tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20382780430727650222024-03-06T01:25:47.130-05:00Jet-lagged JourneysTravel Images and NotesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-1693794435922335122012-05-11T10:48:00.001-04:002012-05-11T10:54:37.333-04:00Dolphin Encounters<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Murray and me</td></tr>
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Bailey torpedoed off into the distance, leapt out of the water, flipped in the air, plunged back in, and speeded back, skidding to a stop in front of us, eager for accolades. We all applauded and thanked her for the impressive performance. She seemed genuinely delighted to please. And then, just as suddenly, she turned her back to us and swam off to meet up with a friend! Rumor has it that she has a young boyfriend!<br />
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Bailey is a six year old Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin living at <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/index.html" target="_blank">Anthony's Key Resort</a> in <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Roatan" target="_blank">Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras</a>. The <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/rims/rims.html" target="_blank">Roatan Institute for Marine Science (RIMS)</a> is based at AKR and runs the <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/dolphins/index.html" target="_blank">dolphin program</a>. They offer dolphin 'encounters' and educational programs. At the moment, there are approximately 27 dolphins of all ages who live there.<br />
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Dolphins have held a special place in my heart since I was young. When I worked as a crew member on sailing yachts in the Caribbean, and elsewhere, we often saw dolphins out at sea. They would occasionally come and swim alongside the boat. Sometimes they would turn on their side, to look up at us. So, when I was recently choosing a travel destination for the purpose of re-charging, I thought of the dolphins at AKR. This place had been on my travel bucket list for years.<br />
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What I like about the <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/rims/rims.html" target="_blank">AKR/R.I.M.S.</a> dolphin program, as opposed to many other places where you can 'swim with the dolphins', is that these exceptionally intelligent marine mammals have quite a lot of space in which to live and thrive. Although there <i><b>is</b></i> a fence along their enclosure, there is also a gate that always remains open, so they are actually free to come and go as they please. But, this is their home, with obvious benefits, so they choose to stay stay there.<br />
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Occasionally, the dolphins go out and swim around the area, on their way to a diver interaction or a performance in front of the R.I.M.S. facility. They can be spotted swimming along side one of the boats. They follow along, much like a pet dog follows a car or a bicycle. Sometimes, they're just not quite ready to go home, so they linger in the lagoon. In addition, the dolphins are free to opt out of 'encounters' or performances. If they don't feel like participating, they can go off and, well, do dolphin things!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharks? Nah, just a group of playful dolphins!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dolphin's home at AKR</td></tr>
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The dolphin encounter experience started with a boat ride to Bailey's Key, just across the lagoon from <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/index.html" target="_blank">AKR</a>. There were about 15 people, some of whom I recognized from our snorkeling excursions. We walked down the pier to a cabana, where an instructor briefed us about dolphin anatomy, behavior, and what to expect during our interaction.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pier to Bailey's Key</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cabana at Bailey's Key</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting to know dolphin anatomy </td></tr>
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He advised us about dolphin etiquette: the do's and don't's of interacting with the dolphins. I was pleased to observe that the dolphins' safety was the R.I.M.S. staff's main concern. For example, we were not allowed to bring our cameras into the water−but for a few minutes−for fear that we might inadvertently hit the dolphins with our cameras.<br />
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Then, the instructor placed us in groups and we headed out to into waist deep water, joining the trainers and dolphins. They told us to line up side by side so that the dolphins could swim along, in front of us, and not get confused. Our group would be meeting Bailey, and Lauren, her trainer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our group encounter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is from another group encounter which I photographed.<br />
It shows the way we stood, side by side, to 'pet' the dolphin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailey and Lauren, during our encounter</td></tr>
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Lauren was attached to a red cooler, which floated next to her. Occasionally she would open it, grab a fish, and give it to Bailey. However, she explained, dolphins don't just interact with humans for the fish—that's not their primary motivator. They're just naturally very social creatures and genuinely love interacting with humans, as has been documented throughout history. They also love attention, applause, and accolades! So, we were supposed to make a big fuss when Bailey showed off! </div>
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Bailey then swam in front of us and allowed us to 'pet' her. Since I was the first in line, I reached out, and gently touched her smooth skin. After the tactile intro she went back to Lauren, who gave her a fish. We were quick to applaud, thank her, and tell her, "That's a good dolphin, very good dolphin!" She squealed with apparent delight!</div>
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But, Bailey's mind was elsewhere, and she kept taking off to go visit her friends, who were either in different groups, or just playing around. So, Lauren enlisted another willing dolphin, Murray, to come and play with us humans. </div>
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Murray was pregnant although they weren't sure how far along. Dolphins have a gestation period of 11-18 months. Someone asked if they have a breeding program, and the trainer answered, "No, what goes on at night, huh, stays there…well, we don't know what goes on at night!" Everyone laughed! So, the dolphins are free to choose their mates. They are apparently thriving in their environment because there are dolphins of all ages there.</div>
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Pretty soon we had both dolphins, Bailey <i><b>and</b></i> Murray, and their trainers, interacting with our group. They showed off their agility and skills with some flips, tail walks, and backstrokes (the dolphins, not the trainers)! Throughout the encounter they were very vocal and demonstrated all of the different sounds they make. I'd love to know what they were saying. Although researchers have not quite figured out how to interpret dolphin chatter, the trainers said that by working with them on a daily basis they do get to know their personalities and have a good idea of what they want. I guess it's kind of similar to how one gets to know one's pet.</div>
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Then, came the time for photo opportunities with the dolphins. The trainer chose Murray for the job. There were two photos: one where you hold the dolphin and one where the dolphin 'kisses' you. Well, most folks were part of a couple, so for the first photo each partner got on either side of the dolphin. Since I was alone, the trainer helped Murray and me get into position, but then I was left to hold the 400 plus pound dolphin by myself! I had my doubts, and wasn't at all sure if I'd be able to do it, especially since there was a bit of a current, making us humans somewhat unstable. But, I held her, cradling her underneath with both my arms, and then realized that if I adjusted my legs, I could actually place her on my lap! Oh my God, that was amazing—I was holding a dolphin on my lap! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34Fk9IYTrhpuIvL6SatKc_50JKq2JQIZuzPRQEaC0Kccscpq4kZLZl8HCTI00NXe4DW25oz6FaVGSMmWjFAe-mrHySdU3YzH7eiIqmheUuPO1jnp9D_XLO3K_z0ArV3rqyxgohbO2sTE/s1600/DSC_4338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34Fk9IYTrhpuIvL6SatKc_50JKq2JQIZuzPRQEaC0Kccscpq4kZLZl8HCTI00NXe4DW25oz6FaVGSMmWjFAe-mrHySdU3YzH7eiIqmheUuPO1jnp9D_XLO3K_z0ArV3rqyxgohbO2sTE/s400/DSC_4338.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0c1Jb-Ozl5asKQPzbUHZ_JFhjls85I-k_CwpFoM6pa3Ue_2KUKbv_FZWaLM0vzk06FXkCi9Z2GisECk3Fmiam3ShUUgDyQRJurXmGdxfHXOP9wwz0f2JozK9HChIPykL3t82RWOPwVQ/s1600/DSC_4348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0c1Jb-Ozl5asKQPzbUHZ_JFhjls85I-k_CwpFoM6pa3Ue_2KUKbv_FZWaLM0vzk06FXkCi9Z2GisECk3Fmiam3ShUUgDyQRJurXmGdxfHXOP9wwz0f2JozK9HChIPykL3t82RWOPwVQ/s320/DSC_4348.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Murray and I manage a smooch!</td></tr>
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Dolphins live to be about 25-35 years old in the wild, a bit longer in a place like AKR, where they are protected. In fact, at the moment, there is a 42 year old pregnant dolphin there! </div>
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Our dolphin encounter came to an end, we said our goodbyes, and Bailey and Murray swam off with their friends. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_csTRe-Ibd8YSB69tfGxEYTbac6YPpktfsTM1Q-73MajcgyQz7l5XWB1aDsH7bizGLpVRb4oX62-BHOZak-edXEEAYkeETfv3wSfMgL-NH9hqsGkAAUlkpxXjJT3UGCWdJDBPcRMpgYo/s1600/A_George_Roatan__+2012-04-25_2563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_csTRe-Ibd8YSB69tfGxEYTbac6YPpktfsTM1Q-73MajcgyQz7l5XWB1aDsH7bizGLpVRb4oX62-BHOZak-edXEEAYkeETfv3wSfMgL-NH9hqsGkAAUlkpxXjJT3UGCWdJDBPcRMpgYo/s400/A_George_Roatan__+2012-04-25_2563.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Please be considerate of the dolphins and do not disturb them after hours—this is their private time!"</td></tr>
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For more information on the Anthony's Key Resort / Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences </div>
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dolphin program click <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/dolphins/index.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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Sadly, we humans continue to pose the greatest threat to dolphins, and other marine mammals.</div>
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There are many organizations helping to save dolphins and Cetaceans, in general. </div>
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These are just a few: <a href="http://www.defenders.org/dolphin/basic-facts" target="_blank">Defenders of Wildlife</a>, <a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/cetaceans/whalesanddolphins.html" target="_blank">World Wildlife Fund</a>, <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/" target="_blank">Sea Shepherd</a>.</div>
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Stay tuned for more dolphin interaction experiences.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Please note: I have in no way been comped by Anthony's Key Resort. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">This post is purely describing my personal experience, and is solely for entertainment purposes. </span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-4612334387805502642012-05-04T12:10:00.001-04:002012-05-04T12:10:47.690-04:00#FriFotos Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This week's <a href="http://weblog.bestloved.com/2010/12/16/the-rules-of-friday-photo-forum-or-frifotos/" target="_blank">#FriFotos</a> theme is 'Flowers'. I was delighted to hear the announcement on Tuesday, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">as I love both color, and flowers. Consequently have quite a collection of flower photos. </span></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/AVvXsEg0heiAz5wqehDtXDmkXuhIquSxnIksssuDtgvGOcyOUPHVx0pijRSv6hP8a73IUVTyEoJdDQvyQrSLIXcAGySG-8cQwQsZFJiDSke47eJTaTvMncvfrlGVoXKNt5XGLe87u6x7l1rtjyg/s1600/DSC_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0heiAz5wqehDtXDmkXuhIquSxnIksssuDtgvGOcyOUPHVx0pijRSv6hP8a73IUVTyEoJdDQvyQrSLIXcAGySG-8cQwQsZFJiDSke47eJTaTvMncvfrlGVoXKNt5XGLe87u6x7l1rtjyg/s400/DSC_0024.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Tropical flowers. <br />This is my favorite type of Heliconia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw9PxuV83brE4JdRVDF2Uz7yLRaxwv67NBxNmk2D3annF6JHYc_YvO9Do7Hzx2k82w0obwWftEeIXeclppuuwu2Pda22VNjRROIzMfiSI96trlAaQ-J9fnwhUrjuL6Rcu0dhT_nC1BOU/s1600/A_George_Roatan__2012-04-27_958+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw9PxuV83brE4JdRVDF2Uz7yLRaxwv67NBxNmk2D3annF6JHYc_YvO9Do7Hzx2k82w0obwWftEeIXeclppuuwu2Pda22VNjRROIzMfiSI96trlAaQ-J9fnwhUrjuL6Rcu0dhT_nC1BOU/s400/A_George_Roatan__2012-04-27_958+-+Version+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hibiscus</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/AVvXsEh0c-s-tuj8YxlkWfzPswHEWo3KYKKGCLTfgQGHURxYd7hBZJWZNJDfllqhLj4c-231evPsbf40qhGt1Rf71IpsGhXxKIbuwadoZVyBx2TRaO5LvElH68M25EhJ45yLrL9CcmZO0csfsPE/s1600/DSC_0534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0c-s-tuj8YxlkWfzPswHEWo3KYKKGCLTfgQGHURxYd7hBZJWZNJDfllqhLj4c-231evPsbf40qhGt1Rf71IpsGhXxKIbuwadoZVyBx2TRaO5LvElH68M25EhJ45yLrL9CcmZO0csfsPE/s400/DSC_0534.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Heliconia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1nDE34MNkJJlGdCAFtxev3N3wVxDowYtO8Rkpqr42oNf33VVM7fDlT1HgrDA9xEWKktvxn4S4OOPL1rupiE3ORPs4whCjhClspP3Y5Tr6wj9jeRQItOhNVId1d4IpGof03X81xSP61k/s1600/Spring+2008+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1nDE34MNkJJlGdCAFtxev3N3wVxDowYtO8Rkpqr42oNf33VVM7fDlT1HgrDA9xEWKktvxn4S4OOPL1rupiE3ORPs4whCjhClspP3Y5Tr6wj9jeRQItOhNVId1d4IpGof03X81xSP61k/s400/Spring+2008+044.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving North, one of the first flowers to appear in the Spring: The Daffodil.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqihOepqIF0__0L8T2Cu17wMT2PYmz4YZbca3cof4kEWSCCi_kb8OjIlQLovygCSaD_p20b-St7-TEGoYjfsFYE59ugrbY-Ptps5bbQuyMGTZM-lWhIBJZzGPjIkwoXWc892aFUaeDgb0/s1600/2009+Spring+259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqihOepqIF0__0L8T2Cu17wMT2PYmz4YZbca3cof4kEWSCCi_kb8OjIlQLovygCSaD_p20b-St7-TEGoYjfsFYE59ugrbY-Ptps5bbQuyMGTZM-lWhIBJZzGPjIkwoXWc892aFUaeDgb0/s400/2009+Spring+259.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then, of course, come the Tulips.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSXqExfB22W8fkXgD40UCjUq_ASIfNJJkjIQlc-YpPh8546uhP3gXQr4AsaLWZMq5x5zKxA0keYgwdvq52MFsZVU4YgVbjXmLLptguDBNq_uB8J9PPzQPrswcgRXcf6h5WpEK87SPStY/s1600/Anabela+George_Spring_+2012-03-23_1823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSXqExfB22W8fkXgD40UCjUq_ASIfNJJkjIQlc-YpPh8546uhP3gXQr4AsaLWZMq5x5zKxA0keYgwdvq52MFsZVU4YgVbjXmLLptguDBNq_uB8J9PPzQPrswcgRXcf6h5WpEK87SPStY/s400/Anabela+George_Spring_+2012-03-23_1823.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnolia Blossoms </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ilf8UxYplnZdYamnRYnO5iCmpdsGPrG2Vgc0QMLs-dtO_onZYYaMyIJKwv32fHMm1srfmmIh6N2ZQK3xI6faEpRmBzikhZVtBdDREd5K53B2cWG1pUttzxbiMdWKUtLCaM0w07Te5h4/s1600/DSC_0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ilf8UxYplnZdYamnRYnO5iCmpdsGPrG2Vgc0QMLs-dtO_onZYYaMyIJKwv32fHMm1srfmmIh6N2ZQK3xI6faEpRmBzikhZVtBdDREd5K53B2cWG1pUttzxbiMdWKUtLCaM0w07Te5h4/s400/DSC_0057.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Cherry Blossoms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cVwRCiSxuSjhBNz6d4ppX0YSnkQn2jfKUXSGnQSvSNkEVPT_aYvRu73X34_g4CZ46rkoUIZNw1qlgSmWMa91PX6VD3qB-nq1X6HcNg019E2-_v0VIWICOeez_bfu4E_xUHePy-9-kGQ/s1600/DSC_0030+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cVwRCiSxuSjhBNz6d4ppX0YSnkQn2jfKUXSGnQSvSNkEVPT_aYvRu73X34_g4CZ46rkoUIZNw1qlgSmWMa91PX6VD3qB-nq1X6HcNg019E2-_v0VIWICOeez_bfu4E_xUHePy-9-kGQ/s400/DSC_0030+-+Version+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azaleas<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGa9fhIXPYWZ_7mZbbSOc_jNUj0DHBYNwARxWboJiqi7rR280f-nUDikUJmJ8yMtgkMdbyOY6v60xhZGUw4oV7WjH6n_VF1ctdg09V9WLatxvT-B9wp2OYSv2mkKe95V6hvxl5xKv4kgg/s1600/DSC02227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGa9fhIXPYWZ_7mZbbSOc_jNUj0DHBYNwARxWboJiqi7rR280f-nUDikUJmJ8yMtgkMdbyOY6v60xhZGUw4oV7WjH6n_VF1ctdg09V9WLatxvT-B9wp2OYSv2mkKe95V6hvxl5xKv4kgg/s400/DSC02227.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wisteria garden at Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square, PA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_e3fjg6vjokIkHKaw5VtZLLaviivbhGxdVU5yv5gITsuTIy2Up5a7eP7axv-ifV1WHk5CpWRviH5SnMZdMs7_onlnQN9752vcJ0yhI0asLOAU7BfxSWbF1IjCGfbAmKdZbRHo5AAZeA/s1600/Nantucket+2009+239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_e3fjg6vjokIkHKaw5VtZLLaviivbhGxdVU5yv5gITsuTIy2Up5a7eP7axv-ifV1WHk5CpWRviH5SnMZdMs7_onlnQN9752vcJ0yhI0asLOAU7BfxSWbF1IjCGfbAmKdZbRHo5AAZeA/s400/Nantucket+2009+239.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blooming Hydrangeas are ubiquitous in Nantucket,<br />and throughout areas of the Northeast during the Summer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3nC-GOoVMKw86OB_1_bLHs5DTvWe2d04DAvj2SAifIfi51vbRPyHD8_6nh5jDZwnVKrJTZdcxInx64BMWkAkY2cDE5w3_QwqqnejfWJ_TKdpifWqUyGHF-0TCPBoEg0Ow6SiTkjjllo/s1600/Nantucket+2009+224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3nC-GOoVMKw86OB_1_bLHs5DTvWe2d04DAvj2SAifIfi51vbRPyHD8_6nh5jDZwnVKrJTZdcxInx64BMWkAkY2cDE5w3_QwqqnejfWJ_TKdpifWqUyGHF-0TCPBoEg0Ow6SiTkjjllo/s400/Nantucket+2009+224.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Petunias: a favorite from Spring through the Autumn.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJX6hFsWu0o9j_puePySX_IK-XI3yJ-0hCCeFVXeJgUllX_feQ3jF5JpQjmxdhGQjFkGx7auL-39HZhHeokHKo7Z8LmbpanSfxzHPNqgfPVVx01u2wRK801JGyPauEHEgOluv7EA0XMk/s1600/Geo_Summer+2012__+2011-07-10_380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJX6hFsWu0o9j_puePySX_IK-XI3yJ-0hCCeFVXeJgUllX_feQ3jF5JpQjmxdhGQjFkGx7auL-39HZhHeokHKo7Z8LmbpanSfxzHPNqgfPVVx01u2wRK801JGyPauEHEgOluv7EA0XMk/s400/Geo_Summer+2012__+2011-07-10_380.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vibrant Zinnias.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zinnias? I don't know, but I'm partial to the shot.<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum's the word in Autumn: Chrysanthemum's, that is!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://weblog.bestloved.com/2010/12/16/the-rules-of-friday-photo-forum-or-frifotos/" target="_blank">#FriFotos </a>is a weekly Twitter event which takes place on Fridays. People from around the world share images which match the weekly theme. <a href="http://weblog.bestloved.com/2010/12/16/the-rules-of-friday-photo-forum-or-frifotos/" target="_blank">#FriFotos</a> was founded by Jonathan Epstein (@EpsteinTravels), owner of Celebrated Experiences. There are two regular co-hosts: Stephanie Diehl (@TravelDesigned) and Charles Yap (@CharlesYap). In addition, two guest co-hosts are invited to participate each week. <br />For more information on <a href="http://weblog.bestloved.com/2010/12/16/the-rules-of-friday-photo-forum-or-frifotos/" target="_blank">#FriFotos</a> and the rules of the forum, <a href="http://weblog.bestloved.com/2010/12/16/the-rules-of-friday-photo-forum-or-frifotos/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</span></td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-45699200355027272142012-05-02T11:48:00.002-04:002012-05-03T12:28:29.802-04:00My Latitude Adjustment<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothin' remains quite the same…"-- Jimmy Buffett</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I floated in the clear turquoise waters over the coral reef, I observed a school of Blue Tangs, which were accompanied by several other fish, like Yellowtail Snappers, Grunts, and Sergeant Majors. It had taken a few days, but I was finally unwinding and relaxing, which was the purpose of my getaway to a tropical Caribbean Island where I could go snorkeling, play with dolphins, and practice some 'hammocking'!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony's Key</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Tangs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFA0vz1678BIr7IGdD0f3Th76srEHsEZw5E0MojIOGdgfjXMntxSx0khMjcHiVOli1tLmnbvje9Wqcq0SaaXMsg_EacEwdfWt0sqk9f4veMzeZGs_JAfgQRKkNjRweMoG4Yudd_jWlCI/s1600/A_George_Dolphins__2012-02-25_061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFA0vz1678BIr7IGdD0f3Th76srEHsEZw5E0MojIOGdgfjXMntxSx0khMjcHiVOli1tLmnbvje9Wqcq0SaaXMsg_EacEwdfWt0sqk9f4veMzeZGs_JAfgQRKkNjRweMoG4Yudd_jWlCI/s400/A_George_Dolphins__2012-02-25_061.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Murray the Dolphin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVfuOgZHk4rJqQh_Cum1jpjIbqi6Tx87rNGZc9NNfe0TMQD88upR5yRXXxFZFuwvYHfRap7k1Edh_Nn43RZamTw52bQakz4uAQUY3OUg6EBsRBAJrTjrmzZKo5cOcfgwCT9hKKDXGTGo/s1600/A_George_Roatan__2012-04-25_1782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVfuOgZHk4rJqQh_Cum1jpjIbqi6Tx87rNGZc9NNfe0TMQD88upR5yRXXxFZFuwvYHfRap7k1Edh_Nn43RZamTw52bQakz4uAQUY3OUg6EBsRBAJrTjrmzZKo5cOcfgwCT9hKKDXGTGo/s320/A_George_Roatan__2012-04-25_1782.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fine art of 'hammocking'!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband, Ashton, had 'planted the seed' a couple of months ago. He thought―quite rightly―that I was suffering from caregiver fatigue and needed a break. My mother, who is 87 years old, has Alzheimer's Dementia, lives with us, and I am her primary caregiver. Ashton very generously offered to take a 'staycation' so that I could have a proper vacation (going on a vacation together was simply not feasible). He was witnessing my downhill spiral into caregiver depression and knew I was burnt out. He was worried about me and knew the cure: travel! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coincidentally, I had been having recurring dreams about being on a tropical island, surrounded by aquamarine waters, and colorful fish and corals. In my dreams, I wanted to get to the water and go snorkeling but there was always an obstacle in my way. It was not unlike the dreams I used to have, nearly 30 years ago, which had led me to a move to the Caribbean in the first place.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first, I dismissed the idea, but Ashton finally persuaded me. What clinched the deal was that one day, while we were on the phone discussing this, an e-mail from <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/index.html" target="_blank">Anthony's Key Resort</a> in Roatan, Honduras, popped into my inbox. Paying attention to signs has always served me well in the past, and I took this as a sign. Maybe I really did need a change in Latitude to change my growing unpleasant attitude!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found myself booking a trip to <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/index.html" target="_blank">AKR</a>, which is a renowned dive resort that also caters to snorkelers like myself. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition this is where the <a href="http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/rims/rims.html" target="_blank">Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences</a> is located. So there would be ample opportunity for interactions with dolphins, which I was very excited about. Also, I needed to have good communication with the home front. This was not a time to 'fall off the grid'. The trip I booked seemed to meet all of our requirements.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Blue Tangs moved in unison from one coral to another. As they did so, I followed them with my gaze, calmly breathing in and out through my snorkel as if practicing meditation. And, like meditation, I have always found snorkeling to be very therapeutic, calming tense nerves and an anxious mind. Yes, this was exactly what I needed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please note: I will be blogging about my experience in Roatan over the next few weeks. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, stay tuned for more.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition, I want to be clear that although I enjoyed staying at Anthony's Key Resort, I was in no way comped for the experience. All views are my own.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-9284361033668692932012-03-20T12:23:00.001-04:002012-03-20T12:23:47.645-04:00A Celebration of Spring<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Never say 'never'. After living in the tropics for years and making bold statements like, "I'll NEVER live up North, in the cold again," my husband, Ashton, was just a tad bit worried about how I would adapt when we moved to Pennsylvania. To his delight, I am now thoroughly enjoying all four seasons! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, Spring really is special with everything reawakening from its Winter dormancy--plants sprouting from the barren ground, trees and shrubs blooming, naked brown trees bursting into green, and flowers modeling their brilliant colors. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But, a picture is still worth a thousand words, so here are a few photos.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Forsythia explosion!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent Magnolias</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azaleas pretty in pink</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A busy bumble bee</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprouting into Spring</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An explosion of red berries!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-28872665938720936512012-03-12T15:38:00.001-04:002012-03-16T13:06:38.118-04:00Paddling the Pacuare<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDJT5sSevNFVLdg5AseCadl1hsbEYuCPVy53mRpKmXIx7MQ6TC8s-VlFZ8_o9FK-cc8rhVA4X-YdllRPJd9rGVxu8ImTBVB7_4KvdarANYSV0n1-ZEndLGzywxgVU8fpdGfukRyaVM60/s1600/IMG_3196+-+Version+4+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDJT5sSevNFVLdg5AseCadl1hsbEYuCPVy53mRpKmXIx7MQ6TC8s-VlFZ8_o9FK-cc8rhVA4X-YdllRPJd9rGVxu8ImTBVB7_4KvdarANYSV0n1-ZEndLGzywxgVU8fpdGfukRyaVM60/s400/IMG_3196+-+Version+4+(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“BACK PADDLE, BACK PADDLE, BACK PADDLE!” screamed our guide Roberto as if it was a matter of life and death. We were going through our first Class IV rapids, which he called the “cemetery”, down the Pacuare (pah kwah ray) River in Costa Rica. The inflatable raft in front of us, carrying a Dutch family, was stuck in a “hole”, a whirlpool that was sucking it under. And we were in the rapids right behind them. If we landed on top of their raft, well, that wouldn’t be good. We were able to back paddle enough that somehow Roberto stepped out of the back of our inflatable boat onto a boulder and single handedly held on to it by the straps, stopping it from colliding with the nether raft. Once that boat was free, then it was our turn to go through — there was no turning back. Roberto yelled again, this time, “FORWARD PADDLE, FORWARD PADDLE, FORWARD PADDLE!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">But, we were novices and unable to power through it. The river was clearly winning. Then there was chaos. I was catapulted across the raft into my husband, Ashton, hitting my helmet protected head into his life vest covered chest. Now, we were in the middle of the hole, the cemetery...the toilet, as I preferred to call it. We were tossed, turned, swirled and nearly sucked into the hole. Ashton’s side of the raft was being pulled below and I had visions of my husband getting flushed under.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This was not how I had envisioned our first full day in Costa Rica. Ashton and I had just flown into San Jose’s Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaria, from Miami, the day before. We were on a much needed vacation from demanding jobs. Even though, at the time I traveled for a living—approximately two weeks out of the month—Ashton and I were overdue for an actual vacation and quality time together.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was a corporate inflight manager in the private aviation industry. It was my job to accompany my billionaire boss, his family and guests on his private jet, a Gulfstream V, and to organize the in-flight portion of the trip from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. To an outsider my job and schedule seemed ideal; however, I was nearly aways “on call”. My cell phone never left my side and never got turned off, much like a resident ER doctor on call—only I wasn’t doing anything as lofty as saving lives but catering to the wealthy and powerful’s whims. In addition, their demands required perfection. It was taking a toll on me physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and most importantly on my family. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was ‘married’ to my job—and my job came first. My husband was well aware of that. I was more familiar with the owners’ preferences that those of my own family. In addition, my mother, who was 82 years old at the time and lived with family in California, had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia. This was after having major back surgery at the beginning of the year. I was the only child, and didn’t know how I could continue to balance my responsibilities. I felt like a pressure cooker ready to explode. I needed a vacation to unplug, decompress, and figure out my life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">But, now we were in the ‘hole’ and I was struggling in an altogether different way. Somehow my leg had gotten stuck under the middle inflatable divider—I couldn’t move it out. I had visions of the boat flipping and becoming fresh water fish food.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The guys asked me, “Are you alright?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I yelled something to the effect, “Nooo, I’m not alright—do I look like I’m alright?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was finally able to wiggle out from under the inflatable divider, but suddenly noticed someone was missing, “where’s Monica?” I looked around for our Canadian rafting partner, imagining her desperately struggling for her life under the raft, fighting for air, or worse—head banging the rocks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“She’s alright, she’s alright,” Philippe , her boyfriend answered. “They’ve got her,” he said, meaning the safety rescue kayakers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">After a few more terrifying seconds the river suddenly freed us. We were resurrected from the cemetery, spit from the hole, plunged out of...the toilet bowl.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paddling the Pacuare</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Please note: Images by Tico's River Adventures)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Also: slide show best viewed by clicking on YouTube)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">We paddled over to a river bank on the right, next to the other raft, and picked up a terrified Monica who was having difficulty breathing after her sudden dunking. This episode had been exactly what she had feared when signing up for the trip—what we had all feared. We were beginners what <i>had</i> we been thinking?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“The Pacuare River, just east of the mountain coffee growing town of Turrialba, is renowned for having some of the best white water rafting in Central America.” Ashton and I had read online while doing research for our trip. But, our travel time was limited and the Lower Pacuare where white water rafting companies conducted day trips, were class III & IV rapids. Now, I had read and watched enough adventure stories to know that the levels run from I to V, the latter being the most difficult, and VI supposedly being impossible to run.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Maybe this is too advance for us,” I voiced my concerns to Ashton on the morning of our trip—perhaps a little late. “Have you ever been white water rafting?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Yeah, once...about twenty years ago!” he admitted. It had dawned upon us recently that we were now considered “middle aged”; where you realize that events happened 15, 20, even 30 years ago. “And you?” he asked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Huh, once in New Zealand...17 years ago!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“SHIT!” We could be in trouble.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Promotion and advertising had won out over common sense on the previous evening and upon our arrival in Turrialba we had booked the trip. Now, in the early morning, it didn’t seem like such a good idea. Our river guides, however, didn’t seem too concerned with our lack of experience. Due to the current relatively low water level, they said, the majority of the river was actually a Class II. We took comfort from the knowledge that our fellow rafters were also inexperienced. Why <i>that</i> should make us feel better is not a question that can logically be answered.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our guides also seemed very safety oriented having the required gear—life vests, safety helmets—and one guide per raft, four guests to a raft. In addition, there were the guardian angels, the two rescue kayakers, always near the rafts. This gave us that warm and fuzzy feeling we were looking for in an adventure rafting trip.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the ‘put in’ Roberto gave us lessons on the basics of white water rafting. He instructed us on his verbal commands and made each one of us individually practice. Finally, after practicing as a team, we were ready to conquer the river, or at least to ping pong down the river, bouncing from boulder to boulder. At the appropriate times we proudly raised our oars, smiled for the photographer ahead, and continued bouncing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The initial Class II part of the river was gentle, quiet, lush, and tropical. We paddled lazily observing the densely vegetated gorge. Everyone was jovial except for Roberto who was very professional and serious, and becoming increasingly annoyed by Philippe's inability or unwillingness to follow his commands.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Dude, this is serious stuff.” He scolded Philippe, “pretty soon we’re going into the Class IV rapids and we need everyone, man. People get hurt out here.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Philippe would actually just hold his oars at times, without bothering to paddle, happy to let the rest of us do the work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Is it really going to mke a difference if I paddle?” He asked a visibly exasperated Roberto, who now just sighed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just prior to going through the ‘cemetery’, we pulled up to a trailhead and hiked up about 30 minutes to a waterfall. At one point there was a smooth granite slope where not even the traction on my expensive—gotta have them—lime green Keens, could prevent me from slipping and falling on my Portuguese bottom, which did not in any way soften the landing. Swimming under the cool waterfall, however, was worth the hike even though I spent the next couple of days sitting down very gently.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Okay, are you guys ready for this now:” Roberto asked us after we got back into the raft. We were heading into our first Class IV rapid. “I really need you guys to follow my commands and paddle as hard as you can. Here we go!”</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">At first we didn’t understand the situation up ahead, but it quickly became clear to us.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“BACK PADDLE, BACK PADDLE, BACK PADDLE!” Roberto screamed.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">We got sucked into this 'hole' called the 'cemetery' </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and were spun around as if in a washing machine. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Somehow, thankfully, the hole spit us back out.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shortly after the ‘cemetery’ experience we thankfully stopped for lunch but everyone was unusually quiet. The guides prepared sandwiches and sliced fruit while we observed the nature around us. I realized that there was something missing on this trip. Ashton and I had read about, “abundant wildlife viewing opportunities.” There was a mention of monkeys, sloths, ocelots, toucans and even jaguars. But, apparently someone forgot to tell the celebrities that they were scheduled to make an appearance. Such is wildlife viewing. So far the only animals interested in visiting us were the three to four inch fish which came up and curiously nibbled on our toes and fingers. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">After lunch, we resumed rafting, with the knowledge that there were more Class IV rapids in our future. Now, even the irreverent Philippe was obedient to Roberto’s instructions. We all had a new respect for this river and understanding of its reputation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Monica now ducked into the raft in the ‘safety’ position, which Roberto had taught us at the put in, every time we went through another rapid. I didn’t blame her—the rest of us were just thankful that it hadn’t happened to us. Lesson to self: no matter what the company guides tell you, start off with baby steps...maybe a class II or so. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finally, at our ‘put out’ near the town of Siquirres, we enjoyed a hard earned cold beer and spoke about the ‘incident’—even laughing about it, as one can only do in retrospect.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Paddling down the Pacuare provided a great start to a week filled with adventure, decompression, learning to ‘go with the flow’, and epiphanies. It was during this trip to Costa Rica that Ashton and I realized we needed to make some important life changes. My life was seriously out of balance and needed drastic adjustment. I was going to have to step up to the plate and care for my mother. There was no way this was going to be possible with my job--I would have to quit my jet-setting job. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was going to need to “Forward Paddle”, accept the challenge, and move on to another phase in my life. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Please note: This trip took place in August of 2007. I have changed the names of the couple that were with us, since at the time, I did not know that I would be blogging about it in the future. I have also blurred their images. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am in no way receiving compensation from Tico's River Adventures (wish I was), nor is this blog post an endorsement. It is merely for entertainment purposes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Also note: Most images were taken by Tico's River Adventures. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-64826048674575355472012-02-24T20:58:00.000-05:002012-02-24T20:58:23.731-05:00My #7 Super Shots<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>Sometimes it takes a friendly ‘nudge’ to get you back on track. Being chosen to participate in <a href="http://tinyurl.com/78spw3l" target="_blank">HostelBooker’s 7 Super Shots</a> was the motivation I needed to resume posting on my dusty travel blog. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>So, I am very pleased and honored that <a href="http://tinyurl.com/74ggf5t" target="_blank">Anja</a> nominated me to take up HostelBooker’s challenge. After all, just because I'm a 'grounded' traveler at the moment, doesn't mean I can't relive and share wonderful travel memories!</i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEjc-eMXV4kYzxsdgQm6OFdRwlVlcNSVHOPCvZuEMuKudSj21s6_HOtrcA8FvTs_mUr2AMlu0Fck74tsCLV3mlVGs-vi7aR-xAaApXzRIC2chbl0-nAwGffvyTJ_5Ax0EDpRTAgw4aHY/s1600/Peru+1174+-+Version+2+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEjc-eMXV4kYzxsdgQm6OFdRwlVlcNSVHOPCvZuEMuKudSj21s6_HOtrcA8FvTs_mUr2AMlu0Fck74tsCLV3mlVGs-vi7aR-xAaApXzRIC2chbl0-nAwGffvyTJ_5Ax0EDpRTAgw4aHY/s400/Peru+1174+-+Version+2+(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>At dawn, before the sunrise, my husband, Ashton, and I reached this spot overlooking Machu Picchu. I set up my tripod and camera and started shooting away changing the exposure as the light changed. We were at this spot for a couple of hours. Although I have dozens of images focusing right on Machu Picchu, this is the only photo I have of this remarkable view which includes the surrounding mountains right at sunrise. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>It was a unique and magical moment--one that you cherish for a lifetime.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>2. A photo that makes me laugh or smile.</b></span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU-oRqvz5vp8X-9R8gTbVYwgswjzX9c2x7MCCqYvbxmxxLtxLGwvEE8iq-RMGHjvs_h5hI1VNeOK_zTSkoC3JnI-Wpdrp1QTpaVwxEEEb9CfyZpLBgiqRwAAiW5SEOtmObSboRH02wro/s1600/Bali+Wedding+2005+216+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU-oRqvz5vp8X-9R8gTbVYwgswjzX9c2x7MCCqYvbxmxxLtxLGwvEE8iq-RMGHjvs_h5hI1VNeOK_zTSkoC3JnI-Wpdrp1QTpaVwxEEEb9CfyZpLBgiqRwAAiW5SEOtmObSboRH02wro/s400/Bali+Wedding+2005+216+-+Version+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Several monkeys guided my husband, Ashton, and I through the "Indiana Jones" like environment at the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A few monkeys stuck </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>around to play with us. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I was fortunate to </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>capture this cute moment </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>where Ashton is getting 'groomed'!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>3. A photo that makes me dream.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ3oYeUNp8xdJJZI8YA7rBgNoayL8kWDq1b6bm-fJ3_Z22CIYwo9ZLFk7IqhL0WJ3MvLyuv_QhMt1gCUANG_MK7Ey4mNgzapABboQdoQhei3jq2hNgyoOnL1DTCabA2sBIT5UiT9AV10/s1600/00080_n_10ae6quzrr0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ3oYeUNp8xdJJZI8YA7rBgNoayL8kWDq1b6bm-fJ3_Z22CIYwo9ZLFk7IqhL0WJ3MvLyuv_QhMt1gCUANG_MK7Ey4mNgzapABboQdoQhei3jq2hNgyoOnL1DTCabA2sBIT5UiT9AV10/s400/00080_n_10ae6quzrr0091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This was taken in Moorea, French Polynesia, just a short ferry ride away </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>from the main island of Tahiti. I'm a sucker for tropical landscapes.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> I dream of returning there someday...soon.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>4. A photo that makes me think.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG795iC7rBrIuQWIhAIEh5r_YfIfv_Kma7_1w4nMGDyL7EIbS2kDiD7KhZAM4Y5gKsI-bJnE_nth1jBCM4ShcGsu5HMbXAmozRwqwvBh27umEFWMNGX4EbE3tVfMGL5XcXq-ALGBH_q0/s1600/DSC00362+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG795iC7rBrIuQWIhAIEh5r_YfIfv_Kma7_1w4nMGDyL7EIbS2kDiD7KhZAM4Y5gKsI-bJnE_nth1jBCM4ShcGsu5HMbXAmozRwqwvBh27umEFWMNGX4EbE3tVfMGL5XcXq-ALGBH_q0/s400/DSC00362+-+Version+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Every time I look at this photo, I wonder if these folks are still alive. When </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I was working as a flight attendant on a private jet, we flew over to Thailand several times. The pilots and I were on 'standby' in Phuket for a few days in 2003--hard duty, I know--when I took this photo. My work was very physical, contributing to an assortment of aches and pains. I always looked forward to flying to Southeast Asia, where I knew I could get wonderful massages. But, on December 26, 2004 the Tsunami wiped out this hotel along with many others. These folks were always in this spot, first thing in the morning, ready for clients. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>There was a good chance that they were there on that day. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>5. A photo that makes my mouth water.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qySN0pCgd-x7nj_wz2g7OWyftmhFdcsYbWZ4qMpT_IgfAdCp94sNea-D3rsFEaS1v1iq1Sybbk-V1zs27McC0aV4LCIwIA5VVBe_N0ogRctMb2bA0-ke9vfgSYtZjLSnJ8D5lvV5i0Q/s1600/DSC00281+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qySN0pCgd-x7nj_wz2g7OWyftmhFdcsYbWZ4qMpT_IgfAdCp94sNea-D3rsFEaS1v1iq1Sybbk-V1zs27McC0aV4LCIwIA5VVBe_N0ogRctMb2bA0-ke9vfgSYtZjLSnJ8D5lvV5i0Q/s400/DSC00281+-+Version+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>My old job, as a private flight attendant, took me to some amazing places. One of those places was Bagan, Burma/Myanmar. This photo was taken at an outdoor restaurant overlooking the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">Ayeyarwaddy River. Our government 'minder' was actually a very nice lady who showed us around and ordered this fabulous meal! </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>6. A photo that tells a story.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarjsvPRbgD2x27FbigfyIgIj7J7VUWQ3FFfd94GtRvkq_hPGiZpWYCbt6BzBr9G-g82onD1RV1HcA4xa41DCv3_Y4sUkZTRQlEnXIWwAT-5_P6YD5KkRaGgow2JREj6HDyThTZmR_1VE/s1600/Peru+1826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarjsvPRbgD2x27FbigfyIgIj7J7VUWQ3FFfd94GtRvkq_hPGiZpWYCbt6BzBr9G-g82onD1RV1HcA4xa41DCv3_Y4sUkZTRQlEnXIWwAT-5_P6YD5KkRaGgow2JREj6HDyThTZmR_1VE/s400/Peru+1826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While walking around with my camera in Aguas Calientes, Peru, just below Machu Picchu, I noticed these girls and quickly shot a couple of photos. I was fortunate to capture this special moment where the two girls are so completely </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>7. A photo that I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot).</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIOuCyaG9kYTzgfp9QqjIzRMLctes9A1aJ31cy04hR4X3w96k8SV8SXgWdGTikiYyA4C1Ht8B-KUshoyGakrKcXz_vbqRTcA9V4KdkScgzcWZdT7qXqS4ShLV57x9Kkh2shDUxi3ZVbs/s1600/Peru+2751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIOuCyaG9kYTzgfp9QqjIzRMLctes9A1aJ31cy04hR4X3w96k8SV8SXgWdGTikiYyA4C1Ht8B-KUshoyGakrKcXz_vbqRTcA9V4KdkScgzcWZdT7qXqS4ShLV57x9Kkh2shDUxi3ZVbs/s400/Peru+2751.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>These are Red and Green Macaws in the Peruvian Amazon at the Manu Wildlife Center area. It took several flights, canoe rides, hiking in the rain, and a lot of patience waiting on a viewing platform, to get this photo. This is why I deem it my "worthy of National Geographic shot"! For more on this adventure please see one of my older posts,</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><a href="http://tinyurl.com/6vtco24" target="_blank">"A Morning at the Macaw Clay Lick."</a></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>So now I guess it's my turn to nominate 5 bloggers to participate in <a href="http://tinyurl.com/78spw3l" target="_blank">HostelBooker’s 7 Super Shots</a>, which is not an easy task. I nominate the following travel bloggers:</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christina Saull: <a href="http://www.myviewfromthemiddleseat.com/" target="_blank">@MiddleSeatView</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iain Mallory: <a href="http://malloryontravel.com/" target="_blank">@MalloryOnTravel</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kymri: <a href="http://www.miraterratravel.com/" target="_blank">@Kymri (Mira Terra Images)</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alexandra Hunter: <a href="http://TravelNoodle.com/" target="_blank">@alexandraeh (Travel Noodle)</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vitra Sin: <a href="http://ladolcevitra.com/" target="_blank">@VitraSin (La Dolce Vitra)</a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-73682367129662968622011-12-31T19:27:00.001-05:002011-12-31T23:08:06.067-05:00My year in photos: 2011<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>I will not be waxing nostalgic about 2011. It was not that sort of year for me. Of course there were highs and lows as always, but the lows were quite bumpy and...they left an indelible mark. So, for me it's good riddance to 2011 and hello 2012. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>However, I will try not to dwell upon the bumps but celebrate the joys </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>and triumphs of 2011. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>The best way I know how to do that is through photography. So, I'm sharing a photo essay of 2011, from my perspective. ( I'll leave out the Autumn hospital stays with my mother.)</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">January 2011</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqIEz5sQ4A0ZM7yAlmR9i2_4O8roj0RGh0yI-TC4A15Z1iP0ds6Fh2jg4bBVhif3mGcXr0y12MZ3gKIiG8zxAy88X-1T0rDqJxIt0XiA2t5TY978jpdkcz3fKNMw1A7lQALNM8Orr-K0/s1600/DSC_0718+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqIEz5sQ4A0ZM7yAlmR9i2_4O8roj0RGh0yI-TC4A15Z1iP0ds6Fh2jg4bBVhif3mGcXr0y12MZ3gKIiG8zxAy88X-1T0rDqJxIt0XiA2t5TY978jpdkcz3fKNMw1A7lQALNM8Orr-K0/s320/DSC_0718+-+Version+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had a couple of back to back Blizzards in the Northeast during January, </div>
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which left us with a spectacular "Winter Wonderland".</div>
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Sometimes it takes a lot of patience to wait until that moment </div>
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when the sun pops through the clouds. But, then...it's glorious!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Just recently I started playing around with HDR. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a more personal note, Ashton, my husband, and I took my mom to the Atlantic City Casinos for her 86th Birthday. She's a fan of the 'one armed bandits'! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here she is during healthier days.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mother and I, at Caesar's Casino. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I am not a big fan of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">donating to the casinos, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my mother rather enjoys it and it's good entertainment for her.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpYiThhnlnMMyt4Evb8ETOufLarjJoHIUp8xJ-qReHPz99ya8z_9-YUvQFCSIamnDnp7FrPVgloL29AmnqSA5Qk-jzjDsW43R1szTTQO-VlVKlkLT2F79J829APZGq38UQzAoREOdZqc/s1600/DSC01987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpYiThhnlnMMyt4Evb8ETOufLarjJoHIUp8xJ-qReHPz99ya8z_9-YUvQFCSIamnDnp7FrPVgloL29AmnqSA5Qk-jzjDsW43R1szTTQO-VlVKlkLT2F79J829APZGq38UQzAoREOdZqc/s320/DSC01987.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The famous, or rather infamous, Atlantic City Boardwalk.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February 2011</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I flew my mother out to Fresno, California for a visit with her sister and family in Clovis.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From left to right: My aunt Lidia, me, cousin Paula, and my mom.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC4v-sANPNH0RWnJ6ARQPOcwVWeXv3RBDhjRSEFJb436ndGOYZrLtGSnp13W_x2F9IpbugLyOCW4d8c7wXkSomRnkaPO75RQWi_ZVKd9vGsXRq270f4quE4M9qXcmzpzc-XpYjHvfPi0/s1600/DSC02035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC4v-sANPNH0RWnJ6ARQPOcwVWeXv3RBDhjRSEFJb436ndGOYZrLtGSnp13W_x2F9IpbugLyOCW4d8c7wXkSomRnkaPO75RQWi_ZVKd9vGsXRq270f4quE4M9qXcmzpzc-XpYjHvfPi0/s320/DSC02035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The visit coincided with my cousin Adriana's 21st Birthday.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">March 2011</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMMb5fycffNpOoIBO8CY17uTZ7h1qWVsWGWG8wcKbFhIzMspFar47VlYy2oj01lZ7twon50WUayklJb3ozHJrGMLD3RH3K7gUEdoHNiy_NlPhvaJnj7ZSHkYp8Nq83WhTOO4bdR_XxA8/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMMb5fycffNpOoIBO8CY17uTZ7h1qWVsWGWG8wcKbFhIzMspFar47VlYy2oj01lZ7twon50WUayklJb3ozHJrGMLD3RH3K7gUEdoHNiy_NlPhvaJnj7ZSHkYp8Nq83WhTOO4bdR_XxA8/s320/DSC_0044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile back at home in Pennsylvania: Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRclOIaMt7uqAqBWmuR0fdt4TAz2NMuP3Art6S0XwpFdPmUvkzhfvPq9kF2CY39zl8OwuKWze6UvxMA91gmJBWOAAR3eAyuYmqUsMBKe8f9NrSGT1gDlw-bpQVGRhNPnBAWiRy504xTc8/s1600/DSC_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRclOIaMt7uqAqBWmuR0fdt4TAz2NMuP3Art6S0XwpFdPmUvkzhfvPq9kF2CY39zl8OwuKWze6UvxMA91gmJBWOAAR3eAyuYmqUsMBKe8f9NrSGT1gDlw-bpQVGRhNPnBAWiRy504xTc8/s320/DSC_0056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3-um_9VioRN-0JeysxL9-uaVLD5Ytto-j1Xh_qU4AJEg1IDPlj57EEJG62hSQ7NVl41VksJ7QEr9SPaYB7zuwhh6qrRpLIMxUtTsR3mBkjuhwhS9LiOtbR4R24ESuMTGBPgZZu5Mt30/s1600/Spring+2011+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3-um_9VioRN-0JeysxL9-uaVLD5Ytto-j1Xh_qU4AJEg1IDPlj57EEJG62hSQ7NVl41VksJ7QEr9SPaYB7zuwhh6qrRpLIMxUtTsR3mBkjuhwhS9LiOtbR4R24ESuMTGBPgZZu5Mt30/s320/Spring+2011+061.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daffodils are one of the first signs of Spring!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3N97T0aTVa6_jcsa6HPRQwTeItrXKoJrEsrPzxnOIJhKgm3aHnRHRpe0Va9j2NlMW2QqPM4Tz5aMeSMdjdc43YaXumw4tuDYS1TSqxWX6BF2aN_Th8JMV3DsDcQVhA-UymkFfvHLjA4/s1600/Spring+2011+257+-+Version+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3N97T0aTVa6_jcsa6HPRQwTeItrXKoJrEsrPzxnOIJhKgm3aHnRHRpe0Va9j2NlMW2QqPM4Tz5aMeSMdjdc43YaXumw4tuDYS1TSqxWX6BF2aN_Th8JMV3DsDcQVhA-UymkFfvHLjA4/s320/Spring+2011+257+-+Version+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the Spring I played around with Zoom & Abstract photography, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">something I had started to work with last year.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also became more involved in social media, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">probably as a distraction from my caregiving responsibilities.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 2011</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsr3wGUzrAh6VlsHuCYASj1VHM55D8Tfbqls1dKc5tU2p9OjM8fQFh65MOh2IJmtzgo9XH5zQ8uWU2UsDRhzw3csqHgBbaj7HfuuK5TNexXiGBA945X7wWDROTtHIMTVBlWRQLQ18dao/s1600/DSC02224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsr3wGUzrAh6VlsHuCYASj1VHM55D8Tfbqls1dKc5tU2p9OjM8fQFh65MOh2IJmtzgo9XH5zQ8uWU2UsDRhzw3csqHgBbaj7HfuuK5TNexXiGBA945X7wWDROTtHIMTVBlWRQLQ18dao/s320/DSC02224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mother and I at Longwood Gardens amongst some spectacular Japanese Wisteria.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">June 2011</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzY1HvH1S8cpRTST39a1qGfjJYSYGX9DO0TsOb3megv2rCHxF5zMm0Q9aic4JLHUezj5Do7mEUi-BjMuk7KwfU5j5tA4UWU0rlxe0gkDAYViH6xKXzgXY3tWaB4JBwHu2Su6Fqvn4P0A/s1600/DSC_0165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzY1HvH1S8cpRTST39a1qGfjJYSYGX9DO0TsOb3megv2rCHxF5zMm0Q9aic4JLHUezj5Do7mEUi-BjMuk7KwfU5j5tA4UWU0rlxe0gkDAYViH6xKXzgXY3tWaB4JBwHu2Su6Fqvn4P0A/s320/DSC_0165.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In June I visited with some old yachting friends. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We met up in Long Island, Maine.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wendy, Susan and Mary. I'm in the front.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long Island, Maine</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July 2011</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer at Avalon Beach, at the New Jersey Shore.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ashton's Birthday</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August 2011</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attending the Book Passage Travel, Food, and Photography Conference </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one of the highlights of the year for me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winning the Photography contest was the frosting on the cake!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robert Holmes and Don George are the Co-hosts </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of this reknowned travel conference now in its 20th year.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two very talented and wonderful individuals: Tim Cahill and Don George! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim actually took Don's famous Seersucker jacket and made me wear it for this photo! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before the start of the conference Robert Holmes also taught a one day workshop, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">out in the field, at Point Reyes National Seashore.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While in Lovely Marin County I also went for a walk </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in one of my favorite places: Muir Woods National Monument.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immediately after I returned to my aunt's home, after attending the Book Passage Conference, my mother collapsed. She had to be taken to the Emergency Room in Fresno, and was admitted to the hospital. Ashton flew out to California to help me bring my mother back home to Pennsylvania. Her health has been precarious ever since with three more ER visits, two more hospital stays, a litany of tests and visits to specialists, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and many scares over the past few months. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day after we arrived back home in Pennsylvania, from California, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we experienced </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">now infamous</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">East coast earthquake. The irony is inescapable.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My poor mother thought she was collapsing again </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but it was only the house shaking. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days after that, Hurricane Irene came tearing through, causing major devastation to thousands of people in the Northeast.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 2011</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Media Trolley</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Media Farmer's Market</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">October 2011</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The end of October brought a freak snow storm to the Northeast.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 2011</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_i-8DTsmZ6KzWgb6r4MExvlVAc95LC4WVHdf6PBerA3Oyxrh2yVQs4mviW59IfA2LcA0V16VA3VbC0P8Qa_0vmwscPyUqw71dyfRE3XMOrPq0puREkEqfqO5psQz4ObxEBS9bONrhYk/s1600/2011+Veteran%2527s+Day+1656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_i-8DTsmZ6KzWgb6r4MExvlVAc95LC4WVHdf6PBerA3Oyxrh2yVQs4mviW59IfA2LcA0V16VA3VbC0P8Qa_0vmwscPyUqw71dyfRE3XMOrPq0puREkEqfqO5psQz4ObxEBS9bONrhYk/s320/2011+Veteran%2527s+Day+1656.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">were in town for the Media Veteran's Day Parade.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Happy New Year! </i></span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-89264264007012180262011-11-18T10:38:00.001-05:002011-11-18T13:02:26.679-05:00#FriFotos Flags<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I was very excited to be asked to guest co-host #FriFotos this week. #Frifotos is a weekly, day-long Twitter event, in which people from around the world share their photos. Every Friday there is a different theme. #FriFotos was founded by Jonathan Epstein (@EpsteinTravels) owner of <a href="http://www.celebratedexperiences.com/" target="_blank">Celebrated Experiences</a>, and is regularly co-hosted by Charles Yap (@HotelPRGuy) and Stephanie Diehl (@TravelDesigned). Today, I also have the pleasure of guest co-hosting with Christina Saull (@MiddleSeatView), one of my #Togchat friends (but that's another blog post)! </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Anyone with a Twitter account can participate in #FriFotos please click <a href="http://weblog.bestloved.com/2010/12/16/the-rules-of-friday-photo-forum-or-frifotos/" target="_blank">here</a> for more information. Oh, and don't forget to have fun!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Following are some of my favorite Flag photos.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju68Bh8xThIEjPI3B0GctVy-KfwoCdXgbE3BiXTu1du8wWaQCF5UMWBw-ics7tovGH4k8ydjuIFY9oFW8DzvUlwjgxsrtf95bDt_nlwQpqDJmVWApoYrglkwzeOjFulU3vCGFHBoVckgo/s1600/2011+Veteran%2527s+Day+1656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju68Bh8xThIEjPI3B0GctVy-KfwoCdXgbE3BiXTu1du8wWaQCF5UMWBw-ics7tovGH4k8ydjuIFY9oFW8DzvUlwjgxsrtf95bDt_nlwQpqDJmVWApoYrglkwzeOjFulU3vCGFHBoVckgo/s320/2011+Veteran%2527s+Day+1656.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady, Dr. Jill Biden <br />
attended a Veteran's Day event in my town, Media, Pennsylvania.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York City</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flags from around the world at Rockefeller Center.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Spanish Flag in Madrid.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papua New Guinea</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Peruvian flag accompanied by the indigenous Inca flag, <br />
taken at the famous Pisac Sunday Market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Russian Flag flies proudly over The Hermitage, St Petersburg, Russia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the contrast of the American flag above the 'adult entertainment' store!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-82548505853457344352011-11-02T11:30:00.001-04:002011-11-02T12:56:34.874-04:00Wanderlust Wednesday: Moorea, French Polynesia<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Paradise Found" in Moorea</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moorea, also referred to as Mo'orea, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">is part of the Society Islands Archipelago of French Polynesia.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>Geography:</u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Location: South Pacific </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Coordinates: 17º32' S 149º 50' W</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Area: 134 km² (51.7 sq miles)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Highest elevation: 1,207 m (3,960 ft)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Highest Point: Mont Tohive'a<span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had the good fortune to visit Moorea back in 2002 when I was working as flight attendant on a private jet. We dropped the owner and his family off in the Marquesas Islands where they met up with their motor yacht. The plan was for the yacht to cruise around the Marquesas and make its way down to the Society Islands. The pilots and I flew to Tahiti, where we remained on "stand-by", while the family cruised around the islands. They popped in and out of Tahiti several times during the month to re-fuel and re-provision. So we, the crew, had the opportunity not only to enjoy Tahiti, but also to take the ferry over to Moorea a couple of times, and drive around the island. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My evolving "Wanderlust Wednesday" image post will now be accompanied by geographical information. Why? Because it's my blog and I love geography! Perhaps I will even add some geological information in the future. What do you think?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sources: DK Essential Atlas of the World & Wikipedia.</span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-85359302169039933412011-10-31T16:34:00.000-04:002011-10-31T16:34:20.130-04:00Sights and Sounds of Autumn: Part III<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Autumn in Pennsylvania</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>An Afternoon at Linvilla Orchards, Media, Pennsylvania</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are plenty of pumpkins to choose from!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYZe1fttctNO1FF0CV8ApKxguFxLafgIkKSN78oRkzPLiPghyPXVAEiWxiKYQyOv4hH-DFwLx71p-ecZx5o_GbPvq78nqTIJdoiZyema-Nr9kWLtRlFAVitafRwqeEzxkKBfMvJyCgrI/s1600/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYZe1fttctNO1FF0CV8ApKxguFxLafgIkKSN78oRkzPLiPghyPXVAEiWxiKYQyOv4hH-DFwLx71p-ecZx5o_GbPvq78nqTIJdoiZyema-Nr9kWLtRlFAVitafRwqeEzxkKBfMvJyCgrI/s320/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1493.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a kid in there somewhere!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6c2uNNoWXH7QxxOEgEEOpaFrF6_EfOD1f2QLYV1UpNa-P7V4BEk9ejF-Neso0bvKykb2hz2zW40BY2OO9qGAf3AjPUKP0B7kYgwKruceXOuvYvV4q8FnrL7uMNxJoan8B8dCzvBoWpxI/s1600/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6c2uNNoWXH7QxxOEgEEOpaFrF6_EfOD1f2QLYV1UpNa-P7V4BEk9ejF-Neso0bvKykb2hz2zW40BY2OO9qGAf3AjPUKP0B7kYgwKruceXOuvYvV4q8FnrL7uMNxJoan8B8dCzvBoWpxI/s320/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1451.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't pass up this classic shot: A guy with a Phillies shirt carrying a pumpkin!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>An Autumn afternoon at Linvilla Orchards is also about the food.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZt25YDZJosYtCpHBlVHjejdVYPrwgmp-SJF3RjaCaOlsfkRC27MlMHzyqiVQX1D5qQSD7GUi2bdHlxRoVEZJFKBMoVnkMdRCTYg7pZkL9PqvQwGqfM8MaFHQDrPXLXmPZViesmIZYGik/s1600/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZt25YDZJosYtCpHBlVHjejdVYPrwgmp-SJF3RjaCaOlsfkRC27MlMHzyqiVQX1D5qQSD7GUi2bdHlxRoVEZJFKBMoVnkMdRCTYg7pZkL9PqvQwGqfM8MaFHQDrPXLXmPZViesmIZYGik/s320/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1455.