Cuzco pictures

Here´s a teaser...more to come soon.

Machu Picchu

Although we haven´t had hot water for 3 weeks in sink or shower form and have been B-lining for a warming session under the blankets after cold showers (today I actually found myself able to see my breath while naked, showering in cold water with no indoor heat at 12,000 feet here in La Paz), we are lucky enough to be able to see and experience things like this:

Machu Picchu was more breathtaking and striking than anything we could have expected; one of those experiences that exceeds the hype preceeding it.

And Jen likes to play with the llamas:

Jen and Jay´s Travel Guide

After traveling together now for a little over a week we have found that we are very compatible travelers and that our individual genious is significantly enhanced by working together, making us indestructable in our godlike state. These amateur LonelyPlanet guidebooks have nothing on ¨Jay and Jenny´s Step by Step Guide to the Entire Universe on $3 a Day.¨ The Times touts this travel bible as the ¨ultimate traveling tool for today´s granola eating, windpant wearing, idealogical, soul-searching, cultural immersion seeking- but standing out like a sore thumb- backpacker.¨ Uncle Eddy´s Pack Up the Camper and Go guide calls this indispensible manual ¨sacred.¨ The scripture features such tips as: (1) save money by eating (packaged) food off the bus floor, (2) when using the toilet simply root through the waste bin for the cleanest wad of used paper instead of blowing your wad on a roll of fancy, overpriced new TP, (3) if you truly wish to get a taste of the local flavor, rather than hiring a tour guide, simply follow around one of the many available stray dogs and get an authentic perspective on the city. All the tips mentioned above have been tried and tested and have been met with favorable results say Jen and Jay............ of course we have been sick with a mild case of diarrhaea for the last two days. (the above named guide, as outlined in the book jacket, does not take responsibility for traveler health: use at your own risk.) ´

- JRo and JBird

Week in Peru

Crossing the Ecuadorian/Peruvian border at 3 am was in-and-of itself an adventure, entertaining albeit thoroughly confusing. Due to the un-fortuitous location of the border crossing stations (it just so happens that our guidebook excessively and incorrectly uses the word "fortuitous") we were required to take 2 rickshaws and a taxi cab back and forth just to get our passports stamped. Each driver attempted to take advantage of two tourists in the middle of nowhere in the dead of night. After sifting through the bullshit we finally settled on a taxi driver that told us to throw our packs in the trunk which he was kind enough to open with the button inside the car. As we lifted the lid the trunk appeared completely empty except for one small unusual object. In the dim moonlight we were able to identify a tiny head with a beak, feathers and two thin legs. Neither of us were willing to move the chicken carcas to insert our packs so instead we elected to hold them on our laps.

So far one of the gems we have discovered in Peru has been the small fishing village, Zorritos. We were the only tourists on miles of endless beaches. We spent several days body surfing on and attempting to jump over the waves, laughing at the multitude of miniature crabs running sideways and ducking into their holes and sunbathing. For dinners we´d feast on the catch of the day. One night we found ourselves surrounded by a group of curious kids who wanted to know more about us white intruders.

It´s interesting how certain childhood games like tag and cops and robbers transcend cultural boundaries.

Jenny didn´t need to know spanish to understand that she was "It." The kids loved to pose and model and have their picture taken.

These sweet kids sharply contrast with the other kids we´ve met who accost us with shoe shine boxes, taffy candy or other types of useless junk. We´ve determined that these kids must be recent graduates of some sort of Tourist Training camp where they are required to carry small trays of useless crap while sprinting, running and hopping through obstacle courses. They are also forced to stand at attention to practice their whining and shout things like "Gringo would you like a...." and "Un caramelito..." while their drill sergeants are screaming "BE CUTER! YOU ARE NOT CUTE ENOUGH!"


Don´t be fooled by these cute, seemingly innocent faces. Immediately upon taking this picture, we were accosted by these two recent honor graduates from one of Peru´s finest tourist traning camps; only the best are sent to Cuzco. They were as ruthless as they were relentless.


- JRo and JBird

Does that supposed "volcano" bare a striking resemblence to Mt. Hood and Timberline Lodge to anyone else? Jay has yet to produce any evidence of this beautiful volcano.

Hola amigos

Well, then, let me just say that I swear there is a volcano that is easily visible from our apartment window and terrace. Some of our residents (and I can think of one in particular) may believe otherwise, but let me tell you, they are wrong, dead wrong!


One of the things I was most excited about when picking our apartment and moving in was the view. From the time I moved into our apartment (about 5 days before Jenny´s arrival) until the day before she arrived (4 days ago) the volcano that lies just beyond the valley and mountains to the east was visible from sunrise until sunset. Upon Jen´s arrival, however, things turned ugly, for us and the volcano. Although the weather has been beautiful here in Quito, there seems to be a group of unruly clouds which has been surrounding the volcano for the last 4 days, thus damaging my report with our guest of honor, who is still skeptical that the above named volcano (Cayambe) actually exists. I have consequently attached a photo below as proof of Cayambe´s existence:

After living here for a while I find that I am now more amused by the simple things. Although I never take for granted the mountains, plazas, churches, and street life, I must say that I now pass those things up for a trip to the supermarket, where immediately upon entering into the store, a rum and coke is placed into my hand by the sample giver in the third aisle to the left----- please ignore the use of ¨immediate¨ and ¨third aisle to the left¨ as the discrepancy is made up for by my jaguar like sprint to this magical third aisle.

As I head to the Fruit Loop section, I promptly begin to consume the beverage that this magic maker was so thoughtful to provide me with and wonder ¨how could this magnificant experience ever be topped¨.......... and then my favorite person in the world jumps into my head. Now this affair is thoroughly enjoyed by two.

- Jay

Going, going, gone...

It is midnight and I am frantically preparing last minute things for my trip. I have to leave for the airport in four hours. I'm not sure I could sleep if I tried. Wish me luck...I love and miss you all and will start updating regularly once I reach the other side. xoxoxo