2 BLONDES ON HOLIDAY

HELLO EVERYONE!!!

WE ARE ON OUR WAY ONCE AGAIN. BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT--HOW ABOUT A REVIEW OF THE LAST TRIP. WE DIDN'T SEND ANY PICTURES OUT WITH OUR EMAILS AND WITH COMING HOME WITH OVER 5000 PICTURES IT WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST.

BUT FOR THE NEWBIES, THE OLDIES AND JUST PLAIN FORGETFUL FOLKS, FRANCINE AND I STARTED OUT IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS AND MAINLAND ECUADOR FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURE WITH THE SEA LIONS, TURTLES, TORTOISES AND TEXANS. THE YOUNG COUPLE FROM ENGLAND WERE DELIGHTFUL AND THE 3 CO-WORKERS FROM ENGLAND ON HOLIDAY WITHOUT THEIR WIVES WERE A REAL HOOT. (BIRD WATCHERS - THEY WERE) AND I FOUND MYSELF LOOKING AT BIRDS DIFFERENTLY AND WITH A GAINED RESPECT ( FOR MY NECK MUSCLES)

THEN OFF TO THE AMAZON JUNGLE FOR 3 NIGHTS AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE A NIGHT WALK INTO THE JUNGLE TO SEE ALL THE CREEPY CRAWLY THINGS THAT LURK IN THE NIGHT - MAINLY SPIDERS, BUGS, FROGS AND SNAKES. a FLOAT IN THE NAPO RIVER WAS FUN AND THEY DID SAY THERE WERE NO PIRANHA IN THE WATER, I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM BUT YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY NATIVES IN THE WATER?!?

ECUADOR WAS A VERY NICE SURPRISE AND THE THE PEOPLE WERE WONDERFUL. THEN OFF TO PERU MUCH POORER BUT THE PEOPLE WERE JUST AS NICE. GREAT SHOPPING IN THE MARKETS, VERY COLORFUL COUNTRY. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP WAS HIKING THE INCA TRAIL. FOUR DAYS OF PUSHING YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STAMINA TO THE LIMIT. I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED BECAUSE BICTOR OUR GUIDE WAS HANGING CLOSE TO ME WITH THE OXYGEN TANK IN HAND. BUT STANDING AT SUN GATE ON THE 4TH DAY LOOKING OVER MACHU PICCHU WAS THE MOST EMOTIONAL TIME OF THE TRIP.

THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS AND PLACES WE VISITED BUT STAYING WITH A FAMILY ON A SMALL ISLAND OF AMANTANI IN LAKE TITICACA. WAS THE MOST INTERESTING. WE WERE ABLE TO DRESS LIKE THE LOCALS AND ATTEND A WEEKLY DANCE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. OUR PATCHAMAMA WAS ABOUT 4 FT TALL AND WAS AN AVID DANCER. FRANCINE AND I HAD TO HIDE FROM HER AND WE TOOK TURNS DANCING. THE ALTITUDE WAS STILL A LITTLE HIGH (3820 M)FOR SUCH A STRENUOUS WORKOUT.

OUR TRIP ENDED IN LAZ PAZ BOLIVIA. IT IS THE HIGHEST CAPITAL CITY IN THE WORLD ONLY IT ISN'T THE CAPITAL CITY. BUT IT IS THE CENTER OF BUSINESS FOR BOLIVIA. THE WITCH'S MARKET IS THE MOST FAMOUS THING IN THE CITY. YOU CAN BUY ANY THING THERE TO MAKE YOUR POTIONS. A LOT A DRIED ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PARTS. I HAD MY COCA LEAVES READ BY A SHAMAN. ALL GOOD STUFF NO REASON NOT TO BOARD THE PLANE HOME THE NEXT DAY.

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