id_89d0_c5e_8541_863b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hgm751cRado/WIsyY_7QHdI/AAAAAAAAaP8/WYkBsPD4biQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 495px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> <img id="id_ca72_1edd_56bc_76c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rFVSl-19ePU/WIsyY-6St8I/AAAAAAAAaQA/6xgesSQgPh0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 501px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> Our Guide Hernan shows us how they have added a 2nd story</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> The old Inca water system still flows here</td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> <img id="id_a959_6c94_2a99_1829" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ui4S6zRipYI/WIsybe5izVI/AAAAAAAAaQI/0qKDWbsMy5U/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 504px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> <img id="id_81af_3763_c275_a65b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VDYedAQPeN4/WIsyb8WltEI/AAAAAAAAaQQ/dQccX3T0xW0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 479px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> Business goes on here. They allow motorcycles for convenience</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> Front doors need little bridges to go over the water sluice</td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> <img id="id_9e0d_99c7_bab2_cca4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hopTlM2sih8/WIsybWNcHCI/AAAAAAAAaQM/3Y0WMT4kt-Y/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 509px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> <img id="id_b369_6741_d54b_d9af" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ClJ5eUlwh9Y/WIsycFtR20I/AAAAAAAAaQU/Egi1cxAPZfk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 518px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> Here's the ever present trapezoidal Inca doorway looking out over their terraced planting field</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 2px solid black"> Men and women carry 50lb sacks of corn from nearby fields through the<br> site to trucks waiting on the other side.</td></tr></tbody></table><div> <font face="Arial" size="4">After exploring the old part of town we caught some lunch and Patrice ham'd it up by hoping into the driver's seat of a nearby Tuk-tuk:</font></div><img id="id_ca88_fd25_46af_5d5a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtObRdxbJVQN5usm7nT99_8qjhwHNPq0lOk3mFDY_yuUez0QxBB0wZw_XYvwBQ5VMH4kDL-q8p636bM1bDSxjgyfUsAXsMBLkUZBi_S0bsTsJBEKNlRJeiqCFrHUZnvbryamfccOEzDZU/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 610px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"><font face="Arial" size="4">After lunch we headed for Cusco, our last stop on this trip.<br></font><img id="id_e2e3_229_f198_717d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-orgYMY-Zs4I/WIsydBofG8I/AAAAAAAAaQc/AsuWFiLWRhM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 646px; height: auto;"> <div><font face="Arial" size="4">You can see how quickly the weather changes in the mountains and the glaciers.</font><br><div> </div></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-20806267734335649172017-01-26T07:12:00.001-05:002019-05-22T14:43:18.902-04:00Digging Deep into the Culture of the Inca and their Modern Day Descendants the Chechuans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">One of the great things about having a great guide is that they listen to you, know where to take you, and know whom to contact to get you into see what you want to see.</span><br />
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<img alt="" id="id_5718_70ae_c343_ed0a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa5rQPGPvugVTvfAD_p-ViHwP2yx7-R8grv5X_D6NSa6Ruwuzd04oxq4RHBXQUCCuhejEUhe7fqOxCYZKR5seyRyd0rw5f7W2StnrqZjSb-6StjimZxefXwoYjMgGGDXBdygVyxKiLx8/" style="display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 588px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Our guide Hernan is that kind of guy. Here he is showing us the map to the Inca ruins and terraces at Pesac. To digress for a moment, our goals were to dig deep into the various Inca sites in the Sacred Valley and to better understand their culture by studying them. You'll see why, by the end of this post, why we think he has really accomplished that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">We started the day at Pesac.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Pesac is known as an Inca village and for its' terraced mountainside. Here's what's left of the village more than halfway up the mountain:</span></div>
<img alt="" id="id_c94_7a5d_5fbc_4d5c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TzBH7Zu9rHM/WIlW2BNFQtI/AAAAAAAAaOQ/wx89Tc7NQJc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 670px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">And these are the terraces. At this point we're about 2500 feet above the valley floor.</span><img alt="" id="id_2342_b513_8594_2335" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TE8fTseptLQ/WIlW1kLWYqI/AAAAAAAAaOM/NTWCLTiShoM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 698px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">From here our guide has a bit of a surprise for us. All he tells us is that we are going to a llama ceremony. So we get back in his car and start driving up another mountain. By the time we arrive, we're glad we've been taking our altitude medicine. The altitude is almost 14000 feet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><img alt="" id="id_c343_e379_9cd3_88aa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruz3vNTc4M2Wgd0TdXWg7LwGJtabBn90MMgYZvgR6VBI4cdXvvNYt88Xx6Z_sJcP75vuZbKA7wqUCdPw61WmHgmqp19C6BK1cpa7YQPz-OEVv_Fpp_lGPzCqduaBqkajxTM4tbCmlGL4/" style="display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 651px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">It turns out Hernan and his friend were both porters on the 4 day trek on the Inca trail. (Turns out that some people are crazy enough to hike there on the authentic trail instead of taking the train like we did)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">His friend is a Quecuan, the people who are the direct descendants of the Incas. He and his family have been living up in the mountains since the time of the Incas. They are part of a collective that owns 500 acres in the mountain. They grow about 30 varieties of potatoes here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Here is the family:</span><br />
