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2019 Travels
Ecuador and Peru

August-September, 2019

Ecuador

We were only in Ecuador a short time as a kick-off to our three-month tour of South America.

Below: North of Quito you can stand on the equator. You can also balance a raw egg lengthwise on the head of a nail which, supposedly, is only possible on the equator.



Below: The town square in Quito features well-preserved architecture and beautiful churches.

Peru

Peru impressed us and quickly grew on us. It was so interesting to see the customs and lifestyles of Inca and pre-Inca cultures preserved in everyday life by the descendants of those civilizations. In several places it seemed like we had traveled back in time 1,000 years.

Amantani Island

Amantani Island in Lake Titicaca is inhabited exclusively by indigenous Quechua people (pre-Inca). We stayed with a host family who cooked for us, showed us the island and took us dancing. We don't speak Quechuan and they don't speak English but that didn't matter. We got along great and it was a marvelous experience.

Below: As we approached, the island looked barren but this is not the case. Three thousand people live very active lives here at 12,500 feet.











Below: This is the house of our host family. We stayed here with another couple from Luxembourg.

Taquile Island

We took a boat to the beautiful Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca. Two thousand Quechua people live here and it is a rugged life. We had lunch at a restaurant at 13,000 feet.

Below: Scenery on Taquile Island.

Uros Floating Islands

The Uros indigenous peoples live near the shores of Lake Titicaca on over 100 floating islands they have constructed out of reeds. Most of their houses and boats are made out of reeds and the reeds are also a food source. They gladly give boat rides to tourists and seem to enjoy showing off their unique lifestyle.

Below: Our visit to the floating islands.

Sillustani

For thousands of years the Aymara people have lived in southern Peru. We visited some ruins with a tour guide who is a full-blooded Aymara. He only spoke Aymara until he was eleven, then he learned Spanish and English.

Below: The ceremonial burial grounds at Sillustani.



Below: Our tour guide was passionate when he taught us about this circular temple built by his ancestors 3,000 years ago.

Machu Picchu

Perhaps the most visited site in Peru, Machu Picchu lived up to its reputation. It was stunning.

Below: We toured the Incan ruins with Bill's sister and brother-in-law and we all loved it.









Below: We spotted a chinchilla resting on a rock.

Maras Salt Ponds

Since pre-Inca times, salt has been harvested by evaporating water from a salt-water spring near Maras. There are over 5,000 salt ponds here and salt production is still alive and well.

Below: The Maras salt ponds.





Below: The town square in Cusco.



Below: View of Puno and Lake Titicaca from a nearby hillside, and other scenery around Peru.