tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90585611567212950052024-03-05T22:47:27.016-08:00Lost in the AmericasA travel blog by Justin and Melanie as they wander through North, Central and South America in their trusty Westfalia. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-29467203703848352522015-11-09T03:03:00.000-08:002015-11-03T03:04:30.374-08:00Viva La France!After spending the summer in the UK we were ready for a change of scenery and some different food. English food choices seemed to focus on pub fare, Indian Curry and Pizza and after 6 months it was time for <i>cuisine</i>. Departing from Dover, we saw the famed white cliffs.<br />
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We crossed via the ferry into<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like a tough place to live.</td></tr>
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Calais, France. Calais is the last jumping off point for immigrants desperately trying to get to England. Travelers have set up a camp just outside the port called "The Jungle" which sadly seems to becoming permanent with entrepreneurs opening 24 hour restaurants, cell phone charging stations and money changers. <br />
People warned us to use a different route but as we were traveling in the "wrong" direction, we weren't worried.We caught a glimpse from the highway.<br />
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Dieppe, a French seaside town was out first stop. France is very hospitable to motor home travelers offering low cost parking with handy amenities. Dieppe featured seaside camping for motor homes and we were looking forward to an evening on the French coast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently everyone else likes the French coast as well...</td></tr>
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Dieppe made up for the scenery with an amazing outdoor food and flower market. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So glad we came to France!</td></tr>
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We stumbled upon this private chateau that was also a rehabilitation zoo. Beautiful grounds and a great collection of free range creatures including these adorable monkeys.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great 'stache!</td></tr>
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PARIS! Melanie was excited for her first visit to the city. It was worth the death defying traffic to get a photo that everyone else who visits Paris also takes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic...</td></tr>
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The first afternoon, Justin was pointing out landmarks as </div>
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Justin "Look at that.." </div>
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Melanie, seeing the only French word she understands Boulangerie, exclaims "Oooh a bakery!" </div>
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Moment of pained silence then "No, in the background...the <i>Eiffel tower</i>."</div>
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Melanie still thinking about the bakery"nice..." </div>
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We attempted to visit the Louvre. Luckily it was off season so the wait to enter was only 2.5 hours...So we contented ourselves with some classic photos<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a fun photo. 2,000 Asian photographers cannot be wrong...</td></tr>
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The only line longer than the Louvre was outside Louis Vuitton....People know they can buy online right??</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris features some beautiful views.<br />
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Having enough of city living for a while, we toured the Loire Valley and a few vineyards.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the cows look elegant.</td></tr>
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A very nice vineyard using the 500 year old limestone caves for wine storage and cooling.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from inside the cavern</td></tr>
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While we didn't have great weather, the views along the river and the small towns were beautiful.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8aZqsGW5YrIVrPTbejusooXGzBVrLzM4SoGlsJxWVO6rPtEh51tkV1WURWnNyEN_8PSK7z748JM2v1DJo58vWHYbPOnhPYAx2pq58jzhsT1tLi7daIeh348u6jJyMVe2K3aoTnfvHpRh/s1600/15+town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8aZqsGW5YrIVrPTbejusooXGzBVrLzM4SoGlsJxWVO6rPtEh51tkV1WURWnNyEN_8PSK7z748JM2v1DJo58vWHYbPOnhPYAx2pq58jzhsT1tLi7daIeh348u6jJyMVe2K3aoTnfvHpRh/s640/15+town.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small city along the Loire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vineyard after harvest with the leaves turning for Fall.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk51GnqHnD0O24vYMMslnmeZ6DiS2z5lvROgTSCACJgfkMbeZ9WuO7O34377eSt7i_bQpq7IeaNbT5OmBOF1zznn6Em4OwwR5bDCd4Xoi39bBT4KAhB-hKJniV6oAHxjjQKyMxGOrESeQf/s1600/16+vally+villages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk51GnqHnD0O24vYMMslnmeZ6DiS2z5lvROgTSCACJgfkMbeZ9WuO7O34377eSt7i_bQpq7IeaNbT5OmBOF1zznn6Em4OwwR5bDCd4Xoi39bBT4KAhB-hKJniV6oAHxjjQKyMxGOrESeQf/s640/16+vally+villages.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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One vintner gave us directions to an excellent fromagerie (cheese maker) a few kilometers away. We tasted several types of aged goat cheese and bought them all. Thanks for the cheese ladies!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even French goats wear scarves.</td></tr>
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Turning to Lake Geneva, we visited Evian, the town with the famed spring.<br />
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Yep, it really tastes better here....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfNk4m5p0o_r_C256fEX9HN9woTHV5S3izLuksZ1GXAearAJuafSBek_shKdkvuOZOUoIK-q71SnUUTQjWjm3XAQkr6rRMQ-7OsDxKviRoubHzpF80-ELddeItwr_L0DjkWQV1dHSkY0q/s1600/P1230508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfNk4m5p0o_r_C256fEX9HN9woTHV5S3izLuksZ1GXAearAJuafSBek_shKdkvuOZOUoIK-q71SnUUTQjWjm3XAQkr6rRMQ-7OsDxKviRoubHzpF80-ELddeItwr_L0DjkWQV1dHSkY0q/s320/P1230508.JPG" width="181" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone likes Evian spring water.....</td></tr>
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Annacy is an old Roman city along Lake Geneva. Water forms the backbone of the city and makes it a pleasant place to stroll around. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old part of town with canals made by the lake. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Lake Geneva from the waterfront park.</td></tr>
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As we mentioned, the weather wasn't cooperative so our view of the much anticipated French Alps was limited to the lower 500 feet. Feeling slightly thwarted, we consulted our Italy tour guide (thanks Angie!) and turned to the Italian Mediterranean for some sun and clear skies. Last view of France, Monte Carlo and the visiting cruise ships.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Au revoir France!</td></tr>
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Next update from the coast of Italy! </div>
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Justin and Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13639590437158478787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-62478826656288623602015-11-02T03:48:00.000-08:002015-11-02T03:48:09.460-08:00Life in the slow lane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the end of the summer we rented a canal boat, Beatrice. Even though we had zero canal boat experience, they gave us a 10 minute lesson and off we went!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2sREEFPDS__34aQq4j1F1TPcYK-Sl5ewuO2rMI9eHJMJ-TgJKZs1eemzQpQg9OTPP7LoW8S8a7F4wHYVm-WObOicVRzQlXDMMT_m4FgNUBadVS8NcI4pBPTLTBGat1b0SE8BX_2vpC5H/s1600/a+lesson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2sREEFPDS__34aQq4j1F1TPcYK-Sl5ewuO2rMI9eHJMJ-TgJKZs1eemzQpQg9OTPP7LoW8S8a7F4wHYVm-WObOicVRzQlXDMMT_m4FgNUBadVS8NcI4pBPTLTBGat1b0SE8BX_2vpC5H/s320/a+lesson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boat engineer saying something about an engine...<br />I'm sure Justin was paying attention</td></tr>
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Beatrice is a 47 foot boat- one of the smaller versions and is driven by an inboard diesel engine with tiller. Its kind of like driving a school bus, from the back... without brakes. <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlPElTNEeXJbxpa72lN-dwYTY0a-GjyafW2xqhRSha7WafAI3w63SrhxaUQEnSuplq52R76EjBFlUhd7svsHmXwx96sNE5dqEOnNVHBpufCIWrDVhClMohMiI0Ec3PtzgSMBd87s5eaLW/s1600/a+Justin+and+Beatrice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlPElTNEeXJbxpa72lN-dwYTY0a-GjyafW2xqhRSha7WafAI3w63SrhxaUQEnSuplq52R76EjBFlUhd7svsHmXwx96sNE5dqEOnNVHBpufCIWrDVhClMohMiI0Ec3PtzgSMBd87s5eaLW/s400/a+Justin+and+Beatrice.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin at the tiller</td></tr>
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The two week cruise took us through the Tardebigge Locks (30 locks over 2.2 miles) into the Avon River. This is the longest flight of locks in the UK and we undertook them on Day 1. Talk about Baptism by fire...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsshJ2q4RO_-PHffza-y6MfDd9D_r_dbkJyUtz8U2BqXWrNJG5_lSkw_2wInMF0bNdEabuiVnDfaKAJnsGHuG5v_R67COcGtIAkYfAD6YFlfsGGE1HrrPu542P5bTtB91gJjp96t9exvRS/s1600/A+view+of+a+lock-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsshJ2q4RO_-PHffza-y6MfDd9D_r_dbkJyUtz8U2BqXWrNJG5_lSkw_2wInMF0bNdEabuiVnDfaKAJnsGHuG5v_R67COcGtIAkYfAD6YFlfsGGE1HrrPu542P5bTtB91gJjp96t9exvRS/s400/A+view+of+a+lock-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Beatrice took a few lumps Day 1 as the<br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">locks are about 4 inches wider than the boat.</span><br />
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The Locks have to be cranked opened and pushed closed by, hand making for pretty physical day on the water. A few locks intersect with roads. Can you believe the let us stop traffic?!?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VR5TuRNjG1rlGKJPANzVeMw9RZkoA1x5UnKVjA9vWz-dsog2iJ4fnCTwjqiiZxUi4Hatc1ON8Ucb_GrHWna8EJ6v7KJ0qLfkHldM25ogbzMyAe7Bd3zRiKuF5vx5qLgif_koe5GljHHe/s1600/P1220411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VR5TuRNjG1rlGKJPANzVeMw9RZkoA1x5UnKVjA9vWz-dsog2iJ4fnCTwjqiiZxUi4Hatc1ON8Ucb_GrHWna8EJ6v7KJ0qLfkHldM25ogbzMyAe7Bd3zRiKuF5vx5qLgif_koe5GljHHe/s320/P1220411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pushing the gates open</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's considered good form to make sure a car isn't crossing <br />the bridge before hitting the up button.</td></tr>
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The canals gave a lovely view of the English countryside and some wildlife.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguaQbeXFAEdu_Vbron82CanQUPJB1uKxm-U0XRWWqOFCJ9x5n-fqMSwNxmvXdz1RBsEvqqQYs8_Mzx9SuNNEtSTrMwCqkeOiQAOv7ZinDcZin0RGTvuN6S23dTP5p5JGUSS5lctqFGByA/s1600/a+begger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguaQbeXFAEdu_Vbron82CanQUPJB1uKxm-U0XRWWqOFCJ9x5n-fqMSwNxmvXdz1RBsEvqqQYs8_Mzx9SuNNEtSTrMwCqkeOiQAOv7ZinDcZin0RGTvuN6S23dTP5p5JGUSS5lctqFGByA/s320/a+begger.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone with a dog will recognize this expression...<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We caught glimpses of many lovely country houses.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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We stopped for a few days at Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's home town. His house still stands as does the farm where his wife lived. Stratford has a beautiful waterfront.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bard's childhood home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZro6XxD6vsNC8la0ikop2r3YicvTc8qMlfpZuyZQNHUqVP1f_sCSOgv_0dVZm6ldIM-yROpe7C_Ou4YoGTXdyhyhgtFsP0kTJ-Z18nwAyKXIJenc1R_Y-bzBugPvPE-FMccJ38FnrEb4T/s1600/at+Shakespheres+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZro6XxD6vsNC8la0ikop2r3YicvTc8qMlfpZuyZQNHUqVP1f_sCSOgv_0dVZm6ldIM-yROpe7C_Ou4YoGTXdyhyhgtFsP0kTJ-Z18nwAyKXIJenc1R_Y-bzBugPvPE-FMccJ38FnrEb4T/s320/at+Shakespheres+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the back garden</td></tr>
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Anne Hathaway's farm is still a working farm with typical animals, organic fruits and herb gardens. <div>
The museum/farm is one of the better that we visited.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTsUzrB-JdHf9F_o94cr_h6pYIBoQwX9bN8GVTAqYjf8IE2dPSh28O3flAeWLDvORFonrj0Jcngu55hVRSEWsY5TdhjAxIBFfLB8w2TepqlJ-5VsrYCsmAEdAsI09yQU0xoSyAc7P6oe0/s1600/a+goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTsUzrB-JdHf9F_o94cr_h6pYIBoQwX9bN8GVTAqYjf8IE2dPSh28O3flAeWLDvORFonrj0Jcngu55hVRSEWsY5TdhjAxIBFfLB8w2TepqlJ-5VsrYCsmAEdAsI09yQU0xoSyAc7P6oe0/s320/a+goat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin makes nice with the goats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUsS4t9oHXYCtti6TBRwiTHVZkJOXLc2NZ08CeKku4_4luGodvDpKY8IQic6ytyy9zzfq__DlK3C8568Bn2UNwoZft6HcbHkExmESyHNq-jPQtruhvyD_qEug-NXzUOnam3GEGG3Fopcd/s1600/an+owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUsS4t9oHXYCtti6TBRwiTHVZkJOXLc2NZ08CeKku4_4luGodvDpKY8IQic6ytyy9zzfq__DlK3C8568Bn2UNwoZft6HcbHkExmESyHNq-jPQtruhvyD_qEug-NXzUOnam3GEGG3Fopcd/s320/an+owl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The owl demonstration gets a little close and his wings brushed Melanie's face. </td></tr>
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Guess who wants a donkey for Christmas??</div>
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<br />Back on the boat, we floated along the Edstone Aqueduct- almost 500 feet long that passes over grazing fields and modern roads. It feels little odd to be floating overland. Looking down over the tiller.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sheep never saw us coming...</td></tr>
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And the view from the road....</div>
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The locks on the Avon River fit 2 boats and we were happy to make friends with two Australians, Ian and Jock. They were also kind enough to explain the rules of Rugby to us during the Ozzy/Argentina match. True to form we rooted for Argentina so Australia won.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jock and Justin pilot along the Avon River.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crews enjoying a well earned brew. </td></tr>
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After a beautiful and relaxing two weeks. We turned south toward Canterbury and France.<br />
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Justin and Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13639590437158478787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-85314046578579077652015-08-31T07:08:00.002-07:002015-08-31T07:08:52.817-07:00The ABCs of England; Abbeys, Boats and Cottages<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We spent a week visiting York one of England's oldest cities, surrounded by a wall with Roman origins and medieval history.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CpEz1gF535QfRISPho8V-SJtHbE5TUwKIyoq5nsHAMNxzpI5-9g5B7yHaaLtgrARl44xSTDkE0R5VKFW1y6NQgmksAGBBwmrdQqpj58Yzoz13b_WtqJdCm6q_TwUFmXXByX4cLyTsBU/s1600/P1210826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CpEz1gF535QfRISPho8V-SJtHbE5TUwKIyoq5nsHAMNxzpI5-9g5B7yHaaLtgrARl44xSTDkE0R5VKFW1y6NQgmksAGBBwmrdQqpj58Yzoz13b_WtqJdCm6q_TwUFmXXByX4cLyTsBU/s320/P1210826.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of a ruined Abby and public park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjiC9Uar1I1NpVGMPsoXwdlf8p_1-K7LlmVkqAmQugbUg718QUDoQjX92FAVJnLFKeBx7ALD7k7GItj-w270CoAywnHcnIRV2sqj2p1tde4U-s7ulosUpd-SoJQYa1ChHwmfuEFDGl7Y/s1600/Michelson+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjiC9Uar1I1NpVGMPsoXwdlf8p_1-K7LlmVkqAmQugbUg718QUDoQjX92FAVJnLFKeBx7ALD7k7GItj-w270CoAywnHcnIRV2sqj2p1tde4U-s7ulosUpd-SoJQYa1ChHwmfuEFDGl7Y/s320/Michelson+gate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to York via the Micklegate Bar. The bar or gate, has <br />
welcomed kings and queens and occasionally displayed <br />
the heads of losers in battle. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The base of this tower dates to 300-700 AD. It's<br />
old enough that it was a ruin by 1,000 AD.</td></tr>
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York boasts many, many beautiful buildings, among them is the York Minster Cathedral. The Cathedral is undergoing a major renovation. One of the most interesting aspects of which, is the masonry apprentice program. We stood for a while and watched them recreate the old stone work.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">York Minster Cathedral seen from blocks away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason apprentice at work</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the replica stones.</td></tr>
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Searching for better weather and an ocean view, turned up the east coast to the little town of Whitby and the most picturesque Abby ruins we've seen to date. Due to Henry VIII's pressing need for a divorce, he broke with Rome and dissolved the Catholic Abbeys and churches. He distributed the assets among himself and loyal barons. The largest Abbeys were dismantled. They make lovely places to picnic but we found it sad that magnificent buildings and educational institutions were scrapped.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAgcdaqQUAbUdFkBr_69Xhdijb0f-HxWBsL4OXe3OcuEze58KPqeFKiZLKnaktolfKyuu3fTcN1E_Abv88eJzgcc2EUJTEmpM5UFJqhIrEeDIdx7UtrZipB_yKeAHE6mQsHBfOjtnb3Y/s1600/A+P1210958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAgcdaqQUAbUdFkBr_69Xhdijb0f-HxWBsL4OXe3OcuEze58KPqeFKiZLKnaktolfKyuu3fTcN1E_Abv88eJzgcc2EUJTEmpM5UFJqhIrEeDIdx7UtrZipB_yKeAHE6mQsHBfOjtnb3Y/s640/A+P1210958.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Abby, viewed from the sea cliff</td></tr>