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<img alt="" id="id_cbbd_3755_9c5a_1248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcpUknRD2z8eH7Xm-RULyZu0e9hisrM79VCfh1sjIfQGIvjLMbuE8QVW91R49TR5LnG1tB4VSiY7m2yweD13zxV8d0WYVZm9zaoDl2uXfR53YGs5G7IiQaKugo119grmtRc0rqRJvGAk/" style="height: auto; width: 750px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">They are incredibly gracious and welcoming. We are given to understand that this tradition dates back to Inca times. Our visit started off in their dining room; first with ceremonial outfits then with tea and potatoes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">While we were having tea our host explained their way of life. Incredibly, they still farm their 500 mountainside acres by hand. Remember that this work is shared by the community of families that make up this collective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Here is his plow which he's made in the Inca tradition complete with llama leather straps and Eucalyptus handle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> I asked why they didn't use a tractor and the answer was that the fields were just too steep to make it practical.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> Note that the dining room has a dirt floor too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">These people have a very simply life. They all wore sandals made from car tires. They make their medicines from plants on the mountains and yet they have few cancer or heart problems; most live well into their eighties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">But what hit home the hardest was how happy they were. This was the most moving event of the trip and a HUGE wake-up call for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Here's the obligatory group picture:</span></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_4ae1_597b_e4b4_cc" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmoIOa94-SB_W1JaHxgEk32wF8F1jDnL4Zf8tX5BJdRr_Z1jepRTgdwMjiQPuzPVR4peZ8ClsdjHPm227rzLvI33o6ZO-O7Go-LV_mvIMVexrXBFkWbKm3sVfm8z4GkWnxFpxLNFBEe4/" style="height: auto; width: 777px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Right after this picture it was time for the Llama Ceremony. And a cold wind and rain started. We trudged up several muddy hill trails to a high corral. We were told that our outfits were woven so tight that they were waterproof and I would have to say they were right.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_edf6_1ef4_f2e_126e" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAtar3uzM_ghTxOWuv1IkW4sDLr51pamGck4Ye-lJr77qHrB60cIl7fJzbQYpIUWuMxU-KxMMJQdqb4Il4WL-dGG2NZeVHNtfb1b9PEmqygf8XmNxvz2v1jrz9QO5xSWYKo3eo5gW2KI/" style="height: auto; width: 599px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"><br />
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Then all the llamas are herded into the corral.<br />
Clearly one is the "Alpha-Dog" llama. He's the one with the brass bells around this neck.<br />
Next we are all given coca leaves and asked to blow on them to offer them to both the llamas and the heavens. After that we chew on them.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> First of potion of coca leaves and corn beer are mixed</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;">Now it's time to bring the ceremony right to the llamas</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_b135_da62_306a_805b" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1pQmf25DlTyZqQBNhJQc3MeYQu7DjBPDA1mGSqG_IEUdg7GBp7L4JMvhK0OGGx8KMzbyGRXIhewp6I6ZhCTGIzoQo5y5qa0uwCDGSO6gMvO2W2Ys-rmSoKYLjrpvn0_8lpP26v1ELl0/" style="height: auto; width: 600px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"><img alt="" id="id_ab8_55c_403_f82d" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6rGKdbTEa67IQ-xXqPmHmbLeqvFJ4T8PVNq2GWQDxudaWQC573ZDJl6HWOYe52Mqz7dRHQYPOn7eystK53jxtmKND6qZjHah82mqsUlIC0wqulAd5ONaeazsZDJd7deHTAlH1uy5vtE/" style="height: auto; width: 601px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> The llama's mouth is pried open</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> And he gets to chug a potion of coca and corn beer</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_386_8ab7_5a62_ba74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPUTYR-XoqaNxasEGYRlMMn8DayVNP0gtpq-TQGIM9V4kRH23BCiS7LYzq-47JRJijLPXNZgMV9Qv5paf3k5jSaX6cjldu6Hh4IqeKS0gaQCSxcoNC-6MEei2TMZ6HJ5hNWjILP3GzNY/" style="height: auto; width: 601px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"><img alt="" id="id_d75e_ba2c_2125_d549" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln1iT-ZHKcN0_PLEfmabsZduFHEwPli_SEdCBwvm_ceLEMuoDBKBMCuDwsHQcF7wTdQMnCsscd9cBXtVTAkDAcsS5zlOGEeSrGQvj9YO7wB05ibuNTAsEh6L3opfnz7E-IqyoJ94Lc0Q/" style="height: auto; width: 606px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> His ears are pierced (he's calmed down by the corn beer at this point)</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Then the ceremonial ear-rings and tassels are inserted</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Then finally we all sprinkle the potion on the rest of the herd.</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Obviously, this is not a show for tourists. We just happened to catch it</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;">But we are thrilled with are guide for arranging it </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">We buy a few woolen things from them and say our good byes.</span></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_81fe_2c78_9d94_c48e" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgJzNIGEGHFzNnfIYhMHVWgNIMODSK3Xzb27Ha2VgZ_0jZZypm_8S-_HLVeJuGjxhQgjGlT85Q372jHN9reezdvxwiuMly_GwPElDEba7dy4HrnDGnNqhcjcv5xG9lGD4eGVvWtCv47k/" style="display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px; width: 732px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">On the way home we pass through a town that's famous for Cuy. That's Peruvian for Gerbil. As you can see, they sell them on a stick.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-35103350034752163192017-01-25T08:12:00.001-05:002019-05-22T14:34:16.225-04:00Machu Picchu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Our day started out with a bit of stress. We had requested a cab for 8am to take us to the train station for a 9:15 train to the base of Machu Picchu.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> It hadn't shown up by 8:07 so we asked our host about it. He had to use a back-up cab company. That cab didn't show up until 8:37 and it's usually a 40 minute ride to the station. Our cab driver rose to the occasion. He whipped through little streets like this at 50 mph, beeping at anything that dared to move. On open stretches he hit close to 80! Even I was white-knuckled. We went through little towns weaving around tuk-tuks and passing cars with little or no margin of safety.