January 12, 2025
MACHU PICCHU, PERU
WOW! This place is magical! I would also call it organized chaos! There are so many travelers in town, and the first Sunday of each month, when we are there, is free for all local Peruvians. Shockingly it all moves very well - we get the bus to the top of the mountain in a fast moving but very large long line and find our guide right when we get off the bus. We even find the sweet girl, Hi Brittany Mahoney! I sat next to her on the train and we had a great chat about life and love!. She is an MBA student from Houston, and traveling alone and she rides the bus up with us. We entered Machu at 9 am and toured with out wonderful guide until about 11:45. Everything we had been learning about these ancient civilizations really came together while listening to our guide. He really was great at filling in the pieces of the big picture. I also think our questions were more focused, as we gained more info from the multiple days of touring.
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We toured Machu Picchu from 9 am to roughly noon , then took bus back down to Aguas Calientes and had a leisurely lunch at a restaurant overlooking the river rapids. Then we went to the towns natural hot spring pools and relaxed in the heated waters. After, we picked up our stuff at Inn and hustled, to the train station for the 4+ hour trek back to Cusco. I got to dance with mythical character on train ride back too! Stayed at same inn we had been at day before. Think we all dropped into our beds as soon as we checked in. LONG but GREAT DAY!
BONAIRE - Day 2 - One of my top 10 so far!
View from one of high spot in the center of island looking out toward port. Island very dry and arid with lots of divi trees bent over in the winds and two types of cactus - one edible and the other poisonous ( used to build fencing). The Miller's and I did a private van tour around the island and then we ended tour at a beach for a couple hours R&R. Our fabulous driver/ guide came back and picked us up and concluded tour back to port and gave us each a gift ( Bonaire magnet). She was super! Below are slat fields - a big industry for Bonaire - harvested every March. Salt shimmers in sun as the water evaporates in the pools.
PORT OF SPAIN, TABAGO - The Miller's arrive for a visit!