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Beautiful stone work<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If the crypt fits...</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1F94dtscoRoSurIiU5kCKGiiFxx3LJX-iTE8LUwagAXadkEGaecBDNOjI1GNJiYBemjeLkdA4e-yWLzrNOcgISkL2yJvZtdr4WrIaMXxAwn8B1rEpLo6JS_EbRCj3Se7dkVlGE1ULD0/s1600/Abby+in+sunlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1F94dtscoRoSurIiU5kCKGiiFxx3LJX-iTE8LUwagAXadkEGaecBDNOjI1GNJiYBemjeLkdA4e-yWLzrNOcgISkL2yJvZtdr4WrIaMXxAwn8B1rEpLo6JS_EbRCj3Se7dkVlGE1ULD0/s640/Abby+in+sunlight.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">View of the Abby in sunlight from our camp site.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAgcdaqQUAbUdFkBr_69Xhdijb0f-HxWBsL4OXe3OcuEze58KPqeFKiZLKnaktolfKyuu3fTcN1E_Abv88eJzgcc2EUJTEmpM5UFJqhIrEeDIdx7UtrZipB_yKeAHE6mQsHBfOjtnb3Y/s1600/A+P1210958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a> Whitby is a charming small port village with a fishing fleet but they seem to catch more tourists and visitors.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQdK9hHXkoTg0pWETEkYtRFIw94y_rZQXOQMBuKR-mhm5kpPeq3M3eVHTvmU6qfsF_IB1OJMfNUoRK31zzAenX3cVSQfZ9NqTZNTkvF0ch3__kWaxBwBxvNwj_WEvydgeH3zvMRli5b0/s1600/P1210914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQdK9hHXkoTg0pWETEkYtRFIw94y_rZQXOQMBuKR-mhm5kpPeq3M3eVHTvmU6qfsF_IB1OJMfNUoRK31zzAenX3cVSQfZ9NqTZNTkvF0ch3__kWaxBwBxvNwj_WEvydgeH3zvMRli5b0/s320/P1210914.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some visitors are not so well behaved!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJNWIji2-sojI0Q9KegyFNQOBVr5I_lLICg2VDxXZUsL4zrM49Gx65jn_VHG8vMhzY6BR9PVCvFrQKNlegBsb7-wgB7BoZNQ58kB-t8maPlDkEpc-ozWVlI7JXk_otRA0SSfmwHKDzao/s1600/EP1220004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJNWIji2-sojI0Q9KegyFNQOBVr5I_lLICg2VDxXZUsL4zrM49Gx65jn_VHG8vMhzY6BR9PVCvFrQKNlegBsb7-wgB7BoZNQ58kB-t8maPlDkEpc-ozWVlI7JXk_otRA0SSfmwHKDzao/s400/EP1220004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The working water front and<br />
brick buildings reminds us of<br />
Portland. We watched fishing boats<br />
lower their antennas and nets to<br />
fit under the red bridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRoF9Qpg_n33yr6EwFqPi7-jW9koWnucERaYzo6Z5o62Hd0npFwKkDj4FpM2PyMuolmOUAeejyzE7EKyvPrfcQLMzTOEj6yWkSKlt-vrKbZwxRsgBio4E9qHUtkTNpRlfy4Hy2SWsfDU/s1600/B+P1220009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRoF9Qpg_n33yr6EwFqPi7-jW9koWnucERaYzo6Z5o62Hd0npFwKkDj4FpM2PyMuolmOUAeejyzE7EKyvPrfcQLMzTOEj6yWkSKlt-vrKbZwxRsgBio4E9qHUtkTNpRlfy4Hy2SWsfDU/s400/B+P1220009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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We took some of dog sitting charges to the great cottage, Wallington for a tour:</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Not a bad little country retreat owned by </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan, Socialist MP and self-described
‘illogical Englishman.’ He bequeathed the 13,000-acre estate</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">to the people in
accordance with his socialist principles. However, he made The People wait
until his family was done with the house. Upon the death of his last
descendant, it became a public park.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvg4T6Qo6k_cZKG0l1d9AuMP2uHzZYwwvtzJaypP4XOObPHCoSQGC86dg16yiynOekgCEVG5tPuC4A28JjjP2sQPIoN0ZV-2EQkAR7fojEvOtTFy1t0CeQu6oM6ybXHjQW8qGEDjXdR4/s1600/P1220130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvg4T6Qo6k_cZKG0l1d9AuMP2uHzZYwwvtzJaypP4XOObPHCoSQGC86dg16yiynOekgCEVG5tPuC4A28JjjP2sQPIoN0ZV-2EQkAR7fojEvOtTFy1t0CeQu6oM6ybXHjQW8qGEDjXdR4/s640/P1220130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The house has exceptional plaster work, furniture and painting. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfdVTn7Wu5CFhSKf2tzrihIXBZS8Vp5-I0niu-7Ws-mnqGWl5N4yCk6cmqaGhCk6Ww16BR6rs2SAAviqWijiio5uzyzuLhyphenhyphen0ERSl2oXiBiyJMy6Xc154qXfP_PCeNQcUZR8r8G0t8zps/s1600/P1220122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfdVTn7Wu5CFhSKf2tzrihIXBZS8Vp5-I0niu-7Ws-mnqGWl5N4yCk6cmqaGhCk6Ww16BR6rs2SAAviqWijiio5uzyzuLhyphenhyphen0ERSl2oXiBiyJMy6Xc154qXfP_PCeNQcUZR8r8G0t8zps/s400/P1220122.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The salon, all of the trim and picture frames are crafted plaster. </td></tr>
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The cottage is skirted by lovely and extensive gardens...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BtDEXcEtPYlU71q00iO8T1RTI6t9pIm0PZjfEY9U8JXqCZ4NSgpvRflkJ9JSsRewudwt8ow1h8cRYRugMHMlk9HfTuLcNwKz6DRjCMsTfQu5GgrepuuRQf6brKlo3_iCZ1VMqopTMso/s1600/P1220107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BtDEXcEtPYlU71q00iO8T1RTI6t9pIm0PZjfEY9U8JXqCZ4NSgpvRflkJ9JSsRewudwt8ow1h8cRYRugMHMlk9HfTuLcNwKz6DRjCMsTfQu5GgrepuuRQf6brKlo3_iCZ1VMqopTMso/s400/P1220107.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWapLsmTgDnBJ7IjT1buVbfwe4u-RSfrM99Zm38NdNQ3mzbES4wgoyUvTV35HT6af6gIzwtsnCFNgiq2RCyjvIGCbsaImCpKuyCfn8iD-6yfOnVbKg-R2VnzahSMYQHvDMfnxhHuzsIM/s1600/P1220120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWapLsmTgDnBJ7IjT1buVbfwe4u-RSfrM99Zm38NdNQ3mzbES4wgoyUvTV35HT6af6gIzwtsnCFNgiq2RCyjvIGCbsaImCpKuyCfn8iD-6yfOnVbKg-R2VnzahSMYQHvDMfnxhHuzsIM/s320/P1220120.JPG" width="180" /></a><br />
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We spent time visiting Oxford, below are scenes from town and the wonderful Oxford Botanical Garden.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9n7WuT34-Sq9KJbsVBDo1TgDvfZ9_sLMjyH-Va3VsgOzlKe5pNYV3a8QiWziWZ9cEe4sdSVfF5yt1W54re_eSDBqVIDjM0f08uVU0RHNdfa4fvsrF5IiU1JFZnBr65eq8hPSOcuUsbc/s1600/AP1220226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9n7WuT34-Sq9KJbsVBDo1TgDvfZ9_sLMjyH-Va3VsgOzlKe5pNYV3a8QiWziWZ9cEe4sdSVfF5yt1W54re_eSDBqVIDjM0f08uVU0RHNdfa4fvsrF5IiU1JFZnBr65eq8hPSOcuUsbc/s400/AP1220226.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radcliffe camera, part of the famous Bodleian Library and it's the best coffee shop view to date. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgM6aWBmmIqhmovCKxAwCY7A9kXD3oBgUCbNz7jDsNxziw3xd2yzyJMZOyk-Oimr0LbQtPapSsBDvv5_cEDOfMcNJNop7AjHdFyNOfoSLo7gDIBgz5vlC0pfYfxjei43FZqVdGNhaxJc/s1600/AP1220176_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgM6aWBmmIqhmovCKxAwCY7A9kXD3oBgUCbNz7jDsNxziw3xd2yzyJMZOyk-Oimr0LbQtPapSsBDvv5_cEDOfMcNJNop7AjHdFyNOfoSLo7gDIBgz5vlC0pfYfxjei43FZqVdGNhaxJc/s320/AP1220176_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gate to the Oxford Botanical Garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYcbVS8sff0HiMm4dbHIGfBcr4-PjZxVOGzMQrzbcxuP1L9PnsJfV_dwZ8gYDmL0nVqCqxj5qtKCwnBJGotmw4Kr7Dg_5p8v23FFwEqnRmRRztkhX29y0tbXjCQgsTATCYWVqCplLW7k/s1600/P1220181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYcbVS8sff0HiMm4dbHIGfBcr4-PjZxVOGzMQrzbcxuP1L9PnsJfV_dwZ8gYDmL0nVqCqxj5qtKCwnBJGotmw4Kr7Dg_5p8v23FFwEqnRmRRztkhX29y0tbXjCQgsTATCYWVqCplLW7k/s320/P1220181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we thought artichokes grew in jars of brine....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8Y5sWx93koGNR-TdyoUesPOz4JBPz48idkeUvxb8G2cjZsPD-jWJdq-RV9mr3YtdTkxdKwRZ19a6oZ1aWPTwT24JZgdG-U8EAvdjBkYUnlUtsoFC4YWZlrcyZ3eFANYxWQiGQdQ6AJ8/s1600/P1220205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8Y5sWx93koGNR-TdyoUesPOz4JBPz48idkeUvxb8G2cjZsPD-jWJdq-RV9mr3YtdTkxdKwRZ19a6oZ1aWPTwT24JZgdG-U8EAvdjBkYUnlUtsoFC4YWZlrcyZ3eFANYxWQiGQdQ6AJ8/s320/P1220205.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melanie has no idea what this is but admires the textures.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archway near Oxford square<br />
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We are headed to The Avon River for a two week canal boat cruise. </div>
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This is a typical canal boat...</div>
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<img alt="Image result for canal boat images" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4uuvLrKg3hEglFVoXG6sldH9bP-BvVJAmjZCfGgtWmdqO3dlXPw" /></div>
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If we don't sink, we will send a missive from the river!</div>
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Lost in the Americashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03550291447277794436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-37425326013672128652015-07-26T08:17:00.000-07:002015-07-26T08:17:14.813-07:00Visiting mainland Scotland and the Isle of Skye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For a small country, Scotland has alot to see. We spent time near the Trossachs National Forrest which includes a number of beautiful lochs (lakes). This is Loch Katrine, a classicly beautiful lake with a steam driven ferry boat. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP6oQAr2JDC5BWIRTyIsAsMkOJzoGDsGRo4nj015Ym-siZYNbZ4jikVs7fOTsmVV7a7RchzPQNQsvXn9azJXP1F2tEG3Nyv2p3-_xIiyhKGvrNiFrbjj5rudBbWBXCOqRCRhBYQPb_RQ/s1600/farmhouse+on+Katrine_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP6oQAr2JDC5BWIRTyIsAsMkOJzoGDsGRo4nj015Ym-siZYNbZ4jikVs7fOTsmVV7a7RchzPQNQsvXn9azJXP1F2tEG3Nyv2p3-_xIiyhKGvrNiFrbjj5rudBbWBXCOqRCRhBYQPb_RQ/s400/farmhouse+on+Katrine_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View down Loch Katrine from the Sir Walter Scott Ferry</td></tr>
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Being July, Melanie rocked her Scottish Bikini on board the ferry</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A blanket two-piece!</td></tr>
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This gentleman owned a small, private steam launch and showed </div>
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Justin how he fires and maintains the boiler. </div>
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We had a lovely housesit nearby for three cats and a super cute Dachsund, named Aggie. she really likes to cuddle but also enjoyed seeing a sheep herding demonstration and hiking in the woods. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12K33520LSXYtQuqpBWNhj4Npkd3toBEvCgMU4ok4ObSxGg1TofxpIe9j5nO5-fnbA6gt2nmz7sYx1HZmlYrGgLeTgEKicq4Lwtxhbw-OUKl1t6njRunieh7WZNFjfDeIt5dqWnbs3GM/s1600/Mel+and+Aggie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12K33520LSXYtQuqpBWNhj4Npkd3toBEvCgMU4ok4ObSxGg1TofxpIe9j5nO5-fnbA6gt2nmz7sYx1HZmlYrGgLeTgEKicq4Lwtxhbw-OUKl1t6njRunieh7WZNFjfDeIt5dqWnbs3GM/s320/Mel+and+Aggie.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The snuggly joy of a small dog....</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aYfIF9ygUbbqjylSSsB3bpNe0LYAFDBsvoKd5jrnqNbRTgjIDYF5PsGwfR-CwkJxQmdhPzi9Z9gV88kIF1t_Ft0zUO8n1eLA7cYAbpum_DmawwUZamCx9FlETf3D_Sa80ROfRbw4Zvo/s1600/Duck+herding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aYfIF9ygUbbqjylSSsB3bpNe0LYAFDBsvoKd5jrnqNbRTgjIDYF5PsGwfR-CwkJxQmdhPzi9Z9gV88kIF1t_Ft0zUO8n1eLA7cYAbpum_DmawwUZamCx9FlETf3D_Sa80ROfRbw4Zvo/s320/Duck+herding.jpg" width="320" /></a>During this sit we visited a wool museum and watched a great demonstration of how Border Collies herd livestock. In this case, The pen was too small to herd sheep, so the Collie directed a flock of ducks through an obstacle course.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO88WZJcFoxT1fK7k21Q21ha3tzxzFrR2Sbk-ZNFBfX6oVw7Lc0CahCVNSsx7rFr8pIufaUclmkY9tAtDclewpCR-cx19Q7Y_IpaoCO6cNVLjTWc9libLol83LXPuKWh2rZWxU3NAsHqc/s1600/Cutest+Ewe+ever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO88WZJcFoxT1fK7k21Q21ha3tzxzFrR2Sbk-ZNFBfX6oVw7Lc0CahCVNSsx7rFr8pIufaUclmkY9tAtDclewpCR-cx19Q7Y_IpaoCO6cNVLjTWc9libLol83LXPuKWh2rZWxU3NAsHqc/s320/Cutest+Ewe+ever.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've seen a billion sheep but this ewe may be the cutest!</td></tr>
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After a great week, we headed toward Edinburgh, passing the Eileen Donan Castle on the way. This maybe one of the prettiest location for a castle that we've seen to date. We happened to catch this in a clear morning,</div>
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Enroute we stopped to see two very compelling, and different attractions. Below are "The Kelpies" a 98 foot tall sculpture recently installed and officially opened about a month ago. They don't serve any practical function but startinglingly loom over the highway and Forth River. </div>
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The other sight was the Falkirk Wheel. It was built to lift canal boats, crossing Scotland's canal waterways up almost 100 feet to meet the higher lake. It works by perfectly balancing two containers of water and floating boats and rotating the lower boat up and the upper boat down. If there is only one boat the law of displacement ensures that the containers are still perfectly balanced. It's so well designed, it uses only $15 worth of electricity each day. The wheel is a beautiful melding of function and beauty.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat entering the wheel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheel at half turn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat exiting the top of the wheel and heading to the next lake.</td></tr>
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Edinburgh was a delight to visit. New Town, is a carefully designed Gerogian masterpiece with wide squares and long curving building facades, with gardens and green spaces at regular intervals. This gives this section of town a great outdoor experience, while housing a large population, </div>
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The city has a rich culture, with writers, artists and musicians as well as engineers and academics settling here. Justin, desperate for a haircut, nipped into a barbershop. Halfway through the cut, he learned that his stylist was none other than "Angie" who cuts author Alexander McCall-Smith's hair and is even mentioned in one of his <i>44 Scotland Street</i> novels. He was due to stop in any day, so we kept a close watch but did not see him. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsj4rSR-1A8gdefpKrcIuQUp3hyphenhyphenuxobwFlfodtlCUYbZo4X_ugzIGrrIhBeZXAefsRL9SZ2mPjQkRmrLSohfQeUrOjy06Rp4957ksk2BXLpeNugTqOBEhef-It34nGBVgxJ-o33JT600/s1600/P1210401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsj4rSR-1A8gdefpKrcIuQUp3hyphenhyphenuxobwFlfodtlCUYbZo4X_ugzIGrrIhBeZXAefsRL9SZ2mPjQkRmrLSohfQeUrOjy06Rp4957ksk2BXLpeNugTqOBEhef-It34nGBVgxJ-o33JT600/s320/P1210401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Angie and her not so famous customer</td></tr>
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Some of the sights: The Sir Walter Scott monument, </div>
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only 287 ever narrowing steps to the top...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aboard HMS Britania, the private yacht of Queen Elizabeth, <br />
retired from active duty</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flower Clock. A workng clock made of flowers that chimes on the hour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A statue comemorating one of Edinburgh's well known authors, featuring his famous charachter. </td></tr>
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After feeling like city-slickers we headed to the remote Isle of Skye. Some years ago, the isle was linked to the mainland by the constructtion of a bridge. Many locals claim that it's no longer an island and has lost all of its character. It may not still be an island, but it's still got lots of character and is a remote hiking wonderland.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview of lakes</td></tr>
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Visiting the Fairy Pools:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking upstream toward the pools</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the small waterfal and pools. Sadly, not warm enough to swin in...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVaUsg3WhNM7ziXgYIMLhyXU-tDmb5v6zdKK8rOot6LnzOZQiLYrbcBsJA8O_hGxwHsBVy9tMp_kBLNbBcZwc4lP2dGbaeXCehl83wWH7yXSkP8c_Zwsgzcf6lYpbv6hhKwm8a0a1-wo/s1600/P1210600_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVaUsg3WhNM7ziXgYIMLhyXU-tDmb5v6zdKK8rOot6LnzOZQiLYrbcBsJA8O_hGxwHsBVy9tMp_kBLNbBcZwc4lP2dGbaeXCehl83wWH7yXSkP8c_Zwsgzcf6lYpbv6hhKwm8a0a1-wo/s320/P1210600_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking to the rock enclosure where early Scots hid thier cattle from Viking invaders</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5GTU27pvSJXv1tKaVxxM9EDGITL-CnMGiD1HmOUrgSx0r-a2nXnPuqY4Sn08wyNo-5P8FXQyXqIvC_dPjriJbbksZBoWdoR_F8vw4IQH7mHJtlz2zuRyllE88h4GJ9rniLPC3dOb12Q/s1600/rock+formation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5GTU27pvSJXv1tKaVxxM9EDGITL-CnMGiD1HmOUrgSx0r-a2nXnPuqY4Sn08wyNo-5P8FXQyXqIvC_dPjriJbbksZBoWdoR_F8vw4IQH7mHJtlz2zuRyllE88h4GJ9rniLPC3dOb12Q/s400/rock+formation.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These loom 80 feet over the trail. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4FU_DjuVqLBq06VTXYIrCsbh1qvD3d7lc3Cptr56U9dEe9KNAy-nB3szLA2_w87VET5hLpEQt95oltEyV5x9RACxQJElNR9nSpNvzelGjjnsYU38kNL5pRTcufghLlwhCZaFcbk3MkY/s1600/waterfall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4FU_DjuVqLBq06VTXYIrCsbh1qvD3d7lc3Cptr56U9dEe9KNAy-nB3szLA2_w87VET5hLpEQt95oltEyV5x9RACxQJElNR9nSpNvzelGjjnsYU38kNL5pRTcufghLlwhCZaFcbk3MkY/s400/waterfall.JPG" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh water falling into the sea below </td></tr>
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Our next update will be from the wee country of Wales! </div>
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Lost in the Americashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03550291447277794436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-64055257270094640702015-07-22T04:04:00.002-07:002015-07-22T04:04:24.178-07:00Touring Southern England<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As you may remember, we spent May in Ireland and then June traveling around southern England.<br />
Here are a few shots from London, a beautiful and interesting city.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PQ-UMy4FKrDQn64BgiYpFr4vYpIaEY4FaWFcyBzsfycbWQcnkZ82gBoXtVlynvtFV-unh9xTBTh22ceV2AkBBxwyX3Ukdflz5FLr5PlgM20Z-S7AzsMWcw_jNP4PR_EC2k6iW5_lhTQ/s1600/a+bit+of+pomp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PQ-UMy4FKrDQn64BgiYpFr4vYpIaEY4FaWFcyBzsfycbWQcnkZ82gBoXtVlynvtFV-unh9xTBTh22ceV2AkBBxwyX3Ukdflz5FLr5PlgM20Z-S7AzsMWcw_jNP4PR_EC2k6iW5_lhTQ/s320/a+bit+of+pomp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practice sesion for the Queen's birthday celebration.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGutQX27ROWvTVRDd4b95b3ikqmq2QjTqmk_FEh0UjvzHAkXBcLXmyI_Ep3BH39fDS9ef9ZxPALEtkyNhz4TI6HoaXcsRx2wqLDrwGPTYKXPZSWmb7H_Txn3PLZz7Ts8ia_lrkm92-cs/s1600/a+booth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGutQX27ROWvTVRDd4b95b3ikqmq2QjTqmk_FEh0UjvzHAkXBcLXmyI_Ep3BH39fDS9ef9ZxPALEtkyNhz4TI6HoaXcsRx2wqLDrwGPTYKXPZSWmb7H_Txn3PLZz7Ts8ia_lrkm92-cs/s320/a+booth.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These booths actually have a dial tone!?!?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4GrQobuBVi7PUOYXOaK-XQIFJkIdMANortOBtKFIDMc-SSgDDv7qaeVOabfMe_C-w9Q5-A7Ze-Sd-TLsQWP4pww8vIu1BtF9-pkuRnuCIH0Ca-oeXNuG-RjBnrV-6k28vEKDDfZU8zg/s1600/a+part+of+parthenenon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4GrQobuBVi7PUOYXOaK-XQIFJkIdMANortOBtKFIDMc-SSgDDv7qaeVOabfMe_C-w9Q5-A7Ze-Sd-TLsQWP4pww8vIu1BtF9-pkuRnuCIH0Ca-oeXNuG-RjBnrV-6k28vEKDDfZU8zg/s320/a+part+of+parthenenon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Elgin Mables, once attached to the Parthenon's frieze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLAJLBwbR2oHeiwd8EtLiu44NbgouGqdKfhRL1DXUt0FYOhtOC_6mvXI9MYA5CTtNtgfR4cPw1jH__rw29nvJ2WH_K_xulZFey6ClX_OvrzH6ApoxfoN1qMrofuxsbiEOAi8pwKls_bA/s1600/a+tow+vehicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLAJLBwbR2oHeiwd8EtLiu44NbgouGqdKfhRL1DXUt0FYOhtOC_6mvXI9MYA5CTtNtgfR4cPw1jH__rw29nvJ2WH_K_xulZFey6ClX_OvrzH6ApoxfoN1qMrofuxsbiEOAi8pwKls_bA/s320/a+tow+vehicle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin selecting our perfect tow vehicle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh-zUqgd5qjemP7buHJ_po5UsR8bFEFJG72N378kBlEMkHmPIl6fXJzQYTgIbRXRomLI0Xqj-83jaj1IEVIwJnlttLCelEgZVnV-xK40Dq5-NrDq7N7JVZKuQ-8x5GFhkH3paShGTtE4/s1600/a+westminster+palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh-zUqgd5qjemP7buHJ_po5UsR8bFEFJG72N378kBlEMkHmPIl6fXJzQYTgIbRXRomLI0Xqj-83jaj1IEVIwJnlttLCelEgZVnV-xK40Dq5-NrDq7N7JVZKuQ-8x5GFhkH3paShGTtE4/s320/a+westminster+palace.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of Westminster Abby</td></tr>
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After a fun week in London, we traveled south to house sit in East Sussex. It's a picture perfect slice of English countryside with fields of sheep or horses, edged in hedgerows, narrow lanes and profusely blooming flowers. We took a house sit and enjoyed country life for a few weeks.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEnQObIQmxu9ygXyX5sQgo0P4_n-BGFuSaVBBQxoO3IG9s3AOhGuT2V0NoNRehoipNWYmdZ_VNpKVoHzFPUkdC__iWE7WH6m_FJV7XeotrnV4IZCzAbAq0c3bUda-hoALjEiwixZ_EJo/s1600/2015-06-12+10.29.11-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEnQObIQmxu9ygXyX5sQgo0P4_n-BGFuSaVBBQxoO3IG9s3AOhGuT2V0NoNRehoipNWYmdZ_VNpKVoHzFPUkdC__iWE7WH6m_FJV7XeotrnV4IZCzAbAq0c3bUda-hoALjEiwixZ_EJo/s320/2015-06-12+10.29.11-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entertaining two of our charges. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwBHkU_ZM9OFLDPSuE0aE_H_FJCacF7YyMdLKVSvez7o_SsWHNniTkNEEFsx_PVxfGoHtpVOmcNRsQU8XBNk7ZB6iQpOg0HkoxrAuq6EgPWjkvK8EqC-pVTRB9CrufkRjmoGvmsovn7k/s1600/2015-06-21+09.07.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwBHkU_ZM9OFLDPSuE0aE_H_FJCacF7YyMdLKVSvez7o_SsWHNniTkNEEFsx_PVxfGoHtpVOmcNRsQU8XBNk7ZB6iQpOg0HkoxrAuq6EgPWjkvK8EqC-pVTRB9CrufkRjmoGvmsovn7k/s320/2015-06-21+09.07.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every afternoon, the 5 ponies got a little treat. If said treat was late, <br /> they started shouting from the stalls. They are almost as good a time keeper as the dogs. </td></tr>
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Nearby, was the home of the<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>beautifully restored Blue Bell Railroad. The train and stations were in perfect condition, all managed by volunteers, mostly retired men who tidy, paint and repair old engines. Melanie was tempted to sign Justin up, it's a perfect match for him!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qgdEcwyr58H1lcq4otc-5O0danK-L1IhcHRzy44vd79nJ7JFBPxX-SMAlAYNZBLYlrS8HkDMNBoLTb7fSV5pK6FlIUsfBOPlBzJpkgsp9H1h2FO20T7nq11dMXsiZWtrRjNDyL7DBYA/s1600/Bluebell+Ride_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qgdEcwyr58H1lcq4otc-5O0danK-L1IhcHRzy44vd79nJ7JFBPxX-SMAlAYNZBLYlrS8HkDMNBoLTb7fSV5pK6FlIUsfBOPlBzJpkgsp9H1h2FO20T7nq11dMXsiZWtrRjNDyL7DBYA/s320/Bluebell+Ride_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the conductors invited Justin into the Engine for the rail line turn around. <br />The engineer's saftey lecture: "If its brass, it's hot. If it's red it's dangerous. <br />If it's black, it's dirty. Don't touch anything"<br /> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGoWz_2v5ST0oq6brvgLP0bHE78dwt0opAAhAFNtHNthtv0uEuJ4dgf8ZV5Mgl2gVnO97ZxO8keHOHnAUnj74KbFD3hW3Vs82CgxTaoNoPVecssbRceuZqd9OO_3qwDP1kgr9So8GthU/s1600/P1210028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGoWz_2v5ST0oq6brvgLP0bHE78dwt0opAAhAFNtHNthtv0uEuJ4dgf8ZV5Mgl2gVnO97ZxO8keHOHnAUnj74KbFD3hW3Vs82CgxTaoNoPVecssbRceuZqd9OO_3qwDP1kgr9So8GthU/s320/P1210028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stations are beautifully landscaped, nicer then when the stations saw daily use we suspect.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFW6bPBnjMO582h2jGi76BBnSUNETIlQ4a0zMMUq3e2DtpCOA7ISIzWaCeCMVXueHV-hsJebvdPTsYYQnpJ_H_ZQbo-BCWecUAtMqae5_HsIWy6BCKJgK7Vg9Rk8sdSLnIoRWo_5TAY4/s1600/P1210006-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFW6bPBnjMO582h2jGi76BBnSUNETIlQ4a0zMMUq3e2DtpCOA7ISIzWaCeCMVXueHV-hsJebvdPTsYYQnpJ_H_ZQbo-BCWecUAtMqae5_HsIWy6BCKJgK7Vg9Rk8sdSLnIoRWo_5TAY4/s320/P1210006-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The train heading around for the return trip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding in the restored car.</td></tr>
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Here is the "his" and "her" portion of the trip. The WW II flight museum. It tells the story of the courageous Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britian. If you are history buff, the Battle of Britain is a story of bravery, sheer courage and luck. Fantastic reading.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKf050mSiJHvDCDw8dhxoOW6uvVh1Za2sJiWxVvYffVASKpOfcyZ8UI4LKjaXxCCXL4ZaijdZSYKwWrmvDQi9ej1siTt7rrHmJ5EAAO17PeCYLOhN6NFDmEBhhgijWuLQKjO741NSOwTA/s1600/P1210129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKf050mSiJHvDCDw8dhxoOW6uvVh1Za2sJiWxVvYffVASKpOfcyZ8UI4LKjaXxCCXL4ZaijdZSYKwWrmvDQi9ej1siTt7rrHmJ5EAAO17PeCYLOhN6NFDmEBhhgijWuLQKjO741NSOwTA/s400/P1210129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An important plane, Justin can give you the details.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzgyMnz9cgNaGCGAqAMo8A2LsQDA48efoTlQjF5eqFK5FVXZtQhT8zXCX0hMzROH3BvFDEveBxT8akbNF2QU3BdYcOCWmvJ79Ys-1vk47AGklVy9VeEB4XbTFpM-_YOqVpR8JPVg5jEM/s1600/P1210128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzgyMnz9cgNaGCGAqAMo8A2LsQDA48efoTlQjF5eqFK5FVXZtQhT8zXCX0hMzROH3BvFDEveBxT8akbNF2QU3BdYcOCWmvJ79Ys-1vk47AGklVy9VeEB4XbTFpM-_YOqVpR8JPVg5jEM/s320/P1210128.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flight simulator around the southern coast of England</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxTi5_ZH-9KUtGqjwbSZhfidqLMbVD40ahLXIUEIes2z4Hq13kTt8J8knxfvbNiBsDGrEr3N0zLJHPMVj2uJ5qvGCZ6X1lGgerAExkkKvUXPQLfcG4Kb38iYLyEZyWe3syB_TbYlW2Pw/s1600/P1210119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxTi5_ZH-9KUtGqjwbSZhfidqLMbVD40ahLXIUEIes2z4Hq13kTt8J8knxfvbNiBsDGrEr3N0zLJHPMVj2uJ5qvGCZ6X1lGgerAExkkKvUXPQLfcG4Kb38iYLyEZyWe3syB_TbYlW2Pw/s320/P1210119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homing Pigeons used to carry cameras to take photos of German airstrips<br />and storage depots</td></tr>
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And something for you literary types....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7uufQSPjChdXrW2B6eDA-CegnhIzu-CzaZy5lmlSiq85gcfDinpN5GYhf4iO7K7RYcVUh-rdcWComBjctFTg_GjAy4xmtRlRlbiEyfj6uJN7mufjnp29zFB5TlOGjv3KGIG2HuSpfws/s1600/P1210140_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7uufQSPjChdXrW2B6eDA-CegnhIzu-CzaZy5lmlSiq85gcfDinpN5GYhf4iO7K7RYcVUh-rdcWComBjctFTg_GjAy4xmtRlRlbiEyfj6uJN7mufjnp29zFB5TlOGjv3KGIG2HuSpfws/s320/P1210140_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane Austen's House Museum!</td></tr>
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Jane spent eight years with her mother, sister Cassandra and a family friend. She revised her first 3 published novels here and wrote three more. Jane suffered from poor health and sadly died soon thereafter. The house and gardens are wonderfully maintained with many of her personal belongings inside. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PdrT9UpuqiZ4c_GHITENDAfuvZ8wI4vPvfB57eUBfvA8ybtSwufif5oLiVJli7wuve5tck_qT1dLmgy8uq3WZTruIN-PEAq3FtXEq72mKJK2Tb5Bq-0FB8XCJkn5wKBXve5WMWmQqQo/s1600/janes+writing+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PdrT9UpuqiZ4c_GHITENDAfuvZ8wI4vPvfB57eUBfvA8ybtSwufif5oLiVJli7wuve5tck_qT1dLmgy8uq3WZTruIN-PEAq3FtXEq72mKJK2Tb5Bq-0FB8XCJkn5wKBXve5WMWmQqQo/s320/janes+writing+table.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane's writing table at right, placed close the window for best light. <br />Her writing desk is kept in the British Library but they don't allow photos...<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bedroom she shared with her beloved sister, Cassandra.</td></tr>
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Jane's household of unmarried or widowed women lived very modestly. Her brother Edward had the good fortune to be adopted by a childless and very rich uncle. Edward was kind enough to deed the Austen ladies a home for life but his life was very different.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FOwzmFQ2rXRIOYt4So_WxEqMllBTLyx77riciUE6klSiSzh81vvVwHl-X4txhNq5h9cJYyFQYbBQcnwqm7exZx987PF9oSDUcaHBusZh7rADvW39A0-zPQglo8sNQ8I7qgX7Xf-9_iU/s1600/Chawton+Hse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FOwzmFQ2rXRIOYt4So_WxEqMllBTLyx77riciUE6klSiSzh81vvVwHl-X4txhNq5h9cJYyFQYbBQcnwqm7exZx987PF9oSDUcaHBusZh7rADvW39A0-zPQglo8sNQ8I7qgX7Xf-9_iU/s320/Chawton+Hse.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> This is the drive leading up to one of Edward's three estates.....</td></tr>
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Travelling south, we visited the classically beautiful city of Bath. Famous for the only UK hot springs and endlessly flowing mineral waters. Bath was popular social hotspot for those needing a cure and for those bored in the country side. Sadly, one cannot soak in the famous Bath bath. It's now an ultra modern and pricey tourist spot but the city and its famous sights make for a lovely walking tour.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibf8Vegi6P3eIrdGE_6m-YAcUOhxD6cIqMfGwBaMGbukHEX8WWmJ544_0VX8rZsEHcZzNzi9DWSVJiB_G5AmtOSRu2Jh2_C_pLOf7p2xthQQSNNkyxvfRi-xaGEDF_7-ablowVFZ2mRQU/s1600/P1210225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibf8Vegi6P3eIrdGE_6m-YAcUOhxD6cIqMfGwBaMGbukHEX8WWmJ544_0VX8rZsEHcZzNzi9DWSVJiB_G5AmtOSRu2Jh2_C_pLOf7p2xthQQSNNkyxvfRi-xaGEDF_7-ablowVFZ2mRQU/s400/P1210225.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the downtown park you can let sun chairs and sit among the gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXy8xmk1gzquKjkiYmAiGrRgOX5yZGltWGHR2B7BwzFIInYB_VhSo1GVuFmmj271TorYHPDXg6Fbr2VPN8oEAjRS2Z1WkKnFCaDz75SyPNMEvz_cVC85BhOTChdz8od1mALJe-Db7bMs/s1600/P1210229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXy8xmk1gzquKjkiYmAiGrRgOX5yZGltWGHR2B7BwzFIInYB_VhSo1GVuFmmj271TorYHPDXg6Fbr2VPN8oEAjRS2Z1WkKnFCaDz75SyPNMEvz_cVC85BhOTChdz8od1mALJe-Db7bMs/s400/P1210229.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river flows throughout the city.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaSdz8tCAncZfp7GH17ggZOTz0LPREAm-12D6fNxqtzC2Cj9h4EZxD7rnIKPBBE5kZ3_NT50IbVoOtI3cgeuONIdE4dO46Yx9k0VqlLEnOBgAiidTAGbpePFS9SLZEXsLFZXfObdCb8g/s1600/Pump+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaSdz8tCAncZfp7GH17ggZOTz0LPREAm-12D6fNxqtzC2Cj9h4EZxD7rnIKPBBE5kZ3_NT50IbVoOtI3cgeuONIdE4dO46Yx9k0VqlLEnOBgAiidTAGbpePFS9SLZEXsLFZXfObdCb8g/s320/Pump+room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Pump Room, it was the most popular meeting place of its day. <br />It was one of the few public places where women could see and be seen. </td></tr>
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Southern England was lovely and warm but we turned northward to Scotland. Next update from the city of Edinburgh and Isle of Skye!<br />
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Lost in the Americashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03550291447277794436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-68490588846661959732015-06-13T00:04:00.001-07:002015-06-13T00:31:10.124-07:00Galway, Aran Islands & visiting Family<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After some nature in Dingle, we visited the city of Galway. It's home to a university, several large US tech companies and many, many street musicians. It location along a river and adjacent bay, makes for a pretty and vibrant city.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiiolK-ezyx_whCl82PBmQjg6Uj7u1AEv1pVnH3Kguy-Fx-lXsslx2XO96migCHPCFscpyagjQ2p7F70bTEffFZSNzgu6C5UKYHR4QAgDRoozaA-R-MBp5eN596J7pEcJhG00Ltp6QIk/s1600/P1200420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiiolK-ezyx_whCl82PBmQjg6Uj7u1AEv1pVnH3Kguy-Fx-lXsslx2XO96migCHPCFscpyagjQ2p7F70bTEffFZSNzgu6C5UKYHR4QAgDRoozaA-R-MBp5eN596J7pEcJhG00Ltp6QIk/s320/P1200420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skiffs moored along the river</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the oldest buildings in the city, originally against the city's protective wall </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mbl3PzpsQAMCAO74BdLIJvIp9TBZ1irkX2IOx0FPyuk0R-c7-PUgj7etAc4eyNZChdo2bebgTa03s7koEXR0-8sf-pmppAwEIwEiRD7T54JT2SVixz2wK1Ut3iruvyIVLeIHBaj6yZk/s1600/P1200411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mbl3PzpsQAMCAO74BdLIJvIp9TBZ1irkX2IOx0FPyuk0R-c7-PUgj7etAc4eyNZChdo2bebgTa03s7koEXR0-8sf-pmppAwEIwEiRD7T54JT2SVixz2wK1Ut3iruvyIVLeIHBaj6yZk/s320/P1200411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical street scene</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We heard a new to us instrument called a Hang. </span><span style="text-align: center;">It looks like a cousin to the steel drum </span><span style="text-align: center;">but is played without mallets. </span><span style="text-align: center;">For a sample of how it sounds click here: </span><br />
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We left for the Aran Islands, off the coast of Galway. The seas were a bit rough heading out and it's fortunate it was a 45 minute trip and not a <i>48</i> minute trip.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No joke, the crew handed out plastic bags</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Once we arrived, the island was lovely with lots of rock walls, rocky shores, sheep and old forts.</span><br />
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A commemorative cross near the center of town<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Black Fort, is a<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.5px; text-align: left;"> double walled fort, with almost completely intact walls, it's located on the highest point on Inishmore, giving a clear view the island. It is believed to have been built sometime between 550 and 800 BC and was probably home to an extended family and their animals.</span> </span></div>
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The nearby cliffs steal the show. They fall a few hundred feet to the sea and are home to nesting birds. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another photo to sooth her parents...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look carefully you can see two people on the opposite side.</td></tr>
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The island has an unusual rock formation called the "Worm Hole" its an all natural perfect pool formed by broken slate. Water surges up through the bottom making small waves. Red Bull staged a cliff diving championship here a few years ago. For scale, Melanie is standing on a lower ledge near the back.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The worm hole from above</td></tr>
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Back on the main land (the return ferry ride was muuch smoother!) we took a day trip to Kylemore Abby. Once a house of an Irish aristocrat, it became a convent for Benedictine nuns and a private girls school. The nuns still reside here but the school is closed and they are redeveloping it as a retreat and music learning center. The house reminded us of the Newport summer cottages. </div>
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This is the Killary Fjord. A fjord is an ocean inlet that reaches deep into the land between mountains, It was striking to be so far inland and smell the sea. Mussels are farmed in the fjord and we could see boats harvesting as we walked along the banks. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the burren which bears a resemblance to Maine's central and northers coasts. </td></tr>