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">We arrived at the station at 9:10, somewhat white faced. The official hesitated to let us pass for a moment but somehow sensed the desperation in our faces. We were the last people on the train.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The train ride was an unexpected pleasure. It follows the Urubamba river for and hour and a half with spectacular mountain and river views. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">There is no road to Machu Picchu, only the train. And then it only takes you to the base of the mountain at Aguas Caliente. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Here we at the town posing for a cheesy shot with a statue of the Inca king who legend says built Machu Picchu.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVjCitFrMC5AepThTQAEHLqdX_psXzGdeozd5GzleYottBvZJmcMY13HBvhlXXeIc5vkkgELsfGBikS0tN1avgdERhkQDnkENZRsZwIxKP8OhU8Kh4-KDFs8-f9TYGgfvHKbrX6Y03aI/s1600/P1030337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVjCitFrMC5AepThTQAEHLqdX_psXzGdeozd5GzleYottBvZJmcMY13HBvhlXXeIc5vkkgELsfGBikS0tN1avgdERhkQDnkENZRsZwIxKP8OhU8Kh4-KDFs8-f9TYGgfvHKbrX6Y03aI/s320/P1030337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> Next we boarded a bus to zig-zag up the mountain to the actual entrance of Machu Picchu. That's where the steps start. Our exercise monitors said we climbed the equivalent of a 15 story building. Not bad considering the altitude and my lingering bronchitis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">And finally you go around a corner and your tour a Machu Picchu begins. We chose to use the same tour guide, Hernan, during our entire stay in the Inca Sacred Valley. He's been doing this tour for almost 20 years. You may see pictures of him in various blog posts. The following shots are picked from the 100 or so pictures we took up there..</span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_da81_813c_2610_e4d0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zzdox8i0kJlQHGhpn5IpRq1DJAzYRdRkhh9K4JKfvLHk1vDGJhHhs-RK-Qm0TvcocaNa-Mn3oXLU-1cQmYmgFtZQ8PKWlaYQkmGp32bO4BoJ6NW4LvqkuPkNH44BYmhFb54yAx6zdRc/" style="height: auto; width: 628px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"><br />
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<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> The sun came out just long enough to get this shot</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> The obligatory shot of us overlooking Machu Picchui</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHYOuFfPosBMNbdzeamtgL-M0ycggetSzgEAa38iK0IAKYDiJL_HBo7JmBMslE8PGzDvOs00Pgt2mFVlvp7UOlCc-9INCI9KZWIF-fquDBUiTk0DT2LVS3F_ngoudHC8qnfeGgKErVBI/s1600/P1030446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHYOuFfPosBMNbdzeamtgL-M0ycggetSzgEAa38iK0IAKYDiJL_HBo7JmBMslE8PGzDvOs00Pgt2mFVlvp7UOlCc-9INCI9KZWIF-fquDBUiTk0DT2LVS3F_ngoudHC8qnfeGgKErVBI/s320/P1030446.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_c82a_ca70_f47c_8ff" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7AO6M4mypEHoFvjtExmAhAkIbKPqG5dLANe-UckB5HBl544MquexQlo17ewo1zDkawzen3Bs3QE6rfrvvTM7scENpDCs2bbsS216PKzrUYXs3IpbzYovCc6kLxkPzkLsUOFY8TkYkCs/" style="height: auto; width: 635px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> The many stone terraces built by the Incas to make this fortress self-sustaining</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Looking through one of Machu Picchu's many doors</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9fpRK7GwSBB6XI2kWF-Hk9snYfquBzUDq-_lYjr2-1At43_hNMJh5XFCPFe6n5FVclRaq7bxMk7pcRqB4psvuEnR4H7yZ4-bdpovOAbr181HnzBgW-KuYsZbEDF77gJz7ZzPIX18zig/s1600/P1030430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9fpRK7GwSBB6XI2kWF-Hk9snYfquBzUDq-_lYjr2-1At43_hNMJh5XFCPFe6n5FVclRaq7bxMk7pcRqB4psvuEnR4H7yZ4-bdpovOAbr181HnzBgW-KuYsZbEDF77gJz7ZzPIX18zig/s320/P1030430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_31d8_651e_182a_7d02" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53cvtkmeJufbMS0_V9U0yOGKyt11kVg4HmkNziNTdnfG0hEWfJ48oYG55QLM4tQBpMPHnSyNQlsGh9XL8jXDEQS2INGzf2dGS1xbfa-EgQUiZ0fbeQQVEb_wdPrtGRHLoq_i36nix66A/" style="height: auto; width: 641px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> This is the amazing engineering of the Incas. See how these heavy granite blocks fit</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> This is the Inca King's tomb</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <img alt="" id="id_7708_a109_cb5_727" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QyR2Go1UftlzXbuT696RfUk1ACwFb7dg4udqGUtNp-cKW9lK-LrHiWnzbe3bj5XEH_hwCC0eN97xEiIwvixuMLRUnByaTn8uXMyXL-F6NLvlA_yNLRbpw-TIT7sAcXDdNooEtNTjpyA/" style="height: auto; width: 637px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> <br />
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<tr><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> This is called the Condor. Can you see the wings on the wall behind it?</td><td style="border: 2px solid black; min-width: 90;"> Llamas everywhere</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">We were so lucky to come when we did. We had some sun and no rain until we got back down to the town and boarded the train. This is the off season and our guide said the people at the site were about 10% of what we'd expect in peak season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">We got to spend about 6 hours in Machu Picchu itself.</span></div>
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TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-33123809933768445692017-01-23T20:05:00.001-05:002017-01-23T20:05:36.456-05:00The Inca Valley - Day one<font face="Arial" size="4">This was our introduction to the Inca Valley. There's so much more to the Inca Valley than Machu Picchu. And our excellent guide, Hernan, more than proved that today. </font><img id="id_389b_a377_5e85_c332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CIXH5xVU4-vzPM421RIVuV9RLZanzWUv6xhiSwtXWuIvuXiajcgd-j9otWqvT4OWSHer2S9m_54cM2laSRc_uS-BBzlWp1MR6Fz_hYL-ZTdjQUFimsISXCAt9yKT9ngwHi4JU8je5SE/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 663px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"> Besides learning about Inca history, the scenery was stellar. I was shocked that Patrice said this was the prettiest place she's ever been. It starts with our backyard. Here's Patrice and our host, Bryan.