September 2003

September 10, 2003 - 1:30 pm

Well I just got back from 10 days in the jungle and I wish I was still there. I four hours by boat from Puerto Maldonado in the Tambopata-Candamo reserve. I volunteered at this swank lodge there located right by the river. I had to do four hours of work a day and then the rest of the time I could go with the guides on tours, wander around in the jungle or just chill in a hammock.

I saw loads of animals including caimans, capybaras, monkeys, macaws, parrots, toucans, a tarantula and many other cool things. One of the highlights was going to the collpa or macaw clay lick and seeing hundreds fly around.

Collpa (if you look close you can see Macaws)

Probably the best part was not the actual jungle but the people I got to spend time with. They were wonderful and for a little while I was a part of their small family. I miss them a lot already.

Now I am back in Cusco and waiting for Mark and his mom to show up so we can do some more sight-seeing.

September 14, 2003 - 6:21 p.m.

So I am still in Cusco and still waiting for Mark and his mom to show up. Mark's mom should be arriving here on the 17th and Mark sometime after that (hopefully by my birthday).

I have been fully enjoying the Cusco nightlife as I have seen most of the sights here. Watching the sunrise after a night on the town is always beautiful, though the rest of the day is generally spent in bed. Good times and good friends.

September 19, 2003 - 10:46 a.m.

So yesterday was my birthday and we partied it up Cusco style, and had a blast. Mark and his mom arrived on the plane (I wasn't expecting to see Mark until the 18th) on the 17th. It was great to see both of them. We spent that day fairly relaxed as both of them were a bit tired from the trip.

Yesterday we did the typical tourist thing around Cusco before Mark and I headed out on the town last night. Lots of friends showed up and I had a blast. Today we are going to check out a few ruins around town before checking out Machu Picchu this weekend. Should be a good time.

Thanks for everyone who sent birthday greetings. It's nice to know that I am not forgotten about back home.

September 25, 2003 - 10:22 a.m.

So yesterday Mark's mom left to go back home to Florida after celebrating Mark's birthday with him. It was a really great visit and we were both very happy that she could make it down.

We did the typical tourist things while she was here. Checked out the town and as many ruins as we could fit in. The highlight was Machu Picchu which we visited on equinox so the whole place was filled with shaman and new-age folk. It added to the whole experience.

Machu Picchu

Another crazy adventure was getting stuck in a protest (our bus wasn't allowed through) on our way to Machu Picchu. Our bus had a couple windows broken with stones and eventually we had to walk through the barricades to get to another bus. We just caught our train in time to make it to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu from Huaynu Picchu

Mark and I planned to go on the Apurimac one more time before we left but I don't think it is to be. Yesterday the roads were closed due to a car rally and we wanted to try again today but our truck driver came home drunk and put and end to that plan. BOO!

Well we are soon to be on the road again with lots of stories...