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The next town we visited was Kinsale, one of the oldest towns in Ireland and it reminded Justin of Marblehead with its narrow twisting streets, houses cheek by jowl and active waterfront.<br />
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We had the good fortune to be in Ireland while Chris and Angie were touring with their group of students. We met them in Ennis and invited ourselves along for a dance hall session, tour of the historical site of Cragganouwen, and a few music sessions. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atop a castle tower with Angie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Smith cleverly inserts a history lesson into the tour. <br />
We learned more in this tour than all the forts combined!</td></tr>
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We returned to Dublin area to await Westy's ship to England, This gave us a few days to explore and Melanie go to meet this little cutie....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disappointing, he wasn't looking for a date, just fundraising "Swimmers for something." <br />
It was worth a few euros to see him jump into the Liffey river. </td></tr>
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Westy arrived in England on June 2nd and we camped outside London for a few days. The next update will be from the UK.</div>
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Lost in the Americashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03550291447277794436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-91019984146230766762015-05-27T07:45:00.000-07:002015-05-27T07:45:14.523-07:00Ireland, walking, music and rain. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We landed in Dublin on April 29th and were immediately surprised by the temperature. Hovering just above freezing (to our thin blood) we dashed to the nearest outdoor store to stock up on fleece before sight seeing, Dublin is a lively and lovely city with gardens about to bloom and great buildings. St. Stephen's garden is a large carefully cultivated gardens <br />
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They even have a texture and scent garden for blind visitors.<br />
They've planted rosemary, lambs ear and other touch sensitive plants. Justin checked carefully, but no poison ivy. <br />
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We visited Kilmainham Goal, The goal is infamous as the jail and execution location for the founders of the Irish revolution and later, the largest jail for the poor and starving during the famine. Criminals, women, children were all jailed together. Kids were jailed for weeks for stealing food and food was so scarce jailers sometimes caught people scaling the walls to get <i>in</i> so they could at least get two meals a day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95lRvg1w7HlFA0seWbT4Ulm_3VPq88xtMoV1pQ9AnJDyRGz0A00eAiZzKky6fNI946prR1mKQKnp1lUipPi5-ugn5hVzg7N7DdSr23f-YI0IFjlkzZGKwOsEFyi0w_FuMrIyiN3rbAuo/s1600/Kilmainham+hallway_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95lRvg1w7HlFA0seWbT4Ulm_3VPq88xtMoV1pQ9AnJDyRGz0A00eAiZzKky6fNI946prR1mKQKnp1lUipPi5-ugn5hVzg7N7DdSr23f-YI0IFjlkzZGKwOsEFyi0w_FuMrIyiN3rbAuo/s320/Kilmainham+hallway_edited-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hallway off of which cells of the most famous political prisoners were located </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical cell door with a peep hole, called "the all seeing eye" so guards could watch inmates at all times</td></tr>
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Following two days in Dublin we headed to the Dingle Peninsula for seven days of hiking through fields and along the coast line. The Dingle Peninsula is along the west coast and we planned to walk from Tralee, south along the coast toward Mt Brandon and back to Tralee. All together the hike is about 100 miles.<br />
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Day one, we head out for the trail.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ig9uh0PPzzVRMvZUNKBakXh3jWtZsweQsnQ1Rh3Ln7bhLM9gdQVSxEUvDR8YnrcVnQFEC1V6_y4C3rJS3oJqf17w0w3H8ZUbijfYnCSDGXD_PWVDm7sHaI4F1jm0FF6R-mgVjCgxKKs/s1600/Dingle+way+first+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ig9uh0PPzzVRMvZUNKBakXh3jWtZsweQsnQ1Rh3Ln7bhLM9gdQVSxEUvDR8YnrcVnQFEC1V6_y4C3rJS3oJqf17w0w3H8ZUbijfYnCSDGXD_PWVDm7sHaI4F1jm0FF6R-mgVjCgxKKs/s320/Dingle+way+first+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">So full of energy, so temporarily dry...</span></td></tr>
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The hike itself is beautiful, with sheep, cows and goats to keep you company. Its lambing season, so we saw many little lambs. They look like graffiti victims but the the farmers tag them so they can free range nibble in the fields.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVEGmuYUn29_89fWI_IEJjXBLtyLp2soD3hlLS0xL0Zi2k5RFWVDoMXISdIAh3kt8Q56AgE74S7E1teHvYe478Y4Liuq4ophgX2e0ouCE8oRO3b8oCjGIg27d4tAQXl_By16lXN_3K24/s1600/dingle+lamb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVEGmuYUn29_89fWI_IEJjXBLtyLp2soD3hlLS0xL0Zi2k5RFWVDoMXISdIAh3kt8Q56AgE74S7E1teHvYe478Y4Liuq4ophgX2e0ouCE8oRO3b8oCjGIg27d4tAQXl_By16lXN_3K24/s320/dingle+lamb.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lamb was so young, its was still wobbly on its feet. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P9wksc6xvWBW38GelULE1TnGEZVCTWkmQ3d1ZBsN324RLYkE1rWfqCGDyjhxxL2xaBhp_UrrC1VJv3F95bor8x4ksAHsLTXrSjCwjRiHWQA81Ic3H6eLujoLo35Grwnweak8v3JUqE0/s1600/P1190823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P9wksc6xvWBW38GelULE1TnGEZVCTWkmQ3d1ZBsN324RLYkE1rWfqCGDyjhxxL2xaBhp_UrrC1VJv3F95bor8x4ksAHsLTXrSjCwjRiHWQA81Ic3H6eLujoLo35Grwnweak8v3JUqE0/s320/P1190823.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fast but not as fast as the spray can!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEquNNoff6ehzDCfSgmtzGNuDDA_cxVKzhDIu6CoCYBxxZLnku5WSZU-KneNnLxDePZZFEu-ETtv31XFglVqlGVIP1QeHss2J2acUB-yWAl53RIGE1E1Okgk8ypcEA3Ytr838zbFclNM/s1600/Dingle+view+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEquNNoff6ehzDCfSgmtzGNuDDA_cxVKzhDIu6CoCYBxxZLnku5WSZU-KneNnLxDePZZFEu-ETtv31XFglVqlGVIP1QeHss2J2acUB-yWAl53RIGE1E1Okgk8ypcEA3Ytr838zbFclNM/s640/Dingle+view+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the trail above Tralee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7S_-tLT3bFsxb1_57FjqNIVCysCYQQ_-rJnx64Bu1xP6rCGG04oEWXAty5j-AJV4h2mMgmsMwIOewenIAyvYP__JGhDQ1lIeuUgqmVEoY_QoEO2AODduL1ZeXLETgw9q2NfA851wXeY/s1600/Dingle+view+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7S_-tLT3bFsxb1_57FjqNIVCysCYQQ_-rJnx64Bu1xP6rCGG04oEWXAty5j-AJV4h2mMgmsMwIOewenIAyvYP__JGhDQ1lIeuUgqmVEoY_QoEO2AODduL1ZeXLETgw9q2NfA851wXeY/s400/Dingle+view+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blennerville flour mill, rebuilt from the 1800s. The tallest of its kind in Europe <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3FskZV-J7J3a8rN0EvGoc5yMWQNlElqNgR5QoqFt38T2nY6WLA3Taq42s7CQGUZ_ya6aTYKC5DgQgC6gb6GLSWkyGSaAAIf76-Wv6a0PjiTVUwG0H77cIpDjzi54iWkq8WuDlIkSg6o/s1600/P1190858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3FskZV-J7J3a8rN0EvGoc5yMWQNlElqNgR5QoqFt38T2nY6WLA3Taq42s7CQGUZ_ya6aTYKC5DgQgC6gb6GLSWkyGSaAAIf76-Wv6a0PjiTVUwG0H77cIpDjzi54iWkq8WuDlIkSg6o/s320/P1190858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We stopped at a field gate, and the goats came running for us, We had to pick them some fresh snack flowers.<br />
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We hiked for three days before pausing to visit the small harbor town of Dingle. To celebrate Justin's birthday we took a harbor tour and went to see Fungie, a single dolphin who has adopted the harbor as his permanent home. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh0Uaj0v1gGvk-V7JSk36_t85on0NPs_0arVtqS5aU4cWkd0-HtCPm19Y4Cpzj0lK2ElX96yUFco7HLuFc3zYr-0V3tngwS-gGSXo6S_QoFA5PlBcWbUJrNEQBf4KwxKhlFP2DIZIwuQ/s1600/Dingle+harbor+tour.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh0Uaj0v1gGvk-V7JSk36_t85on0NPs_0arVtqS5aU4cWkd0-HtCPm19Y4Cpzj0lK2ElX96yUFco7HLuFc3zYr-0V3tngwS-gGSXo6S_QoFA5PlBcWbUJrNEQBf4KwxKhlFP2DIZIwuQ/s320/Dingle+harbor+tour.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't adjust your monitor, that is Ireland under sunlight...</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><br />Fungie moved into the harbor in 1984 and hasn't left. He likes small boats and frequently shows off to make them putter near by.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT0AeGAiFi-ds3bxEBb8E7dOGU7OzV2Fi30wDuLok-O7l1UWqsx8YKXlxGe2lBYVHqCAn55SBzPRp2ZNG5s6UaA6yo4tpdo0MRs-iSv_9tccMs4d5TrDCa5rQSzMOiCmudffJPgjKvgE/s1600/fungie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT0AeGAiFi-ds3bxEBb8E7dOGU7OzV2Fi30wDuLok-O7l1UWqsx8YKXlxGe2lBYVHqCAn55SBzPRp2ZNG5s6UaA6yo4tpdo0MRs-iSv_9tccMs4d5TrDCa5rQSzMOiCmudffJPgjKvgE/s320/fungie+2.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fungie almost dancing with the small boat.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We resumed hiking after a day off and had our best two days weather-wise.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beach off the Dingle coast</td></tr>
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We found a medieval bridge. Made of dry stones, it self supports using an ingenious arch.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">The fields have their dangers too....we couldn't find the bull, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjronYg5yMd7Z3HhTclPx5WPgVhzXWNjnsuo2RGVYfFSX_5HExNjzNQPGiPNh831fsfrzu4F6PfW5fvRNGm0jjn49bFOUZqRXuQuxoCGQBtxGbfDVohIaXt14-kZYi9gIFqE7bdAsZI_4A/s1600/Dingle+view+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjronYg5yMd7Z3HhTclPx5WPgVhzXWNjnsuo2RGVYfFSX_5HExNjzNQPGiPNh831fsfrzu4F6PfW5fvRNGm0jjn49bFOUZqRXuQuxoCGQBtxGbfDVohIaXt14-kZYi9gIFqE7bdAsZI_4A/s320/Dingle+view+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After five days of hiking in the rain, this seemed ironic...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20eIFL3nSQMx2_xarWcj26xkcbTuWNeZHPsxUYgewvaV05VLb1GbQqHQePrenYajPScDVMnQZGFOwTmNPHfU96KHtLFEnazpSm6XwAJotwPuTv7EtXOHJDMSfXw9B3AtivUbO8PEnxPo/s1600/Dingle+view+uncertain+weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20eIFL3nSQMx2_xarWcj26xkcbTuWNeZHPsxUYgewvaV05VLb1GbQqHQePrenYajPScDVMnQZGFOwTmNPHfU96KHtLFEnazpSm6XwAJotwPuTv7EtXOHJDMSfXw9B3AtivUbO8PEnxPo/s320/Dingle+view+uncertain+weather.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So Ireland is out.... </td></tr>
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On day 6 we woke to this and said "we're out!" We headed to Galway to enjoy the city. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xiZpaKHOry5aw56zET6bgjyHmxC9Vrw9Go-VUkjscrl4kdEF2v-sJMFiizaKJciY2nfj59kSRwREvDsfyNVNguCVHPHPKifL9RJNNGMTU0ULObx89G8kvgijNfGL93iM11X_JwB6CAQ/s1600/dingle+we+give+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xiZpaKHOry5aw56zET6bgjyHmxC9Vrw9Go-VUkjscrl4kdEF2v-sJMFiizaKJciY2nfj59kSRwREvDsfyNVNguCVHPHPKifL9RJNNGMTU0ULObx89G8kvgijNfGL93iM11X_JwB6CAQ/s320/dingle+we+give+up.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a mountain back there...</td></tr>
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Next update from Galway and the Aran Islands!<br />
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Lost in the Americashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03550291447277794436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-2750919758740914622015-04-26T06:59:00.001-07:002015-04-26T06:59:26.140-07:00Argentina to Uruguay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We spent two weeks in Cafayate, the heart of Argentina’s
white wine region. <br />
Apparently, wine
tasting is a popular hobby. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBQMVWI0hl1FyWRvpoRFyQZGxcq2yOuv4JlmQPrEoY1xLcVxX6CoVIaiGh-IPJBLuRFv5GSdWSZ57hAic7GID3bbgydVwqgr4yL08mJuDhCEMAxAWWGU8p5zShmDzN5OEJ1r_R-bGyC8/s1600/wine+and+drive+is+bad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBQMVWI0hl1FyWRvpoRFyQZGxcq2yOuv4JlmQPrEoY1xLcVxX6CoVIaiGh-IPJBLuRFv5GSdWSZ57hAic7GID3bbgydVwqgr4yL08mJuDhCEMAxAWWGU8p5zShmDzN5OEJ1r_R-bGyC8/s1600/wine+and+drive+is+bad.jpg" height="200" width="122" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only in Argentina</td></tr>
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The local vineyards grow a great deal of grapes to make
Torrontes, a crisp, fresh white that is wonderful. We visited a vineyard and
sampled its wares.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Wd8W4jb4V3nOBzm7UDqditQnEb3Wsf0bB7U86UArDYYf2GutGmxEYHyyI4IhcdJ3Lip4oQwvoCv0g94MTzAjEbOK60Fezr2LClVjfQHx8NEfbIDFuzhYWwWwihHdpaeZWltfVeK5t6o/s1600/wine+label+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Wd8W4jb4V3nOBzm7UDqditQnEb3Wsf0bB7U86UArDYYf2GutGmxEYHyyI4IhcdJ3Lip4oQwvoCv0g94MTzAjEbOK60Fezr2LClVjfQHx8NEfbIDFuzhYWwWwihHdpaeZWltfVeK5t6o/s1600/wine+label+small.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
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While this sounds luxurious, we spent two weeks working on a
new website and advertising campaign to change Smith Restoration Sash into SRS
Hardware. The website should be up and running in July and ads will be
appearing in all your favorite old house magazines soon! <o:p></o:p></div>
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We left <i>some</i> time for sightseeing in Cafayate. Who know
there we bicycles built for three?!?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BcjdPDRhrgdC3OtG496wmpSMe5ijpNJvKUTOzuLV0hMkD1pJH2h9BCEaNtR0i5csUmeZ2veXuw8Z4XzOUgdkiCUsDpf-MjvZOgulSEAO5kH5BTAenSP3WDgDfLmo5LFAg49Y-SnpvQM/s1600/wow+Bike+for+three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BcjdPDRhrgdC3OtG496wmpSMe5ijpNJvKUTOzuLV0hMkD1pJH2h9BCEaNtR0i5csUmeZ2veXuw8Z4XzOUgdkiCUsDpf-MjvZOgulSEAO5kH5BTAenSP3WDgDfLmo5LFAg49Y-SnpvQM/s1600/wow+Bike+for+three.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We need a third person!</td></tr>
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The town has a wine museum where we put Justin to work</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYOzWZIXb-O1bIp_ZGsxm8x2JSehexCkrNZ6mfavJqg2uvdgQpVaYlHvuhIRcXUeEbo1WkKUAa-cNCRTdGH2yNb_hy3qjiHdPIn_N5NZFUTW4RX3KtDyRxaieBtdNlgwpQAQ7S5-n9cA/s1600/WHUT+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYOzWZIXb-O1bIp_ZGsxm8x2JSehexCkrNZ6mfavJqg2uvdgQpVaYlHvuhIRcXUeEbo1WkKUAa-cNCRTdGH2yNb_hy3qjiHdPIn_N5NZFUTW4RX3KtDyRxaieBtdNlgwpQAQ7S5-n9cA/s1600/WHUT+house.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the WHUT? house </td></tr>
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We facing the South American winter which is less than
ideal in a two-wheel drive rig with a broken heater, so we've decided to head
to the UK and follow the nice weather (both weeks) and hit the continent after
summer break. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We need to get Westy to Europe and our best shipping option
is Montevideo, a huge port in Uruguay’s capital. We cut short the visit to
Chile and Argentina, leaving plenty for another visit, and made a beeline for
Uruguay. In case you are curious, the center of Argentina is the longest,
flattest drive we’ve taken since crossing north Texas. These people really,
really like to plant corn. This sign was a welcome sight<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ-YsuOQzb5PwTV2ayLpsnGZqd-MzdLYwbYyZem_rxpKwJHu6ryAaCcSz2UV4iAUey6sTTYcfhjYPHLwK3StIbMGH5MSQsyB57X4whkzszR0oEOBoBcw5iGAHw_PupL4bvgABAVeT5yY/s1600/border+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ-YsuOQzb5PwTV2ayLpsnGZqd-MzdLYwbYyZem_rxpKwJHu6ryAaCcSz2UV4iAUey6sTTYcfhjYPHLwK3StIbMGH5MSQsyB57X4whkzszR0oEOBoBcw5iGAHw_PupL4bvgABAVeT5yY/s1600/border+small.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
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Montevideo is a much larger city than we realized but it has
a nice coast line and park. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94mixMPFes7AFhJbd4oHXr_8Rx1XQyr_9xwNOg_e8M9MeI8gc0gO3ZzjYdEfN1SVHaDVjVfLXqDPY6TcNhvAscNlGGqGuEtyjwWUTnTpsvBDKd38cgbkHR6tyWd3zOuta891Cs0xYwHo/s1600/Montevideo+coast+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94mixMPFes7AFhJbd4oHXr_8Rx1XQyr_9xwNOg_e8M9MeI8gc0gO3ZzjYdEfN1SVHaDVjVfLXqDPY6TcNhvAscNlGGqGuEtyjwWUTnTpsvBDKd38cgbkHR6tyWd3zOuta891Cs0xYwHo/s1600/Montevideo+coast+line.jpg" height="243" width="640" /></a></div>
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We took in the sites for only one day before heading up the
coast. A few sights:<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo23DJx5Fw0O4XCdhLPPBxGEcVZy3MT141piRAO_1Y7HpVUfZQ5g887j4zY7B84f721a2WvqW5ryg1p2WFd8SbrmxsiP97HPlj31EzphH29I100vS3p-Bc0G8ZHGWFNCnMuJTBLkbpZc/s1600/house+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo23DJx5Fw0O4XCdhLPPBxGEcVZy3MT141piRAO_1Y7HpVUfZQ5g887j4zY7B84f721a2WvqW5ryg1p2WFd8SbrmxsiP97HPlj31EzphH29I100vS3p-Bc0G8ZHGWFNCnMuJTBLkbpZc/s1600/house+small.jpg" height="196" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the last old houses on the street</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7U8fIluryTofYs_9l5mpPfjRwJimKLo6EX5UU63YP-4hClVecfcGf-q-UR7Pj5rBIROmk0ON4jLsOn35GEBb-ZAj-yj3q7GxjFXb6G43VQxYaef6SKy11S2PNefneVaZrhwPw_b34bA/s1600/Lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7U8fIluryTofYs_9l5mpPfjRwJimKLo6EX5UU63YP-4hClVecfcGf-q-UR7Pj5rBIROmk0ON4jLsOn35GEBb-ZAj-yj3q7GxjFXb6G43VQxYaef6SKy11S2PNefneVaZrhwPw_b34bA/s1600/Lighthouse.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighthouse near the Naval base</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wrwDPq8KxA5aVsbxkjiTNBz0Kw-FvTavxroTmAbo74abJVrUHf-Smd1IAFQ6jpMVUiNHRiSapUEA1Ln-ErU2YZF0zrd-GdkLEhWQcZdkeWUdQIKwLLLuWnKy0Lu1D_qQ9DWz3az7S1k/s1600/tow+vehicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wrwDPq8KxA5aVsbxkjiTNBz0Kw-FvTavxroTmAbo74abJVrUHf-Smd1IAFQ6jpMVUiNHRiSapUEA1Ln-ErU2YZF0zrd-GdkLEhWQcZdkeWUdQIKwLLLuWnKy0Lu1D_qQ9DWz3az7S1k/s1600/tow+vehicle.jpg" height="277" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin found our tow car!</td></tr>
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Half of Uruguay lives in Montevideo and the rest live in
rural and agricultural areas. The country is well organized, clean and friendly.
Heck, even their cows are well organized. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6avJxyqNu6mTD1C7Cx-MX6aDso87Szkt7bT_RAsauVuyriR9iUtaEbhCRalcwOQ2JDN-KIQgPjycD1Z0Zja3mhCDQs7GX9bSfCHDHjnaWXs3JZ3E5WBV-TMe4wCVhMGdqJo-6uhQoyBI/s1600/Union+cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6avJxyqNu6mTD1C7Cx-MX6aDso87Szkt7bT_RAsauVuyriR9iUtaEbhCRalcwOQ2JDN-KIQgPjycD1Z0Zja3mhCDQs7GX9bSfCHDHjnaWXs3JZ3E5WBV-TMe4wCVhMGdqJo-6uhQoyBI/s1600/Union+cows.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must be union cows....</td></tr>
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The coastline is really lovely and reminiscent of New
England with large rocks, long white sand beaches and good sized waves. Small
boats dot the shorelines and they use small winches to pull them up the beach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30qrRUAfZerO3oDk3zMVuBONDp6UepeTPqEz8qx7lGR0T_q8K9XulIgnEZpSaabSBwyiOb0joWbGzvdsEIPw_6vgUpOlq919HCsK3RVMjgWikzabw-0dmcNUsoe8o4uJAUy9tSr7JGOQ/s1600/boat+winch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30qrRUAfZerO3oDk3zMVuBONDp6UepeTPqEz8qx7lGR0T_q8K9XulIgnEZpSaabSBwyiOb0joWbGzvdsEIPw_6vgUpOlq919HCsK3RVMjgWikzabw-0dmcNUsoe8o4uJAUy9tSr7JGOQ/s1600/boat+winch.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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We camped along the shore for a few nights. Our propane tank is empty which is good because we are
not supposed to ship it with propane. An empty tank means that we will be
cooking dinner on the hibachi for a few weeks. Justin is good about making the
fire for dinner, of course he gets plenty of help....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyu1bxPhDxcGQDWnoQFbZbxlluJ-JJa8wiy1cVHVs_YitBPif2-ZSS1y0wqhBv_qlkWjOAO77USBkAgdUjR1IhW0P8giuor-zwzDugJg3Ln9AEfRn2yEtQt0kT2B3k0KD8DSntKnObFdU/s1600/chopping+wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyu1bxPhDxcGQDWnoQFbZbxlluJ-JJa8wiy1cVHVs_YitBPif2-ZSS1y0wqhBv_qlkWjOAO77USBkAgdUjR1IhW0P8giuor-zwzDugJg3Ln9AEfRn2yEtQt0kT2B3k0KD8DSntKnObFdU/s1600/chopping+wood.jpg" height="320" width="301" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_beVK-9kf9NULfxBVcUwFQmMMY9817nmd55QB9sGbW2PfrZb50bBp6J-ihQho-KDIUnzQT9erSkpurGG6A80kQJpDiFj1buFwuDusKi7PSCeXnoy3QSdyE3et9Bf4hwHsKQWRYPyozM/s1600/chopping+wood+and+helping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_beVK-9kf9NULfxBVcUwFQmMMY9817nmd55QB9sGbW2PfrZb50bBp6J-ihQho-KDIUnzQT9erSkpurGG6A80kQJpDiFj1buFwuDusKi7PSCeXnoy3QSdyE3et9Bf4hwHsKQWRYPyozM/s1600/chopping+wood+and+helping.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is OSHA approved footwear, right?</td></tr>
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Where the beach meets the Eucalyptus trees, families of
small parrots live in large communal nests. They spend their days zipping
overhead, chattering and bringing more sticks to their nest. They are very loud
but very funny. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup8S6LPCRvY98-YuTNfKA7ax8oCjEDADTg_2hFN32loJ-plctATqULznvrdaNPXKcduiHCzlSwac2ascorH2gTzP_r9f1Nw7bU7GV19OFpVznhs9ZR_R9eIo2-xRZ1lLLtbGVG8wsKkM/s1600/parrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup8S6LPCRvY98-YuTNfKA7ax8oCjEDADTg_2hFN32loJ-plctATqULznvrdaNPXKcduiHCzlSwac2ascorH2gTzP_r9f1Nw7bU7GV19OFpVznhs9ZR_R9eIo2-xRZ1lLLtbGVG8wsKkM/s1600/parrots.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HBnfoQDBsV-mISbAhYcKKu3dP5mzJmvIAljje6Boy7J9QjEsHP2ESOrjxSse-8DgfFUITSo6gsK9gLPVGIqZnPdtwKBl-sqf5tuQJuWQA_zvSE29gJUTSt2aWWSL4O2bYJ_YPYc8q5k/s1600/Parrot+nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HBnfoQDBsV-mISbAhYcKKu3dP5mzJmvIAljje6Boy7J9QjEsHP2ESOrjxSse-8DgfFUITSo6gsK9gLPVGIqZnPdtwKBl-sqf5tuQJuWQA_zvSE29gJUTSt2aWWSL4O2bYJ_YPYc8q5k/s1600/Parrot+nest.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nest, with one little parrot entering the nest</td></tr>
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We are spending four days at a Swiss owned campground,
surrounded by German, French and Swiss retirees. Good practice for the European
leg of the journey. Here we are preparing Westy for the long voyage and are packing
for a month of hiking around Ireland. On April 28<sup>th</sup> we fly to
Dublin, next blog from the Green Isle! <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-84498797788112559682015-04-13T13:51:00.000-07:002015-04-13T13:51:00.446-07:00Great Salt Flat and Northern ArgentinaWe crossed into Argentina after only 25 minutes at customs (amazing!) and the smooth passage set the tone for days to come. Our visit coincided with the major holiday week of Semana Santa or Easter. All of Argentina is on vacation and so all the tourist areas felt festive and fun. First stop was the unplanned and wonderful Great Salt Flat. The natural resource is mined for table salt and local craftsmen uses the salt to carve statues of varying quality.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaB89ZTD8pKkYyLDDWyNS4jswnr5VDVGtS31PcjxR_o7Tf_a28P-n9xn2iEYQv-PEYDEk5wnyMoTsvq8BRjCXTQ5x8KmxG4IdXkuDFuaeEAVLZQkz-wqUNdZTG2Nx8IyKZZpI1vx259w/s1600/Salt+reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaB89ZTD8pKkYyLDDWyNS4jswnr5VDVGtS31PcjxR_o7Tf_a28P-n9xn2iEYQv-PEYDEk5wnyMoTsvq8BRjCXTQ5x8KmxG4IdXkuDFuaeEAVLZQkz-wqUNdZTG2Nx8IyKZZpI1vx259w/s1600/Salt+reflection.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With a few inches of water, the flat reflects the sky like a mirror</i><br />
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The mining takes a few forms, they plow the surface like a parking lot or dig shallow troughs (see photo above for troughs) for the salt crystals to collect.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOCBSvmkCV3BziUxFjAmsGaqCk6nq98953M_IuHDTPBGoVGnr6ndODsUm8QoxH6H4pT1pRCez7FpR5jZIsTwQzYPrBqHIqMCqITac4HCDqJ0p-BflX7RBGFbRlhqGNT__qWvgImuZqPw/s1600/salt+harvesting_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOCBSvmkCV3BziUxFjAmsGaqCk6nq98953M_IuHDTPBGoVGnr6ndODsUm8QoxH6H4pT1pRCez7FpR5jZIsTwQzYPrBqHIqMCqITac4HCDqJ0p-BflX7RBGFbRlhqGNT__qWvgImuZqPw/s1600/salt+harvesting_edited-1.jpg" height="188" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgoVlFPVhPf1c2R_Ox1R48PDEwl7Dej6warzbt5I1WyfZZiDWTMQF2o_pCQyiev9DIypSF1la7U3HEyf2tmqlsa3kxy7H1Rm4dbKSeUT_YpF4NIFnOmPWwU_ndQuuJUMEghjIlHwuQ7w/s1600/salt+mining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgoVlFPVhPf1c2R_Ox1R48PDEwl7Dej6warzbt5I1WyfZZiDWTMQF2o_pCQyiev9DIypSF1la7U3HEyf2tmqlsa3kxy7H1Rm4dbKSeUT_YpF4NIFnOmPWwU_ndQuuJUMEghjIlHwuQ7w/s1600/salt+mining.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Salt is dried under the sun and packed into bags.</i> </td></tr>
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Justin harvested a little for our table.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMUpPxSfzWLTmgrymGrGzpT6XaFXIv3V8n2f2sdxZ1cuupx6Hh6vjpXYpqW8BsZYm2bYESYgExmbTjdYg_Hn_qGMDMgGHD9kYyY9jbudUzg5kwQjr_Um4S_6ziLSbZhxLjrxHGXKT4iw/s1600/salt+justin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMUpPxSfzWLTmgrymGrGzpT6XaFXIv3V8n2f2sdxZ1cuupx6Hh6vjpXYpqW8BsZYm2bYESYgExmbTjdYg_Hn_qGMDMgGHD9kYyY9jbudUzg5kwQjr_Um4S_6ziLSbZhxLjrxHGXKT4iw/s1600/salt+justin.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
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There were signs about the strong sun and the locals take sun protection seriously.</div>
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I'm pretty sure we won't burn...</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next we toured the northwest region and the UNESCO site of Quebrada de Humahuaca<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;">, a narrow and arid mountainous valley, flanked by the high plateau of the Puna and the woods to the east. Once populated by the Inca, it is a 155-kilometer natural north-south corridor. Two rivers meet along the corridor and provide water for agriculture and ceramics. It is famous for the amazing colors of the rock- minerals from the extinct sea floor turn the cliff walls green, violet, grey blue and brick red. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq94jUy2ftnqRAKDZCmUXbeEMEAXxUIQpsyzD7oKVMOOzp_TDCpVGb1WscD29eF5p0sDk_Vy7QaZUtDP1MeSe1e8NX2P8X-bB_EI412DfL2_S5mSVgEPTTE24WE695KkzkGMTemkfkDw/s1600/QH+Errosion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq94jUy2ftnqRAKDZCmUXbeEMEAXxUIQpsyzD7oKVMOOzp_TDCpVGb1WscD29eF5p0sDk_Vy7QaZUtDP1MeSe1e8NX2P8X-bB_EI412DfL2_S5mSVgEPTTE24WE695KkzkGMTemkfkDw/s1600/QH+Errosion.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The erosion cliffs are over 100 feet tall</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlQMP49Tf4erNaX8bMl6sfs__Q_3tE1m-G15uAnYc65fQiUvdhR-3jErC0vVXBX7klZyDABpfVO1NRc4EBuQ2mXYoPO3CSM9BlyQNPAnrCnVPbAla4n4AzmkH-1gn500bmm9AFPPm1fE/s1600/QH+Colors+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlQMP49Tf4erNaX8bMl6sfs__Q_3tE1m-G15uAnYc65fQiUvdhR-3jErC0vVXBX7klZyDABpfVO1NRc4EBuQ2mXYoPO3CSM9BlyQNPAnrCnVPbAla4n4AzmkH-1gn500bmm9AFPPm1fE/s1600/QH+Colors+2.jpg" height="364" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Typical slice of cliff with all colors</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PLU_IX0O2Y4VxlAOQTCzQIQIL0ccrJHPwrNg2vUi8d0YLKWXeSMxYE-2ZKPFeEYEi5jCo5R2hCgWmqHn_cY7dYtgriVqkJ6mWTff2wrimIn_MS3pY-LtxVuEx8KWbtlPOJQrekDeVZk/s1600/QH+40+colors+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PLU_IX0O2Y4VxlAOQTCzQIQIL0ccrJHPwrNg2vUi8d0YLKWXeSMxYE-2ZKPFeEYEi5jCo5R2hCgWmqHn_cY7dYtgriVqkJ6mWTff2wrimIn_MS3pY-LtxVuEx8KWbtlPOJQrekDeVZk/s1600/QH+40+colors+2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Red hues dominate in this section of the mountains.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis76wRwPLhOS28kapjuU0b4_7FqwYEkkf_E_qUNkPGSmE7EdKHiWPyfawIwb7PgCrp4OPcPAm1EHv28xOE-An7Y1kCoNwEp8glSAaGevOsWDXf76ENytQnv-99eEA9m8FmRrpyvUzewFU/s1600/40+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis76wRwPLhOS28kapjuU0b4_7FqwYEkkf_E_qUNkPGSmE7EdKHiWPyfawIwb7PgCrp4OPcPAm1EHv28xOE-An7Y1kCoNwEp8glSAaGevOsWDXf76ENytQnv-99eEA9m8FmRrpyvUzewFU/s1600/40+colors.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You can see how the "Mountain of 40 Colors" got its name </i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;">We finally left the tropics, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQbhorI6aQkyGzSJUpIb3uUOwGRpr8NTCx_IO7qlFMjh1r1hnL8n054wfZWIr7AZYZrZb3FjxvzCCFP3l3O50_Z-FFNmoC9I-z8yEx0GRvlAKF7lREAYVKkaYibD_fVuZ4E4TvGVEcPY/s1600/TC+Crossed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQbhorI6aQkyGzSJUpIb3uUOwGRpr8NTCx_IO7qlFMjh1r1hnL8n054wfZWIr7AZYZrZb3FjxvzCCFP3l3O50_Z-FFNmoC9I-z8yEx0GRvlAKF7lREAYVKkaYibD_fVuZ4E4TvGVEcPY/s1600/TC+Crossed.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;">We decided the tropic needed better public relations or </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;">a spot on "Tropic Makeover." The Tropic of Cancer and Equator both have signs, non-profit promoters and super photo opps. Poor Capricorn had a sun dial, missing hour markings and a lone goat. Just sayin' it deserves better. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vZPOxPKqr4ZVNuvp2CZqC6fSen_FFRaVczSB9Y2-VlKY4CudCpj3Ne3tfB1cWDzkmfL4DerE8ZedrVJZj8ogkwcEY2-leHlcTg86WJhRJXGb09BYY9DBuamafbEC4f9gUJCS_Y7HUPo/s1600/TC+Sundial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vZPOxPKqr4ZVNuvp2CZqC6fSen_FFRaVczSB9Y2-VlKY4CudCpj3Ne3tfB1cWDzkmfL4DerE8ZedrVJZj8ogkwcEY2-leHlcTg86WJhRJXGb09BYY9DBuamafbEC4f9gUJCS_Y7HUPo/s1600/TC+Sundial.jpg" height="276" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How do you tell time with no hour indicators!!!</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXk51VwCb-BuLCZ4SkJVK9b0p6aTdbuW78YjvFMJXM2vofWDbEXhYPElbJSDaPNRuSHQ9-4HnxgYgLnOXVC6uKed9h6R1iZPuTcqUb9c5Sst_94yro-6OIf85uqGVNGSQJb6bzTEnvS4/s1600/TC+Mascot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXk51VwCb-BuLCZ4SkJVK9b0p6aTdbuW78YjvFMJXM2vofWDbEXhYPElbJSDaPNRuSHQ9-4HnxgYgLnOXVC6uKed9h6R1iZPuTcqUb9c5Sst_94yro-6OIf85uqGVNGSQJb6bzTEnvS4/s1600/TC+Mascot.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;">At least someone was working for snacks...I mean tips......</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;">Turning further south, we headed to Argentina's famed Route 40 and white wine region. Needless to say, Melanie is </span></span><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;">anticipating</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;"> a nice month there...</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjZ5hLLRSzfvg8CbuR5cqa9BV-p-GzKV-L5gRLLGBTyhKSluBlblCaUjJdPDs6UMDeyxS_T5FuYBSrM74wIrm_4wyVgYVk-N3PGcxqJIt11_IH9U2XHmQ3K0ptjXljhOvk5yele9lo5w/s1600/us+Headed+to+wine+country.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjZ5hLLRSzfvg8CbuR5cqa9BV-p-GzKV-L5gRLLGBTyhKSluBlblCaUjJdPDs6UMDeyxS_T5FuYBSrM74wIrm_4wyVgYVk-N3PGcxqJIt11_IH9U2XHmQ3K0ptjXljhOvk5yele9lo5w/s1600/us+Headed+to+wine+country.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.6299991607666px;"><br /></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-60172733113345700722015-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:002015-04-08T07:00:04.505-07:00High desert in Northern ChileFellow travelers warned us that parts of northern Chile could be a tad boring...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DGmcgxNEuec01xeM-r26b2MXpVMVAB9j4kgIAP8CI1zk4WD9SGEhaNZwqmHYGrfW6bXmvcUnI4G6rrBOvWK-sTIEn7vkFSXl1cJjhKKq3sYk_yppYkiqaPwkF7cy9LoXIaA7A8cFRmI/s1600/chile+boring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DGmcgxNEuec01xeM-r26b2MXpVMVAB9j4kgIAP8CI1zk4WD9SGEhaNZwqmHYGrfW6bXmvcUnI4G6rrBOvWK-sTIEn7vkFSXl1cJjhKKq3sYk_yppYkiqaPwkF7cy9LoXIaA7A8cFRmI/s1600/chile+boring.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Guess we really don't need the GPS here. </i></td></tr>
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It got a little more interesting as we passed the military bases...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFl5-wbGrFLdy6nV7cwOTASrJiuXAr-UhIu5MRfnDrQ9wF7iBK2F2fgSAlhmKWlDLOPmhrMp5vr-r5WsZX88EAGffuyR4Fu0SSgvi4nbn-gS6EfmVAaTjbs8LOch3IIAW2LsomAo6g4k/s1600/chile+keep+swimming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFl5-wbGrFLdy6nV7cwOTASrJiuXAr-UhIu5MRfnDrQ9wF7iBK2F2fgSAlhmKWlDLOPmhrMp5vr-r5WsZX88EAGffuyR4Fu0SSgvi4nbn-gS6EfmVAaTjbs8LOch3IIAW2LsomAo6g4k/s1600/chile+keep+swimming.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just keep swimming....</i></td></tr>
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We stopped over in the City of Iquique, which was unremarkable except for this GIANT sand dune looming over the city. It dwarfed the high rises and neighborhood below. We almost drove off the road trying to take it all in. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHSOGh_qZHaMq-rR11agNhnlZSxqVGBxz96l5bWaChAOhMfv6iWM3AJTU-2gSQvHF5qsUF5B68Bi7wWWm9mhk7s934L8jDac1bm7qRvKbKTfI47ezXZQNiVLjNGQsiRj_iLw9zyWr5RY/s1600/chile+Iquique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHSOGh_qZHaMq-rR11agNhnlZSxqVGBxz96l5bWaChAOhMfv6iWM3AJTU-2gSQvHF5qsUF5B68Bi7wWWm9mhk7s934L8jDac1bm7qRvKbKTfI47ezXZQNiVLjNGQsiRj_iLw9zyWr5RY/s1600/chile+Iquique.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Those are high rise buildings below the dune</i></td></tr>
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Heading for the high desert we went seeking snow capped mountains and the Geysers del Tatio. </div>
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Sunset in the high desert. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMNcuLMzw_24oKnMxwCcE1ina6a-Cu5FD8E1p-pxBLBvbrRd-wDQQWqTHmvwD5mEXGIXjtv8SscdBXdX170TWnbRHq3zlCq60dRtEXdLJdKE9ZDam_PR5M1RgNxUNiuWKdF8E9we1L9E/s1600/chile+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMNcuLMzw_24oKnMxwCcE1ina6a-Cu5FD8E1p-pxBLBvbrRd-wDQQWqTHmvwD5mEXGIXjtv8SscdBXdX170TWnbRHq3zlCq60dRtEXdLJdKE9ZDam_PR5M1RgNxUNiuWKdF8E9we1L9E/s1600/chile+sunset.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The desert features the one of the highest geyser fields in the world. <span style="background-color: white;">Geysers del Tatio</span><span style="background-color: white;"> is a geothermal field at 14, 1110 feet, high in the Andes mountain range. The fumaroles of these geysers are produced by the high temperatures of their watery craters and offer a unique view in the desert. </span>We camped at the El Tatio Geysers Park. While it was very cold, the geysers are most active in the dawn so we hauled out of bed at 5:30 am (brutal!) and walked the geyser fields. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOGfRu1nV4Ca5ivruJZDECb0_EIirVwLpYfXhMmFOinGH0rmLz4UJCxMMsRs7q2_cXWtHDzLbNs406RIfRbPa8-9HjVoO17yRaMHGQ7maX9X_zY9D5XSe-RbzsBMzYCGrALThSc9xPqo/s1600/chile+gyesers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOGfRu1nV4Ca5ivruJZDECb0_EIirVwLpYfXhMmFOinGH0rmLz4UJCxMMsRs7q2_cXWtHDzLbNs406RIfRbPa8-9HjVoO17yRaMHGQ7maX9X_zY9D5XSe-RbzsBMzYCGrALThSc9xPqo/s1600/chile+gyesers.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The field as day breaks</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This geyser burst every few minutes, spewing hot water and deliciously warm steam </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNX0DaqxdCyw_IXVJtstxnkXR1k5FBNdVkaUu-UCcfAA4eyDE1lUpRgbnbJDyCIaBZMzsV-7e6wmVQfMC4J8iR7adNGBvXTZu344NMCcZT-p_xqHP1geQaOyxpht__eehzWSSEWSKQgk/s1600/chile+geyser+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNX0DaqxdCyw_IXVJtstxnkXR1k5FBNdVkaUu-UCcfAA4eyDE1lUpRgbnbJDyCIaBZMzsV-7e6wmVQfMC4J8iR7adNGBvXTZu344NMCcZT-p_xqHP1geQaOyxpht__eehzWSSEWSKQgk/s1600/chile+geyser+2.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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Did we mention, it was <i>cold</i>??</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5neNCRGG6kdHJpMwp3Tp9ZPbNS2FF8lxJc8SrVg_XJudXuU_Elknk9P6SqNJe0SP3fUYkJzxUwOjR7Sg26Zi6dajmINKV0Io4hfeCBIXNUGGhd8BwA0rRc0MYh3kikZPiBMpdlvFvfoY/s1600/chile+cold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5neNCRGG6kdHJpMwp3Tp9ZPbNS2FF8lxJc8SrVg_XJudXuU_Elknk9P6SqNJe0SP3fUYkJzxUwOjR7Sg26Zi6dajmINKV0Io4hfeCBIXNUGGhd8BwA0rRc0MYh3kikZPiBMpdlvFvfoY/s1600/chile+cold.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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We found a small natural lake teeming with Vicuna, flamingos and ducks. It seems incongruous that what we thought of as tropical birds, live in high altitude, cold places. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvDSqd0i7h54H0HVYrJPXggFx7FT3yYquPNnYT2qBKkKzhpmt5wZwaeGrlAhMud-pSbH8H2YtM-54I65NE2E1HEEsPMM7ehyphenhyphenf0IFls7T2M-iLY1_FcY1qVB8HABvpeuR-iUIqiSaeVY8/s1600/chile+flamingoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvDSqd0i7h54H0HVYrJPXggFx7FT3yYquPNnYT2qBKkKzhpmt5wZwaeGrlAhMud-pSbH8H2YtM-54I65NE2E1HEEsPMM7ehyphenhyphenf0IFls7T2M-iLY1_FcY1qVB8HABvpeuR-iUIqiSaeVY8/s1600/chile+flamingoes.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