</font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Here's another picture from our backyard:</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_fdaa_9d45_58c0_e7c1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rE3EuUBjJys/WIaoUlu8MFI/AAAAAAAAaMg/r-CHPWbbqZU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 669px; height: auto;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_ad4c_b0a5_4b10_d34a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TCiyRtaDhtg/WIaoSrS1_OI/AAAAAAAAaMY/LEGkUqE9EWY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 670px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4">The valley is chock full of Inca installations. This unassuming monument in Urubamba still has the original logs in the stucco. As we viewed this shrine, we were the only ones there.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><img id="id_d8d0_7791_8796_8a0a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dc13BZPmR7c/WIaoUdCbAgI/AAAAAAAAaMc/jEZdS0lIazU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 664px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> <div><font face="Arial" size="4">The next site, at town of Moras (elevation 12400ft) looks like an amphitheater but it's actually an Inca seed test site. Over 600 years ago they were creating hybrid seeds and using this site to see which elevations were best for planting them.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_5757_9436_9261_b744" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kXOfPF02Od4/WIaoWu_gV8I/AAAAAAAAaMk/DwfTxf4HwQE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 683px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">We were off to some Cultural Textile centers to discover the other specialty of the Incas. Here we saw Alpaca wool being spun and dyed.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">And we got to watch them weave a table runner. These take a month to make.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">The elevation here was over 13000 feet and we all went downhill from here; both literally and physically!</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">After this we went to Salinas to see the Pre-Inca salt mines. On the way, Patrice found these girls with their Alpacas.</font></div><div><img id="id_5be1_5e25_9973_e14b" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKhGlVCEyrTE80yPHzm42tP1bOTFAxPVjdIgJs7thtLNI4XutAmIlHXq8BQzgla4-blpjO6QcBcocMeOE6a50Hk67ihKIWqZkhbJdslt8W4g4amTFzueUdGfVshZBltG67FULj7WfoDA/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-24699870146510680092017-01-22T19:35:00.001-05:002017-01-22T19:35:26.335-05:00The Sacred Valley of the Incas<font face="Arial" size="4">We left Lima for the 11,300 foot elevation of Cusco. We are concerned about Altitude Sickness. We actually drove higher until we got to the pass into the Sacred Valley </font><div><img id="id_b398_18b4_b1e_99d5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KBcDk0-vEmg/WIVPyg1fCqI/AAAAAAAAaLU/uF_bxaGdlNg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 221px; height: auto;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Then the Valley magically opened up</font></div><div><img id="id_723b_b0c5_faeb_4bf8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EHMPhs0ee_A/WIVPyjmD8UI/AAAAAAAAaLQ/JeaKlBRBJfw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 247px; height: auto;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_8f1_1898_b6a7_6660" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yuXUpr6tQR8/WIVPzHy3bmI/AAAAAAAAaLY/8XERJXU9h_8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 248px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">This is the view out of our back windows. Right now we are feeling the altitude but we're hopeful that with a good night's rest we'll be ready to explore in the morning.</font></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-64120154131626736662017-01-21T20:03:00.001-05:002017-01-21T20:03:54.827-05:00Montevideo to Lima<font face="Arial" size="4">As we left Montevideo I realized I owe her a bit of an apology. On the way to the airport, in dawn's early light we saw a side of the city we'd never seen before. And one that our guide had never encouraged us to see. We saw miles of gleaming ocean-front condos and neat rows of houses with manicured plantings and NO graffiti. So if run-down turn-of-the-century buildings covered with graffiti is the heart and soul of the city and these beautiful neighborhoods aren't worth a look then I am just in a different universe. </font><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Lima is a very different story. We rolled out of the airport in a hot cab with the windows down into a cacophony of car horns. While not on a scale with New Delhi, you knew you were in a different country. Patrice was pretty zen about the crazy driving and the near misses. But this taxi was driving for survival, not her comfort. </font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">All-in-all Lima didn't have that rundown neglected look. As we got near the heart of the city, the temperature suddenly dropped 10 degrees and we felt the cool breezes off the Pacific.</font></div><div><img id="id_ea9c_dddb_bcfc_8e42" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PcRbjL6-9d4/WIQE8QQi0GI/AAAAAAAAaKk/jQgRYgloo6g/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 614px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="4"> Suddenly, we broke out on to a highway that followed the Pacific shore and traffic settled down to a dull roar. All along the road there's a steep cliff so there are very few exits.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><br clear="left"><div><font face="Arial" size="4">We went another few miles and found an exit that took us to our hotel. It was just a Marriot Courtyard but after Montevideo we thought we'd died and gone to Heaven. This hotel is in the Miraflores neighbor of Lima and is only 8 blocks from the water. The front desk suggested we might want to walk down to the water to see the Mall there and the views of the Pacific. We needed to get our train tickets for Machu Picchu and their office was in the mall. We walked down to the water and saw this pretty view of the Pacific:</font></div><div><img id="id_370d_df7e_c573_bd62" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KkfDCN2oYYA/WIQE9hYihKI/AAAAAAAAaKo/7nkkc63O7Bk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 712px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4">Do you see a mall here? We knew we had to be close because Google Maps said we were standing right beside it. So we walked a few blocks along the water figuring that some of the high-rises might of blocked our view of it.<br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">So by this time we were running out of patience and asked somebody. They pointed to an opening in overlook you see to your left.