Homeward bound

The last time I was able to blog was after we had visited Machu Picchu, since then we have had no Wi Fi.  We are in transit for home now but before we leave the hotel I thought I would post just a few of the highlights.
A typical day once on board the boat:
7 am Breakfast
7.30  In the dinghy heading for our first excursion ashore to see the geology and wild life
11.00 Back on board for elevenses
11.30 Snorkelling or a dinghy safari
12.30 Two course cooked lunch
14.00  In the dinghy heading for our second excursion ashore or sailing to new location
16.30 Snorkelling or dinghy.
17.30 Back on board - showers, change lounge about
19.00 Two course cooked dinner and a talk from our guide about the day and what we will see the next day.!
21.00 Most of us were tucked up in our bunks by this time while we sailed to a new location!!

So as you can see we have not been idle.  The weather has been exceptional with only one day slightly over cast.  The rest of the trip was blue skies, sunshine and a beautiful sea breeze.

Galapagos Sea Lion and pup

Cachalote at sunset

Galapagos Pelican

Humbolt Penguins

Random Humans Feeding

Giant Tortoise

Galapagos Hawk

Sally Lightfoot Crab

Blue Footed Boobie

Marine Iguana

What is most amazing is the fearless innocence of the wild life, it is possible to stand right next to any of the land animals and birds, within touching dinstance so photographing them was made very easy.

We also snorkelled and swam with most of the sea mammals - sea lion, turtles, penguins, rays, and many many colourful fish.

Off to Quito Airport now for a long trip home and lots of in flight meals - surely the highlight of the dining experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See ya soon. xx

Picures of the first few days

Laptop up and running at last. Here are some photos from the first few days of the holiday.

 

Our first hotel

 

Hotel Courtyard with our room in the background

 

 

Cusco Plaza

 

 

Machu Picchu on a bright and sunny morning, we survived the 20 minute coach trip up the side of the mountain on roads that clung to the mountian side!

 

 

 

The view below our bedroom window in Agua Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) The railway runs through the town which has grown from 2 houses to a higgly piggly town of Hotesl, Bars and general tat shops since becoming the gateway to Macchu Picchu City.

Aguascalientes day 4

Two half hour journey in v nice coach to Ollantanbo. the other side of the Sacred Valley followed by a scenic train ride adjacent to the river to Aguascalientes which is the town that sprouted up as the gateway to Machu Picchu. There are no roads to this town only the train or one of the Inca Trails.
There is a railway line down through the middle of the main street and just below our hotel room window! Everything here is done by man power, the freight carriages are unloaded by hand onto hand carts and pushed up very steep hills to where the goods are required. No fork lift trucks, winches or cranes it is amazing to watch.
We spent the afternoon walking along the Urubamba river in the cloud forest to a waterfall for about three hours.
Day 5 we took the bus up what is loosely termed a road which zig zags up the mountains to start our guided tour of Machu Picchu. The weather has been just right for each days activity and today was no exception with clear skies and sunshine the remains were clearly visible and spectacular.
The coach drive down the zig zag path was only a little less terrifying than the trip up, The Italian Job came to mind!
Now back in Cusco for the night and tomorrow we fly to Quito in Ecuador via Lima so another early start but a relaxing day sightseeing when we get there.

Apologies for the lack of pictures at the moment due to a malfunction on the IT front which will hopefully be resolved very soon.
Nite, nite.

3.45 am

Early start today off to Machu Picchu town, not the Inca remains.
Yesterday we visited the Sacred Valley and walked through the lost City of Pisaq. Walked for three hours from3800 meters down to 3600 meters. It was steep in many places and some places more suited Sheep! We could see the Inca terraces for growing crops and many of the ruins of Inca villages.  The sheer scale was what we found amazing, over 1000 acres. A lot of the terraces are being restored by volunteers.
Last night we samples Alpaca steak and some of the group enjoyed, I think, the crispy guineapig.
Doing this quickly we don't get much free time. This first hotel is lovely as are our fellow travellers, there are 14 of us in total.
We have been based in Cusco which was the Inca capital till the Spaniards decided to take over. The old part around The Plaza is not only beautiful but fascinating.
Got to go now as our coach arrives at 4:45 am an I need to get dressed!
Love xx

Arrived at the airport many hours too early!

Packed and ready to go!