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We spent two days camping in the remote area, hiking, exploring some volcanic rock formations and settin' stuff on fire. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCrb435Yq4ZpFo8wTriBL348YkUDsl4GZfnUiaVW_gs-zD_G0gG4JEBsHeG1T7q3FvMu4DTt1TIgGI2t_o3y28JRU1YXGmgJeLpW4GsOsdfkm9DedqLpOHoNLx8Zc71fX8v6Jz7tRuW0/s1600/chile+camping+spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCrb435Yq4ZpFo8wTriBL348YkUDsl4GZfnUiaVW_gs-zD_G0gG4JEBsHeG1T7q3FvMu4DTt1TIgGI2t_o3y28JRU1YXGmgJeLpW4GsOsdfkm9DedqLpOHoNLx8Zc71fX8v6Jz7tRuW0/s1600/chile+camping+spot.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Home sweet home</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2jnJNntVMgFnxfp0F48403cPvDucy9gIknUTNx_VJV6A_TCBnGXByEk4UPJCn1BTX0apRWu_ap7q1HAJ7HLfwzM7aSCKHsehY294AxMq-rovvs-4-EYcez2INAdSstJuUdU2QIeU7Jc/s1600/chile+hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2jnJNntVMgFnxfp0F48403cPvDucy9gIknUTNx_VJV6A_TCBnGXByEk4UPJCn1BTX0apRWu_ap7q1HAJ7HLfwzM7aSCKHsehY294AxMq-rovvs-4-EYcez2INAdSstJuUdU2QIeU7Jc/s1600/chile+hike.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Large rocks of magma with burst volcano behind</i></td></tr>
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The volcanic field was large enough that clever shepherds used them to make night pens for llamas and sheep. We had fun checking out the stone huts and pens.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1a4S6wY3arLshP5b04sBs3VXJPcsNtVbMM5xg3YIymdfHpIfeTOiT4Z1AMF2OQYc1CYnGf8HzRTC7a2ERmKTClf0OsYZV0NvzPe7TmAXkQAIy1eFHNou97sxTSFnRprKe_3g9NfvDwU/s1600/chile+pens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1a4S6wY3arLshP5b04sBs3VXJPcsNtVbMM5xg3YIymdfHpIfeTOiT4Z1AMF2OQYc1CYnGf8HzRTC7a2ERmKTClf0OsYZV0NvzPe7TmAXkQAIy1eFHNou97sxTSFnRprKe_3g9NfvDwU/s1600/chile+pens.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Melanie is at the very top of the rocks.</i></td></tr>
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Oh, and we finally let the Chinese lantern go. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTug16Ug2Z3NK7CI0FHTnskbnCOAt7SnKAd2PVtZ9TUFLQX2A0LmFSh3mKXMK0vIMsvzkciLumsjexfG52ULXpFu-3WM6IJQlvH39oyP_xyKujfh-KU0zoeVMgAp_2CVv8W_izh0zIoo/s1600/chile+setting+on+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTug16Ug2Z3NK7CI0FHTnskbnCOAt7SnKAd2PVtZ9TUFLQX2A0LmFSh3mKXMK0vIMsvzkciLumsjexfG52ULXpFu-3WM6IJQlvH39oyP_xyKujfh-KU0zoeVMgAp_2CVv8W_izh0zIoo/s1600/chile+setting+on+fire.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>At least we won't start a forest fire here...</i></td></tr>
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Night time was cold enough to freeze and burst the water tank's ball valve. In the morning, Justin noticed the tank was leaking precious water in the desert. Panicked at the thought of losing the hot shower, we brought the valve to the town's small hardware store hoping against hope for a replacement. </div>
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viola! High altitude repair complete! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp5sHiYcSLY0SC7OkiElvM8RvVO870V2WiaGpRs7UJFexcTp1v-5HN6xW9X2gH9kxMAPCNZIzVaqaFOrW8QF9rAsZOg1-TUFrsnE7R_j61VCQrUj1p1-qggaMBx8m3vriw8hMB5NNSX8/s1600/chile+repair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp5sHiYcSLY0SC7OkiElvM8RvVO870V2WiaGpRs7UJFexcTp1v-5HN6xW9X2gH9kxMAPCNZIzVaqaFOrW8QF9rAsZOg1-TUFrsnE7R_j61VCQrUj1p1-qggaMBx8m3vriw8hMB5NNSX8/s1600/chile+repair.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Taking photos is really, really helpful.</i> </td></tr>
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Because Chile and Argentina are long and narrow, we will heading south via a zig zagging east-west route touring both countries. So, the land of wine and cheese is is next...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6cwZ7XpymsB96OW3udJcW5hsGgJ_MJxx3mRsojawWzVJnLBcKD9zv2MZj9q8i2Rsxjv-tYuno6oZoYyZOjynotBolBfEjDKlqhF0Ed-yyb9obqcb3e62k3HN_An86F13QRuwzPKyuMk/s1600/chile+border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6cwZ7XpymsB96OW3udJcW5hsGgJ_MJxx3mRsojawWzVJnLBcKD9zv2MZj9q8i2Rsxjv-tYuno6oZoYyZOjynotBolBfEjDKlqhF0Ed-yyb9obqcb3e62k3HN_An86F13QRuwzPKyuMk/s1600/chile+border.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-15210820826569116792015-04-06T08:53:00.000-07:002015-04-06T08:53:29.376-07:00Colca Canyon and Arequipa in So. Peru We headed south toward the famed Colca Canyon. The canyon is popular for its amazing views and the prevalence of condors that live near its high walls. Condors were sacred to the ancient indigenous population (bringing the spirits of the recently deceased up to the gods in the sky). Condors are so large they can not launch themselves from the ground and need the updraft from currents and thermals to start soaring and once underway, they soar so high, you can hardly see them. We spent two days camping on the cliff edge waiting for the fog to clear...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSqkD21fnjh13MUgrthfLeiFHWyVjWSpbBPgAW2fID-oseL8gq2uyMdTmYs4fV2Bpgmd1xud6Xe789FUK2AAcMVQPnI6wGL6NxHUJdPfysjl-ML_ONZXDDR-axwy7ntG6wY1AGIDzeEw/s1600/fog+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSqkD21fnjh13MUgrthfLeiFHWyVjWSpbBPgAW2fID-oseL8gq2uyMdTmYs4fV2Bpgmd1xud6Xe789FUK2AAcMVQPnI6wGL6NxHUJdPfysjl-ML_ONZXDDR-axwy7ntG6wY1AGIDzeEw/s1600/fog+view.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing view off the cliff no??<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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We did catch sight of a condor in the afternoon, right behind Justins head. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xGrG1svl4GdwMVtZZ5uylLy-frsiSuNIqaiXe_0Hsqb2F8ZPZU4n6zM11FNwhutaSKO9_ggXzy145RWvFGABRyinrOASqisLZP3G-smNOx0idUidJvh1x3eQtr68hK-BZQuCnpzzJzU/s1600/wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xGrG1svl4GdwMVtZZ5uylLy-frsiSuNIqaiXe_0Hsqb2F8ZPZU4n6zM11FNwhutaSKO9_ggXzy145RWvFGABRyinrOASqisLZP3G-smNOx0idUidJvh1x3eQtr68hK-BZQuCnpzzJzU/s1600/wing.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"> so close we almost missed it...</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdHGpjjfIye7G2w7da40B1il0ZJI1fS4oFS1iQS1Q0nOiowZsXgPuzyjxvuRiFKXFEAYwp438yFOiFELUMEMl0PAxL0-uLbzsTFLjnykxHcpI3Ps6KmZuB3zX-N_ZzVarHNBasaCftkk/s1600/condor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdHGpjjfIye7G2w7da40B1il0ZJI1fS4oFS1iQS1Q0nOiowZsXgPuzyjxvuRiFKXFEAYwp438yFOiFELUMEMl0PAxL0-uLbzsTFLjnykxHcpI3Ps6KmZuB3zX-N_ZzVarHNBasaCftkk/s1600/condor.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></div>
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Getting a little closer to the birds, we met this fella walking down the road after a hunt with his domesticated Eagle. Justin met him up close.</div>
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We traveled further south and toured the small city of Arequipa. Arequipa is home to one of the largest and most prestigious convents in the country. Back in the day, wealthy families sent second or third daughters to Santa Carolina as novitiates at ages 12-14. This gave the family someone devout to pray for the family's continued success and saved a fortune on marriage dowries.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJns4PUy4_-oA2VTKmcu5JC0ymKlbKx1NbcbzaXtwSsrjyeLVW8NV6la2EPjvrGEZwlHaBwGw0Mb7twol6CGMIAARKMReAX7Jn8QuTed7ou5NDWGuyP70UuQ8trk3pNGScdGjIJVgG00/s1600/convent+noviate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJns4PUy4_-oA2VTKmcu5JC0ymKlbKx1NbcbzaXtwSsrjyeLVW8NV6la2EPjvrGEZwlHaBwGw0Mb7twol6CGMIAARKMReAX7Jn8QuTed7ou5NDWGuyP70UuQ8trk3pNGScdGjIJVgG00/s1600/convent+noviate.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Novitiates had to spend the first year praying and reflecting in their room for 23 hours per day with the door closed but with the window open so the supervisor could watch them.<br />
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Each girl could spend one solitary hour walking in this enclosed garden under the supervisors watch. Sound familiar??<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkTBzcn85sJBYGqcgkRp5tVMUlMXK5P3f3UmteOCVWOyrRZxUdEkbJfdHth7UB1FOZM6sCY9oWueUG6RpHNl7wA9ntJDjysj_fqHUvNRLjxOgaq1GE9b1mTbQUQSmypGTb5QpMtYBXLs/s1600/convent+comons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkTBzcn85sJBYGqcgkRp5tVMUlMXK5P3f3UmteOCVWOyrRZxUdEkbJfdHth7UB1FOZM6sCY9oWueUG6RpHNl7wA9ntJDjysj_fqHUvNRLjxOgaq1GE9b1mTbQUQSmypGTb5QpMtYBXLs/s1600/convent+comons.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Space for free time....</td></tr>
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After one year, the girls would take their orders and become full members of the convent. While they never stepped outside the convent walls again, they were allowed to have personal servants, work with fellow nuns and families could visit, with strict limits. Servants did the cooking and washing and remained enclosed behind convent walls as well. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYmL29tmgtJ8CL330ibuuB4mxc6mD8F4EB2eoe11Q2TsV0gVYlz_JSE_J2o9tI8Xk1-HTCrhjbpXoiT-LQu5HjKCUJ8a1tJdW-jvDOtVcK00JYlcS7PDXVcU2Gf1sGlY4Oc8_oloeJhk/s1600/convent+water+filter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYmL29tmgtJ8CL330ibuuB4mxc6mD8F4EB2eoe11Q2TsV0gVYlz_JSE_J2o9tI8Xk1-HTCrhjbpXoiT-LQu5HjKCUJ8a1tJdW-jvDOtVcK00JYlcS7PDXVcU2Gf1sGlY4Oc8_oloeJhk/s1600/convent+water+filter.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early water bubbler, volcanic rock is the <br />filter with pure water dripping below </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen in a private room. </td></tr>
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The convent created an ingenious washing machine system using clay water jugs and gravity. Each half jug had a dedicated spout and when you needed to fill your jug for laundry, just plug the common spout and let your jug fill. When full remove the rock and the spring flowed to the next jug. Laundry must have been a breeze!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56iZxTcFpd3ReSyGJ6zviNPDhyphenhyphen6q4Mpv8HVgTY0Kt-NnmF7kCbHyAHqcJF_DD6PNzfSTVlZ6rdtxzjIK3N4GgKerCN7YABV8sVzIlylV460x9myHDY0SGbieu9qos-OqF0Gev65U7sVE/s1600/convent+water+works.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56iZxTcFpd3ReSyGJ6zviNPDhyphenhyphen6q4Mpv8HVgTY0Kt-NnmF7kCbHyAHqcJF_DD6PNzfSTVlZ6rdtxzjIK3N4GgKerCN7YABV8sVzIlylV460x9myHDY0SGbieu9qos-OqF0Gev65U7sVE/s1600/convent+water+works.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
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Despite Melanie's harrumphing about the convents recruitment </div>
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practices, the building was beautiful and peaceful. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvd1Xks4du0VDr6WT2PFUekJX8wFFycDH1dkhyphenhypheng5EFjw-pjFSUCZgFWhX57uQBuK1pB8DrVUjr44NL1S3MA0yMHVknqHhSKCKxZPdptiUFsCD2MJPk9nvvlofMf5we2t6I2sv4kpfmxU/s1600/convent+fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvd1Xks4du0VDr6WT2PFUekJX8wFFycDH1dkhyphenhypheng5EFjw-pjFSUCZgFWhX57uQBuK1pB8DrVUjr44NL1S3MA0yMHVknqHhSKCKxZPdptiUFsCD2MJPk9nvvlofMf5we2t6I2sv4kpfmxU/s1600/convent+fountain.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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We visited an Alpaca and Textile museum. Alpaca World featured live animals, fiber sorting and weaving demonstrations. Peru has the most beautiful and intricate weaving we've seen. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif15B3zCbw6nApwxXL5ybJ825ZWZnKIWCyYw8Sb_RmUSqUGjjK7MkH4fmJZjRLbMAhhM6tmLRwV3kmDCdX0Eh09XkW_WnZEnzjm2xlG4rFySlUuDR1tSKSd7U5cZnV3ejhTOsC4u722gU/s1600/AW+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif15B3zCbw6nApwxXL5ybJ825ZWZnKIWCyYw8Sb_RmUSqUGjjK7MkH4fmJZjRLbMAhhM6tmLRwV3kmDCdX0Eh09XkW_WnZEnzjm2xlG4rFySlUuDR1tSKSd7U5cZnV3ejhTOsC4u722gU/s1600/AW+baby.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little fella is only 3 days old! <br />Same "unimpressed" facial expression as his mother...</td></tr>
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Traditionally women learn fiber sorting from their mothers. </div>
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All sorting is done by sight, separating shorn fibers </div>
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based upon fiber quality, length and color.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl9Td5OImh5Q-13SyPVbAn9If_SVqz84u8wG3V0h2BM5lAqXRFVt6sfU5we_t-ecDAAxUBh98H9IsuHwMWyQZVumaEORB1aS4BGHn9lTPXFAx9UmMOYgaJm5XUhRsCxb93WfUvQX1tm0/s1600/AW+Sorting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl9Td5OImh5Q-13SyPVbAn9If_SVqz84u8wG3V0h2BM5lAqXRFVt6sfU5we_t-ecDAAxUBh98H9IsuHwMWyQZVumaEORB1aS4BGHn9lTPXFAx9UmMOYgaJm5XUhRsCxb93WfUvQX1tm0/s1600/AW+Sorting.jpg" height="207" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, there are two women working in this huge pile....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weavers use berries and seeds to naturally color the fibers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC-BNZFQxw3rAjcvnOZuKFJsbZInTEvm0io45XYQ49eAfC3n-wiXWxRLmCV0DGDxEY5axyX3GLZmxjQtb5bDmPJsQvuIaZzbBsawz-h2UWeIJc4zfgYcb4bcT9Hec70kvZTKX__awpGc/s1600/AW+weaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC-BNZFQxw3rAjcvnOZuKFJsbZInTEvm0io45XYQ49eAfC3n-wiXWxRLmCV0DGDxEY5axyX3GLZmxjQtb5bDmPJsQvuIaZzbBsawz-h2UWeIJc4zfgYcb4bcT9Hec70kvZTKX__awpGc/s1600/AW+weaver.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She is weaving 12 colors and all four sides of the fabric are finished. </td></tr>
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Finishing up Southern Peru, we turned our sights to Chile. Northern Chile is next!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-47571475372888910962015-03-24T14:07:00.002-07:002015-03-24T14:07:17.669-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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Visiting Machu Picchu </h2>
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We were undecided about whether we'd go to Machu Picchu. It's a bit pricey and being the rainy season you're not guaranteed to get good views. In the end we bit the bullet and decided to stitch together an overnight trip. We took a small tour bus through the sacred valley and visited Pisaq and Ollaytantambo (covered in a previous post, here). In Ollaytantambo we left the tour and boarded an evening Perurail train for the two hour ride to Aguas Calientes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zCE7XLUchx9M9YCJb6j34s4aREtV6fuuW0uXm211w0O-X4oO-XEz7H62Wv802JdJgL3Az4eBb8J6uGkJIhVGfToC0Lc-wqVL2rIrmwNxUo8AKn8XrKKlzthQbcSK8a7YeWdaUCt-eyY/s1600/Perurail+train.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zCE7XLUchx9M9YCJb6j34s4aREtV6fuuW0uXm211w0O-X4oO-XEz7H62Wv802JdJgL3Az4eBb8J6uGkJIhVGfToC0Lc-wqVL2rIrmwNxUo8AKn8XrKKlzthQbcSK8a7YeWdaUCt-eyY/s1600/Perurail+train.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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We arrived in Aguas Calientes at 9pm and walked the short distance to our hotel. At precisely 6:30 the next morning our terrific guide, Julio Cesar (our first emperor!) arrived at the hotel, introduced us to the third member of our party, Marie and we all boarded a bus to take us on the 20 minute ride to the entrance of Machu Picchu. The ride consists of a series of switchbacks and we had to wend our way around a rockslide that had closed the road for a time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gGmxOmUotM1BdWzGbjSB9h89h1W0BzAvRBo8ifRson4vLXJ7Brm080FFqlA9JQwVxFejzKK-tmQx5GtQr8vMFxyhBohZx2GozNdp4NG2KT3dkzcJYnEeUFUiiiIfgNg8wjg6tU0lq7k/s1600/Machu-Picchu-Hiram-Bingham-Highway-landslide-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gGmxOmUotM1BdWzGbjSB9h89h1W0BzAvRBo8ifRson4vLXJ7Brm080FFqlA9JQwVxFejzKK-tmQx5GtQr8vMFxyhBohZx2GozNdp4NG2KT3dkzcJYnEeUFUiiiIfgNg8wjg6tU0lq7k/s1600/Machu-Picchu-Hiram-Bingham-Highway-landslide-sm.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Rockslide</b></div>
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Our first stop when we entered the site were two plaques. The first commemorated the "discovery" of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham on July 24 1911. The second plaque recognized the three Peruvian families that were <i>already</i> living nearby and were cultivating some of the Incan terraces when he arrived. In fact, Bingham and his Peruvian escort, Sargeant Carrasco had been guided to the site by Pablito, the 8 year old son of one of the resident families.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuZSH-63P5o98GVOcdImmEU3BanKylVdvgiNFo6n6Ou6kjX-wW5VPDItgkn93F2tKgP0jZWRRxCSO9jKlNYPW8jfOUBc7_Jc4yj7tafiXhyphenhyphenC_9O1w-h-aYEJL7XJvuFl9TEzTySZBPt8/s1600/Julio+Cesar+points+out+plaques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuZSH-63P5o98GVOcdImmEU3BanKylVdvgiNFo6n6Ou6kjX-wW5VPDItgkn93F2tKgP0jZWRRxCSO9jKlNYPW8jfOUBc7_Jc4yj7tafiXhyphenhyphenC_9O1w-h-aYEJL7XJvuFl9TEzTySZBPt8/s1600/Julio+Cesar+points+out+plaques.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Julio Cesar reading a proclamation -I mean <i>plaque</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliT1qrlGWQNXi8jGjqQRuGpCIw_puZsZnPRkon6i-4TeQcrnszxuz_8jKB0AGZTwBRdp7C0CVrf0p9aWbDWILzMoyofpDqn0fCkEfokLC1ID5sz5ADfFzU5iIpj9OllDhc_atHwjVZuM/s1600/Sargeant+Carrasco+and+Pablito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliT1qrlGWQNXi8jGjqQRuGpCIw_puZsZnPRkon6i-4TeQcrnszxuz_8jKB0AGZTwBRdp7C0CVrf0p9aWbDWILzMoyofpDqn0fCkEfokLC1ID5sz5ADfFzU5iIpj9OllDhc_atHwjVZuM/s1600/Sargeant+Carrasco+and+Pablito.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Pablito and Sargeant Carrasco</b></div>