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><br clear="left"><div><img id="id_9f87_9a91_7856_b1c9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hPKFu_rCl4Y/WIQE-GZr5aI/AAAAAAAAaKw/x8U5o7o_OLs/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">We had been standing on TOP of the mall the whole time. There were no signs for a mall and even the stairways down to it rom street level we not in plain site. Look how it's built into the side of the bluffs. It's actually goes 3 levels down the bluff and each level has it's share of eateries and store galleries with breathtaking views of the ocean. The road below is the same one we took from the airport, but the mall is so high that you can't see it from the road.</font></div><div><img id="id_f46f_6acb_bcb4_de4b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n_s4nrCEkAg/WIQE9-xqhrI/AAAAAAAAaKs/I60_a0yzuPg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"></div><img id="id_a9e9_f320_9a99_2c35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy16gCGJDJVW4tVe3VjWre3z89Bqz6_EIPOrjY-Ga77xD9G6bc2Ix-R6st7FCKjAxxQuZ2LtcZe7lAETBdZ585bVh1TopiKFb68tb0I-9olQGivkhW_WDeNC_S2a3-AgVNzyeBQLYzoo/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"> <div> <font face="Arial" size="4">This might be the prettiest mall we have ever seen.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">So that's it for Lima. That's all the time we have for her. We're still recuperating and need to get plenty of rest for tomorrow's flight to Cusco.<br></font></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-12205850241338098132017-01-20T18:31:00.001-05:002017-01-20T18:38:51.182-05:00Bouza Winery - Montevideo<img id="id_4d0c_5f5b_69a7_809a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PilWHZO15NfhAr_KxGeJAt4qKW8WuWl5yj6AT4BqLTUrNF9kNH8M5qo_l_0v2T0DsBdAgyc4avumVNkLqzJL9Kd5u32MF2neLWKZudgt4Nhk-4d0DoZCyFICYRJPWUjksL6jntl79Cc/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 672px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4">This winery is about 8 miles north of Montevideo in rolling countryside.</font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">This winery was originally built in the 40's and was restored and enlarged in 2001 by the Bouza family. </font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Interestingly enough, the original family had to flee the country in the early 80's.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Our agenda here today was a winery tour, a wine tasting and a great meal. So let's start with the tour shall we?</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><img id="id_fbe5_7244_1009_f560" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oo40QwL-cDI/WIKdpF2oQEI/AAAAAAAAaJ8/4Z-nzsuzF8M/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 717px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"><font face="Arial" size="4">It's summer here; the equivalent of our July. As you can see the grapes are beginning to ripen. This is a dry vineyard which means they don't irrigate their vines. They've added granite chips to keep the low hanging vines clean and to hold in the moisture.</font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">According to our tour guide these grapes are about 3 weeks from having the proper sugar content for harvest.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">As a </font><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">matter of fact, you'll see a glass of Tannant wine wound up on our table. That wine came from these same vines a couple years ago.</span></div><div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Here's the cellar and our tour guide explaining how they fill the kegs from the stainless tanks above. And here's a close up of one or their oak kegs</font></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_fc73_559a_27c2_16ba" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoGpjzVahBPG7QtgQBPRaKNhmNpcOnAt4CX02Koff57i-yncrux5UNrzlxyrT5wfXghpcsOGzgxPHogO2Ry-LFBnEP4sVoYedzhntNq-PxKuN9K0XGvs9YKFBBQN7r7PkoOidEpyoVm0/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 450px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"></div><img id="id_cf3f_68a1_f4ff_4e77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYS5hfCTf9niqmR-bv0scW8-A1LAzc2R3FVxZOrZ-AJ2q_J9uU1AsnXVbD-J7MoxNO7ZbzNJ6yokQV0j0dJB6BKvmtplAGR3OPUGN5hZKB56XZ1N2QML_968Jmcu-2HOCBTGNH4tg3a0/" alt="Sample wine barrel" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 458px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Last, but not least is the wine tasting and lunch. Unbeknownst to us, they combine those two activities into one. I really enjoyed it. This might have been my favorite part of Montevideo!!</font></div><div><img id="id_6247_6272_94e3_60aa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1igRSXUNzzi36ankbr7GhsDybIYoQSpCdWmWkYF-UhjPzpAcn08uthhcAMzeqeJ4LKbnBWVN8se1oAktEHKfKeuepAYOfmzZaQ4SXA8VkwW1wB5kPZt7xfy4fMUgoyUiMNy8gsiI3e4/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 789px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">OK now... Off to bed because the driver is picking us up at 4am to fly to Lima!!</font><br><div> P.S. Here's a four leaf clover Patrice found while few were waiting for our ride home. I think our luck is going yo change<br></div><div><img id="id_1323_32ba_30f8_9c79" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9MwVwiEZRkQ/WIKfiJe3RDI/AAAAAAAAaKE/KAnurlQrZ_I/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 192px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> </div></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-39115902084781537492017-01-19T16:04:00.001-05:002017-01-19T16:06:38.240-05:00Montevideo's Port Market<font face="Arial" size="4">It's only a 15 minute walk through the old city to the port area.</font><img id="id_7c20_c5eb_e85f_6455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0spoB8elysW1lbZ1z660Y6AxRhMQI3hJtCKShrl35-YB8X1CbKr_gqc1nHaXHLBoBLKVkRdn4ZLQjGZRO3ywRcjFbHl73o1obGRuhK4WhxVMQhUBiry_v7EyaMNvvUFZSg_POGXJlxY/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 613px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"> And they have conveniently converted two streets to pedestrian walk-ways which makes the jaunt much more fun. As you might have noticed, I'm not a huge fan of where we're staying but I have to admit it is centrally located among some cool sites. For example, here is the interior of a church that's located just down the block and at the top of one of the pedestrian walk-ways.</font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">I was joking with Patrice that there is so much graffiti and so many of the buildings look dirty and run-down that they must sell more paint in spray cans that they do in large 3 or 4 liter cans. (There's no such thing as a gallon here)<br></font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">But our destination today is the Mercado del Puerte, the Port Market. </font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"> It was built, like so many other things around here, at the turn of the century.