Today we left Peru. We have spent the last 3 weeks here and found the people warm & friendly and the country stunning. So many of the citizens embrace their native ways. From the Amazon to the Andes. From their self sustaining farming ways to their native dress. The landscape varies from the steamy Amazon headwaters to the frosty Andean highlands.

We decided as a family to take a break the last 3 days of our vacation. We stayed at a lovely resort and it would have been easy to just stay at the resort- rather we opted to walk – along the beach every morning for breakfast. We ate with the locals at their cafes. Plastic tables & chairs, fresh fish sandwiches for brekkie, sometimes dirt floors. Other times we treated ourselves to a gringo breakfast of espresso & smoothie. We watched the flamingoes & other water birds hunt for their breakfast and the rust bucket fishing boats heading out. And as we approached the village it was interesting to see daily life unfold. From small shopkeepers to kids playing in the streets.

And, then we returned to Lima for our flights. I have to write about this… we took a few flights in & out of Lima & the ride to the airport is an adventure! First, the taxi drivers are referred to as the Mafia – as their fares can be gouging. So we always chose Uber – which is good. Imagine yourself in Lima – a city of 10million people. You are in a car heading out from the airport on a 4 lane road / and your driver suddenly turns into a street / that is a lane at best …and you find yourself in a bit of shady barrio.😳 thank goodness Greg had taken this ride in his business trips – I would have thought that we were being kidnapped. Truth is …you travel for about 5 miles going through narrow side streets in various barrios – before you get back to the beautiful 6 lane road that straddles the Pacific ocean. And then to your lovely neighborhood in Lima. I have not described this very well – but – it is really disconcerting and you are worn out by the time you get to your destination. It is just the ‘gauntlet’ you need to travel …until the city finishes the road infrastructure. This was another observation in Lima, buildings don’t always appear to be finished. While they are being lived in, they appear to be ready for expansion to add another floor –RE-bar is sticking out of the roof of many a building… just don’t think a building inspector in my hometown would find that acceptable. And this is why we enjoy travel- we get to experience different customs!

Ecuador is next!

For as many llamas & alpacas as we have seen – thousands… I only have a few dorky photos.

We have seen them grazing free with shepherds, in fields with stone fences, and we have fed them. They are rather loveable and cute. And, yes, love their wool! Below are llamas grazing at Machu Picchu. A free range alpaca. A vicuña – thin necked – light brown beauty. And me feeding alpacas and making new friends!

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We are enjoying some downtime in Paracas.

It is a Pacific Ocean based town with Tourism the top draw followed by fishing & a port.

A quick boat ride out of Paracas gives you a good view of the area.

The Candelabra in the sand – permanent- here for centuries.

Birds galore. Beautiful rock formations and Humboldt penguins.

These photos do not do justice to these beasts- crazy big & colorful!

We decided to take a few days of R&R and chose Paracas. ….what an interesting place!

We are in one of the driest deserts on earth–no kidding! I have seen a lot of deserts – all around the world – and this one really is – Just Sand….crazy. Seriously – just sand!

And, on one side of our hotel is the desert national preserve- with all colors of sand and the other side is Pacific Ocean.

We cannot and do not want to swim i this ocean. And even if we got careless – the Jellies – jellyfish here are everywhere. They are gorgeous colors. Red. Yellow. Orange. White.

The size of these creatures is CRAZY. They range from 1-2 feet in diameter. Their tentacles are the size of my forearms – and about 5 -6 feet long.

And, the warning is that while the stings won’t kill you – it will probably paralyze you! Yikes – thought the snakes were scary.

I did go on about ride today & saw amazing birds, sea lions and Humboldt penguins! So cute!

And whiles don’t swim in the ocean – flamingoes & storks do – so cute!

Yes! There are three distinct Peruvian animals with similar features.

Llamas – Incan beasts of burden. Tallest. Biggest. Noses like a camel. Not loved for their wool.

Alpacas – all about the wool! Baby alpaca –sooo soft. Only the first alpaca shearing. Did I say soft?😁. Two kinds one is ‘regular’ other is long haired & referred to as a Rastafarian! Scraggly & cute.

Vicuña- rare. Thin. Protected species. Wool is a caramel color. And rumor has it that a sweater in Peru costs $3000 and in USA would fetch $6000. Yikes! 😳 We saw a number of these adorable animals grazing in nature preserves near Arequipa.

These animals are really cute & we do not tire of them. ….even as we see them on every tourist item!

In Peru we have seen an abundance of varied styles of traditional dress. It is most apparent in some of the hat styles of women.

Traditional dress – skirts, hats& jackets were very prevalent in Cusco, Machu Picchu& Sacred Valley. It was also seen in Arequipa. Not in Lima& Paracas.

And the traditional styles are not just worn for ‘show’. Sometimes – yes. Often no.

The traditional skirts are worn over leggings. And we have seen women working in fields & herding animals with the skirts, jackets & hats.

…I have limited WiFi now & will add photos later!