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The weather was quite overcast and cloudy when we arrived, so we weren't greeted by the iconic, verdant sweeping view of the site. Initially we could only make out the gray shapes of buildings and landscape. We contented ourselves instead with looking in the near distance. What was of particular interest to us was the manner in which the builders integrated the natural landscape and existing rock formations with their meticulous stonecutting. Time and again, we would see the organic and chaotic jumble of rock flow into beautifully ordered and executed construction. There was not a sense of the builders trying to overpower the site, rather it seemed a kind of landscape/building Jiu Jitsu. An example is the Temple of the Sun or "Torreon" below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjMfZN0ksHTmCpACzh_12i3HYeaSrBAsp6KLqOZKUHv2Dx8YrggYNUsNcB9jqCcLcyvc1Q_rwhp8sH2jSGaQAABQeMCmZSk1UC33MTMDeU6_rK_J4eV-0ytxBjbIvt9sm6-7OhR7Xpis/s1600/Temple+of+the+Sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjMfZN0ksHTmCpACzh_12i3HYeaSrBAsp6KLqOZKUHv2Dx8YrggYNUsNcB9jqCcLcyvc1Q_rwhp8sH2jSGaQAABQeMCmZSk1UC33MTMDeU6_rK_J4eV-0ytxBjbIvt9sm6-7OhR7Xpis/s1600/Temple+of+the+Sun.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The Temple of the Sun</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqIbUsierjDvE43ZXVC-yaJSpEBbwx8H4dCFu9LKWw_yiDpaH5vhE-mhCk18MlKkJEZKd8sBmHx_BA9djzFrXsrWSAjzkrfwPRYr6YdocNrMBk-tOfoC3iXBpIQfEJUp3fDl5naEqlKs/s1600/Stone+work+below+Torreon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqIbUsierjDvE43ZXVC-yaJSpEBbwx8H4dCFu9LKWw_yiDpaH5vhE-mhCk18MlKkJEZKd8sBmHx_BA9djzFrXsrWSAjzkrfwPRYr6YdocNrMBk-tOfoC3iXBpIQfEJUp3fDl5naEqlKs/s1600/Stone+work+below+Torreon.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b>Altar below the Temple of the Sun</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtpdXfUGPMGjzvUKiTRwbErI-5XiB24-Vc3T8vioHNfdJmNgxw-OA9MPE0n95G0obuZhL08wAaHi2cEgfry_XaDPyHV4i9WjC0Y-TC2YmnbsFGz703YMD3tLQBlalhm-OjRCKZnkSHgg/s1600/twisty+stone+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtpdXfUGPMGjzvUKiTRwbErI-5XiB24-Vc3T8vioHNfdJmNgxw-OA9MPE0n95G0obuZhL08wAaHi2cEgfry_XaDPyHV4i9WjC0Y-TC2YmnbsFGz703YMD3tLQBlalhm-OjRCKZnkSHgg/s1600/twisty+stone+work.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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The Incas built extensive terraces throughout the entire Sacred Valley. Some for erosion control, but the vast majority for farming and agriculture. You can't swing a cat in the area without hitting a terrace. There's a fair amount of engineering and careful construction in the terraces beyond merely fashioning stone retaining walls. The walls were backfilled with a careful progression (starting from the bottom) of largish stones, then smaller stones, gravel and finally topsoil (the last transported by llama - the Incas only beast of burden - from a great distance away). This layering technique assured ready drainage for the heavy rains that fall in the area. Were it not for this construction, the terraces would become sodden with water and would quickly burst, tumbling down the mountainside taking everything else with it. If you look carefully below you can see a cross-section of this method.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR0DC6pmN9WweJ3SNuvcIFEuqsVmhvYtLBEN15XKCYwrPtI7XjgAr9_6pXx2375Ob3GzWJH3gSD6ihQk6Ac-jul51DwxT9r5ME-d-vphsB-6SlK2k2cnEP6T9hwNFrhBJtPTO-osQceo/s1600/Crosssection+of+terrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR0DC6pmN9WweJ3SNuvcIFEuqsVmhvYtLBEN15XKCYwrPtI7XjgAr9_6pXx2375Ob3GzWJH3gSD6ihQk6Ac-jul51DwxT9r5ME-d-vphsB-6SlK2k2cnEP6T9hwNFrhBJtPTO-osQceo/s1600/Crosssection+of+terrace.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Example of the "layering" involved in a terrace</b></div>
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One of the amazing things about Machu Picchu is that is was occupied for only a very short period of time. In fact, it was never completed. Construction started in 1450 by the Sapa Inca, Patchacuti. Worked ceased in 1536 when the site was abandoned by the Incas in advance of the approaching Spanish. Ironically, MP was never actually discovered by the Spanish and this kept it from being destroyed or defiled. (well almost - see end of blog)</div>
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The day started to lighten and we began to get brief glimpses of the site and the setting. The location and the surroundings of Machu Picchu are truly beautiful. There are multiple surrounding peaks or spires. There are a couple of rivers that wrap themselves around the base of mountain. Clouds and mist often swirl through the valleys, lending a bit of an enchanted feeling.</div>
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Melanie and I had a lot of fun trying to "reverse engineer" how some of the work was done. There are techniques that I am familiar with as a former woodworker (granted on a much more modest scale), that I could see would apply to the massive stone work. For example, scribing joints to fit two blocks together, "backing -out" a joint to achieve a tight fit and the "subtractive" method of dressing a stone (or chair part in a furniture making case) <b><i>after</i></b> the joint is fitted to achieve a fine finish are all things I can relate to!</div>
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<b>A "backed - out" joint seen from above with the top stones removed </b></div>
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<b>A stone clearly waiting to be dressed after fitting of the joints</b></div>
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In our experience, guides occasionally make some dubious claims to try to impress. I've seen guides tell their charges that "this sacred rock is a source of energy, put your hands on it to feel the warmth it's emit ting!" (Umm, it's 2 in the afternoon. The rock has been sitting in the sun for 6 hours. We're at the Equator.) And much of what guides claim is speculative - "we think that the Incas built this citadel to look like a llama when viewed from the sky!" But Julio Cesar did show us one thing that was compelling to me. There was a stone that had clearly been worked. If you're familiar with the constellation of the Southern Cross, you will instantly recognize it. Julio pulled out a compass ant set it on the stone and the compass pointed directly with the Southern Pole Star as represented by the stone. Not particularly complicated but effective when the constellation is not visible due to daylight or inclement weather.<br />
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<b>Cool!</b></div>
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Enough talk, here's what you really want to see......</div>
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<b>Look closely, the retractable Inca Bridge!</b></div>
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<b>Standing in front of the main plaza</b></div>
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Oh, right, in case you were wondering about my cryptic reference to the Spanish never defiling the site, a quick story:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><i>"According to accounts by Dr. Manuel Chávez Ballón, Machu Picchu’s late resident archaeologist, in 1978 in preparation for the arrival of the king and queen of Spain, Carlos and Sofia, and by order of the Peruvian Government the Monolith Stone located in the middle of the Main Plaza was removed to allow for the landing of a helicopter!" </i>It was never replaced.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">And finally - one more addition to the ever popular <i><b>"Justin towering over our guide series....."</b></i></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-44727347863084277442015-03-22T15:27:00.002-07:002015-03-22T15:28:48.500-07:00<h2>
The desert coast and first Inca ruins</h2>
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We traveled down to the coast to visit Paracas National Park. The desert landscape is part of the largest marine reserve in Peru. It feels a little like visiting the only ocean on the moon. Here is the "road" leading to our campsite:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02miysvF_w019yhWsJNPX-VS-X-b4aOVo6XAfQ8HOCX6_zM2pA4z0NyVzYQyrHTy-tewtoCwIrFo671gAsSOh6ZuIVaPgeSGVvky3RtHEMsPDzecr-7_MaiYYqJRrOPwn9pD-Twmp1T0/s1600/Road+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02miysvF_w019yhWsJNPX-VS-X-b4aOVo6XAfQ8HOCX6_zM2pA4z0NyVzYQyrHTy-tewtoCwIrFo671gAsSOh6ZuIVaPgeSGVvky3RtHEMsPDzecr-7_MaiYYqJRrOPwn9pD-Twmp1T0/s1600/Road+small.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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The park is the windiest place we've ever been and Justin's left flip flop (already rescued once in Peru) blew over the cliff to the beach below. Knowing that a size 14 flip flop is not to be found in Peru, he went down the sand cliff after it...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Success!!!</td></tr>
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While the park was pretty empty, the views were entertaining and the sea lions and fishing birds kept us company. The area's main industry is small boat fishing and tourism. These little pengas (boats) usually hold 4-5 . Two stay aboard and monitor the air hoses while the other two dive for scallops.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbxzLwxrM_3dWLAQsJeDpVia004O5XWGHUKok6VBMInCiqZkf9dDzarFXjYO4wFFT7_zYlih628z2tDyb0AtKXpi53v3doSMx6qPERM5yPZ7IEYGJIxL7dsweIcUj5sZC9z6P4l5Vswg/s1600/a+natural+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbxzLwxrM_3dWLAQsJeDpVia004O5XWGHUKok6VBMInCiqZkf9dDzarFXjYO4wFFT7_zYlih628z2tDyb0AtKXpi53v3doSMx6qPERM5yPZ7IEYGJIxL7dsweIcUj5sZC9z6P4l5Vswg/s1600/a+natural+bridge.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A natural bridge formed along the shore.</td></tr>
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Sunset was a spectacle every night...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim57lVzYkz9bmDnqwFmXQM0Ut1zGJXbKDXl8ihomXa7ofB7-a1rHIdAy-9oGHx1yZfurdewj7EuVnOIb44qn1Yw83WVSoaK_U87CSlq1TLnsfcQnsUFL2DSKvx7dGu2ymJ-DI7_rDMYMk/s1600/sunset+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim57lVzYkz9bmDnqwFmXQM0Ut1zGJXbKDXl8ihomXa7ofB7-a1rHIdAy-9oGHx1yZfurdewj7EuVnOIb44qn1Yw83WVSoaK_U87CSlq1TLnsfcQnsUFL2DSKvx7dGu2ymJ-DI7_rDMYMk/s1600/sunset+1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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We left the shore and headed towards the Andes and the city of Cusco. Cusco is the jumping off point for all visitors to the Inca's Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Cusco is a lovely, if very touristy city and was originally the center of the Inca empire. All Inca temples are coincidentally now the sites of Cathedrals and monuments to Spanish conquistadores. The remaining buildings are lovely and the city takes care to be clean and attractive. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeaU4QlZWtWlbDmp7sgSfYekuAdCV0rQgx5_Q-xPbqRJJ5GUFeImqaeNPStdl26mtE9ouaeJfsATISGsOqHDBW9deISYwDCOnhvo4Xmjwqk_aYirYLfWDkXfUkIE52IXJMsyQn0TTad4/s1600/Cusco+main+square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeaU4QlZWtWlbDmp7sgSfYekuAdCV0rQgx5_Q-xPbqRJJ5GUFeImqaeNPStdl26mtE9ouaeJfsATISGsOqHDBW9deISYwDCOnhvo4Xmjwqk_aYirYLfWDkXfUkIE52IXJMsyQn0TTad4/s1600/Cusco+main+square.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main Plaza de Armas, the historic center</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKPH40d3cOpr4e65KtVmXmTgI21DXKgwfSREkeCbsa0_84J8pu9iktS8kvLHanff89jvsNNJm3TNRqXiI_GXq0wLPOH6rJRhjtbn0CXocqQLVHYqRD6FmWQRgGsBEpsltpWGKKqceXjM/s1600/Cusco+scenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKPH40d3cOpr4e65KtVmXmTgI21DXKgwfSREkeCbsa0_84J8pu9iktS8kvLHanff89jvsNNJm3TNRqXiI_GXq0wLPOH6rJRhjtbn0CXocqQLVHYqRD6FmWQRgGsBEpsltpWGKKqceXjM/s1600/Cusco+scenery.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the mountains from the center of town<br />
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The women still weave using traditional patters, a back strap loom and shuttle sticks to keep the yarn in place. They count fibers as they weave and keep patterns in their head. The result can be remarkable.<br />
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We took a one day tour through the Sacred Valley, where the Inca farmed corn and raised llamas who carried heavy loads and alpacas who provided fiber and food. Both domesticated animals are kinds of "camelids" and are still raised for meat and wool and to entertain tourists.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoVa_cK19ZHyIJWbpNtBg_6l3mia4rCd_tZyoIScJeRaEpkehY_xdd6PinPO7-i8FOurBM2zTpn5Gj4jQybYrAi4bU-c240DIxEdM2GUi2D3H3BaSnX6SpzjXXBeptT2NnqS3wiQKNs8/s1600/Alpaca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoVa_cK19ZHyIJWbpNtBg_6l3mia4rCd_tZyoIScJeRaEpkehY_xdd6PinPO7-i8FOurBM2zTpn5Gj4jQybYrAi4bU-c240DIxEdM2GUi2D3H3BaSnX6SpzjXXBeptT2NnqS3wiQKNs8/s1600/Alpaca.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alpaca doesn't appear to be entertained...</td></tr>
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Peru has a third camelid, called Vicunas who have the best fibers for wool and were nearly hunted to extinction. A few are in captivity and they have a large reserve high in the Andes, where some 200,000 roam freely, by the highway. They are really shy, so we were happy to see one up close<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS6dESGENsdC0dWl0pM5jkJlRp8OYpH_oeWCaJhpFxHcKfzv7C1WNZ-brFI_74MMjZZYeTPxgiiT1sT8NtfZDq6m58HAUYxlaIAKPlOeusg68JhhCd4L8sjPXARHo0oEPaxyOQVCj7xQ/s1600/Vicugna_Grazing_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS6dESGENsdC0dWl0pM5jkJlRp8OYpH_oeWCaJhpFxHcKfzv7C1WNZ-brFI_74MMjZZYeTPxgiiT1sT8NtfZDq6m58HAUYxlaIAKPlOeusg68JhhCd4L8sjPXARHo0oEPaxyOQVCj7xQ/s1600/Vicugna_Grazing_600.jpg" height="128" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76LFWnRLgwEWHHnJ1XY2OkPPOLa0R_6ZdsdRDfj-PmKpTUiPFGi4WGVdGvI7k84v709tr1piajPUANvP51yXqyVhXhFNangvoNTgjP58Mo6Bv4qxPJs-r1XEexFdEWwghijPyfQq_Hg0/s1600/P1170769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76LFWnRLgwEWHHnJ1XY2OkPPOLa0R_6ZdsdRDfj-PmKpTUiPFGi4WGVdGvI7k84v709tr1piajPUANvP51yXqyVhXhFNangvoNTgjP58Mo6Bv4qxPJs-r1XEexFdEWwghijPyfQq_Hg0/s1600/P1170769.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin is making friends. </td></tr>
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At the end of the Scared valley,we visited the Inca ruins and town both named Ollantaytambo. The Incan site was the personal estate of the ruler Pachacuti and the city was occupied in the Spanish colonial period. The ruins are impressive and include many engineering marvels, such as farming terraces, water canals with fountains and beautiful stone work. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAdeQ8ho5K1IUiCH5Rb5DLckc2lYwzDRVRPVPDhVwcMbEmHfUsUvkn_q1O8KGwzX1qEQYbQS3761mxijwrzyFxavxtZqAuufdllxxgy1ZL4t-HBbDZpuXV-RDWVAU0QNBTz1__nZHslE/s1600/farming+terraces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAdeQ8ho5K1IUiCH5Rb5DLckc2lYwzDRVRPVPDhVwcMbEmHfUsUvkn_q1O8KGwzX1qEQYbQS3761mxijwrzyFxavxtZqAuufdllxxgy1ZL4t-HBbDZpuXV-RDWVAU0QNBTz1__nZHslE/s1600/farming+terraces.jpg" height="206" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The terrace walls are 6-8 feet tall and are still perfectly straight and even</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinehAJpWFiCQNkeN_eE0f_shyphenhyphenGXe1ZXblyZ-227ISEIyoF_TOK8tGtddcpiL2ufXZ2yq9Qsq2s7AivzPsbdv3BDk4QssvFOBdq3U1al4umV05IHxA3d63GmEDzlmQlccNjoFg-GPtlKaM/s1600/fine+stone+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinehAJpWFiCQNkeN_eE0f_shyphenhyphenGXe1ZXblyZ-227ISEIyoF_TOK8tGtddcpiL2ufXZ2yq9Qsq2s7AivzPsbdv3BDk4QssvFOBdq3U1al4umV05IHxA3d63GmEDzlmQlccNjoFg-GPtlKaM/s1600/fine+stone+work.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple walls and doorways feature masterful stone fitting with notched corners <br />
and fine even finishes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCp3Q6PRB0aP1WgXFdGrFz-xW7lcfEhAWRNV3GlCuIrvsEWq0rsqtVp974qZCS5xp61QDno92gt64vGkriCsaYyocrozg2DNiDgSOl4fVCxBhSjHroaoAMr6HojUqIh1Ml0nBl8naVGM/s1600/fountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCp3Q6PRB0aP1WgXFdGrFz-xW7lcfEhAWRNV3GlCuIrvsEWq0rsqtVp974qZCS5xp61QDno92gt64vGkriCsaYyocrozg2DNiDgSOl4fVCxBhSjHroaoAMr6HojUqIh1Ml0nBl8naVGM/s1600/fountains.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incas brought water into temples and bathing areas. Almost better water than Peru has today. </td></tr>
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We saw some Inca stone work throughout </div>
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town. Later residents built Colonial houses </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlNiC5f9MRcNkl6RQ6FzCXoWEyr9ocqtcOQUMff3uYkeBnu32zJUWUA8sOC9fxVZ8FJHX3sKDxN6cnd3foEQvqWNaOIEesSLnohN6hyVrbXEHh9vgpzGO5eA4ip6b9hru2FpwMiXmcI0/s1600/built+on+inca+base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlNiC5f9MRcNkl6RQ6FzCXoWEyr9ocqtcOQUMff3uYkeBnu32zJUWUA8sOC9fxVZ8FJHX3sKDxN6cnd3foEQvqWNaOIEesSLnohN6hyVrbXEHh9vgpzGO5eA4ip6b9hru2FpwMiXmcI0/s1600/built+on+inca+base.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
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right on top of ancient foundations.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>Other parts of town are more modern and fun to walk through. This kid's dad plunked him on the seat and ran to the market. He looks ready to ride. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg7Oz4i6m2xxUDNeTKAdntOLGSp12_UxZ3Mu7WLUGAqdg70ABJaWSBym-CoxHOc7oVlL_kpw63AUX2fnQf3z6vU1BtMa_ifVq-1PSJce4O5UkrOXEHp_3N_NYC1I72ZwAMFq2tdESSa8/s1600/simpsons+fan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg7Oz4i6m2xxUDNeTKAdntOLGSp12_UxZ3Mu7WLUGAqdg70ABJaWSBym-CoxHOc7oVlL_kpw63AUX2fnQf3z6vU1BtMa_ifVq-1PSJce4O5UkrOXEHp_3N_NYC1I72ZwAMFq2tdESSa8/s1600/simpsons+fan.jpg" height="195" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is the owner a Simpsons fan???<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />And Justin's favorite find...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Next update: Visiting Machu Picchu! </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-9344323035153875972015-03-13T19:08:00.000-07:002015-03-13T19:08:02.137-07:00Canyon del Pato and Huscaran National Park<br />
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Worlds most dangerous road Part 2. Still traveling with Jen, Witt and Quinn Sparks, we traveled the "highway" through the Canyon of the Ducks. We're not sure if the canyon is named for the bird or what you have to do to get through the tunnels.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vsZ2cDGvT8LT37vlLk-KrcRiOWppst5YJ7SgM3OkyoC8394_KAVMp_u0cXvJO0Cv58Mh6l-ga8nxUidSDs6lErA3-FmtfjNsixljl6Bl00W-XAOKNsMt_qANe5qPuQv7w5nn_b5LwZs/s1600/P1160428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vsZ2cDGvT8LT37vlLk-KrcRiOWppst5YJ7SgM3OkyoC8394_KAVMp_u0cXvJO0Cv58Mh6l-ga8nxUidSDs6lErA3-FmtfjNsixljl6Bl00W-XAOKNsMt_qANe5qPuQv7w5nn_b5LwZs/s1600/P1160428.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a tight squeeze!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The road is narrow and twisty through a series of tunnels. Signs warn drivers to honk before entering the tunnel. Westy's horn was not working so we had to tuck in behind a construction truck AKA the "pace car" and stick with him for the whole canyon .</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XQvuy_rabxQPphjdpBVdEM320UJnK73doMN4jlM4VZkNVtlgaO2hZP-IC7mdEkILyMUrkFYDCWxWWFSqwr9lswTWrPJVdXXs_rfxi0FINWFObC_RfbNoKx4jxEkvBCdNwQZ71qJYB1A/s1600/tunnel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XQvuy_rabxQPphjdpBVdEM320UJnK73doMN4jlM4VZkNVtlgaO2hZP-IC7mdEkILyMUrkFYDCWxWWFSqwr9lswTWrPJVdXXs_rfxi0FINWFObC_RfbNoKx4jxEkvBCdNwQZ71qJYB1A/s1600/tunnel+1.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, yes this is a two way highway....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjmhZQEhbx4b3J7cCrlbyqycaCpxyEyPXq66PmXm8MC1u9lV6lTFK10bbGufCt_kZQKCIRJv-o9NXqthqd5k-5qKXE6E_6sz3dXPNCp491sxDJS40NDaTIzjl49ulKz1wj4eToa_TDvw/s1600/P1160527_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjmhZQEhbx4b3J7cCrlbyqycaCpxyEyPXq66PmXm8MC1u9lV6lTFK10bbGufCt_kZQKCIRJv-o9NXqthqd5k-5qKXE6E_6sz3dXPNCp491sxDJS40NDaTIzjl49ulKz1wj4eToa_TDvw/s1600/P1160527_edited-1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least they added some safety signage...</td></tr>
