Back to winter of Peru! We brought David and Susan Hazleton back with us, and enjoyed travel and exploration with them of Cuzco, Puno, and the Manu Reserve. Our thanks to Dave and Susan for these photos.....our camera did not survive the rain and humidity of the rain forest and jungle. We will be borrowing photos from visitors and volunteers for awhile!
Hiking on a stretch of the Inca Trail that leaves from Cuzco. Many think of "hiking the Inca Trail" as just the 4 day hike into Machu Picchu. Not so.....there are thousands of miles that stretch from Chile to Columbia. Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire, so has Inca trails that lead in all directions from the historic Inca hub.
While enroute back to Cuzco from Manu, we stopped to see the beginning of the huge festival in the small town of Paucartambo. Here the locals are gutting and preparing the pigs for the BBQ. Makes you want to swim downstream, right?
We loved the birding. Between David Hazleton and our guide, we learned so much. We saw nearly 100 species of birds and animals. This little guy was photographed through a spotting scope by Susan.
Many kinds of monkeys, wild pigs, peccaries, caimens, turtles....and a jaguar were enjoyed in their natural habitat.
Proof to all that I am taking it easy after my small stroke. Really.....I am doing very well.
Bev, Susan and Scott preparing to paddleboat to our next town and lodging. Great fun had by all.
OOps! After intense rains, part of the bank slid, smashing the stern of our boat. Our crew had to go upstream for another. The rains are definitely severe and make for frequent changes in the terrain of this rainforest. Roads get interesting!
A farewell to all of the wonderful plants and animals of Manu and the Amazon basin.