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLoUvDHePmpKwTe03qKpRZjatHJn7Ud9-bKSSHGGg1jFUAs4WGMMIQUeLpyTqC8-5mUFEwBdANfz1MNvRDUI2uToq2u42V2iS5Pw_I95wrWd5IvyLs-7bELECXXEY3jupYlzcImG89P0/s1600/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLoUvDHePmpKwTe03qKpRZjatHJn7Ud9-bKSSHGGg1jFUAs4WGMMIQUeLpyTqC8-5mUFEwBdANfz1MNvRDUI2uToq2u42V2iS5Pw_I95wrWd5IvyLs-7bELECXXEY3jupYlzcImG89P0/s320/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1457.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funnel Cakes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The obligatory candied apple stand!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love Caramel Corn?</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>And there are a lot of activities, for kids and their parents alike. </i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And train rides...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBH2XARPxjOHdoqrLbX3JxDgdkEnd3bnMQi5V0G1czNThycEYWH8DS0hYyNaou2dhUcKP3p-1oriBLFjjUo48ihtSWdZkS3uw9LcQPwUDnmmt6wqxh0Xjbqav60-ttMXGDn6EEyy1E6f0/s1600/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBH2XARPxjOHdoqrLbX3JxDgdkEnd3bnMQi5V0G1czNThycEYWH8DS0hYyNaou2dhUcKP3p-1oriBLFjjUo48ihtSWdZkS3uw9LcQPwUDnmmt6wqxh0Xjbqav60-ttMXGDn6EEyy1E6f0/s320/Autumn+Afternoon+at+Linvilla+Orchard+1475.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Hay rides...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Mazes to get lost in...</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>There is also a market where you can purchase apples picked right from the orchard. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>In addition, there </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>other fresh fruits, </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>produce, jams, maple syrup, fresh baked pies, </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and a variety of other fabulous </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>food items.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Instead of purchasing apples though, you can always pick them yourself at the orchard...that is if you make it there early enough in the season. Obviously, I was too late!</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Apples for you!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-24790354403554651692011-10-21T18:58:00.000-04:002011-10-21T18:58:49.276-04:00Sights and Sounds of Autumn: Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The following images were taken last weekend at Rose Tree Park, just north of the Borough of Media, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, you'll just have to use your imagination for the "sounds" on Part II. I promise to get some more "sounds" for Part III!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>While I love nature and photographing it in its natural state, I also enjoy </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>getting creative and </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>experimenting with exposure and movement. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I call it "Abstract Photography." I know it may not be everyone's "cup of tea" but, it is something I've been having a lot of fun with lately. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Oh, and if you can think of a better way of describing it, please let me know. </i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Fall Foliage colors are not at their peak yet around here. <br />So I find the image above a lot more interesting than the one below. </span></i></span></td></tr>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The same goes for the one above, and the one below. </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3uGTRVcEGh2N9iM9ID71Hk9awLv5RSq6rioA1xaghaAsOnBYBcFrRiX4l1z1dNMD7YT3gCHC13s4rLECyUiIC5YvNIe1Nne0GolibdgolRAHMgkGIMVGuOkL-Z5Fp6RprF-Y-_F-BQE/s1600/Rose+Tree+Park+1418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3uGTRVcEGh2N9iM9ID71Hk9awLv5RSq6rioA1xaghaAsOnBYBcFrRiX4l1z1dNMD7YT3gCHC13s4rLECyUiIC5YvNIe1Nne0GolibdgolRAHMgkGIMVGuOkL-Z5Fp6RprF-Y-_F-BQE/s320/Rose+Tree+Park+1418.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>Fall Foliage Impressionism?</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>Do you prefer vertical "brush strokes" or horizontal?</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUYQBKj-zwHwagfppHoIzel_8uk9gF78Gs2NUi7kLuARK9Jap0ASyiqyCXxaJntFuE0VnZNfv4axRXbQQgS8vhRCabB5nd_x48hG1IBL9Lhu1o2VkeRDeCQ2MlbI5_V6lalucAew74Hk/s1600/Autumn+in+Rose+Tree+Park+1429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUYQBKj-zwHwagfppHoIzel_8uk9gF78Gs2NUi7kLuARK9Jap0ASyiqyCXxaJntFuE0VnZNfv4axRXbQQgS8vhRCabB5nd_x48hG1IBL9Lhu1o2VkeRDeCQ2MlbI5_V6lalucAew74Hk/s320/Autumn+in+Rose+Tree+Park+1429.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>Rose Tree Park</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>Wild Berries: does anyone know what they are?</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>Tree trunks dancing in the late afternoon sunlight.</i></span></td></tr>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I love about walking around in my nearby parks is that I always see something interesting. The colors change really fast too from one week to the next. </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am really hoping to have the opportunity to get out there this weekend </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and shoot some more "Sights and Sounds of Autumn". </span></i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-48902582575981866392011-10-20T19:08:00.001-04:002011-10-20T19:25:59.167-04:00Sights and Sounds of Autumn: Part I<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>While parts of New England have already reached their peak fall foliage for this year, here in Southeastern Pennsylvania we are still in the midst of the Autumn color spectacle, and awaiting the peak. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The following images were taken over the past couple of weeks mostly at Ridley Creek State Park, near Media, Pennsylvania which is about 12 miles west of Philadelphia. There's probably a lot more color now and I can't wait to have an opportunity to go back out and shoot.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Praying Mantis taking a walk on one of our Hydrangeas. <br />S/he was a very cooperative model and looked right at me! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzEvpEA-yuaO8fxjwEcAQecEja62tLli1yn8uOCYU__3FQgNpMewhM7VWxNHpW_GM9topi6s9CNXRNLKwk1SSAce7qcqqE6l1Eve7SiH_b-a7GfJkkC_TWl2nx0OWPFWCpCzMDCRpcsU/s1600/Autumn+at+Ridley+Creek+Park+1411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzEvpEA-yuaO8fxjwEcAQecEja62tLli1yn8uOCYU__3FQgNpMewhM7VWxNHpW_GM9topi6s9CNXRNLKwk1SSAce7qcqqE6l1Eve7SiH_b-a7GfJkkC_TWl2nx0OWPFWCpCzMDCRpcsU/s320/Autumn+at+Ridley+Creek+Park+1411.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hints of Autumn at Ridley Creek State Park.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'm trying to learn my trees. <br />According to my "tree identification guide" this is a Shagbark Hickory.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A secluded spot in the woods.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chestnut Oak</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More hints of Autumn.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Catalpa (pretty obvious, right?)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This dog was having a blast chasing the stick his dad was throwing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Red Maple<br />(Ok, I'm trying but I really can't tell the difference)!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Stay tuned for more "Sights and Sounds" of Autumn in Southeastern Pennsylvania.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-19811152772804865572011-10-19T13:03:00.000-04:002011-10-19T13:03:21.264-04:00Wanderlust Wednesday: Torres Del Paine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's Wanderlust Wednesday Image:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Torres Del Paine </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parque Nacional Torres Del Paine </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Torres del Paine National Park)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is located in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the spectacular region of Southern Chile.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>These granite monoliths rise to 2800 meters (9184 ft.) and are a favorite spot for climbers. The park, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, is also ideal for trekking. You can see glaciers, listen to the thunder they make when they calve, and the sound of the ice clinking together, much like the sound two crystal glasses make when they meet for a toast. </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-61106086932642750622011-10-12T10:33:00.000-04:002011-10-19T13:04:27.264-04:00Wanderlust Wednesday: Valladolid, Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm trying something new which I'm calling "Wanderlust Wednesday" </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">where I will post an image or photo essay of a particular place somewhere in the world!</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today we are taking a photo journey through the pretty streets of Valladolid, Mexico.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you are traveling through Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, and going to visit the spectacular Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, don't miss the small, pretty city of Valladolid. </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In fact, it's a great base for visiting Chichen Itza. </span></i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-20291289560663660742011-09-14T12:36:00.000-04:002011-09-14T12:43:05.923-04:00In Defense of "Country Counters"<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do we travel for personal growth or bragging rights? This was the question posed by m</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">y esteemed friend @MalloryOnTravel who recently posted an interesting piece on his blog entitled, “<a href="http://tinyurl.com/3czvgcf">Travel Egos & Bragging Rights</a>”, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">which generated a bit of discussion in travel twitterville. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The post is about travelers who are constantly bragging about how many passport stamps they have, how many countries they’ve visited, how knowledgeable they are about the world—you get the idea—how superior they are to other travelers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Perhaps the reason I found the article so compelling was because I spotted myself in there, figuratively...and was abashed! Well, I’d like to think that I was only in a small portion of it...but I was there! After all, on my Twitter profile, I do state the approximate number of countries visited. I respect people with humility, not braggarts. However, I also recognize the need to market oneself in our industry, and in our society. So, I suppose we must all undergo this delicate balancing act between modesty and braggadocio.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, I’m going to put myself out there, in an unpopular position, and play devil’s advocate. I’m going to defend those of us who ‘country count’. I have to admit that I do enjoy counting countries and looking at all the cool stamps in my passport! And, I bet you that most travelers do, but are unwilling to admit it because it has fallen out of fashion to say so. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I also enjoy collecting currencies from different countries, going to geographically extreme places, collecting postage stamps from different parts of the world (not a popular hobby anymore for obvious reasons), collecting shells, bringing home interesting stones (yeah rocks), pendants, etc., from different parts of the world. Why? Because I enjoy it. Because that’s who I am. Because it’s fun for me! And, because it reminds me of the places I’ve been, especially now, that I’m temporarily grounded. When I look at my travel mementos and passport stamps, well, it makes me smile!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know what you’re thinking: “It’s about the culture and the people”! Well, yes, but for me that’s just a—dare I say it—part of my travel pie. You see, I’m a science geek: I love geography, geology, and basically anything that ends with the suffix -ology! I’m also a nature lover, and an admirer of aesthetic beauty, which I love capturing with my photography. I love doing crazy things like going to Earth’s geographical landmarks (i.e. like the equator), purely for my own amusement!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In addition, since I never had a ‘proper job’ (see my FB profile) my travels are a natural part of my resume (CV). It’s a fact of my life that I traveled constantly for 20 years—it’s not bragging—that’s just what I did for my work and for pleasure. I quite literally did not have a home base for about 10 years. I lived on the boats on which I worked, between backpacking trips. So, it’s quite impossible for me to talk about my life without talking about my travels.<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, in defense of “country counters” like myself, I’d like to say that some of us have paid our dues and ‘earned’ our bragging rights. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean we go around using them, but we <i>are</i> likely to mention our travels, and countries visited in conversation! Unlike the people to whom @MalloryOnTravel is referring in his post, I think there are a lot of us who feel that the more we travel, the more we find that there is to see, learn, and understand. Instead of feeling like we know-it-all, we discover there is so much more to learn.<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-62442921394265365352011-09-12T21:13:00.000-04:002011-09-12T21:13:30.356-04:00Life Happens...<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"<i>Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.</i>" —John Lennon</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sometimes events happen in your life that leave you wondering what the Universe intended. And, it was definitely trying to tell me something in August, though I’m still not entirely sure what lesson I was supposed to learn. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This is why I am embracing September and autumn. Buddhists will tell you that the only thing you can count on in life is change. This can be good or bad. As for me, it’s what I need to hang on to for the moment.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This is also the reason that you might have noticed that I went through a “quiet” period recently, on social media and blogging. I guess you can say I had the blues. But, I’m finally pulling out of it, in large part thanks, to the wonderful online travel community. Also, watching the incredibly inspirational stories from 9/11 this past weekend, has given me the motivational push that I needed to get me back on track. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">August started out promising. I attended the Book Passage Travel Writing, Food and Photography Conference for the fourth time. This was the 20th Anniversary of the conference and it was as amazing as anticipated. I learned tons, visited with old friends, met new friends, had a wonderful time, and was very happily surprised when my travel photography was acknowledged with an award. This buoyed my spirits and gave me the confidence needed to push towards my goal of selling my work.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, I was discombobulated and distraught when the next series of events happened.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After visiting friends in the San Francisco Bay Area, and attending the Book Passage Conference, I headed back down to my aunt’s home in Clovis, California’s Central Valley. I was both exhilarated and exhausted from the conference and looking forward to a vacation with my husband, Ashton, in Colorado. I had brought my mom out with me to California, to visit her sister and family. As many of my friends already know, my mom is 86 years old, struggles with Alzheimer’s Dementia, and lives with Ashton and me in Pennsylvania. However, she spent 35 years living in California, where I grew up; several of those with her sister and family. So, it was going to be a win/win situation. They were getting to visit and Ashton and I were going to finally get a vacation, a break from caregiving, and a chance to spend some alone quality time together. But, the Universe had different plans.</span></div>
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On the morning before I was meant to depart for my vacation, instead of re-packing as I had intended to do, I ended up having to make an emergency 911 call; my first ever 911 medically related call for a loved one. It’s something you never want to experience. My mom had collapsed, and we feared the worst. The paramedics came and I rode with her in the ambulance to the emergency room, where we spent the next several hours. She underwent multiple tests and was admitted to the hospital in the afternoon. She was okay. What I mean is that, it wasn’t a stroke, or heart attack. Thank God. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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Needless to say, we cancelled our vacation plans to Colorado. Instead, Ashton flew out to California, and helped take my mom back home to Pennsylvania to recuperate properly at home. She was very weak for the next couple of weeks, but is slowly gaining her strength.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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The day after we arrived home from California, we experienced the now infamous east coast earthquake, the epicenter of which was located in Virginia. When the house started shaking my poor mom thought she was collapsing again. Later that week, practically the entire east coast was placed under a Hurricane Warning, and we made the appropriate preparations. That weekend, Hurricane Irene came through and, although weaker than originally thought, still caused a lot of destruction. Fortunately we were lucky and only lost power for a while. As if that wasn’t enough, last week the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee passed through causing even more havoc for the Northeast. Again, while areas around us suffered, we were fortunate.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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While I’m obviously very grateful that my mother is okay, and that we made it through Irene and Lee without a scratch, it would be disingenuous to say that I’m not frustrated by my cancelled travel plans. Anyone who has been in the position of being a full time caregiver, or knows a caregiver, can understand how important it is to take time off from “duty” in order to re-energize. In addition, I was born with the travel gene. So, the fact that my one and only traveling opportunity for the year was ripped away in such an abrupt manner, is incredibly disappointing. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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So, I will continue my balancing act of being caregiver, ‘home manager’, and wannabe travel blogger/photographer. My ‘quiet’ periods will signal a need to disengage, focus on the home front, and...probably a need for moral support.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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So, hello autumn and I’ll try hard to have a positive outlook and think of my vacation as having been ‘postponed’ rather than cancelled. I need that travel ‘carrot’ at the end of the ‘daily routine’ tunnel. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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Life really is what happens, when you’re making other plans. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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Please note: If there are any other travelers out there who are in my situation—taking care of a loved one—I would be interested in communicating with you. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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Also: Alzheimer’s Association link: <a href="http://www.alz.org/"><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #1324a7; text-decoration: underline;">www.alz.org</span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-88741173079392502022011-08-10T01:08:00.001-04:002011-08-10T10:55:43.811-04:00Photography Workshop with Robert Holmes!<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After a few days of world wind visits with family and friends in California, where I grew up, I have finally arrived in Marin County, California, ready to be a sponge and absorb as much informations as possible from the excellent instructors attending the renowned “Book Passage Travel Writing and Photography Conference.”</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This year the conference celebrates its 20th anniversary and has been so successful it has expanded to become the “Book Passage Travel and Food Writing and Photography Conference” and, this year, takes place from August 11th - 14th. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, tomorrow, Wednesday, August 10th, I look forward to a “pre-conference” photography workshop with the renowned landscape, travel, food, and wine photographer Robert Holmes. He will be leading us, and giving us pointers, through the spectacular area of Point Reyes National Seashore. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Although I have worked in the past as a photography assistant to a couple of excellent photographers <a href="http://www.garyjohnnorman.com/">Gary John Norman</a> and <a href="http://www.rtyphoto.com/">Rose Thompson</a>, and attended the Book Passage Conference as a photographer, I have never actually taken a ‘field trip’ with Robert Holmes, the co-conference chair, who has actually photographed for National Geographic and, needless to say, I am really looking forward to my day tomorrow!</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And on that note, I had better get some rest, because I imagine I have a lot to learn to tomorrow. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow night! </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-68166714825508487272011-08-04T13:53:00.001-04:002011-08-04T13:55:40.261-04:00Travels With My Mom<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Airline travel these days can be challenging, but even more so when you are flying with someone who requires assistance. Airline ticket agents, airport employees, flight crew, and other passengers are not the most patient and helpful people at times. I understand that. I get it. Usually it’s because they are also under much stress and have concerns of their own.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today my mom and I are flying from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Fresno, California, via Salt Lake City, Utah. My mom is 86 years old, has Alzheimer’s dementia, has forgotten most of the English she ever learned (we immigrated from Portugal), and stubbornly refuses to use a wheelchair. My formerly energetic mom can walk but is now bit wobbly, slow, and tires quickly. The hustle and bustle of a busy airport is less than ideal for someone like her. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, when I’m traveling with my mom, there are certain things I do to try to make the trip as painless as possible. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><ol style="list-style-type: decimal;"><li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I try to book a flight with only one stop (unfortunately I can’t get a direct flight because I don’t own a private jet)! </span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I make sure to allow enough time during our layover to be able to get to our connecting flight without rushing. Sometimes I even make it a point to allow enough time for a meal.</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I check in online the night before and print up our boarding passes. </span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On the day of the flight I make sure we get to the airport in plenty of time (at least one hour and a half to two hours) to allow for long lines or unforeseeable circumstances. </span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I check baggage. Oh, I know many travelers out there are dead set against checking baggage but believe me, when you’re traveling with someone who requires your assistance, you will want to check baggage -- it makes life a heck of a lot easier. </span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I carry both of our boarding passes and Identifications.</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I look for the slower “family” line at the TSA checkpoint, which is one of our biggest challenges.</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I carry medical paperwork stating that my mom suffers from Alzheimer’s dementia. Why do I do this? People with Alzheimer’s often behave or say inappropriate things. The fact that my mom only speaks few words of English could cause confusion or raise suspicions for an over zealous TSA agent. We have seen plenty of examples of that on the news.</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I go ahead of my mom through the TSA screening to alert the official of my mom’s condition.</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> At the time of boarding we go first, when the airline agent makes the announcement that “anyone with special needs, or who requires extra time should board now.” This way we are not holding everyone up as I try to get my mom situated. Everyone appreciates it.</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I try to get a window seat for my mom, as like me, she loves looking out the window, and strangely enough, it distracts her from her fear of flying.</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> My mom is constantly working on knitting projects so I make sure I bring her knitting to keep her entertained. Selfishly on my part, it also minimizes the amount of times she asks me ‘how much longer’!</span></span></li>
</ol><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We have now done this cross country trip various times but it doesn’t get any easier, only increasingly challenging. This may be our last trip.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, to end on a positive note, often times you find angels when you're traveling. I found one such angel today sitting across the aisle from me. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Your comments & suggestions are welcome. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of professor/explorer Hiram Bingham's rediscovery of Machu Picchu, which was on Sunday, July 24th, I thought I'd share a little slide show of what it's like to spend a day at the spectacular ancient Incan site.</div>
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Note: It's best viewed on YouTube so just click on the YouTube button. I hope you enjoy it.</div>
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Also, any constructive feedback is greatly appreciated, as this is pretty new for me.</div>
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Thanks, Anabela</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-80123584672881834852011-07-23T23:13:00.001-04:002011-07-24T11:40:39.944-04:00The Long and Winding Road<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG7LeakhAqiK7YuFOEKSIgwLdnf2zSy5LFNubJAjzeP34p7QmdsNxxMAQfEjLOumqtAn8VovWH3RCfg_gdfKomXlqIYRX_TZUG6sL1LtqYw0K8r3-jhsA5N7zIX4D3byGfxOyZWp_SlM/s1600/Machu+Picchu+1114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG7LeakhAqiK7YuFOEKSIgwLdnf2zSy5LFNubJAjzeP34p7QmdsNxxMAQfEjLOumqtAn8VovWH3RCfg_gdfKomXlqIYRX_TZUG6sL1LtqYw0K8r3-jhsA5N7zIX4D3byGfxOyZWp_SlM/s320/Machu+Picchu+1114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You’re probably getting tired of my blog posts about Peru and Machu Picchu and I promise it will stop soon. But just hang in there with me for a couple more days while we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Hiram Bingham’s “rediscovery” of this ancient Incan City. Or, as I like to call it, his introduction of Machu Picchu to the rest of the world!</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, when we last left off, my husband, Ashton, and I had just arrived in Aguas Calientes and and were eager to go explore Machu Picchu for the afternoon. We went and bought our tickets at the Machu Picchu ticket office: about $45 US per person, depending on the exchange rate.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8hEA1K2RDEtXl5lOlKFaFxRBmSQJ5KrjLARJSEdJiBdQoxJ_M4GKoFsIvX8bRf-ht3dNk1wVerMvIjNTlu8Mc-7AV85gr7WQfvM8WVXg6JJ_JjqXk6gsgLEJFOgPvahOb6kJqUFg8Fk/s1600/Machu+Picchu+1118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8hEA1K2RDEtXl5lOlKFaFxRBmSQJ5KrjLARJSEdJiBdQoxJ_M4GKoFsIvX8bRf-ht3dNk1wVerMvIjNTlu8Mc-7AV85gr7WQfvM8WVXg6JJ_JjqXk6gsgLEJFOgPvahOb6kJqUFg8Fk/s320/Machu+Picchu+1118.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Machu Picchu Ticket Office at Aguas Calientes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Please note that we needed cash for that transaction. Although there are places to exchange money in Aguas Calientes, you’re probably better off exchanging in Cusco and bringing a stash of cash with you (preferably in a money belt).</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgyWw-_eIzyLrcLk5QcjQk1CdjxIP9TXwyeHUg2wdqvEwVnXpw26srBvXyEfk4Sn9sRkx8kFM9R1-LfU4EiUuuISQKLP7ub3bCtSaNrAapQWoYI4Kj6gjSZrd3xE5mGWnv-ngqmJKE4M/s1600/Machu+Picchu+1122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgyWw-_eIzyLrcLk5QcjQk1CdjxIP9TXwyeHUg2wdqvEwVnXpw26srBvXyEfk4Sn9sRkx8kFM9R1-LfU4EiUuuISQKLP7ub3bCtSaNrAapQWoYI4Kj6gjSZrd3xE5mGWnv-ngqmJKE4M/s320/Machu+Picchu+1122.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next, we went to buy the tickets for the bus which takes visitors up to the ruins. The price of the bus ticket was the most shocking part: $14 US Round Trip to drive you up the mountain. Oh, and they do accept dollars. Granted, you can choose to hike up to the ruins. However, we wanted to spend our time and energy hiking around the ruins not, up to the ruins. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The town of Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu town) is located in a gorge on the Urubamba River at an elevation of 2410 meters (7904 feet), considerably lower than Cusco (3326 meters or 10909 feet). When you’re at the bottom of the gorge and you look up, you are surrounded by spectacular mountains. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq2eA7JraivqHCMO4P5e-eEL-elJ5xWNOj4D5oraPdl8pI_JWQqpx-vYpYKm2oyz8q7WzAqiMSCd9f2I2Rt9ATaZP6WV1ckQnUt0efp25bzS61Bv7K4GyibGshKSg2kqbPXFcfvJ85Lw/s1600/Machu+Picchu+1121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq2eA7JraivqHCMO4P5e-eEL-elJ5xWNOj4D5oraPdl8pI_JWQqpx-vYpYKm2oyz8q7WzAqiMSCd9f2I2Rt9ATaZP6WV1ckQnUt0efp25bzS61Bv7K4GyibGshKSg2kqbPXFcfvJ85Lw/s320/Machu+Picchu+1121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Aguas Calientes</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The bus ride up to Machu Picchu was 25 minutes long: 25 spectacular, breathtaking, heart stopping minutes! As we ascended, the scenery just kept getting increasingly spectacular.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now here’s the heart stopping part of it: The road is a one lane dirt road with switchbacks, and you never know when, around the corner, there will be a bus heading down coming right at you. The first time this happened there were gasps from the passengers, as both buses came to a jarring halt, seemingly inches from each other. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when we realized we had avoided a collision. The bus heading down hill backed up to a slightly wider spot on the road, where the two vehicles could pass each other. The outside bus—our bus—inching forward, all too close to the edge of the precipice. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A sane person would assume that the driver would alter his driving behavior, however, this was not the case. By the time we reached our destination, we had experienced several similar scenarios. The drivers seem to have their own system though, and were very skilled. We got used to the close calls which proves just how quickly humans adapt to their circumstances! In the United States passengers would have been horrified! Here the passengers started clapping after surviving each incident! There’s something about travel that makes us less anxious and more courageous. We arrived safely at the parking area for the entrance to Machu Picchu.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/peru/machu-picchu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Machu Picchu</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and I have something in common: we share the same birthday! Sunday, July 24th, marks the 100th Anniversary of </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3dt8bbe"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hiram Bingham’s</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> "re-discovery" of </span><a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/peru/machu-picchu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Machu Picchu</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, the “Lost City of the Incas” in Peru. This is sort of like an old friend, whom I haven’t seen in years, bumping into me at the grocery store and proclaiming, “I’ve discovered you!” Neither one of us was ever really “lost”!</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Never-the-less, to celebrate the Anniversary of the introduction of this ancient Incan city to the rest of the world, I thought it would be an apropos time to write about my most recent visit to Machu Picchu.</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was still dark o'clock when our alarm clock went off in our hotel room in </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/2bz0x29"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cusco</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, Peru. Regardless, we woke up with a feeling of elation because this was the day we had been looking forward to, for over three years! </span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The streets of </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/2bz0x29"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cusco</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> were deserted when a taxi picked us up from our hotel and drove us to the Poroy train station about twenty minutes away. My husband, Ashton, and I were taking the </span><a href="https://www.perurail.com./en/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PeruRail</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> VistaDome train to the town of Aguas Calientes, the train stop for </span><a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/peru/machu-picchu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Machu Picchu</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The train station waiting room appeared new, clean, and had some seating. However, it wasn’t heated and, despite being bundled up in layers, we could still see our breath in the cold mountain air. The </span><a href="https://www.perurail.com./en/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PeruRail</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> staff scurried around carrying provisions, polishing, and preparing the train. They took great care in cleaning the windows, which we appreciated, since we chose the VistaDome for the scenic views it would provide.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Waiting Room at the Poroy Train Station near Cusco, Peru</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The train was modern and comfortable, a far cry from the local trains I took 20 years ago. Back then, travelers and locals were packed in together, standing room only, with the vegetables and the animals. I understand that </span><a href="https://www.perurail.com./en/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PeruRail</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> has been operating this train service now for 10 years. There are three types of trains: The Backpackers train, the VistaDome, and the luxurious Hiram Bingham Orient Express. We opted for the mid-range VistaDome, because I’m a sucker for views. We bought our tickets ahead of time from home, through </span><a href="https://www.perurail.com./en/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PeruRail</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">'s website. </span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The train platform</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The PeruRail VistaDome Train</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWozGb8WzZD_bw2zxC1pZXwkMgulZeZnGo1bN2G_ypVcuOuK_6HXfTBDs8UvGA6d7ZUeFcOfX8lPogv0P7NEMZO49ogdujOm59szHnYyRNw7EG8tI8BNADMQUv4AE33zwKU4WBdycXr_w/s1600/Train+to+Machu+Picchu+1083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWozGb8WzZD_bw2zxC1pZXwkMgulZeZnGo1bN2G_ypVcuOuK_6HXfTBDs8UvGA6d7ZUeFcOfX8lPogv0P7NEMZO49ogdujOm59szHnYyRNw7EG8tI8BNADMQUv4AE33zwKU4WBdycXr_w/s320/Train+to+Machu+Picchu+1083.jpg" width="320" /></i></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yours truly ready to board the train for Machu Picchu!</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After finding our seat, we settled in for a scenic train ride. Ashton and I realized that, incredibly, it was our first train journey together; something to celebrate! Break out the Inca Kola! (Boy I miss that stuff now)! </span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The VistaDome</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At first we passed farmland and a lot of adobe farm houses. Freshly made adobe bricks were spread on the ground, drying. The scenery reminded me of the California Central Valley, where I grew up, and I wasn't very impressed. But, it was still relaxing and wonderful sitting back comfortably, watching the scenery go by, while listening to the pleasant </span></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Peruvian Andean music being piped through the train's speakers. The entire trip was going to be about three hours.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We Passed a few villages and observed the locals going about their daily business.</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvaLAUoMzZ6PIn2xd4QqO6QknD453xzYwBAbSesIEPMt1TYfXGSJTj4hGJeqkyeZI9gU7YvhoVMlGAnu3-BZvqqI8qNRCm4khNcjLbErw4QTq1vDVsBbXCE6zzhtpj3wcLsAyGBwrwow/s1600/Machu+Picchu+Train++1100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvaLAUoMzZ6PIn2xd4QqO6QknD453xzYwBAbSesIEPMt1TYfXGSJTj4hGJeqkyeZI9gU7YvhoVMlGAnu3-BZvqqI8qNRCm4khNcjLbErw4QTq1vDVsBbXCE6zzhtpj3wcLsAyGBwrwow/s320/Machu+Picchu+Train++1100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL69r3K8E8WLD-lx1xSTmu48aYb2X1CXSKZbKOnkgjjwd4UCoKG1IeK7gHmU6ZToOMTqjFsGxEcARLRzLOUngdLO0pVDjgpgVIkQ5VB5nWvXM5QbN-EBID1VGiF6jPsdP3eUNk8Tc858/s320/Machu+Picchu+Train++1096.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At some point we were served lunch by our train attendants. </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was accompanied by the ubiquitous, and yummy, Maté de Coca (Coca leaf tea).</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL69r3K8E8WLD-lx1xSTmu48aYb2X1CXSKZbKOnkgjjwd4UCoKG1IeK7gHmU6ZToOMTqjFsGxEcARLRzLOUngdLO0pVDjgpgVIkQ5VB5nWvXM5QbN-EBID1VGiF6jPsdP3eUNk8Tc858/s1600/Machu+Picchu+Train++1096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i></i></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzr20wCbINwbWTZL-lOOINS-oRPmLKFh1wJlgTfpFYaJ5TAzBvp1Ml4k9tQ2CdjaXrV7oKus0uV-thkWswh2BmGHbv5h9G2djXlZbquoVNhM22dVkZyCctwn_ajudEgmgDHye2xuyofE/s1600/Machu+Picchu+Train++1102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzr20wCbINwbWTZL-lOOINS-oRPmLKFh1wJlgTfpFYaJ5TAzBvp1Ml4k9tQ2CdjaXrV7oKus0uV-thkWswh2BmGHbv5h9G2djXlZbquoVNhM22dVkZyCctwn_ajudEgmgDHye2xuyofE/s400/Machu+Picchu+Train++1102.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kilometer 82, one of the starting points for the Inca Trail</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then, we started to spot snow covered peaks in the distance. </span></i></span></i></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At one point the train stopped, and completed a couple of switchbacks. This is where it got more interesting. </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i></i></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On one side—mine mostly—the train was so close to the rock wall that I felt we would collide with it at any moment.</span></i></span></span></i></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes or “Machu Picchu Town”, as it is sometimes referred to, we disembarked, looked around, and took stock of our surroundings. I thought: Boy, this sure looked different from what it did 20 years ago! We walked out of the train station and were immediately met by a bunch of people, holding up signs with hotel names. Ashton and I were ready to make our way to our hotel when we noticed a guy holding up a sign that read, “Gringo Bills”, our destination; How convenient. This was unbelievable! </span></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbNmElh64R0umWDrPKuIZki-lRMBsIyD7fHRBGD-bEB-kggHhw0b9vRK-UyCqlRpP9yOHiuVJhgcYge_IswHUYY6oIf4tJ5X99uDZEA4k0YDrqpLo17quJkwvUWBPnZGqRk6XLGQhZg0/s1600/Machu+Picchu+Station+1092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbNmElh64R0umWDrPKuIZki-lRMBsIyD7fHRBGD-bEB-kggHhw0b9vRK-UyCqlRpP9yOHiuVJhgcYge_IswHUYY6oIf4tJ5X99uDZEA4k0YDrqpLo17quJkwvUWBPnZGqRk6XLGQhZg0/s320/Machu+Picchu+Station+1092.jpg" width="320" /></i></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBEzkhmhk-rfXYnoc0uVAc4jc9Vh5gS1CUIuduiUogLKQScP9BL4pSiRBySJgSUMuv99wkDIAwasnreFkK_IlvXDTvJAexe-jEKjIJcFUxCL_ozUzxBV3Geoz4flGFsUhFLB-GGqsLGk/s1600/Machu+Picchu+Train+Station+1094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBEzkhmhk-rfXYnoc0uVAc4jc9Vh5gS1CUIuduiUogLKQScP9BL4pSiRBySJgSUMuv99wkDIAwasnreFkK_IlvXDTvJAexe-jEKjIJcFUxCL_ozUzxBV3Geoz4flGFsUhFLB-GGqsLGk/s320/Machu+Picchu+Train+Station+1094.jpg" width="320" /></i></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The exit from the Machu Picchu Train Station leads straight into the market!</span></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> To reach the street you must navigate </span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">through a gauntlet of sales people!</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsXBCfDFwuyzl1wku6vPl_-sGjXpTBXlOJGEQH4kAkhPq5Mrl-mXC8yYfxj5V6tFB7fr8nhrscxxs41Fsk4GodGpAt5uqzeqxyKR3uYPMliYNiF5-tdk_I7YFOYTTTCdTOa4Wape-Gx0/s1600/Machu+Picchu+Station+1093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsXBCfDFwuyzl1wku6vPl_-sGjXpTBXlOJGEQH4kAkhPq5Mrl-mXC8yYfxj5V6tFB7fr8nhrscxxs41Fsk4GodGpAt5uqzeqxyKR3uYPMliYNiF5-tdk_I7YFOYTTTCdTOa4Wape-Gx0/s400/Machu+Picchu+Station+1093.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hotel Representatives hold up signs with the name of their respective hotels.</span></i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We waited for two other couples and then the gentleman placed all of our bags on a cart and we all followed him, through the gauntlet of the market, over a bridge crossing a creek that meets up with the Urubamba River, through skinny streets of Aguas Calientes, and up to our hotel.</span></i></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> After </span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">dropping off our luggage we immediately set off to spend the afternoon at Machu Picchu!