Hotel Inkaterra, Aqua Calinetes, Bear preserve

The hotel had a Bear Rehab & Reintroduction to the wild program. Here are Yogi, Pepe and Coco, the Andian Bear.

Peruvian Delicacy

Strangest Train Ride

Leaving Machu Pichua to Ollytambo, the train stewards put on a fashion show. We were a captive audience. Janet seen here modeling.

Memorable moments on trail to Machu Pichua

Hiking the Inca Trail

We've been so tired, we're falling behind on our blog. The hike on the Inca trail was more difficult than most of us expected. It was 8 miles and expected to be 6 hours, but took our group 8. It was extremely warm, with an evaluation climb on so many rock steps, plus the altitude makes the climb more exerting. The Inca's were no more than 5 feet tall So it was difficult to understand why the rock step ups were so large.

A picnic lunch to remember.

VBT hosted an amazing catered picnic lunch in a meadow for us after a hike to visit the Inca Ruins.  Check out our beautiful tent and  fancy toilets.  We visited with the Medicine man, Shaman, who drummed some tunes and packaged up some items of nature to return to Mother Earth.  We all took  a turn placing an item in the package and held it to make a wish.  We leave tomorrow (Mother's Day, wake up call at 4:30 AM) for an 8 mile hike on the Inca trail into Machu Pichu.

In Cusco, joining up with VBT, hiking tour

We flew to Cusco two days ago to join up with Cousins Howard & Janet (from Long Island) as well as our VBT Hiking Group. This is a charming town, with crazy traffic as well. You take your life into your hands just crossing the street. The altitude is 11,000 feet, so we all feel it sometimes just climbing the stairs. Adrienne is only with us for two nights and took the train with a small group to Machu Pichu (she loved it and has since began her journey home on Saturday. We are touring Cusco city, the Inca ruins and hiking around the hillside.

Creatures found on our Rainforest walk

Due to excessive snowmelt andd rain, the Amazon is flooded, some 30 miles wider than noraml. Many river side villges flooded. Our shore visits were limited as a result. We all wore rubber boots when on land searching for animals, frog shown is poisonous.

Visit to Amazon River Village

The Chief painted Paprika on our faces for luck. We practiced shooting darts at the target, as if we were hunting, just minus the poisonous darts.

Visit to Manatee Rescue Reserve

In Inquitos, on the Amazon, a privately funded Rescue. The Manatee of the Amazon is an endangered species. It's only predator is man. Once hunted due to it's size for food and the fat used for fuel, it is now illegal. However, resorts and residents of the Amazon capture the young as pets. Through education, the Amazon residents turn in their neighbors. The Rescue nourishes the babies, which need milk for 2 years and have returned 8 Manatees to the Amazon in the past 4 years.

Who jumped the highest?

a.  Roz, after the tree bats she was watching decided to take flight b.  Glenn, after the Naturalist accidently dropped the flopping Piranha in the Skiff c.  Adrienne worried that the baby Caimen (alligator) might wiggle out of her hands. d. Adrienne worried that the Naturalist might lose his grip on the Anaconda. Answer:  a & b

         

Who would you put in your life boat?

Once pondering this question, we now have the answer:  your spouse, your child, the driver and guide, the paramedic and the bartender!!!! An amazing moment, listening to the night time  Rainforest symphony, floating on the Amazon, having a cocktail.

Iquitos, Peru, Amazon River

This is an improvished  town.  Many buildings and housing look like shanty towns (we've seen alot of these towns already in  Southern Peru).   This part of Peru is in the process of get  an underground sewer system, so construction is visible.  The major transportation is motor bike, most like a 3 wheel Surrey type for a family.  We were picked up by our cruise line (20 guests) and transported to our boat.  Glenn wondered why this motor bike kept following our van, making our every turn, only to find out it was our armed security.   He is on the boat as well.  We are on the Aqua, an amazing boat.  It looks like a floating  3 story eco lodge.  Our cabin is large and beautiful with a 15 foot picture window,  fantastic.  There is some renowned chef on board, so all our dinners are tasting menus (small plates) and delicious.  We take 3 excursions daily, the first starting at 6:30 in the morning.  We get a 6:00 wake up call from our Naturalist.  

Tourist stop in Ariquipa

We had to follow that Starbucks cup when we saw it pass. Such tourists!