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"> It's famous architecturally for its open spaces and ornamental iron-work.</font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">It's hard to get picture of the Mercado itself because it's surrounded by so many other buildings.</font></div><div><img id="id_521f_223b_fb28_32fd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXPuFQkvu8Ya5t9FiVHwX15xhJO5Dn2oeFzP3rbC5WLVKCbWg25ZW07YDnJydAmMfyb8ddlgVSX2XgdBiAz3iBfIj4ZjS0piotx43pXTvRJFvxlXI9kiZkQfiGd7GAHoKhrH7cMA4VQ4/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 716px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But here's a shot at one side of it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> The building in back is totally unrelated.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> It houses the Customs authority for the port.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But here's what looks like inside:</span></div><img id="id_4094_fdd0_5853_9c9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCTWlW1aDcObD8s__rs5kAMyxm93l8RMJwW672xTukiX7DyoxPI_kIcqpi1_6MQ1K0XT2gPs37PpfSyJAx57D0H-2aGXDozTWM9rn_wQtPOmA7M4K7tRQkkJpenVsq2lWLNQKmCVLrtI/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 636px; height: auto;"> <div><font face="Arial" size="4">Somebody described this place as Disneyland for carnivores. And that somes it up pretty well. Instead of lots of individual stalls selling various wares the entire building is separated into about a dozen different restaurants.</font></div><div><img id="id_3bb9_8388_fe23_151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq65UDYWM0DCEiHEdGicHAYLr5Tn4LiDJrwOQpHFsIQws1MmCUHY8VSfHWfdiiouqaEL7opOf4DS7RE75FgP2jxcRIFk-JZhc4KLaTuMSR8TWaMEtSEGyvE6ep-HCIWrKI4z5_5Lq_mM/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 730px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4">Each restaurant has a grill like this. In Argentina and Uruguay these are called parillas. </font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">The wood fire roaring in the back (on the right) does not cook the meat. Its' only job is to create hot embers. As the embers drop, they are somehow raked under the grill on the left. That's where they put the steaks and other meats. Before they put the steaks on the grill, they use their own special formula salt rub. But they don't just apply or gently dab the rub on the steaks, they massage it into the meat. And by the way, any meat done past medium-rare is ruined in their book.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">I had a lomo de Brochette which is beef tenderloin on a skewer with onions and red peppers. Each piece was the size of half a petite filet back home. Needless to say I could not eat the whole thing.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">As you can probably tell, my cold is getting better every day. My primary mission now is to make sure Patrice doesn't get as sick as I did.<br></font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div></div></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-24763862745216394312017-01-18T19:11:00.001-05:002017-01-18T19:11:39.199-05:00On the Mend<font face="Arial" size="4">After spending the morning at the British Hospital I found that I did not have strep and plan to just get over this virus and it's associated sinus infection. We brought some Cipro anti-biotic with us and I will take that if I don't make any progress on the sinus infection and cough by tomorrow. I am determined to be in good shape for the high elevations in Peru.<br></font><img id="id_1dce_9d1_8c80_fb66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNDW0w6Ch4ccwtrcfHYC-e2QK4sJWm7olxTHpNi5VLhNnuDt0QnerGSCJ5sTPmAoB6G81VG01zhrIZsNpmkosh8ckDuAcyfnkUlQs2p4aU5aGpQXC_8fMEzmYnNKETanTwzmZ7iX8YoU/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 589px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <div><font face="Arial" size="4">Yesterday I rallied long enough to do a little sightseeing. Here are some pictures of the Teatro Solis which is just a few blocks from here. Unlike most buildings, it is not covered with graffiti. </font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Here are a couple shots from the inside:</font></div><div><table id="id_371f_ef7b_e7dd_dbac" style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse:collapse;margin:7px;"><tbody><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"><img id="id_a48_795f_ffcd_92d2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_1GJdfVDfqQxDQCnp3bK8WDB-Wct9XxCczZaenrZDPijFx_5GACXL9morQv2QhlRv1Y7fv9WAXLXv3-SrZbt3nHSU9VMVRNBWrhPdPNFe1p91i-m6G0RPbh0uAr7Meq7WSktKxhJwOM/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 623px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"><img id="id_412d_16ae_fe11_9b42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji39_Cbjj-mx-_HnZu-GVQG3hXzmq-_vIgcQ9Fk4-Der4VpA8YTqiA9AYJVze1fjXH7SFY49KN_zzI1eNo2PB5hQ8SuZfw57lpebf22V4WYNFbJg8uMTDXcmOXX4xfxrL1NKDB_AfSSXk/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 626px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <font face="Arial" size="4">Inside the theatre</font></td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <font size="4" face="Arial">Inside the hall of Presidents</font></td></tr></tbody></table><img id="id_3fff_1f13_a90c_ce68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB8VRCI1dKCGw_KolYbXiNyim4GtFjzG_t2iGrq8Ov26ZbIaASJ9icxdFHJ9HNLiMPQGayrlck69vjMG80cclTVD4u_wgSK6fbEi3MQbzao9n2gyWq50FHSCibQCKuOk8eJSfevvtGDI/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 585px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4">This is the gate from the old section of Montevideo to the "new" section. That's kind of ironic because it all looks pretty old to me.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><img id="id_5de7_cfc6_9300_74fa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SzKrzz__A-4/WIAEN81t09I/AAAAAAAAaIg/nfYZseGex7w/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 832px; height: auto;"> <div><font face="Arial" size="4">On the way to pick up our laundry we saw this interesting store. Patrice would not let me go inside to see what they actually sell!</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Good night all.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-31211198706139056042017-01-17T22:43:00.001-05:002017-01-18T17:39:01.050-05:00Montevideo, We Have a Problem <font face="Arial" size="4">This is our first day in Montevideo and I have to say that Montevideo and I really got off on the wrong foot.
<br>Let's start off with the question of balance. This blog is supposed to be a scrapbook for us to remember the good times we had on our trip. But it's also important to chronicle the mistakes we made to improve your future trips and ours. Let me also say that Patrice did a great job planning this trip and most of our current circumstances could not be forseen.
<br>
<br>OK. So yesterday I woke up with a bad sore throat. We got some help from our B&B host to reserve our seats on the 4:30p express bus to Montevideo. We were seated next to a fussy baby who really cried and fussed for the entire 2 hour trip. </font> <font face="Arial" size="4"><br>When we got to Montevideo we caught a cab to Sarandi Guesthouse.
<br>When we arrived at the address, we almost didn't get out of the cab.</font><img id="id_43bd_1c03_162c_6574" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CQkddNgjmUE/WH_ugc0RWsI/AAAAAAAAaIA/DW1xxolKnSY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 623px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <font face="Arial" size="4"> </font><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font size="4" face="Arial">Here's what we saw.</font></span><font face="Arial" size="4"> The place and the neighborhood looked that bad. The lesson here is to look at Google's Street View of a place before booking. Here's what's mysterious about Sarandi "Guesthouse". It does not appear in Googles Streetview at all.
<br>Our hostess Karen meets us at the front door and takes us up to the third floor in a 75 year old elevator. As we walk through the kitchen she explains that they don't serve breakfast anymore because "their guests don't have time for that and there are lots places to get breakfast in the street".
<br>Now technically their name doesn't say B&B, but the whole setup is so B&B-like that it would be easy to assume breakfast was included.
<br>Lastly as we lay down for a siesta (because many restaurants don't even OPEN until 8p) we hear the sound of a bus turning the corner right under our bedroom window and revving up its diesel to accelerate. Montevideo does not have a subway, only busses. And we hear this sound about 15 times an hour from 6a~11:59p.
<br>My sore throat has not abated and I now have a bad cough. Planning to to go to the British Hospital for some targeted anti biotics first thing in the morning.
<br>
<br>OK, that's enough negative stuff. We'll plan to return to fun times in the morning.
<br>Ted</font>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-91218588230690063942017-01-17T12:32:00.001-05:002017-01-17T12:32:11.077-05:00The Dogs of Colonia<font face="Arial" size="4">Leave it to Patrice to have a soft spot in her heart for street dogs. When she heard about all the tame and occasionally mangy dogs of Colonia, and took a dozen pictures, I promised her we'd do a special blog entry just for them.</font><img id="id_9f00_e5f0_23d_354f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RQqTnNxfpT8/WH5U9mab53I/AAAAAAAAaHU/NzwXqoAUK1w/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 611px; height: auto; margin: 4px; float: left; display: block;"> <div><br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">It all started with Chicquenia, the street dog our B&B has adopted. They think she's about 12 years old. She's as gentle as they come. But at ripe old age of 84 in dog years, she doesn't get up to greet customers. She just thumps her tail against the floor. She's pretty smart because she's trained all the humans to kneel and pet her once she starts thumping. Yep, I fell for it too.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">She really appreciates humans who are fast learners.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><table id="id_7921_e1e8_13db_84f8" style="border: 4px solid black;border-collapse:collapse;margin:7px;"><tbody><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 4px solid black"> <img id="id_2037_52e2_2fec_ec5a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xc4zYQVmKto/WH5Un3wWZTI/AAAAAAAAaHQ/X_m-KUNUx8U/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 441px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 4px solid black"> <img id="id_9e10_87a5_ba7_194f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lEZYrBNGnXY/WH5VDthBsVI/AAAAAAAAaHc/K64QXzA_RQw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 442px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; min-width: 90px; border: 4px solid black;"> Sea Dog</td><td style="text-align: center; min-width: 90px; border: 4px solid black;"> Wise old Dog</td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 4px solid black"> <img id="id_3c4a_4e9e_c649_9786" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9mQfIkm_4pA/WH5VGcpNj7I/AAAAAAAAaHg/16Es8c-t93U/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 437px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="text-align: center; min-width: 90px; border: 4px solid black;"> <img id="id_3123_b1ee_40cc_23ec" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hVGHOYQVmko/WH5VCBMpRNI/AAAAAAAAaHY/mSGBpyManMg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 440px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; min-width: 90px; border: 4px solid black;"> Personal Shopper Dog</td><td style="text-align: center; min-width: 90px; border: 4px solid black;"> Guard Dog waiting for a favorite human to return</td></tr></tbody></table><font face="Arial" size="4">None of these dogs had a collar. In all the dogs we encountered, not one seemed threatening in any way.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">So... Yesterday we left Colonia to the dogs and hopped on a bus to Montevideo. That's when our luck started to change. More on that in the next post.</font></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189232251380078521.post-21237351818302270602017-01-15T18:35:00.001-05:002017-01-15T18:45:10.610-05:00A Full Day Exploring Colonia Del Sacramento<font face="Arial" size="4">We saw/experienced two fantastic sites today; the first is our B&B and the second is the heart of Colonia. So to minimize the text I thought I would make a separate group of pictures and comments for each one.</font><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Our B&B was like no other B&B we have ever experienced. Just try to imagine that you're in a giant 3D collage that's a homage to the art and adventure of the mid-20th century. Even our room was arranged like a collage.</font></div><div><table id="id_a87b_f514_8f85_bfe2" style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse:collapse;margin:7px;"><tbody><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_f4b_d38d_3018_e700" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TGrvnHLrsto/WHwHAFeNl0I/AAAAAAAAaFo/cqs05fZ25xg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 467px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> Here's the entrance and our host Eduardo </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"><br></td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_b952_4a67_842f_c3c0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-odtGAVnvcqw/WHwHAowURnI/AAAAAAAAaFs/R8I0dYc4PBE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 481px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"><img id="id_1dca_d29c_2b3_91f7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tv7i1MuNY1w/WHwHCw_AFwI/AAAAAAAAaF8/4uXws-68t94/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 465px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> Working on this yesterday's blog entry this morning</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"><br> The courtyard outside our room, the porthole goes to our shower</td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_78a_4c9d_a5b8_d23e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iajNaj7IbhM/WHwHBk6wK1I/AAAAAAAAaFw/NN0W6PRy9r4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 469px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_bfda_4eb8_27aa_f479" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C2fAHvOgWF4/WHwHCr4bnuI/AAAAAAAAaF4/KaPCAX4P7CU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 515px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> Our door is yellow & it says "follow the yellow brick road" above it</td></tr></tbody></table><font face="Arial" size="4">The pictures above only scratch the surface of the artwork and artistic arrangement here at La Posadita</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="6">Street Scenes from Colonia del Sacramento</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="4">Originally this was the site of a Portugese fort and the ruins of a convent. The fort and the ruins of the convent date back to the late 17th century. Most of the buildings in this area of town date back to the 1800's. </font></div><div><table id="id_46ae_1014_43b5_982e" style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse:collapse;margin:7px;"><tbody><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_51c8_8cb1_d9b0_4ff7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yVRl8hOjVTo/WHwHCbV7CqI/AAAAAAAAaF0/UzCl3v-fHn0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 495px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_dfb8_c4dd_5950_fc3f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hDCxHS1kaeQ/WHwHDcQDbpI/AAAAAAAAaGA/RLb3XSNMIlQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 485px; height: auto;"><br><br>Left is old lighthouse and ruins of the convent. Above you'll an example of handicraft being sold on the Square<br> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"><img id="id_e8e5_3d2f_5368_31fa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xGKVBrCGGT4/WHwHEuCGB2I/AAAAAAAAaGM/a-3Pw0Ct4_o/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 501px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_7671_c88c_feed_5251" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8P8bbUF1F3c/WHwHFj8LsvI/AAAAAAAAaGU/W8X3KMVmKZE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 494px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> Here's Patrice buying a souvenir pendant from a local artist</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> Just watching the Catamaran ferry rev up its engines to hydroplane</td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_cae0_234d_61ae_a5ac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5qBmIkKmrNI/WHwHEjWAPvI/AAAAAAAAaGI/tD1oMx9TwkA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 488px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"><img id="id_f8f2_c6f8_e306_d99d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9SQm8x8fUzU/WHwHG6EZkWI/AAAAAAAAaGg/NqxIgi5W7qk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 486px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> "Here the beer is colder than the heart of your EX"</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> They have the odd antique car parked just for atmosphere</td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_15e_8e56_3af0_955e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fffGXxXAT-M/WHwHFtKpwNI/AAAAAAAAaGQ/dCxKMszpuJI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 491px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_fad7_9f86_1caa_4e88" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6GPJvWIa280/WHwHGXA72pI/AAAAAAAAaGY/sHjU2cxZytM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 488px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> This was our lunch stop</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> Here they are making our crepes</td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_a5d_141d_5061_421e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6solaBLY3N0/WHwHGql78jI/AAAAAAAAaGc/0uSMw8zFNXI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 488px; height: auto;"> <br><br><br>Sailing is nice here because of the steady off shore breeze. Note the jib is still furled.. Maybe too much breeze. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You can get a nice view of the water from most streets. To the right you can see a picture of their dock.</span></td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_930f_def3_9a42_c49" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c9IR37qaH3M/WHwHH8HUmBI/AAAAAAAAaGs/lPqEVn54nFo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 490px; height: auto;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_e27d_1065_99d3_94eb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cxPhuAbXe30/WHwHINYxlkI/AAAAAAAAaGw/UpLwXqzZHrE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 489px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"><img id="id_e3bf_4bb4_ddba_41a1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iMerrENxWcM/WHwHG4AJQ7I/AAAAAAAAaGk/Zv-Qiu2unh8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 495px; height: auto;"> <br></td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> Here's an old hotel we dreamt about buying and fixing up, then woke up</td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> A tiled antique map of the Platt river coast from Colonia to Montevideo </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_7fb7_904b_b779_eea9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--0bGjG6JroU/WHwHIvs9zQI/AAAAAAAAaG0/MY3iRsIEorI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 490px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_bb28_6df4_f7a_622e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rz_68ByUN3M/WHwHHuDOpNI/AAAAAAAAaGo/MZJJ0osmYkQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 488px; height: auto;"><br><br>To the left and above, street performers show off their skills for the tourists. <br>We look up and the sky is turning an ominous shade of gray. So we make our way back to the B&B just as the sky opens up.<br><br>We holded up in our room until the rain let up then walked to a Tea House..<br> </td></tr><tr><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> <img id="id_b802_c2ba_8a2b_8a00" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E7jzahQ5TBo/WHwHImX4GjI/AAAAAAAAaG4/3JHqxEdzcqc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 496px; height: auto;"> </td><td style="min-width:90; border: 1px solid black"> After those crepes, this and some tea sandwiches are enough for dinner.</td></tr></tbody></table><font face="Arial" size="4"><br></font></div>TDawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10164152411892632285noreply@blogger.com0