</span></i></span></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-18991975682108527892011-07-14T22:32:00.003-04:002011-07-17T13:35:06.682-04:00The Peruvian 'Fake' Police<div style="font: 12.0px Geneva; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">I decided to post this story after a Twitter chat in which the question was asked, "What has been your scariest moment in travel?" Well, besides doing a lot of independent travel, I've also worked on boats and airplanes, so there have been a few: storms at sea, scary landings, and others episodes. But hands down, the following account was one of the scariest moments. </div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Peru was a very different country back in 1991 when I first visited. I made my way overland from Ecuador by bus. I was traveling alone, on an extended journey, backpacking on a shoestring budget around South America. Yet, as often happens when you’re solo traveling, I was rarely alone. </div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">During this time, I had been traveling with Dave, a Brit with a great sense of humor who had recently left the military—good to have around if you run into trouble, I figured! He taught me how to properly kick someone where it counts, something that came in handy, later in my travels. Then, while in Northern Peru, Dave and I met Morten and Bjarne, two Danes also on the South American ‘Gringo Trail.’ Dave nicknamed them, “The Vikings”—they didn’t seem to mind.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "I'm not very good with left and right and Bjarne has problems with numbers, so he (Bjarne) gives directions and I exchange money," Morten explained the compatibility of their friendship.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Lunch led to a beer, which led to some more beers and conversation, which finally led to nightfall. The Vikings were going to Lima that night. We were headed the same way in the morning and made plans to meet up in Lima.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In 1991, Lima was a city in which you always had to be on guard. We took precautions such as taking a taxi from the bus station to our hotel, rather than a cheaper ‘colectivo’ which you share with others. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "Can you drop us off at the Plaza de Armas?" I asked the driver in my Portuguese accented Spanish (I was born in Portugal, so I speak Portuguese, and my Spanish is heavily peppered with my native language)!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The hotel in which we had planned to stay, was near the Plaza. As we were passing in front of the Presidential Palace, Dave suggested, "This is good, right here."</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "NO, not right here," the driver forcefully advised, "they will shoot you!"</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span>It was then that I noticed that armed police surrounded the Palace, not just holding their guns nonchalantly, like many South American Military Police, but with their guns pointed and fingers on the triggers. Armored Personnel Carriers patrolled the city; four protected the palace. This was a city prepared for anti-government, Sandero Luminoso (Shining Path) attacks, bombings, and blackouts.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">The Sandero Luminoso was a leftist, Maoist organization which had been at odds with the government since its beginnings in the Andean city of Ayacucho in the mid 1970's. Also known as the PCP, an acronym for Partido Communista Peruano (Peruvian Communist Party), the guerrilla group had the reputation of being the most militant terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">The objective of the Sandero Luminoso was to create a revolution like that of Mao Tsetung's failed Cultural Revolution in China. They wanted to redistribute the wealth and create a peasant agricultural society. The problem with achieving this proletariat paradise was that those who stood in the way of the dream were eliminated. This included any one who was viewed as assisting the government in any way. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">On the opposing side, Amnesty International accused Peruvian security forces of massacring civilians. They also reported that the government forces had already killed or abducted more than two hundred people just in the past year. Amnesty International said that Peru had repeatedly broken promises that they would curb their human rights violations. Government officials responded by saying that sometimes innocent people were killed when the armed forces were pursuing the terrorists. As usual the villagers paid the heaviest price.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Our fate was intertwined with that of the Danes for the next 24 hours. By chance we saw Morten and Bjarne in the morning and all shared a taxi to the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum). The collection was impressive, however its authenticity has, since then, been called into question, but that’s another story.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The memorable evening in question started with all of us meeting up at the Plaza. We then waited for a Peruvian man who had befriended Morten and Bjarne during the days activities. Juan Carlos, who spoke English, invited us to go to a Peña (a bar which plays folkloric music) with him to meet some of his friends: a Peruvian woman and a Bolivian man. They were all very friendly and the beer and conversation flowed.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "How do most Peruvians feel about Alberto Fujimori (the President)?" I asked.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "They didn't like him at all when he first got in, but he's becoming more popular now," answered Juan Carlos. "He's trying to fight inflation. Our inflation is 7000 percent...7000 percent...The government has introduced a new currency it's called the Sol, have you seen it?"</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> To put things in perspective, $1 US was worth about one million Intis at this time. A beer cost about 875,000 Intis. The government had just introduced the sol which would equal $1 US and made for a lot of confusion during the transition period.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"Not yet,” I responded. “But, tell me more about the Sandero Luminoso." </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "They've been fairly active lately.” Juan Carlos said, “I think the government's losing the battle. I wish people could just learn to live in peace without regard to politics." Amen to that!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Juan Carlos seemed like a decent, well-educated gentleman. He gave us advise regarding the village of Tarma, one of our possible destinations.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "We wanted to go by train though, but they've suspended service." Dave said.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "Do you know why they suspended service?” Juan Carlos asked rhetorically, “Because the terrorists blew up the railway tracks."</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Well, I guess we weren’t going to Tarma by train.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> We moved on to a “discotheque” which featured a 12 men Cuban band playing Rumba music. The Peruvian woman and Bolivian man disappeared for about one half hour. We would later understand the significance of this. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Just before midnight we were preparing to leave and take a taxi home when our ‘friends’ insisted on walking us home. The streets were dark; Lima closed its doors early during those days. In fact, there was a curfew in effect. Few people were walking and there was little traffic on the road. We walked for a couple of blocks when two plain clothed police officers confronted us at a street corner. They swiftly showed us their badges. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"> "What have you been doing this evening?" They asked menacingly in Spanish.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">"We just came from the club," the Peruvian woman explained. "We're walking home. What's the trouble?"<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> The 'police' asked to see our identification. One of them spoke English and addressed us directly. Because I had heard about false police officers stopping people on the streets, I showed him my passport but refused to hand it over, holding on to it firmly with both hands open to the appropriate page. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "Don't give them your passports," Dave yelled.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The police officer tugged at it several times and finally, giving up, let me return it to my leg pouch. They did the same with the others. However, they were successful in holding on to Morten's passport. During this time the locals were pleading with the police not to hassle us.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "You're going to have to come with me to the station." The police officer said to us. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "Why do we have to go with you, what's your accusation against us?" Dave asked.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "We've been following you tonight,” The officer accused, “we know what you've been doing." </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "Then you must know we haven't done anything wrong or illegal." I stated, becoming angry rather than frightened. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Dave tried a more practical approach. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"I'm in the British military and I have a friend who is a military attach</span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">é </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">here," he said.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "It's not YOU we're interested in anyway, it’s your friends, but you will have to come with us to the police station," said the officer in the sort of English one learns at a language school. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "We're not going with you. How are we to know that you are who you say you are?"I asked. I was quite feisty in those days.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "Find a uniformed policeman and then maybe we'll go with you," Dave insisted.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The English speaking policeman refused. Meanwhile, his friend was hassling the Danes. My thoughts were: There is no way that I'm going anywhere with these people. There is no way of knowing what they will do with us. I don't believe they are the real police. I’m scared.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Juan Carlos pulled me aside and said, "They found a little marijuana in my friend's pocket." </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Oh shit, I thought. I didn't know what to make of this new development. I had read about police planting drugs on tourists in Lima, and it didn’t turn out well.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dave said, “We should get out of here!”</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "They've got my passport," Morten said.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "What do you want with us, just let us go, we haven't done anything," pleaded the Peruvian woman.” </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Was she acting? I wondered. What was going on?</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> A taxi conveniently pulled up for them—not a small Volkswagon bug, which were ubiquitous in Lima, but a van capable of carrying eight passengers, comfortably. They ushered us towards the menacing vehicle. Again my thoughts: There is no way in hell that I'm getting into that van!! If I do, I lose control—they will have total control. If only they didn't have Morten's passport. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"I think we should get the hell out of here. I think we should run!" I yelled, not caring if they overheard.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "If you CAN, RUN!" Dave yelled at me.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Morten and Bjarne were now being manhandled into the van. The locals were still arguing. Yet, they were not hassling me, for some reason, probably because I’m a woman. I was now able to get away. What should I do? Should I leave my friends and make a getaway, or should I stay? If we all got in that van and they beat us up or worse, killed us, no one would know—no one. It would do absolutely no good if I got into that van with the others, I decided. I was convinced these were not authentic police officers. I thought: at least if one of us gets away we can contact the real police, or the embassies for help.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I slowly backed up moving away from the group, then I made my getaway: dashing across the street, running in and out of traffic, running like mad, faster than I had ever run in my life, running for my life. I didn't know if I was being chased. I turned around quickly and saw Dave running across the same street and I continued running. Dave was now running behind me. I hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether to find a place to hide, or to keep running. I had never been in this kind of situation. Dave saw my hesitation and yelled, "RUN, Anabela, RUN!" </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I ran. We went a few blocks then intercepted a slightly heavier trafficked street. A taxi was just going through a streetlight. Dave jumped right in front of it, making it screech to a halt, as in movies.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "Don't ask, just get in!" I yelled. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> While Dave was jumping into the baby blue VW bug he started bargaining, "Plaza de Armas, two mil." </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I couldn't believe he was negotiating at a time like this! I got into the front seat and we both yelled at the poor taxi driver, "Rapido, Rapido!". Dave placed his hand on top of my head and forced it down urging, "Duck, duck!" </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Finally at our hotel, we felt safe behind its rod iron gates. Upon arriving, we immediately spoke to the manager, reported the story, and requested assistance. We were extremely concerned for Morten and Bjarne's welfare. Furthermore, we were afraid they would be punished for our fleeing. We asked him to call the tourist police to ask whether they had picked up any foreigners tonight but they refused to give information over the telephone. There were two other helpful men in the lobby and they tried to assess the situation. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "What area of Lima was this?" One of them asked.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> We showed him, on our city map, the area west of Avenida Alfonso Ugarte.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "OOOOH, we are Peruvian and we don't even go there at night. We are scared to walk there at night," said one of the men.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">They asked us about the local people with whom we had gone out. Suddenly, it became clear that it was a set up. That’s why the Bolivian man and Peruvian woman had disappeared for so long. We had been duped. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">"This happens all the time," the manager explained. "A Peruvian befriends you, then invites you to a party, then they walk home with you, maybe they plant drugs on you, then you get detained by the police..." <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Ironically there was a warning sign about exactly this sort of thing up on the notice board of the hotel lobby. We hadn’t read it.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Dave and I quickly emptied out our pockets in front of the hotel manager, just in case they had slipped something into them.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> </span>Dave was worried about having 'assaulted' a police officer. When he was being manhandled into the vehicle, he had physically pushed one of the 'police officers' to get away.This was troubling him, in case they had in fact been real police officers.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> The manager and the others at the hotel advised us that the best thing we could do was to go to our friends' hotel in the morning (their hotel did not have a phone and it was out of the question for us to walk there that night). If they weren't there, we would go to the tourist police and the Danish Embassy. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "Try not to worry. They should be all right," the hotel manager said, "they'll probably just take their money. They usually don't harm them. If they don't fight they'll be all right, just poorer.".</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Dave and I figured that Morten and Bjarne were the sensible type so we hoped for the best.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> It took a long while for our adrenalin to slow down, so we spent a good hour discussing the evening's events and concluded that we had made the right decisions. For example, before making his getaway, while the officer was manhandling him, Dave had frisked him to check if he was packing a gun, a technique he had learned in the reserves. I would never have thought of that, but then, Dave did have the training. There was no gun.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">At dawn we immediately walked over to Morten and Bjarne's hotel and were elated to see them, with their backpacks, standing outside of their by the door. We all hugged each other with evident relief. This moment sewed our friendship.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">"What happened?" Dave asked.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"We were just coming to see you. Too many people know that we’re staying in this hotel," Morten said. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"Did you tell anyone where you were staying?" Bjarne asked. We hadn't, so we would all be safe there.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What had transpired was that they had been taken in the van to a 'police station' about 20 minutes away. They had handcuffed the Bolivian man for carrying dope but released him when he complained that his wrists were hurting. In front of the building to which they were taken, there was a guard with a machine gun. The 'police' led them into a room (supposedly the station) which had a sign simply reading 'Police', and a typewriter on a desk, weak evidence to support its claim as a police station. The Peruvians and the Bolivian were taken into a separate room from that of Morten and Bjarne. However, they didn’t separate Morten and Bjarne. Then, they tried to make them admit that they had drugs. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "They told us that the Peruvians had told them, that we had some drugs," Bjarne explained.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The 'police' then strip searched them and quizzed them about the evening's activities. Morten said that the English speaking officer was quite decent and conversed with them about the drug problem. They tried to pressure Morten and Bjarne to tell them about our escape.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"They got really angry with us when you got away but we said, 'well, you're the police, why didn't you go after them then?'"Morten said. "We told them that we had just met you and had no idea what your names were, or where you were staying," Morten said.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"They asked us a few times so the last time we gave them two Danish names that we made up," Bjarne laughed.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The 'police' finally got to the point. They told Morten and Bjarne that the Bolivian had offered them $300 to go free. Ahhh, so that was the scam. Apparently they wanted the Danes to pay them a similar bribe. The police claimed that they had a vehicle that needed to be 'fixed.'</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“We don’t know anything about fixing cars,” Morten told them.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The police suggested they make a ‘donation’. Much to their credit, Morten and Bjarne had the courage to say ‘no’ to them.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Bjarne reported, “we told them, ‘we haven't done anything wrong or dishonest so far and we feel it would be wrong and dishonest to give you money'.”</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Surprisingly, the police let them go on that note. They even escorted them to a taxi; a move which proved to be one of the most intimidating moments. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> "There were three of them (walking behind) following us,” Morten explained, “and we thought: this is where we were going to get beaten up, or shot at, for not paying the bribe.”</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Everyone to whom we spoke with about the incident, said that we were incredibly lucky to have escaped with no injuries, and all of our money intact. The people at the hotel were now saying that it could have very well been a set up by the police themselves. They were known to do that sort of thing. The law was known to be lawless. I suppose that the crooks, whether they were real police officers or not, didn't really want any trouble or violence. Perhaps when they did this, they were usually able to quickly intimidate their victims into handing over their money. They would probably try again the following night.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Geneva; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Please note: The events in this story took place in 1991. I kept a very detailed journal throughout my entire South American journey. Since then, I have returned to Peru several times. The most recent visit was last year and Peru is a very different country. Please stay tuned for more stories about Peru and South America.</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-13958213472299496502011-06-23T18:09:00.011-04:002011-06-23T18:44:06.215-04:00A Morning at the Macaw Clay Lick<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i></i></div><i></i><br />
