Alaire & Angel
Happy girl and happy cat
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Thursday, May 20, 2004
May trip to Peru
May 6th we flew from Dallas on the evening plane to Lima, arriving at midnight. We joined Gerry and Irv for a mad cab ride to our hotel in Mira Flores. Next day we toured the city with cousin Tuki, then flew on to Cuzco at 12,000 altitude, the ancient capital of the Inca. After three days around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley we took a train to Machu Picchu, staying at the Sanctuary Lodge there.
Four at Swiss restaurant in Lima
Our last night in Peru with Gerry and Irv before boarding our 1 AM flight to Dallas. We all had Pisco sours and a delicious meal, and then we walked the streets of Lima until time to leave.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Pisco sour
This is the national drink of Peru made from local Pisco liqueur, lime juice and beaten egg white. It is served ice cold in a small tumbler and packs a wallop. Alaire had one before dinner our last night in Peru and was too mellow to finish her meal. Brave Tom finished her drink after his flounder, and then we walked (staggered) around downtown Lima until time for our midnight departure for the US.
Andes panorama
Flying from Cusco to Lima we skirted the western side of the Andes, with the Amazon rainforest just beyond under the clouds.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
T climbs to guard house
The guard house overlooks the entrance from the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu. The walls are ancient and the thatched roof is new.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Aguas Calientes Market
These open air stalls filled with rugs, woven goods and native crafts line the train station platform. I bought a beautiful wind chime made of a carved brass bell, semiprecious stones and old coins for $6.
Salcantay from train
On the trip back from M.P. we passed Salcantay, over 15,000 feet high in the Andes
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Overlooking the ruins
After an early evening walking in near silence we stopped by the sentry house where the Inca Trail enters the citadel. A lone passerby took our picture and vice versa.
The citadel at Machu Picchu
The Inca (King) and his family and assistants and servants retreated from the royal city of Cuzco to Machu Picchu for relaxation and spiritual inspiration. The Spanish never found this citadel, a 5 day hike from Cuzco, so it remained intact and 'lost' for 500 years.
Central courtyard
The expanse of grass divides the residential sector from the industrial area. This is where they had festivals and ceremonies, and where the sole piece of ancient jewely was unearthed (a silver and gold bracelet).
Entrance to Michu Picchu
The entry gate through which the Inca and royal family entered. Wyna Picchu rises in the background where a number of small temples were built.
Monday, May 10, 2004
Aguas Calientes Train Station
Once the train pulls out the buses muscle in to pick up tourists for the hairpin road to Machu Picchu, 1000 feet above. The vendors rush onto the tracks to set up prime locations on the tourista path. Alaire likes her new straw Inca hat.
On the way to Machu Picchu
We took the Orient Express / Peru Rail train through lush steep canyons carved by the Urubamba River.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Cuzco atrium
The entrance to a collection of private homes on a side street in Cuzco. The style is colonial Spanish, the fabrication crude and the exposed wiring (running through the upper left of arch) is clearly home made.
Cuzco Jesuit Church in the Main Square
Not to be outdone by the builders of the cathedral to the left of this picture, the Jesuits erected this beautiful Baroque church on top of the foundations of the Inca royal palace.
Inca stonework
The stones in this wall were carved to fit perfectly and were constructed without mortar. The random stone style was for commoners.
Cuzco - Sacsayhuaman Fortress
On a hill outside of Cuzco are the foundations for the Inca fortress. It was overrun by the Spanish and the smaller upper stones used as building material for construction of Catholic churches in town. One can see the scale of this construction from the woman in the lower center. Each stone was carved to perfectly fit the one below so no mortar was needed.
Inca foundations
Off the cathedral square the remains of the Inca palace can be seen under the Spanish buildings. The horizontal stone style was reserved for royalty. With each earthquake at 300 year intervals the Spanish structures crack and fall while the Inca stones remain solid.
Pisac mothers
As we left our tour bus these mothers showed off their babies, asking one Sol (26 cents) for a picture.
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Pisac market day
Each Sunday people come on foot from miles around to the open air market. The one big tree in the center is the meeting place for lost souls.
Pisac market
Every Sunday artisans and tourists meet in Pisac, 40 km from Cuzco, for market day. The market covers approximately 16 city blocks, with one public restroom in a central restaurant.
A on flying steps
We walked and climbed steps at Ollantaytambo ruins., including these built into the wall.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Over the Andes between Lima and Cuzco
From 32,000 feet the colors in the exposed rock were impressive.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Jesus and Tuki
T's cousin Tuki and her friendly Argentian boyfriend took us to this delightful restaurant on the Pacific shore. Then we spent several hours at the Indian Market full of alpaca, llama and vicuna sweaters, shawls and ponchos, and straw hats and bags and wood carvings.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Peruvian woman
Outside the Royal Palace in Lima we watched the changing of the guard, complete with an awful brass band and high stepping brightly uniformed guards. This woman is dressed in typical Peruvian attire and has the typical Quechua profile.
Saturday, January 03, 2004
E&M January 2004
Ethan is trying to point out the obvious while Michael is skeptical. Sound familiar?
Friday, December 26, 2003
Saturday, December 13, 2003
Friday, October 17, 2003
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Howard Family picture
August 2003: The Howard Family Reunion at the Rummel's cabin in East Texas. Mark, Hayden, Ron, Tom, Michael, Ethan, Sue, Drew, Melanie, Lorn, Etha, Alaire, Jon, Lindzey, Elizabeth, Lotta, Lindsey, and Kelsey pose for a late afternoon portrait near the lake.
Monday, July 14, 2003
Flowers in the meadow
On the road from Aspen through Ashcroft to Pearl Pass we passed by an Alpine meadow covered with flowers.
Sunday, July 13, 2003
Power station
The old power station on the Crystal River near Crystal, Colorado, high up a rough jeep road from Redstone and Marble. We saw a kayacker wipe out dramatically on the falls, only to pop right up downstream.
Columbines
A side trip up into the Lead King Basin was the beauty spot of our trip to the Crystal River Valley.
Thursday, July 10, 2003
Aspen Music Tent
Each evening we spread a blanket on the lawn just outside the Music Tent for some wine and cheese and some wonderful classical music.
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