Well, I finally checked my email after 4 months! So glad you're posting so we can hear all about your adventures as they happen. Alanza's excited to see all of your photos....we miss you and look forward to catching up with you when you return. I'm hoping by then I'll actually be somewhat more sane & returning phone calls on a regular basis (sure is nice to be unemployed again)!
Wishing you fun & safe travels from me and the little miss.
Barbara And Richard
Michael
*********FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, HILARIA************
Padre
Barbara
Wow,what gorgeous photos from Vilcambamba!Recognized a couple of the plants from nurseries here-or at least a very close cousin.Michael,When i saw the purple flower I thought that it was morning glory too. And the open faced orange one with the dark brown center was being sold this spring in Nelson's sprawlmart as black eyed susan vine.Vilcambamba must have been hard to leave-such a beautiful place.I loved the buildings in the town and the vegetation.But thank-you for posting the shanty town pics as well.You know that places like that do exist but it's so very easy not to think about them.On a much happier note: Hilary,I finally got to see your looooong hair.It looks fantastic!!! when you told me about it on the phone I didn't picture it quite this long.Nice.The hot spell broke last night!!!!Yeah!!!We had a major light show and then it rained ALL night.(thank heavens)This morning was so nice and cool.So Hil, you never said how you got your stuff back from the first hostel.I'm just assuming that everything was there and it was all okay.Let us know how that went please.I sent Jesse's address to your yahoo email-it's still the same one.Erika, nice to read your list of what you've learned on this trip!i've always said that education, especially hands on education, is so impotant! And finally to the most important reason for writing.Happy birthday 1 day early Hilary!!! hope you spoil yourself silly tomorrow!Love and hugs and birthday bumps from Richard,who wandered into the room and said to make sure I said from him too,and me! Enjoy the ride and stay safe you two! love mom/Barbara
Erika
Hey Allison! Nice to hear from you. Of course I remember you guys. In fact Hilary and I were just talking about our Nanimo trip and I for one was thinking of the yummy fudge you made.
I just thought I would throw some fun facts about South America that we have learned so far.
1) Three words- Tight. Ass. Pants. We are talking several sizes too small on both men and women but especially women. And it doesn´t matter how skinny they are they still manage to wedge themselves (don´t ask me how) into jeans that are so tight they end up with a gut hanging out.
2) It is so hard to break yourself of the habit of throwing toilet paper into the toilet bowl...
3) I will never take hot water and water volume for granted again. Or the joy of a soft pillow for that matter.
4) The smallest tear in a bill (whether in Ecuador or Peru) renders it useless. People freak out and will not take it. We have yet to try and return them to the bank but it may be a job left for being back in Canada.
5) A ten dollar bill here might as well be a hundred dollar bill. It is extremely hard to break. And yet bank machines and money exchangers insist on giving you twenties.
6) As a passenger on a bus you are a captive audience and people will try to sell you anything at various points...like a live infomercial. From candy to muscle cream...
7) Jesus is big here people. Seriously.
Allison
Hi Hilary -- what an adventure ! (My intrepid niece sets a pretty high standard for travel again !) I have been sitting here with Ken for the last half hour oohing and aahing over your pictures. I was fascinated by the desert ones -- what incredible beauty ( of course I meant you and Erika !). The words South America and Sand Dunes were just not paired in my mind. I am also very impressed with the two of you at Machu Picchu -- a few too many edges for me. What an amazing site to imagine constructing a city. I wonder how many fell to their death during the process. I have been home from Britain for a month now and I still wish I was back there. It was a lot of hard work getting the pub ready and a ball learning to be a more-than-middle-aged barmaid. Now after reading your messages I am getting itchy feet again. Hi Erika - remember us from Nanaimo ? Love to see you again sometime. Hilary, I hope you are planning self indulgent treats for the day after tomorrow - early Happy Birthday, girl ! Stay safe and happy - you two look WONDERFUL ..... Allison
Michael
Vilcabamba looks absolutely wonderful! I loved the pictures of flowers of butterflies. One of the purple flowers looks scarily like the bindweed that runs amok in Victoria. Or perhaps it's a morning glory.
Several pictures were put in sideways, and now I have crook in my neck from looking at them.
Hil -- I've re-sent the e-mail to your yahoo address. And there was something in the paper about student loan relief now being able to be accessed on-line, rather than through paper applications.
The heat wave is over, as is the summer drought, and mid July rains have settled in. Perhaps you'll see the prime minister on your travels -- he's been toodling around in Colombia and Chile.
Enjoy Cuenca -- where are the volcanoes and do you get to climb one of them?
Katrina
hey girlies!!!!! i'm at the library right now..... i know, god help me i'm applying for student loans. my life is looking grim. however, your trip looks amazing so far. can't wait to see you. thanks for the b-day wishes... yours is coming up soon. happy birthday on the 20th hil!!! katrina
Crystal Vidal (Aunty Kiki)
Erika Wow!This is very incredible and since I don't think I can climb that high (and still look down - not to mention getting back down?) I am very content to live vicariously!!!
You guys are awesome!I love the blogs they're very descriptive and entertaining.I feel like I'm there only I have AC and my food comes with the head OFF - tell me you did not eat that!
Hilary seems to have a great sense of humor; I loved the blog about the turtles and don't worry she has pics - tooooooo funny!
Thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful experience.I won't show these to my husband because he'll be wanting to go on a trip like this too and I'm not that brave.
Be safe and continue to enjoy!
Aunty Kiki
Michael
Erika, it was an exciting story about being trapped on the bus! You can tell your grandchildren about it one day. It sounds like the guy behind you was making enough noise sleeping that it probably drowned out Hilary's breathing "patterns."
Ecuador sounds like it's going to be grand. There is something wonderful about lush, tropical places. I was kind of surprised at how dry everything in all your pictures from Peru looked.
Hilary: please check your e-mail, as I've sent you a message. What are you doing on your birthday? Do you know yet?
Keep sending the postings. Have fun,
Michael / Pa
Ralph
Hi Erika! (and Hilary)
Well, we just got back from our East Coast trip and I finally got a chance to check out your pics. Very cool, indeed. Machu Picchu must have been incredible and those dune shots looked spectacular as well. Hope you're both keeping your colons on good terms with the local cuisine.
In the meantime, keep posting those great photos. Have a blast!
Ralph and family.
Hilary
Hi guys! Thought I´d answer some questions while Erika´s updating the site. Mom - those are actually clay jars which the wine and Pisco is distilled in for up to 14 days, depending on what´s being made. The shape comes from the fact that Pisco is derived from the Quechua word for bird, and so the jars are supposed to be in the shape of a bird´s body. The bigger wineries don´t use this method anymore, but the small ones do.
As for the climate... apparantly it doesn´t snow in Cusco very often - not every year, anyways. During the wet season, the hills around Cusco are really green. Most of the plants we´ve seen (aside from around Machu Picchu) are quite hardy - lots of cacti and brush. Even around Aguas Calientes, which is surrounded by cloud forest, there wasn´t much in the way of flowers - they all come out in the wet season. The rivers are pretty small, too, compared to what they are during wet season.
As for the desert - it goes on for ages. I´m actually quite glad we took a night bus through most of Peru - going up the coast it was almost all just sand and brush - not very much to see at all. The desert actually comes right up to the edges of Lima. The landscape changed a lot as we neared Ecuador.
And yes, Vanessa - we put the math on there just for you!
Hey - Mom and Richard, can you guys give me Jesse´s mailing address? Thanks!