SUN AND MOON ISLAND

WE VISITED THE SUN AND MOON ISLANDS ON LAKE TITCACA, THE HIGHEST NAVIGABLE LAKE IN THE WORLD! IT FELT MORE LIKE THE MEDITERANEAN AS THE SUN WAS SHINING AND THE LAKE WAS SO VAST IT FELT LIKE A SEA! WE TRAVELLED BY HYDOFOIL MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF THE CHILDREN (DAVID INCLUDED).









WE ARRIVED ON SUN ISLAND WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ANY MOTOR VEHICLES AND CLIMBED THE TRAIL TO THE HOTEL ON FOOT; EXCEPT FOR WILLIAM, JAMES AND ALICE WHO CAUGHT A RIDE ON THE LOCAL MULE!













OUR HAND LUGGAGE WAS TRANSPORTED ON A LLAMA!

THE VIEW ACROSS THE SEA...OOPS, LAKE! 

UROS ISLANDS ON LAKE TITICACA

TO ESCAPE SLAVERY, THE UROS PEOPLES TOOK TO THE WATERS OF LAKE TITCACA. THEY BUILD ISLANDS OF REEDS AND USED THE SAME MATERIAL TO MEET ALMOST ALL THEIR NEEDS, INCLUDING HOUSES, AND BOATS. THEY EVEN EAT THE TENDER WHITE STALKS OF THE REEDS.










OUR WELCOME PARTY! tHE UROS LEAD VERY SIMPLE AND HARD LIVES. THEY ARE TIMID BUT SO WARM AND WELCOMING. THE CHILDREN ARE A DELIGHT AND QUITE THRILLED TO HAVE VISITORS WHO ARE CHILDREN LIKE THEMSELVES.
ALWAYS READY FOR A DANCE AND A PARTY........OUR KIND OF PEOPLE!!!
OUR CHARIOT AWAITS. WE ALL REALLY ENJOYED CRUISING BY REED BOAT!!

URABAMABA AND THE SACRED VALLEY

WE RETURNED TO THE SACRED VALLEY NORTH OF CUSCO FOR SOME REST AND RECUPERATION AFTER THE JUNGLE. UNFORTUATELY DAVID, ALICE AND I WERE TOO UNWELL TO ENJOY THE FABULOUS CUISINE, TENNIS AND SPA FACILITIES AT THIS LOVELY HOTEL!
JUST THE VEIW HELPED US ON OUR ROAD TO RECOVERY!














ALICE MODELING THE LATEST IN URUBAMBAN HEADGEAR IN THE GARDENS OF THE SOL Y LUNA HOTEL















THE TENNIS COURT WE DIDN'T GET TO USE!!!

THE JUNGLE EXPERIENCE part 3

VIEW HIGH ABOVE THE CANOPY TOWARDS THE TAMBOPATA RIVER
RORY, WILLIAM AND JAMES DISPLAYING RAINFOREST FACE PAINT!

WILL FACINATED BY THE FIRE ANT TREE. MILLIONS OF ANTS SCRAMBLING UP AND DOWN THE TRUNK.

THE JUNGLE EXPERIENCE part 2

STANDING IN THE SHADOW OF AN ANCIENT CAPOCK TREE.
OUR LUXURIOUS 3 WALLED HOTEL ROOM, OPTIMISTICALLY MARKETED AS ALLOWING YOU TO BE CLOSE TO NATURE! DIDN'T COUNT ON HAVING OPOSSUMS (AKA RATS!) SCURRYING ABOUT THE ROOM AT NIGHT AND SCAMPERING IN THE BEDS WHILE WE SLEPT!!
HAMMOCKS PROVIDED HOURS OF FUN FOR THE CHILDREN
RAINFOREST SCHOOL. WE ALL LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL ENVIRONMENT. WE SAW PARROTS, MACAWS, MONKEYS, AND SO MANY EXOTIC PLANTS AND TREES.

THE JUNGLE EXPERIENCE! part 1

ALL ABOARD!! BOARDING THE CANOE LAUNCH HEADING TO OUR LODGE IN THE JUNGLE 45 MINUTES UP THE TAMBOPATA RIVER, A TRIBUTARY OF THE AMAZON









CATCH OF THE DAY! YELLOW BELLIED PIRANHA CAUGHT AT OXBOW LAKE. THE BOYS HAD FUN WITH THIS ONE!! INCREDIBLY SHARP TEETH!
RORY AND WILLIAM FISHING FOR PIRANHA.













ON TOP OF THE WORLD....OR A 120 FOOT TOWER. CLIMBED TO THE TOP TO GET A VIEW OF THE CANOPY OF THE RAINFOREST.

MACHU PICHU part 3

RORY AT THE VERY TOP OF WYNAPICCHU. HE CARRIED THE FAMILY WATER SUPPLIES TO THE TOP!! JUST LOOK AT HOW HIGH WE ARE FROM MACHU PICCHU BELOW. IT WAS QUITE A FEAT TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP, EVERYONE INCLUDING JAMES MADE IT. ONLY 400 PEOPLE A DAY ARE ALLOWED TO ATTEMPT THE CLIMB. UNTIL RECENTLY, THERE WAS A 'SKULL AND CROSS-BONES' SIGN AT THE ENTRY GATES! HARDLY SURPRISING AS THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP YOU TUMBLING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO THE VALLEY FLOOR BELOW IF YOU LOSE YOUR FOOTING. WE DID ASK THE GUIDE IF IT WS SUITABLE FOR THE FAMILY TO ATTEMPT BEFOREHAND!! HAD WE KNOW JUST WHAT IT WAS LIKE WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE ATTEMPTED IT!

RORY HAVING A REST WITH A VEIW!













RORY LEADING THE WAY ON THE DECENT...BRAVE LAD! THE INCA STEPS ARE AS STEEP AS THEY ARE UNEVEN.
THIS GUIDE WAS ONLY 2 OR 3 STEPS IN FRONT OF DAVID WHEN HE TOOK THIS PICTURE...JUST TO GIVE AN IMPRESSION OF THE VERTICAL DROP.!

MACHU PICCHU part 2

THE INCA USED TO PLACE OFFERINGS TO THE GODS IN THESE NICHES IN THE WALL.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD LEAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING OURSELVES!

MUCH OF THE SITE IS STILL A MYSTERY AND EVEN EXPERTS ONLY MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES AT HE REASONS WHY MACHU PICCHU WAS ABANDONED.


JAMES TAMING A WILD STONE CROCODILE!





A GIANT STONE MONOLITH CARVED TO RESEMBLE THE OUTLINE OF THE MOUNTAIN BEHIND IT.










ALICE HAVING A MUCH NEED BREAK AFTER SPRINTING UP TO THE TOP OF WYNAMANPICCHU!

MACHU PICCHU part 1

We finally arrive at Machu Picchu. As we pass through the entry gates the ruins in all there glory unfold before us. They do not disappoint! This Inca settlement perches on the cliffs high ablove the valley floor. The mighty Riobamba river looks like a mere stream from this height. It is difficult to imagine a more challenging site to build a settlement. We took the easy route; train and coach to the gates. Perhaps another time we will trek the 4 days it takes to walk the INCA TRAIL and arrive via the sun gate!
James was outstanding at keeping up with the rest of us! Here he is having a little rest (or rather mum is having a breather!)
One of the many wonderful vistas that welcomes the traveller to Machu Picchu. Every turn of a corner or arrival at a summit is rewarded by fabulous views. It is difficult to capture this place on film, that is reserved for one's memories!
At this point we were just contemplating the climb to the top of Wynamanpicchu, the mountain in the background!

CUSCO AND SASAYWAMAN, PERU

We left the Colca Canyon and headed to Puno on Lake Titicaca to catch a 10 hour train journey to Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The winged backed chairs, lounge car with leather sofas, observation car, mahogany and marble wc's, white linen and silver service dining car made the journey just about bearable! British Rail could learn a thing or two! The train sets out and travels through the market of Juliaca...Literally. The traders display their wares adjacent to the track and occasionally between the rails! The train then proceeds through the plains and into the mountains, finally arriving at Cusco.


















The historic centre of Cusco is charming despite all the trappings of a tourist destination.

















We drove to Sasaywaman, an important Inca site just outside the town. Huge stones were quarried then shaped using primitive tools and rubbed with sand so they fit together perfectly without mortar, some weighting as much as 130 tons. As the Inca didn't use the wheel, these rocks were moved using only logs and man power to transport them 28 km from the quarry! Some of the stones used in the construction had as many as 32 angles.




















The children particularily enjoyed the natural rock rock formations at this Sasaywaman, which made fantastic slides! Many an Inca bottom slide down these rocks and even our guide Danny spent many hours (and many trouser bottoms!) smoothing the way for Alice, Will and James