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After two days of driving through hot, dusty desert we stopped to take care of some important "man stuff."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF9x_Zrh8pjQaOCxG7BIA6XZJEi1_WXur3JZiqrrYdBghRr9CPS255fBeVLoK5mtwAWqhXqYXSsiO65INbYTWvRIw52HmAfGj-WOLfC3ww6U2zxCVnoTFOD5DlNnm_5zXDq57afPhooc/s1600/P1160539_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF9x_Zrh8pjQaOCxG7BIA6XZJEi1_WXur3JZiqrrYdBghRr9CPS255fBeVLoK5mtwAWqhXqYXSsiO65INbYTWvRIw52HmAfGj-WOLfC3ww6U2zxCVnoTFOD5DlNnm_5zXDq57afPhooc/s1600/P1160539_edited-1.jpg" height="154" width="200" /></a></div>
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The Sparks Mobile has never looked so shiny!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA-QhTml-2IxaxG8Yzyy9AXAkASUWM-VMzYmPMBoNuRXVTtLtXIRmYqsFGIwbXcs-SV569qWacGk8eEk5BT-KUli9m2ewDostf8_Q_qNEt00v5FlNdmi7sIBRdH5B8J9F6b9ZS0JxcXw/s1600/P1160543_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA-QhTml-2IxaxG8Yzyy9AXAkASUWM-VMzYmPMBoNuRXVTtLtXIRmYqsFGIwbXcs-SV569qWacGk8eEk5BT-KUli9m2ewDostf8_Q_qNEt00v5FlNdmi7sIBRdH5B8J9F6b9ZS0JxcXw/s1600/P1160543_edited-1.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin in his element.</td></tr>
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Next stop is Huscaran National Park. The park boasts 200 glaciers, some of the tallest mountains in Peru, crystal clear, blue lakes, waterfalls and valleys full of of happy cows. Here is one of the peaks seen from the park entrance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TakCB2X_P-9rWo93EhgcKhQNBIy4-BDG15zMejFJhXaRNgLn3C2Ut2YqfrNPFMqTU6lMd1NtjrvIAuMBELs-4lKxrsqyLrEZ-zCsfDxhYFBvUyO2me8RwJQFXfPUm0DNRbSJDfV85l0/s1600/P1170119_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TakCB2X_P-9rWo93EhgcKhQNBIy4-BDG15zMejFJhXaRNgLn3C2Ut2YqfrNPFMqTU6lMd1NtjrvIAuMBELs-4lKxrsqyLrEZ-zCsfDxhYFBvUyO2me8RwJQFXfPUm0DNRbSJDfV85l0/s1600/P1170119_edited-2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr6KgAPJsMizAx3t-SBa-BWyw-9d0J7BWES6uBK8tX5wfrl-nJq8vEI2cHxYA94jx1nszuot8xJpZW26tsUcPaA_brnTywqMbYk3ujK0dIlnU8FXMsQdSK6ZMnG64uVcCNinTjQ6tYHk/s1600/P1160672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr6KgAPJsMizAx3t-SBa-BWyw-9d0J7BWES6uBK8tX5wfrl-nJq8vEI2cHxYA94jx1nszuot8xJpZW26tsUcPaA_brnTywqMbYk3ujK0dIlnU8FXMsQdSK6ZMnG64uVcCNinTjQ6tYHk/s1600/P1160672.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lakes really are that color blue.<br /></td></tr>
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The flowers and trees were amazing with blooming Bromliads and peeling bark trees<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dbqA2PoQYZtfOefn778Lp2t7a5xs5tuYvI558Kj7kzZQOyt3cxra9cdq2Bicxhg7TTf15pYtdNyy556qG8odqIBR0rhN3xFsJl1EQrcYy4eHTlcUvpkU-rTBY_Ca04-EJi7kk4tSVQE/s1600/P1160750_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dbqA2PoQYZtfOefn778Lp2t7a5xs5tuYvI558Kj7kzZQOyt3cxra9cdq2Bicxhg7TTf15pYtdNyy556qG8odqIBR0rhN3xFsJl1EQrcYy4eHTlcUvpkU-rTBY_Ca04-EJi7kk4tSVQE/s1600/P1160750_edited-1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV4jtCaL2Qv9tgQN5MHtrfygZ7mCqmWksABg9ezSWwMdym5uxkbUXFBM40Gk_o_GX0YLP_uV6zYzoFGUZKVzyFcnAyBZkokbqMaBOm1LJTjH7k79JnVaqNOkfC8ZJ36vQt8tMRFo93y4/s1600/P1160761_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV4jtCaL2Qv9tgQN5MHtrfygZ7mCqmWksABg9ezSWwMdym5uxkbUXFBM40Gk_o_GX0YLP_uV6zYzoFGUZKVzyFcnAyBZkokbqMaBOm1LJTjH7k79JnVaqNOkfC8ZJ36vQt8tMRFo93y4/s1600/P1160761_edited-1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2jtkwg-15Ci1Pt7oX1YTCaIz_DaIVUJcGCIkJwa603ekuUFemiHgZy6cFY0ZiCTiuwhQeWVTth48Ulws-s_EjLoOydFD-GIchaewdoh7FeHQuOjrHpUJRnK5fixEsgv9hVQnn12qYSQ/s1600/all+for+a+hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2jtkwg-15Ci1Pt7oX1YTCaIz_DaIVUJcGCIkJwa603ekuUFemiHgZy6cFY0ZiCTiuwhQeWVTth48Ulws-s_EjLoOydFD-GIchaewdoh7FeHQuOjrHpUJRnK5fixEsgv9hVQnn12qYSQ/s1600/all+for+a+hike.jpg" height="331" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking in the high altitude cloud forest. Wonderful views!</td></tr>
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Sadly, the Sparks family decided it was time to settle down for a month or two and left us for an apartment in town.<br />
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We returned to the Huscaran park to camp and hike to Lago #69. The hike took 3.5 hours (with a little extra time for getting lost) but the view at the end was worth it.<br />
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Justin was pretty happy to be headed downhill after the lake. If only it wasn't sleeting for a half an hour.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpZHtXIjpjQ9vab7Wh1g_XG_wMy6cSEyWzU1B91u5ICqNh_CVYMOwxeorIZy7V_1-WIz-6ASrVat85UDuJp98hBl2OoLQXtvE-5OqUoGjen6teANCT3NiF9p-ALu04drv7yWmjh1pPuE/s1600/P1170030_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpZHtXIjpjQ9vab7Wh1g_XG_wMy6cSEyWzU1B91u5ICqNh_CVYMOwxeorIZy7V_1-WIz-6ASrVat85UDuJp98hBl2OoLQXtvE-5OqUoGjen6teANCT3NiF9p-ALu04drv7yWmjh1pPuE/s1600/P1170030_edited-2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hiking along the edge of the glaciers<br />
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We found a water spring coming right out of the rock and filled our tanks. This was some of the coldest and best water we have ever tasted.<br />
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Our camp view was wonderful. Even the Michelin Man came out for a visit one night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyW4GZJIATgir7bY1xiSfmiEJ9gW8x2pOErSz0cs3DI-2puC4ZOajTpgBnKXfZ9oGNqJNHy2fy6C_xsb22G7HT3ZrVeDJbKV13JCONjuKsqYfvreb1g4ZKrAmTA_YL63_1YPeuadmPC4/s1600/P1170101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyW4GZJIATgir7bY1xiSfmiEJ9gW8x2pOErSz0cs3DI-2puC4ZOajTpgBnKXfZ9oGNqJNHy2fy6C_xsb22G7HT3ZrVeDJbKV13JCONjuKsqYfvreb1g4ZKrAmTA_YL63_1YPeuadmPC4/s1600/P1170101.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a><br />
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Ok,, adopting a dog isn't really a practical idea right now but this Mamma and baby would fit into the rig perfectly no???<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTxn3U_6fCUZIbIKmkFuIkC_wq9qJcswzfFh3hGkBPvnQqUYISh8KvSnrHbTbWzZBXR6jJjjRbBaN5XT-QR94KufUlGGY2uFaOVBV8Q0R6lS1iPJipsKtK02ynkW564yJ-dHTp48mLjY/s1600/P1160801_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTxn3U_6fCUZIbIKmkFuIkC_wq9qJcswzfFh3hGkBPvnQqUYISh8KvSnrHbTbWzZBXR6jJjjRbBaN5XT-QR94KufUlGGY2uFaOVBV8Q0R6lS1iPJipsKtK02ynkW564yJ-dHTp48mLjY/s1600/P1160801_edited-1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The baby looks like he's wearing a Peruvian ear flap hat.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-87133521524929109482015-03-06T06:40:00.002-08:002015-03-06T06:40:38.664-08:00Ever heard of the TV show "The World's Most Dangerous Roads?" We hadn't either until we learned that one that we had just driven was featured the show. We got the feeling that the roads were a bit on the wild side but they were also great fun.<br />
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We headed south toward the heart of the Peruvian Andes. The Sparks stayed behind for a night so we were on our own for the mountain terrain. First, we ascended and camped for the night at the Calla Calla Pass peaking at 12,470 feet.<br />
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Westy was a tad cold in the morning but the view was amazing. Above the clouds we could see row upon row of mountains. We didn't realize we would be driving over and around them too!<br />
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The long view of the two "lane" highway descending from the pass:<br />
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The highway looked much wider from a distance... <br />
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On one side of the mountains, the air was humid and the scenery lush, where we could see it. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only scenery here was the sign and the dropoff... </td></tr>
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On the other side, the climate was similar to a desert with cactus and dry riverbeds </div>
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similar to the U.S. Southwest. <div>
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We parked on a cliff side to make a much needed cup of coffee. <div>
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The views from the passenger seat were wonderful <span style="text-align: center;">but the views from the driver's seat made Justin wish that our horn worked</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Melanie " Oh...look how pretty the valley is below!"</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Justin "Hope no one is coming around the bend!"</i></td></tr>
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The drive took us 9 hours at 15 miles per hour. We pulled into a small town just before sunset and cracked open a well-deserved beer. We also realized that we really, really, missed our horn. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com1Cajamarca, Peru-6.4549673 -78.838264400000014-10.5146733 -84.023811400000014 -2.3952612999999996 -73.652717400000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-26283566654410255822015-03-04T15:03:00.000-08:002015-03-04T15:35:09.839-08:00Peruvian roads and visiting Kuelap<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We toured Northern Peru with our friends the Sparks family of Witt, Jennifer and Quinn (age 6). Peru is beautiful with towering mountains, narrow roads and lots of sightseeing. We decided to visit Kuelap, situated 3000 meters above sea level at the northern end of the Andes. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">The government is building a cable car system, so tourists can skip 6 hours of driving on narrow, twisting r</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">oads. We kind of felt like the drive was part of the experience and lucky to see the site before it becomes as crowded as other touristy sites. Here </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">is the Sparks mobile turning one of the sharpest corners, we were glad to be right behind them. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>No, no, there isn't a guard rail....</i></td></tr>
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And it gets worse as we drive up the mountain. Westy was at maximum effort for a two wheeled, low clearance rig. Maybe a cable car isn't such a bad idea...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmmxdz3_CKOOQatbaroqLUI3WS9u7HczdhAGyjh7ITb_NTbaAwu9HbaWJR8wWXYY9HtxJfS4fivDNTohoxVCjzW1H705080ink_0OqvTN-m98oOFZfFcrBJO10gHNzOWmRZJmp76Wqn0/s1600/The+road+through+town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmmxdz3_CKOOQatbaroqLUI3WS9u7HczdhAGyjh7ITb_NTbaAwu9HbaWJR8wWXYY9HtxJfS4fivDNTohoxVCjzW1H705080ink_0OqvTN-m98oOFZfFcrBJO10gHNzOWmRZJmp76Wqn0/s1600/The+road+through+town.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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We reached Kuelap without any major mishaps and enjoyed a nice afternoon. Jennifer and Melanie hiking the path to the ruins.<br />
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K<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">uelap's construction is impressive, its sheer size rivals many </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">other archaeological structures in the Americas. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> The site abuts a cliff, with a 200 foot drop on one side and is fortified by an exterior wall, almost </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">1,970 feet long and 63 feet tall</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">. Below, Justin is standing in doorway #3, that tapers to only allow one person (or llama) pass at once. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfoKNkiwQsK1NMK9bz-7-GrC-oWSZs8Llakqr_sl9MhpRG1YJbTghe9hu_pN32bz93hSEEkjcmF9xIbLOZu6aGzCaj40N8bnZs9dTajr_xdCMQR8Y6Bip-k-DvTaq40a7Ra8sJr4oUJU/s1600/Justin+in+puerto+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfoKNkiwQsK1NMK9bz-7-GrC-oWSZs8Llakqr_sl9MhpRG1YJbTghe9hu_pN32bz93hSEEkjcmF9xIbLOZu6aGzCaj40N8bnZs9dTajr_xdCMQR8Y6Bip-k-DvTaq40a7Ra8sJr4oUJU/s1600/Justin+in+puerto+3.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look who we found grazing atop the ruins!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">One of the best preserved building is El Tinton, a tower that is wider at the top than bottom. It is solid rocks, with only a small chamber near the bottom to hold sacrificial objects. </span><br />
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The ruins show that many families lived in tightly clustered round houses. The closer to El Tinton, the more important the family was in the social hierarchy. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><i>Here are the foundations of family houses.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Each house was </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">equipped</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> with </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">sleeping shelves, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">w</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">ater storage </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">and </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">guinea</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> pig pens in the kitchen. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Guinea</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> pig is still a popular meal in Peru. </span></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One house has been restored with a roof and interior walls. </i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The fog rolled in during our visit, we could barely see down the cliff behind us. Watch your step!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5p4GFTFm0wVzg-4XdnfJ5HzQ0Ip57pH01o8vnM3_kf_x4VxgJ1TVzH4GQfPpFM6AsGAhMURN4uCe6p067YeFyspLAE8qwfAWfs7ATE5wyWmN3mlw_KNINHPnKnJ9RT9az9drsYNy2YA/s1600/travlers+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5p4GFTFm0wVzg-4XdnfJ5HzQ0Ip57pH01o8vnM3_kf_x4VxgJ1TVzH4GQfPpFM6AsGAhMURN4uCe6p067YeFyspLAE8qwfAWfs7ATE5wyWmN3mlw_KNINHPnKnJ9RT9az9drsYNy2YA/s1600/travlers+small.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-55845188291485890682013-10-14T06:53:00.000-07:002015-03-04T15:06:03.493-08:00Our decision...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgah-lH_4qYxzkfSTJVdA8xwXnniYdudnlNrx2xDDSBeCFpbrskSPv8t8PIWCYOYxAVNQSraIFYsy6ioKGctu7v09Roe8m1Cy6wKtabxeoWu0TqKNi060AY4bxn9608ZfJ5Qj3dgzqBi0/s1600/atop+Quito+small+edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgah-lH_4qYxzkfSTJVdA8xwXnniYdudnlNrx2xDDSBeCFpbrskSPv8t8PIWCYOYxAVNQSraIFYsy6ioKGctu7v09Roe8m1Cy6wKtabxeoWu0TqKNi060AY4bxn9608ZfJ5Qj3dgzqBi0/s1600/atop+Quito+small+edited-1.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
We've been married since 2001. Since then Melanie has worked in public housing and Justin started a traditional wooden window making business. In the last 5 years we have developing and selling window hardware and ancillaries through our website: <a href="http://smithrestorationsash.com/">http://smithrestorationsash.com/</a>.<br />
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We decided that rather than waiting until "retirement age" we would "pretire" and travel while we have the opportunity. There's no way to know what the future will bring and we decided that there is very real risk in "doing the responsible thing" and deferring our dream for another 15 years or so.<br />
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As Ronnie Lane used to say...<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i><b>"It's a short movie..."</b></i></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-19713273834629322912013-10-14T05:20:00.001-07:002013-12-03T15:27:54.989-08:00Our Rig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOT8Qisnq_hNOtdyJunOoCb6ejTcPHl1qzGUAwNAcN1dSJ5nNQqXWpJygOvn4Ur3gIPQmgE-er8-Qy-cr-Vt3pJlID3FEd8DetB2vJzzd_86bAy5Mam4RYuN9a3D0ALJN6-_twe3xHA-c/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOT8Qisnq_hNOtdyJunOoCb6ejTcPHl1qzGUAwNAcN1dSJ5nNQqXWpJygOvn4Ur3gIPQmgE-er8-Qy-cr-Vt3pJlID3FEd8DetB2vJzzd_86bAy5Mam4RYuN9a3D0ALJN6-_twe3xHA-c/s320/photo+(3).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Our home is tiny, but our yard is huge!</div>
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We are driving a 2005 Mercedes Westfalia. About 250 of these terrific rigs were imported from Germany for only one year. Westy has seating for 5, sleeps 4, has almost 8' of head room, a 2 burner propane stove, electric fridge, 2500 watt generator, Diesel engine, 22 mpg highway, marine toilet, shower, diesel heater, 3 gallon propane fired hot water tank. We removed the tv and microwave in exchange for additional storage.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058561156721295005.post-38011755923138327582013-10-14T05:14:00.000-07:002013-12-03T15:26:27.270-08:00Getting excited!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZGCGnfkE06lb0dTfID9ufl9l1gIYrXy8igG1Jv9aJDIx-6keigmqpRErzMh9acp27j3eyskE7zwF9OPwiU655ZDmTH0F7J-WwmQnqGEPy1I8kBM-91D79cq4aU7Fo_VqagCdF4QeY4g/s1600/lost-in-america4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZGCGnfkE06lb0dTfID9ufl9l1gIYrXy8igG1Jv9aJDIx-6keigmqpRErzMh9acp27j3eyskE7zwF9OPwiU655ZDmTH0F7J-WwmQnqGEPy1I8kBM-91D79cq4aU7Fo_VqagCdF4QeY4g/s400/lost-in-america4.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Melanie and Justin are getting ready to hit the road in Westy</b><br />
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<b>(what could go wrong?)</b></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477060816206788137noreply@blogger.com0