The Galapagos Islands

Fly from Quito to Baltra Airport and small barren island, initially built by the US Army in WW II (to protect shipping in the event The Panama Canal was attacked), and ferry to south Santa Cruz Island to board Tip Top III and begin tour of Charles Darwin Station and Science Center in Puerto Ayala (actually turtle sanctuary, home of "120 + year old George," the last of his particular species, and built upon Darwin's studies and arrival in the Galapgos in 1835 aborrd HMS Beagle). The last part covers the hiking tour of South Plaza (and North Plaza island) which shows the native brush and co-habitation and existence of sea lions, lizards and land iguanas). The following are all digital still pictures with videos to follow later.

Music by Tuntur Taky:



Santa Fe Island (no snokeling, but a "no paddling" kayak adventure-
see later video), to Floreana Island and the wooden barrel of
Post Office Bay put in the 18th Century by Whalers, hike to Witmer farm
house and pirates' caves, ending with home hosted lunch (ends with
a picture of a Valencia orange tree).

Music by Tuntur Taky, Condor Pasa:



Continuation of shots from home hosted lunch and last two nights
on Santa Cruz Island in resort with pool and beautiful grounds, followed
by coffee plantation, farm (and my favorite) still for making
sugar cane, 110 proof alcohol, more pictures of Puerto Ayala Bay and
Charles Darwin Station, lunch at restaurant, its grounds and interior,
Bella Vista lava tube, airport to board jet back to Quito for two days
including shopping (again my favorite) for Espiritu de Ecuador and
Lovisone licor de chocolate, inside bar watching Ecuador vs. Brazil
Soccer Game (ended in a tie although Ecuador had the most attempts
at scoring but couldn't match the Brazilian team' great defensive plays)
and ending with pictures of underwater shots of Floreana's Devils Crown
(extinct volcano) site of a wonderful, swim with the sea lions snorkeling
outing and a greater flamingo, a great male frigatebird,
blue footed booby and Galapagos hawk:

Cusco, Peru and on to Quito, Ecuador and The Equator

For the first 4 1/2 minutes of the picture video. the scenes are in Cusco, Peru visiting the jewelery store, local school where most of the children speak Que Chua, Incan native language and Pisac ruins, then Sacred Valley of the Incas (Valle Segrado) and lunch and views of the Urubamba River where we leave our tour director Juan de Dios (pictured with his family) and then fly to Quito where we meet our new tour guide, Roberto, go on a city tour of colonial Quito, visit the Inti Nan Museum and Middle of the World Tour at the Equator.

Video Pictures- music by Kuntur Taky, Flor Indio and Llorando Llorando:


This bird at the Middle of the World site (Equator) began what
was to become very observable in The Galapagos Islands-
most of the animals seemed as if they were posing for the
photograghers - just like the poses of our tour group pictures.

Video Pictures- music by Kuntur Taky, Urphila:

Pisac Ruins

Perched high on a cliff is the largest Inca fortress rivaling that of Machu Picchu and overlooking a long valley of green and luscious fields:

Courtesy of Jane

The following pictures were taken by Jane as we toured from Lima to Cusco. This is Part 1 and each picture had text attached, but for some reason the descriptions do not appear. So it's back to the drawing board for me to figure out- in the mean time you can still enjoy a small portion of Jane's pictures:




The series of pictures taken below by Jane were all in Equador,
beginning with the school visit and ending with the jet flight from
The Galapagos airport to Quito for the flight back to Miami. Music
is from Jakaru, Lejania and Huamahuacaqueno:

Majestic Machu Picchu

Video of the hotel and room in Aqua Calientes, the small village at the base of Machu Picchu:



Video of Machu Picchu and history by Juan:




This is part 2 of the digital pictures taken by Jane. No descriptions are needed as in Part 1 since all were taken at Machu Picchu on a very clear and sunny (just a touch of rain) day at the hidden Inca royal palace known as Machu Picchu. The last picture is of the band from which this sound track was taken:


Machu Picchu in a different light:


Leaving Machu Picchu by overeating (at Toto's):


Aqua Calientes Market Place at Train Station in Machu Picchu town:


Train ride (and entertainment) back to Cusco:

From Cusco to Machu Picchu

From Cusco to Machu Picchu - music by Jakaru, Yuyarino:


Machu Picchu - music by Jakaru, Phalawatus:


Machu Picchu and village - music by Kuntur Taky, Dime Tu

School visit

Visit to school during bus trip through Urubama Gorge, near Cusco and on the way to the train station to Machu Picchu. Not shown nor recorded-probably fortunately, is our group's singing Row, Row, Row your boat, a big hit with the kids):

Land of the Incas

Bus Tour and visit to Market - video:

Sacsayhuaman

On a hill overlooking Cusco, Peru, lies the huge stone monument otherwise called Sexy Woman, built by the Inca emperor Pachacutec in the 15th Century:

Chorrillos

Trip to fishing village just south of Barranco:

Dinner and Show at Villa El Salvador

The Villa El Salvador dinner and show were located in the multi-level, American Style shopping center called LagoMar within walking distance of the Jose Antonio Hotel in Lima:

Video of LIMA Beach and Surfing

Rocky beach, but with sounds and an attitude:

Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Peruvian Presidential Palace

Videos:

Lima Peru City Tour

A toast to the beginning of an awesome trip....the one and only Whisky Sour (it took our tour members 1-2 days to figure out that what we heard Juan saying, Whiskey Sour, was really a Peruvian Pisco Sour). Called any name, it tasted great:

Pictures and Music video- music by Jakaru, Lejania
Sites, sounds, life and foods around Lima, Peru:

Jane and Rufus in Love Park:



Begin City Tour of Mira Flores and Lima with Dante (click on white
arrow in middle a couple of times then click on arrow in lower left
cornier to start video:


Video of the Lima Archaeological Museum and cultural history:


Museum grounds pictures and wildlife: