Picture of the day ~ Red Leaves

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Red Leaves

Red Leaves

Each of the seasons brings an opportunity for nature to awe and inspire me.

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PERU – Cusco to Puno, Lake Titicaca and the Floating Islands

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Traveling from Cusco to Puno

Traveling from Cusco to Puno

We took the Hogwarts Express Perurail train from Machu Picchu back to Cusco, had a short overnight stay and then boarded our standard size bus headed toward Puno and Lake Titicaca.

It was to be a full 8 hour day of traveling broken up with several stops to give us a break, allow us to stretch our legs, grab a snack or a meal, and see a few sites of interest along the way.

The first stop was a visit to Andahuaylillas, aka the “Sistine Chapel of America.  Built in 1580, the exterior was simple and in the middle of being renovated.  The Baroque interior was stunning and caught us by surprise. Continue reading →

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Picture of the day – Which path to choose?

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Which path to choose

Which path to choose

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MACHU PICCHU – Magical, Mystical, Memorable

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438-1472).  Known by many as The Lost City of the Incas, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 and in 2007 it was voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Continue reading →

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Picture of the day – Cicada hatching

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Starting to hatch

Starting to hatch

Adult Cicada next to shell

Adult Cicada next to shell

The Cicada is often called a locust by mistake, although they are not related.  Known throughout the world because of their size but even more so because of their unique sound.

Regularly eaten around the world in locations such as China, Myanmar, Congo and Latin America, the female is prized for being meatier.  The shells are even used in China for traditional medicines. Continue reading →

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In Pictures – Balboa Island

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Welcome to Balboa island

Welcome to Balboa island

Sometimes your best choice is to be a tourist in your own backyard.  We are so fortunate that Southern California offers some amazing options to do just that.   Our weather is mild year-round.  These were taken in February of this year.  It was sunny and temperatures in the mid 70’s.

A ferry provides easy access to the island where you will find a variety of shops, seafood restaurants, and lots of sights to see.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the day: Continue reading →

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Update – Visits from around the world

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Last month I posted a list of countries that are home to people that have visited my blog.  I was thrilled that people from 23 different countries had taken the time to stop by, check out my pictures and musings, and sometimes leave me a comment.

In the last 30 days, I have added visits from seven more countries, bringing my total to 30 now.

Here are the new additions:

  1. Denmark
  2. India
  3. Italy
  4. Guernsey
  5. Philippines
  6. Norway
  7. Cambodia

My goal is to reach people in 50 different countries by the end of this year.  Not sure why I chose 50, but I did.

Welcome to all the new readers.  I am delighted to have you join us!

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Picture of the day – Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Flower or weed?

Flower or weed?

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PERU – More of Cusco and a train ride through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Getting a weaving demonstration

Getting a weaving demonstration

Our final day in Cusco was a free day with nothing scheduled.  With some of our cohorts still a bit under the weather, Tim and I set out on our own.  We shopped our way toward the main square, stopping en route at a weaving museum.  We learned how their weaving is done, some of the traditional dying methods, and looked at samples of clothing from each region.

At a lunch break near Plaza de Armas, while watching a small parade go by and eating pizza, we were approached by two young girls that asked if we wanted to take a picture with them. Continue reading →

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PERU – The city of Cusco, UNESCO World Heritage Site, colorful, vibrant, welcoming

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Cusco

View of Cusco taken from the Temple of the Sun

Today my trip down memory lane jumps from Europe to South America.  So many people have Machu Picchu on their bucket list and we were fortunate to be able to check that off in late August, 2009.

This was our first time in South America and we were excited to see as much as we could in the 10 days we had available.  Instead of choosing a tour company from the USA, our traveling companions found a local Peruvian company that could assist and personalize our tour experience. Continue reading →

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