South America

This has been a popular destination this year. Joyce, a teacher mate in USA has recently spent some time in Peru and also been to the Galapagos. She is a prolific and interesting writer and we will publish her over the next few issues.

Hi all. In Peru. Wide streets, lots of people, hustle and bustle and traffic. We play a game to look for the new bug cars and they have lots. Many small cars so they can wiggle in between each other. Nice hotel near the city center and across the street from Papa John Pizza. Today we are off to Couco so we will go from sea leevl to 10,000 ft. Good for me but hard on some people as they are getting altitude sickness. Still drinking onnly bottled water,. Just have to remind myself every time I go to brush my teeth. Maybe this trip will teach me to drink watrer more regularly. I am going to keep this short as people are waiting to use the computer and I need to go up and finish a few things. A longer and newsier letter to follow. Joyce.

So here I am back in Quito. First I want to tell you a few things I forgot earliers. When I arrived at 2 in the morning we were surrounded by little kids begging. Twice the car couldn't even move because they were hanging on the car so hard. It was so sad. I have seen a lot of poverty but luckily not as much as I expected.

Anyway, left early Sunday morning for the Galapagos. It took 2 flights, a bus, and a boat to get to our boat. Our boat was quite nice. It had 16 outside cabins each nicely designed with wood floors and private facilities. The boat also had a bar, a little library and a dining room. We ate three very good meals a day and late afternoon snacks. Nothing like getting out of the dingy and being met with miniature pizza. I had no problem with this. You actually get quite an appetite on a boat. Well I do as some people lose their appetite but luckily I am not one of them. No sea sickness at all.

Our days were spent visiting the various islands and the wildlife. Saw the blue-footed boobies, tons of sea lions and iguanas. Saw turtles in the water as well as the land tortoises. Lots of other hawks, gulls, etc. When you didn't know the name of something you just called it the Galapagos ____. So I saw a Galapagos dove, a galapagos hawk, etc. Not much plant life as it is all volcanic and actually quite brown and barren. You are walking on lava most of the time. I don't know that I would say it is scenic as much as I would say it is fascinating.

We went snorkeling 4 times. I snorkeled with the hammer sharks, the sealions which were amazing because they swam right with you and you can even touch them. There were lots of colorful fish, eels, starfish, turtles, etc. The water was definitely cold which to me is anything under 90 degrees and it was about 65 to 70. However I jumped in and braved the cold. I figure if the fish can do it so can I. I think that is why so many fish have blue stripes - they are shivering too.

Ofcourse when not snorkeling or walking we were just relaxing on the boat and enjoying the scenery and water. There was a family from Australia and I got into playing cards with them. Quite the game. I am going to teach it to all my gambling friends. You know who you are!

Today with all the different forms of transportation to get back to the mainland I felt like I was on the Amazing race. We took a water taxi, than a bus around the island, than another boat, and two planes. The airline is great. Even a 45 minute flight gives you a sandwich or cake and beverages. In the terminal they serve drinks while you wait. United should take a few hints from them.

Today it is raining quite hard. I came back to do my laundry, put it all in a bag, brought it to the desk and was told to pick it up tomorrow. Called me 10 minutes later to say they had no room in the machine so I have clothes hanging everywhere. I only hope they dry before I leave.

Tomorrow three of us are off to a small town 22 kms from here. We will be at the equator and will do the egg trick. Than tomorrow night we are off to Peru. As it turns out half of my group was an 8 day boat trip so 7 of us left and we will meet up with a new group of people. I do find it hard at times to be a single person among all couples. That is the one drawback that I had no control over.

So far the stomach is doing well. Feel great. ANd I am proud to say it is day 6 and I have not lost any sunglasses. I really am doing preety good. I only took a few items on the boat so less is best.

Shopping is shopping. Luckily not too much time. Still no socks to be found.

Every morning they make these delicious fruit drinks and the pineapple here is incredible. Tonight ate Chinese food which was full of fresh vegetables. No fortune cookie.

Very rainy tonight but hopefully sun will come out.

The people are quite friendly. They are not pushy or anything with the tourists which is nice. What else to say.

Oh I got bit by a big bird. I was feeding it fish and I ran out of fish so it scooped down on me and snapped my hand. It was a huge bird. I was so stunned and than just laughed. We learned a lot about staying away from the bull or big male sealion. Once we got too close and it began to chase us. You really have to look where you go because the iguanas are everywhere.

I have an early day and a lot of drying to do with the blow-dryer so I think I will end for now. I am sure I will send another message from Cusco as we are there for 4 days. Again sorry for the mistakes - I do not spell check while on vacation! So enjoy. And I will write more later and fill in with more details.

Joyce