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<i><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><i><i></i></i></span></div><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><i><i></i></i></span></div><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It had rained all night at the <a href="http://www.manuwildlifecenter.com/">Manu Wildlife Center</a>, in the Southern Peruvian Amazon. So, it was a very soggy morning when Marlene, our jungle guide from <a href="http://www.inkanatura.com/manuperu.asp">Inkanatura</a>, came knocking on my door at 4:30 to wake me up for our trip to the Macaw Clay Lick. This wake-up call turned out to be unnecessary since the thunderstorms had already performed that function.</span></i></span></div></div></div></i></i></div></i></i></div></i></i></div></i></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><i><i></i></i></span></div><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"></div></i></i><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Despite my exhaustion from the previous day's activities, my state of excitement and anticipation, had kept me awake for most of the night. I laid under my mosquito net, in my jungle bungalow, listening to the rainfall, the pitter patter of small mammals, and various animal sounds, throughout the night. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><i><i><i></i></i></i></i></div><i><i><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Emerging from my mosquito net enclosure, I felt around for my trusty <a href="http://www.maglite.com/">Mini Maglite</a>. It was still dark, and I had to use flashlights and candles in my electricity challenged bungalow. The entire lodge had no electricity, only a generator which was used to recharge camera batteries and such modern day vital electronic gadgets. In the spirit of full disclosure, I might also add it was used to make blended cocktails!</span></i></span></div></i></i></i></i></i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><i></i></i></div><i><i></i></i><br />
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</span></i></span></div><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/AVvXsEg9kURp22yyqBMA6lSM1kCCxAxi5Xs6jw60OyUXCqjnZ3XuE7T5KyQMG15l1RWvWvfKhPCoJFyX3gTr_e2KJ3mnps6Os3cWWX1OPNBUM1NuPlHMOiKsG9YkpkI-CcBY2gQ4-IB1j903k3I/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kURp22yyqBMA6lSM1kCCxAxi5Xs6jw60OyUXCqjnZ3XuE7T5KyQMG15l1RWvWvfKhPCoJFyX3gTr_e2KJ3mnps6Os3cWWX1OPNBUM1NuPlHMOiKsG9YkpkI-CcBY2gQ4-IB1j903k3I/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My Bungalow by candlelight!</span></span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kURp22yyqBMA6lSM1kCCxAxi5Xs6jw60OyUXCqjnZ3XuE7T5KyQMG15l1RWvWvfKhPCoJFyX3gTr_e2KJ3mnps6Os3cWWX1OPNBUM1NuPlHMOiKsG9YkpkI-CcBY2gQ4-IB1j903k3I/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><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/AVvXsEhkd6ohe0dFi7rDNdndbm0HASuTzaH2EeuA8WDOny6lP-aS7zDRjVpZhr9y_18X4NZP5RvhHxF1pHrp_a5nsKHGP9_VHgZ_X_U4DtPlzADdLOLfPJE8M9s9Boghv-ZjQXMoCO-S1sJ1tfQ/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd6ohe0dFi7rDNdndbm0HASuTzaH2EeuA8WDOny6lP-aS7zDRjVpZhr9y_18X4NZP5RvhHxF1pHrp_a5nsKHGP9_VHgZ_X_U4DtPlzADdLOLfPJE8M9s9Boghv-ZjQXMoCO-S1sJ1tfQ/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+296.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what my bungalow, called, "Garza" or Egret, looked like in daylight. <br />
It was cozy and had "jungle charm"!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><i></i></i></div><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Having prepared everything the night before, I dressed quickly, and donned my rain gear. Now, I was really glad I had bought the <a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI</a> rain pants, which had been on the “recommended gear” list for this trip—there’s a reason it’s called the rainforest! I slipped a rain cover on my daypack which carried my all important camera gear. </span></i></span></div></i></i></i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i></i></div><i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><i><i><i></i></i></i></i></div><i><i><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.manuwildlifecenter.com/">Manu Wildlife Center</a> lodge dining room became our standard meeting place. There were four of us in our group: Charmaine and Dan, a couple from northern California, Shinji a Japanese guy currently living and working in New York City, and myself. Marlene was our knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide who was fulfilling her lifelong dream of working at Manu. There were also other groups and guides staying at the lodge. We had a pre-breakfast snack, by candlelight, to provide the fuel needed until our official breakfast at the Macaw Clay Lick lookout point.</span></i></span></div></i></i></i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i></i></div><i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU18tPvhmJiMo2eb_Zt53g4dwxDguCVuucfpE4LxJqIo4AqdxDTev342sKsQWEvMgIvVb4vSyF4l8IGb6t1f5fWNBaCPFCvcuiMhMtCMRjhfeQOT8DYHt6lDt16QXNVvvIAC4sL8cDSOo/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU18tPvhmJiMo2eb_Zt53g4dwxDguCVuucfpE4LxJqIo4AqdxDTev342sKsQWEvMgIvVb4vSyF4l8IGb6t1f5fWNBaCPFCvcuiMhMtCMRjhfeQOT8DYHt6lDt16QXNVvvIAC4sL8cDSOo/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+313.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">An early breakfast by candlelight!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After boarding the motorized canoe, we headed south on the Madre de Dios River. It was overcast and sprinkling. I really enjoyed these canoe trips: The cool breeze, the fresh water spray, observing the river banks, looking for birds, caymans, and other animals. Marlene would suddenly point out a bird in the distance and we would struggle to locate it with our binoculars. Marlene could find a needle in a haystack, and was very determined and patient with us in her attempts to direct our non-trained eyes to these sightings.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cP7f5CYPv6w94Ybw9GETaf5DPZyK1Rd7UK3R-Lecz2bMeouWPft5yRVH0FkELUXSEz-WABllnOc8mFAEJOqmqFWAYxO-oY04NJ8ywr2ObNBRYcpwgCl4uAFZ2SopAfa0Aa4qiZLzB2w/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cP7f5CYPv6w94Ybw9GETaf5DPZyK1Rd7UK3R-Lecz2bMeouWPft5yRVH0FkELUXSEz-WABllnOc8mFAEJOqmqFWAYxO-oY04NJ8ywr2ObNBRYcpwgCl4uAFZ2SopAfa0Aa4qiZLzB2w/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+295.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The floating platform at the Manu Wildlife Center, from which we boarded <br />
the motorized canoe. This, of course taken at a much sunnier time.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiL9mWPsd54kKCBzCvL2jAz3aQkOILOPNrP_VBFTsfC4LRh3wjwazaKZ3Nt9f6j0nlNQwJkxLiSGtC32eQcF1OJfdkSAp6_97vrU_bEJBRWJXkdXIaQWduS28RjLRm162FgU4W4p33vM/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiL9mWPsd54kKCBzCvL2jAz3aQkOILOPNrP_VBFTsfC4LRh3wjwazaKZ3Nt9f6j0nlNQwJkxLiSGtC32eQcF1OJfdkSAp6_97vrU_bEJBRWJXkdXIaQWduS28RjLRm162FgU4W4p33vM/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+319.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Madre de Dios River presents a challenging obstacle course for these <br />
motorized canoe drivers who must navigate around trees and branches which <br />
have fallen into the river due to erosion along the river banks. <br />
Also, there are a lot of small islands and shallow areas.</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSuCHSKJhpy_TjhvuTF46Hq6t2p34e4l9Nqe8Yauxjd2ltTKAqS5k20wzPShqnVz-woKZUwHbneoj94ppczOhMwfVYE7dAxzOXfbLYppe_Qw2g1IxunmuGFnwcszOD_zOstt2b5DX26Y/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSuCHSKJhpy_TjhvuTF46Hq6t2p34e4l9Nqe8Yauxjd2ltTKAqS5k20wzPShqnVz-woKZUwHbneoj94ppczOhMwfVYE7dAxzOXfbLYppe_Qw2g1IxunmuGFnwcszOD_zOstt2b5DX26Y/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+317.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The motorized canoe served as our transportation up and down the river.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><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/AVvXsEjSMq8gggl-HFkCa2g0o0W9gENZMXw7VJZj66PQzWLSbAJJAz7lQ883v58F0Em6ehP8phC1vDZix4qi-gxps75Xx2gEvVuMJJI4NXXOFoJ5ZcG1spZ1jF0GUbnop1z5FlWF0NdvOyH4Cxs/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMq8gggl-HFkCa2g0o0W9gENZMXw7VJZj66PQzWLSbAJJAz7lQ883v58F0Em6ehP8phC1vDZix4qi-gxps75Xx2gEvVuMJJI4NXXOFoJ5ZcG1spZ1jF0GUbnop1z5FlWF0NdvOyH4Cxs/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+318.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked forward to our relaxing canoe rides.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The canoe dropped us off at a point from which we then had to walk to the viewing platform. As I sank into the mud and wet vegetation with each step, I was glad I had worn the rain boots provided by the lodge, instead of my usual hiking boots.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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/AVvXsEgJoEpLjAKDnSWGmFR37VPZdgHXMXXUyzVcdxEXpMR0g-ZXdTpNELcZ2Vvocpdc5uWIRDS8nFUAo55neKRbZdtfbJIkl0Wc0gRXYAHDxUlZeahfbWHl6hed8puDQpVCTMVfb_1ZM3TUeK8/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoEpLjAKDnSWGmFR37VPZdgHXMXXUyzVcdxEXpMR0g-ZXdTpNELcZ2Vvocpdc5uWIRDS8nFUAo55neKRbZdtfbJIkl0Wc0gRXYAHDxUlZeahfbWHl6hed8puDQpVCTMVfb_1ZM3TUeK8/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+306.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The trail to the Macaw Clay Lick viewing platform.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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/AVvXsEhYOLVok28DK76KyTLgnn7Rpmr__Mdu5zFRWdLHPtaNI2_KxOMR7eppIrH3-1rPZkxwMgXZPPslRxAYqjVmc_XM8Ud4Afm8juEK-yRzPya7jdTFbjiSErLRga1s-6EY2DFOAkLjLbZ5hzk/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOLVok28DK76KyTLgnn7Rpmr__Mdu5zFRWdLHPtaNI2_KxOMR7eppIrH3-1rPZkxwMgXZPPslRxAYqjVmc_XM8Ud4Afm8juEK-yRzPya7jdTFbjiSErLRga1s-6EY2DFOAkLjLbZ5hzk/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking up to the viewing platform.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The expansive, open, wooden viewing platform was built on stilts, to accommodate flooding during the wet season. It was protected thatch siding and a corrugated metal roof. It had a large open viewing area facing the Macaw Clay Lick. Our group, took up positions along the viewing area. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><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/AVvXsEhr15M3LCXEHz2Rk_Pj5SraXvCJawt9jl3QmEtiFMt5bobDyZfRgkyBbKWhLMRj_H_ReujuHC6YsohsCeygT99Dx9jHEqGiUwZ4kz5F2ZaOBbtJKPalOO5b4ugo4vd7i0-GMpnfo2eBA3c/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr15M3LCXEHz2Rk_Pj5SraXvCJawt9jl3QmEtiFMt5bobDyZfRgkyBbKWhLMRj_H_ReujuHC6YsohsCeygT99Dx9jHEqGiUwZ4kz5F2ZaOBbtJKPalOO5b4ugo4vd7i0-GMpnfo2eBA3c/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+301.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Manu Wildlife Center Macaw clay lick viewing platform.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNwWS_WkNCps3Mk12aUZELwVTm8bhNQ6pXF7dK7v8RpfRGW6rjeEQXnks-VPRqs9C0_GfLrIO_MGF8epoda2MJsTl7bTM-zhLy0k2lHrqR_u_WK2z2k0xcjdyiNjyykvr7UtnSrhA_9w/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNwWS_WkNCps3Mk12aUZELwVTm8bhNQ6pXF7dK7v8RpfRGW6rjeEQXnks-VPRqs9C0_GfLrIO_MGF8epoda2MJsTl7bTM-zhLy0k2lHrqR_u_WK2z2k0xcjdyiNjyykvr7UtnSrhA_9w/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+293.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNwWS_WkNCps3Mk12aUZELwVTm8bhNQ6pXF7dK7v8RpfRGW6rjeEQXnks-VPRqs9C0_GfLrIO_MGF8epoda2MJsTl7bTM-zhLy0k2lHrqR_u_WK2z2k0xcjdyiNjyykvr7UtnSrhA_9w/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ9TQzpgV5GYhWhKrlA2qxecMPDLRej3N0u7iNtrlSSLv_KAZz1GHY3I25OQoKD16jPVRxa7puq_V6TWn8-SlaWAGPGYfQuXP8E-sbHIJ12zrkCP3Eqzs276ndmZFfIHQheLmHXXa3XU/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ9TQzpgV5GYhWhKrlA2qxecMPDLRej3N0u7iNtrlSSLv_KAZz1GHY3I25OQoKD16jPVRxa7puq_V6TWn8-SlaWAGPGYfQuXP8E-sbHIJ12zrkCP3Eqzs276ndmZFfIHQheLmHXXa3XU/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+292.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I set up my fairly new Nikon D90 DSLR on my lightweight Benro Travel Angel carbon fiber tripod, with a 70-300mm Sigma lens. I had this lens for years and now wished I had invested in a better quality, longer lens for this trip. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb9aeYLedLdnSq34FVZudqiDVCtXywpdjaF7GhOjcEz9aPEyJixTbVlxC-K3UGkBHd22OBZfj9srtpYVuyxWgLCFlfB5g_afq57CeVBVnDzSLRCt8Q3gdf5Ry7xnI3gba3y0mfzH52-Y/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb9aeYLedLdnSq34FVZudqiDVCtXywpdjaF7GhOjcEz9aPEyJixTbVlxC-K3UGkBHd22OBZfj9srtpYVuyxWgLCFlfB5g_afq57CeVBVnDzSLRCt8Q3gdf5Ry7xnI3gba3y0mfzH52-Y/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+304.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><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/AVvXsEjRV9mbfc2m_sYW0wHzb2YTYggkDx4jx5bHxsed6CyaGJiFoS9d3aBOQ5KbMp_3HQmPo5HQluPeZyOAFAYRA5BaxBAwN6L7yzoG4wf8kSQrohKaQcM342w0HZkiqUQhuGOqTKekQ2r54YY/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRV9mbfc2m_sYW0wHzb2YTYggkDx4jx5bHxsed6CyaGJiFoS9d3aBOQ5KbMp_3HQmPo5HQluPeZyOAFAYRA5BaxBAwN6L7yzoG4wf8kSQrohKaQcM342w0HZkiqUQhuGOqTKekQ2r54YY/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+331.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lens envy! </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bird watching of any kind requires patience and we were at the observation platform for several very pleasant hours. We were never too far from our cameras and binoculars. At first we sighted a few Blue and Yellow Macaws flying around. They were difficult to shoot against the overcast sky. This was going to be photographically challenging for me, as I did not have much experience with bird photography.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><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/AVvXsEgh9Ae8gUm-JlO_mVLC9wfVKa9YKbzfAxiBP3NZfkz1qw8ji42Xf1sdEBwhQm2DCPlfeg0nQqNxOzRC4GtaNPRzCBHcYJenCUkIolKi8o4A5yAaI0RwHtjxshKNDTvHXllDvUoGbSgwVJ8/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9Ae8gUm-JlO_mVLC9wfVKa9YKbzfAxiBP3NZfkz1qw8ji42Xf1sdEBwhQm2DCPlfeg0nQqNxOzRC4GtaNPRzCBHcYJenCUkIolKi8o4A5yAaI0RwHtjxshKNDTvHXllDvUoGbSgwVJ8/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+320.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially, the Macaws were just flying around, under an overcast sky.<br />
I had trouble with the contrast, and condensation between my lens and UV filter.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><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/AVvXsEgV4zhBwRGycDC9Se0n7GqZrQt_-63PUMC27H7rLnm7xDlJKOFBzqR5Ou533Sas4d9ioLuY2eiO2AqJb5iJlhUiyjboooMxvHFAbbW1rC66A3a6ddCVeIk18x4cfUqZSgjLpAubzfKSdcw/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4zhBwRGycDC9Se0n7GqZrQt_-63PUMC27H7rLnm7xDlJKOFBzqR5Ou533Sas4d9ioLuY2eiO2AqJb5iJlhUiyjboooMxvHFAbbW1rC66A3a6ddCVeIk18x4cfUqZSgjLpAubzfKSdcw/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+310.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The photo of this affectionate couple was taken <br />
by Marlene Berrocal, our fearless leader.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><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/AVvXsEinmAWlq6F7uRIwQlmTWK-It9F22ATL634N2sX5CoamIhPy_McP8wMxPlR0kxYEvlo3VTw-gFI0wVfHfMXhfdZRv8mAgzpQ__TcV0bmZpp6jOgfNpF9mhirnQCd6F2EKkP6GYg0rYGEUzM/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmAWlq6F7uRIwQlmTWK-It9F22ATL634N2sX5CoamIhPy_McP8wMxPlR0kxYEvlo3VTw-gFI0wVfHfMXhfdZRv8mAgzpQ__TcV0bmZpp6jOgfNpF9mhirnQCd6F2EKkP6GYg0rYGEUzM/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+288.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><i></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><i></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><i></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><i><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marlene had an interesting, and effective<br />
technique of placing the camera lens against the telescope eyepie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ce. </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></i></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><i></i></i></span></div><i><i><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/AVvXsEj7L3uG7RoZwtdkCi3jvtoe8KQvsO8SGVxCz0_lsmMulWn0iafrBzWNn_fQNED80-t6OezLDdpzrW2tw4JWnzXBnTeFXSNTYR0vYzbjh0nT06UXFw51c8tniNKKxvQPdlzG1uASJnvZMT0/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L3uG7RoZwtdkCi3jvtoe8KQvsO8SGVxCz0_lsmMulWn0iafrBzWNn_fQNED80-t6OezLDdpzrW2tw4JWnzXBnTeFXSNTYR0vYzbjh0nT06UXFw51c8tniNKKxvQPdlzG1uASJnvZMT0/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+290.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marlene and Charmaine</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></i></i></i></i><i><i></i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span></div><i></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJmr2V4UccuYXl5Y5AjOWqSPeFG5CjS9NcYCNwEWOrjbfEZQdgEspyWp3dsWX_lRqZHxkwu1GmgfWi0ZTVoD4VZHPKpTB5OAKbwihXjeWOf577JPsZ6L4JGe1XBbB40YithSAudJ-BOM/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJmr2V4UccuYXl5Y5AjOWqSPeFG5CjS9NcYCNwEWOrjbfEZQdgEspyWp3dsWX_lRqZHxkwu1GmgfWi0ZTVoD4VZHPKpTB5OAKbwihXjeWOf577JPsZ6L4JGe1XBbB40YithSAudJ-BOM/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+309.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This photo was also taken by Marlene Berrocal through the telescope. </span></span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><i><i><i></i></i></i></i></div><i><i><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then, a few Red and Green Macaws appeared and started fluttering in pairs, from tree to tree. Soon, there were dozens upon dozens of them—perhaps hundreds—flying around, squawking loudly. Cameras started clicking like crazy, in particular those of us with DSLR’s using “burst” mode. Excitedly, we were all in a shooting frenzy, and memory sticks were filling up fast!</span></i></span></div></i></i></i></i></i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><i></i></i></div><i><i></i></i><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8ZefbspO2DooxNlWhvZz987By3FY8KZDMJHgBYHkHioLsnh3dqHU4gzctOrHtivZDQ-1BLaa3_zikX_7C8k-doURSs8WmT2rLwCO91uaykNyiltYhaUC1140WePBfDoC6kiqqEZ5Wbg/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8ZefbspO2DooxNlWhvZz987By3FY8KZDMJHgBYHkHioLsnh3dqHU4gzctOrHtivZDQ-1BLaa3_zikX_7C8k-doURSs8WmT2rLwCO91uaykNyiltYhaUC1140WePBfDoC6kiqqEZ5Wbg/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+327.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshhzSnkFPEQk02KJw3iQDLZiEMvurT3atIoxX28VohXYN_qdsn8fGVexA_RV78uD57rADJefVUzLU4tgWzzeLXdD1uygwQ919Liy-7ku9YBmZC3i578ooDhTazy3xF04FCbjuGqbMDjg/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshhzSnkFPEQk02KJw3iQDLZiEMvurT3atIoxX28VohXYN_qdsn8fGVexA_RV78uD57rADJefVUzLU4tgWzzeLXdD1uygwQ919Liy-7ku9YBmZC3i578ooDhTazy3xF04FCbjuGqbMDjg/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMIiigPv7nPU1jSgykz810v7KlL9znqqNeO27oDp7mY2t6GjW2kB3BhOR2JcnhUiE5XPPB5qCSCRBC7azKY3DOuwBRIrjY8o-UvyUi-d-peVeXApxiwBKZ9zNDGmyOOIMCZauQ3WIwcU/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMIiigPv7nPU1jSgykz810v7KlL9znqqNeO27oDp7mY2t6GjW2kB3BhOR2JcnhUiE5XPPB5qCSCRBC7azKY3DOuwBRIrjY8o-UvyUi-d-peVeXApxiwBKZ9zNDGmyOOIMCZauQ3WIwcU/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We all hoped that the Macaws would now decide to go down to the clay lick. But instead, after teasing us for a while, they started flying away, leaving us frustrated. We thought we had lost the opportunity to photograph them on the clay lick. Maybe our cameras were too loud, Marlene said. However, being the expert, she remained hopeful that the Macaws would return, because they need the clay nearly every day to help with their digestion. We would continue waiting.</span></i></span></div></i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was overcast with storm clouds heading our way. Soon the wind picked up and it started raining again. I listened to the sounds of the jungle: the thunder, the leaves blowing in the wind, a bee buzzing around me, crickets, tree frogs, and cicadas. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At 10:40 a.m. the Red and Green Macaws started congregating again, as Marlene had predicted. She told us to hold off on the photos (the rapid clicking of the burst mode disturbs them) until they descended on the clay lick. They look like they might be ready to go eat the clay. Then we could start shooting and they wouldn’t mind. All I could hear now was our whispering, and their loud squawking. I wondered what they were saying to each other.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><i><i></i></i></div><i><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our colorful subjects were hanging out on the vegetation facing us, above the clay lick—a foreground of fluttering red and blue against a background of green. Although they are called Red and Green Macaws, they have more blue than green on their wings. </span></i></span></div></i></i></i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i></i></div><i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then, the time came, and they started descending and feeding on the clay lick minerals. The rapid firing of cameras resumed. The vibrant colors of the Macaws against the neutral clay, was dramatic. They remained on the clay lick for quite a while; I lost track of time, but realize that we were very fortunate to witness this display.</span></i></span></div></i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrl1PxzSCfYuRpJrZ3P9nENAu0iZHu9XYBOYZCHPanTx20i6CNtpfvWkFaUo1Cp43emqehuzHxoA5_ibalr0BFLWFsSJ8ncR3Wc38PxrZbHFCGsty0a-JUEzPuh485MWAGNNlDtb_p-0/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrl1PxzSCfYuRpJrZ3P9nENAu0iZHu9XYBOYZCHPanTx20i6CNtpfvWkFaUo1Cp43emqehuzHxoA5_ibalr0BFLWFsSJ8ncR3Wc38PxrZbHFCGsty0a-JUEzPuh485MWAGNNlDtb_p-0/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+337.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><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/AVvXsEj12eSazCt4zAOrMZ5SRA11-8LIQ9_aW4FTb1lPyqx6oPIA4CvCgKkhb7JE85DVlDRpTIBvsGVO_TcDzCFaGFYRytLtHfyfsVlq0Is0JjhZalZHVdIpZ441eJmhBeRwakKRvOgLl5Y1wow/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12eSazCt4zAOrMZ5SRA11-8LIQ9_aW4FTb1lPyqx6oPIA4CvCgKkhb7JE85DVlDRpTIBvsGVO_TcDzCFaGFYRytLtHfyfsVlq0Is0JjhZalZHVdIpZ441eJmhBeRwakKRvOgLl5Y1wow/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+334.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is one of my favorite Images from my experience.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After their grand performance, the stars of the show—the Red and Green Macaws—started to fly away, first a few at a time, then the sky was filled with Red, Blue, and Green.</span></i></span></div></i></i><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-1Md0tgjAD5TIsxG1p259wM5Ugv6heR1aCDGHt2Lg5ddUo_uQRq9BY-tE3t15vEfUQZ5dL7BoHj0-W9a-WZ63luGaFIvILKA5s2ziRG6peFDlgUUV37NP0Ztl4SlDEUyhrsXVJ3fs0o/s1600/Manu+Wildlife+Center+298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-1Md0tgjAD5TIsxG1p259wM5Ugv6heR1aCDGHt2Lg5ddUo_uQRq9BY-tE3t15vEfUQZ5dL7BoHj0-W9a-WZ63luGaFIvILKA5s2ziRG6peFDlgUUV37NP0Ztl4SlDEUyhrsXVJ3fs0o/s320/Manu+Wildlife+Center+298.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Leaving the Macaw Clay Lick and moving on to other adventures in Manu.</span></span></td></tr>
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</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div></i></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-34727266396574828742011-05-27T19:40:00.000-04:002011-05-27T19:40:51.648-04:00Window Shopping in the United Arab Emirates<div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The front left windshield cracked— it was on the captain’s side of the cockpit. We were still ascending and at an altitude of about 30,000 feet when it happened, having taken off from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha_International_Airport">Doha International Airport</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar">Qatar</a>, about 30 minutes earlier! </span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I had been quietly standing behind the cockpit, minding my own flight attendant business, as the pilots were attending to theirs, when we all saw it crack. We looked at each other, sighed, and shook our heads in disbelief. Not again! The right windshield had cracked a couple of months before while we were in Gander, Newfoundland, just before take off, on our way across the “pond” (the North Atlantic Ocean) to London. But, no worries, there were double windshields on this private <a href="http://www.gulfstream.com/">Gulfstream</a> III aircraft. I was relieved to know that from the last experience.</span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, this would still require that we make an immediate “unplanned landing”, according to FAA, and international regulations. The danger is that if something were to happen to the second, interior windshield, and we could experience a <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3krt322">sudden decompression.</a></span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha">Doha</a>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar">Qatar</a></span></i></span> had been a fuel stop on our way from Madrid, Spain to Phuket, Thailand. Initially we were supposed to make that fuel stop in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai">Dubai</a></span></i></span></i></span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a></i></span>, but foggy conditions had made for poor visibility, so we diverted to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha">Doha</a></span></i></span></span></i></span>. Now, we would descend to a safe altitude and figure out where to land. We needed to inform our boss, the owner of the airplane, who was currently sleeping restfully in the back.</span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The airplane was privately owned by a South American gentleman and his family — we’ll call him Mr. “D”. Our captain, John, asked me to inform Mr. D of the situation. I walked back aft, through the main cabin where his guests were snoozing. Gingerly, I knocked, then opened up the door to the aft cabin where he and his wife were sleeping. I tapped on his shoulder. They hadn’t even noticed that we were descending again. </span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The D family had owned airplanes, and flown around the world for many years, so they were used to, not only the turbulence, but also the drama that is part of private aviation. They would often sleep through re-fueling stops—landings and take offs—during the middle of the night. I quietly and calmly explained the situation and stepped out. Within a few minutes Mr. D came forward to inspect the windshield, and speak to the pilots. Instead of being upset and worried, he actually seemed, well...excited. It was yet another anecdote in his adventurous life.</span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">John and Mr. D decided that it would be best to land in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai">Dubai</a></span></i></span></i></span>, rather than returning to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha">Doha</a></span></i></span>. This way, Mr. D and his wife and guests could go shopping, while we flew to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi">Abu Dhabi</a> to get the airplane fixed at a facility there. </span></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMPNiIj5A9ttWLUoiydaVgOEKxyXb2zhCYE8BTdmdzEmyKbUZ6CVjZ08rA_NbJtdcRRNGJKbww0qJYb6U1b627IUjCFpMo2NE3oVzjDCeQ43qChOL9944igHvuGS7fpJq0ShRGZe8zYw/s1600/UAE+226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMPNiIj5A9ttWLUoiydaVgOEKxyXb2zhCYE8BTdmdzEmyKbUZ6CVjZ08rA_NbJtdcRRNGJKbww0qJYb6U1b627IUjCFpMo2NE3oVzjDCeQ43qChOL9944igHvuGS7fpJq0ShRGZe8zYw/s320/UAE+226.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><i>The Famous </i></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Islands"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><i><span id="goog_36723825"></span>Palm Islands<span id="goog_36723826"></span></i></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><i> of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai">Dubai</a></span></i></span>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG2JkSYVlBJb44TA3_0QEiDk_eLnkhR4JdfkgRSUECs7iXKV5_dwjPCU7a7B_MvED6kqZIXqqQaOQ0ncjPDuR5btahrHR7dYXgzWAK7Qz9eZgMA9l5o2lVf3fC4YmS-PtdWyhqaSBbTU/s1600/UAE+228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG2JkSYVlBJb44TA3_0QEiDk_eLnkhR4JdfkgRSUECs7iXKV5_dwjPCU7a7B_MvED6kqZIXqqQaOQ0ncjPDuR5btahrHR7dYXgzWAK7Qz9eZgMA9l5o2lVf3fC4YmS-PtdWyhqaSBbTU/s320/UAE+228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We flew around for a few more minutes, waiting for the fog to lift, so that we could land at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_International_Airport">Dubai International Airport</a>.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliYv-bTF2wnIYMZmuJvv1m3p83i8w3Ou1thsadDDglwSJL4xlGnCABQTv4H4UMm9KXranpkI3hSW0H12QUXIwcTK9_nezm5kPtOQZF92XDrPkHcOduxlsTVcyXKq65fbA19_zm0VsF9U/s1600/UAE+229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliYv-bTF2wnIYMZmuJvv1m3p83i8w3Ou1thsadDDglwSJL4xlGnCABQTv4H4UMm9KXranpkI3hSW0H12QUXIwcTK9_nezm5kPtOQZF92XDrPkHcOduxlsTVcyXKq65fbA19_zm0VsF9U/s320/UAE+229.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates">The United Arab Emirates</a></span></span></i></td></tr>
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</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mr. & Mrs. D, and their guests were happy to have a shopping opportunity in luxurious Dubai. We, the crew, went shopping for a windshield in Abu Dhabi!</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBVAcruZns_wkS775i7pO97x6uu60mrMZ3w-2ZAL-nM_pP17cG9vAheDEScJtjDq_YlmmFc_dQh-zD6u8fZvvgy1UIAaJxFy2r8NN1mrQzjdrdQYc-7IqsOV6F-IE6B1Es-rJHae9H68/s1600/UAE+223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBVAcruZns_wkS775i7pO97x6uu60mrMZ3w-2ZAL-nM_pP17cG9vAheDEScJtjDq_YlmmFc_dQh-zD6u8fZvvgy1UIAaJxFy2r8NN1mrQzjdrdQYc-7IqsOV6F-IE6B1Es-rJHae9H68/s320/UAE+223.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Flying over the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates"> UAE</a> from Dubai to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi">Abu Dhabi</a></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0-1i3zsbOK3vGNyA40dskzQvIwSMP326Xlb3cX5QxKjINOJOI3Je5jIpKoFIJweVGW7TLo9eyFjxcdAqUy-vXXpqlztF9EQvru5efoF1w55uA5XcL5qDzg13Bc9y0hyphenhyphenyPticbKgQ1WY/s1600/UAE+224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0-1i3zsbOK3vGNyA40dskzQvIwSMP326Xlb3cX5QxKjINOJOI3Je5jIpKoFIJweVGW7TLo9eyFjxcdAqUy-vXXpqlztF9EQvru5efoF1w55uA5XcL5qDzg13Bc9y0hyphenhyphenyPticbKgQ1WY/s320/UAE+224.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi">Abu Dhabi</a> is the capital of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates">UAE</a></span></span></i></span> and </span></span></i></span> is a modern, clean, and dynamic city. </span></span></i></span></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi">Abu Dhabi</a> </span></span></i></span>is also the "New York" of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates">UAE</a>, a high rise financial center</span></span></i></span>.</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfPiKs-tACOC0_i9gyTPa0KaX1k9oF_15gcddFy02nawRqwSd122qgjMrO9wU04FYgDqADkhOKdBUULG1YLmcbg_NPlAuoSwy1u2T8tWvWTzpUkR73duq5lrCdJXWwnUwtoOysrfEOy4/s1600/UAE+222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfPiKs-tACOC0_i9gyTPa0KaX1k9oF_15gcddFy02nawRqwSd122qgjMrO9wU04FYgDqADkhOKdBUULG1YLmcbg_NPlAuoSwy1u2T8tWvWTzpUkR73duq5lrCdJXWwnUwtoOysrfEOy4/s320/UAE+222.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">And, of course, the obligatory sign was painted on the ceiling of my hotel room, </span></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">which points in the direction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca">Mecca</a>, to guide <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/muslim">Muslims</a> in their daily prayers.</span></span></span></i></div></span></td></tr>
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</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038278043072765022.post-21699280835588849292011-05-20T19:56:00.000-04:002011-05-20T19:56:27.534-04:00How to Pack for the Jungle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Traveling to the jungle is probably one of the greatest adventures a nature and wildlife lover can experience. Cradling the equator, around the world, there are still some relatively pristine tropical jungle destinations to explore. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, If you </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">are</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> traveling to the jungle there are some essential items you’ll want to take with you. If you’re flying in, such as I did last year from Cusco, Peru to Boca Manu, in the Peruvian Amazon, it will probably be on a small airplane and you’ll have weight restrictions on your luggage. The limit on my trip was 22 pounds. These limits are even more challenging if you’re a photographer with a lot of camera gear.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8V0LO6v-z7XunjT_NVg63itUZEBhTXvqQUS5hY06hcDRPzXOU1U4Qu6OJmnt1910C4gktkzr9SN3oGmVz7Vq8kNJ4LZ4zB72KSJnAAJ83nWO3DZDr7egPLrMZ7UeyUDOXFf_FhNEULb0/s1600/Manu+178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8V0LO6v-z7XunjT_NVg63itUZEBhTXvqQUS5hY06hcDRPzXOU1U4Qu6OJmnt1910C4gktkzr9SN3oGmVz7Vq8kNJ4LZ4zB72KSJnAAJ83nWO3DZDr7egPLrMZ7UeyUDOXFf_FhNEULb0/s320/Manu+178.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The most practical way to carry your stuff is in a light duffle bag which won’t add much to your weight. Also you can fold this up in your suitcase, which you will want to leave behind at a trusted guesthouse or hotel, located the point of your departure to the jungle. You will also need a good day pack for those day hikes to animal and bird viewing sites. If you’re a photographer, a daypack (like Tamrac or Lowepro) which carries both your photo equipment and hiking essentials, is ideal.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><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/AVvXsEj8WUh8Pit50ZLeDmdutWLTjVID3v5B1OMwx8Oxcq603wLX3xXktZEp3hXmBRSOR4hkc_OEEYnorAGklR9HbV_IADi2MOcdpsKAriilBrNAMMeIUHNkSdt9inFbZ8l5v2Y9WCA2t_gbFmg/s1600/Manu+168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WUh8Pit50ZLeDmdutWLTjVID3v5B1OMwx8Oxcq603wLX3xXktZEp3hXmBRSOR4hkc_OEEYnorAGklR9HbV_IADi2MOcdpsKAriilBrNAMMeIUHNkSdt9inFbZ8l5v2Y9WCA2t_gbFmg/s320/Manu+168.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This was the inside of my cozy bungalow at the Manu Wildlife Center.<br />
I had a small duffle bag and daypack which had to weigh less than 22 pounds!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aside from the obvious—passport, airline tickets, and money—here are some essentials you won’t want to leave behind (in no particular order):</span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></i></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">1. </span>Insect repellant with Deet! Deet! Deet! </span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Need I say more! If you live in the United States, buy it at home, before your departure (not sure about Europe and other countries). It’s usually stronger here, with 30% to 100% Deet. However, I’ve used the 100% before and it made my hands peel. I prefer the 30% for that reason. Carry it in a plastic baggie.</span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">2. </span>Camera & gear:</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> You will have to prioritize on this one if you have strict weight restrictions. But, if you’re shooting in the jungle, in low light, I definitely recommend a lightweight carbon fiber tripod. </span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcTROOpAW3X7g_oKJLFbSsDG0Q_nLSwTK6_bkyyFcgDlaSHFVhyz86cW5PzM2sbwwFCuf8-ZtJBgIQIh2fJRk3UO5068CY3Af42DAFdZhdarl29oP9N29f5ju2kaPeXXm-i84C-HEB0o/s1600/Manu+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcTROOpAW3X7g_oKJLFbSsDG0Q_nLSwTK6_bkyyFcgDlaSHFVhyz86cW5PzM2sbwwFCuf8-ZtJBgIQIh2fJRk3UO5068CY3Af42DAFdZhdarl29oP9N29f5ju2kaPeXXm-i84C-HEB0o/s320/Manu+174.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shinji, a well equipped member of our group, and Marlena, our fearless guide.</span></td></tr>
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</span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Binoculars</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for wildlife and bird viewing.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></i></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">4. </span>Lightweight clothing</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> that’s easily washable and which dries quickly (try to stay away from cotton). I really like my <a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI</a> synthetic convertible pants, which I can wear as shorts, and have lots of useful pockets. I also love my button down <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI</a></span></i></span> shirts which have zippered meshed air vent openings on the side. But there are many brands out there which do the same job. I brought two changes of clothes with me and would wash them out and hang them at the end of the day. However, three might be better because everything dries reeeaalllly....... sllllooowwwllly in the tropical rainforest! So, I was wearing damp clothes a lot in the evenings! And, socks, forget it! They take days to dry in the rainforest!</span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></div><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/AVvXsEjGw-Xxg3tgh91_Nx09ryP4n6vtNk1hd1oewTV2NunLZVoPoEbJCcnzDfYm67wvTi5X7OF4BnmfwbjJ2Wvemh5xtrZw1ovf51Kr4L0DTvh8trGNjekyuNB1e3nirvErLWpg6n1H9ZnIl0E/s1600/Manu+173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw-Xxg3tgh91_Nx09ryP4n6vtNk1hd1oewTV2NunLZVoPoEbJCcnzDfYm67wvTi5X7OF4BnmfwbjJ2Wvemh5xtrZw1ovf51Kr4L0DTvh8trGNjekyuNB1e3nirvErLWpg6n1H9ZnIl0E/s320/Manu+173.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lightweight synthetic clothing works best in the hot and humid tropical rainforest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">5. </span>Lightweight hiking boots or trail shoes</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> which are well worn before your trip (no brand new boots).</span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">6. </span>Hiking socks:</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> My personal preference, here in the U.S., are Wigwam socks from REI. But, like I said, they a long time to dry.</span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">7. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rain jacket and pants:</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Necessary items. After all, it’s called the “rainforest” for a reason! The <a href="http://www.manuwildlifecenter.com/">Manu Wildlife Center</a> provided the rubber boots. Otherwise that would also be a required item.</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAzmNXUA6mC_dFeSf44rO6ow34KTwMXIS8Cz91GwVRfV0OI5CETj38cpBYt-UXJ5GadrQJ8Z3f-5-P6t1rG5nJ3EWgtWgsOtGdvVJDZXB2QySgjCUrGd6CjvWwqaqX76cG7Vy4WSR1dA/s1600/Manu+169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAzmNXUA6mC_dFeSf44rO6ow34KTwMXIS8Cz91GwVRfV0OI5CETj38cpBYt-UXJ5GadrQJ8Z3f-5-P6t1rG5nJ3EWgtWgsOtGdvVJDZXB2QySgjCUrGd6CjvWwqaqX76cG7Vy4WSR1dA/s320/Manu+169.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not surprisingly, it rained a lot!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bFzeuwWcAZbLZhWSNR0NztehIgPCnKZAwJK5DQ_nld8eztFZ3-mUQG9hALTHgZJDGUcUROMEwiShq1GR6fN3c4wv5J4u4C9VMXRTNedN9Vto0u5DYY3F0BhMWnyBR5Qm6xURIEQ7ciI/s1600/Manu+175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bFzeuwWcAZbLZhWSNR0NztehIgPCnKZAwJK5DQ_nld8eztFZ3-mUQG9hALTHgZJDGUcUROMEwiShq1GR6fN3c4wv5J4u4C9VMXRTNedN9Vto0u5DYY3F0BhMWnyBR5Qm6xURIEQ7ciI/s320/Manu+175.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A soggy day on a viewing platform!</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrI6n2FCtOEgEcar2W79_OcfYbj2NrSg3LaBpNbpRjRl9qn_-Odsyd4h9ApTZvY64v8rYCkdfzlPSqzHU3aHyeRDEYayfmj3pT3JgrWhaHS-vzt9oC9tpfdaGaAp5tY_fQlYedd9AWu4/s1600/Manu+170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrI6n2FCtOEgEcar2W79_OcfYbj2NrSg3LaBpNbpRjRl9qn_-Odsyd4h9ApTZvY64v8rYCkdfzlPSqzHU3aHyeRDEYayfmj3pT3JgrWhaHS-vzt9oC9tpfdaGaAp5tY_fQlYedd9AWu4/s320/Manu+170.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ponchos will work too, and protect your backpack at the same time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">8. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hat: </span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For sun and insect protection.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">9. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Water bottle: </span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It’s very important to stay hydrated in hot climates.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">10. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman,</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> or similar multi-purpose tool. I never leave home without one.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">11. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Flashlight:</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Actually I prefer to bring 2; one a Petzl headlamp which leaves you free to use both hands; In addition I like to bring a Mini Maglight which you can unscrew the top of and also use as a “candle”.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">12. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunglasses: </span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Preferably with polarizing lenses which cut the water glare.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">13. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunblock and Chapstick with SPF</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of at least 15. I’ve been told by a dermatologists that it’s better if your sun protection has zinc oxide or titanium oxide rather than an über high SPF factor. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">14. Any </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">medications</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> you might require, including an anti-Malarial prophylactic if you are going to an area which has malaria carrying mosquitoes. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">15. Your own personally customized </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First Aid Kit</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Yours may be different than mine!</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">16. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Electronic gadgets and their accessories:</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> In addition, don’t forget extra batteries, camera chargers, memory cards, plugs, and any electronic device and its accessories, which you cannot live without! Although we did not have electricity at the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.manuwildlifecenter.com/">Manu Wildlife Center</a></span></i></span>, where I went last year, the staff did turn on the generator for several hours each evening so that guests could charge their camera batteries. Oh, and to make cocktails!</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Other random stuff that I like to have:</b></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Purrell or any other hand sanitizer.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A bandana which is good for a number of purposes.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A small microfiber towel. It’s the jungle, it's hot and humid, and you will perspire!</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A backpack cover to protect your gear, when it rains. Or, you can get a poncho that will go over you and the back pack!</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A pack of Kleenex or facial tissues.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A journal and a couple of pens.</span></i></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you have a strict weight limit it’s a good idea to pre-plan the packing at home, prior to your trip, exactly what you will be taking to the jungle, and weigh it. Every item and ounce counts, so pack wisely.</span></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And, have I mentioned the Deet? For goodness sakes, don’t leave home without the Deet!</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603259075489877192noreply@blogger.com0