BootsnAll Travel Network



Archive for the 'Travel' Category

« Home

The Key to Quito… Go to Quito, The Key to Guayaquil… Don’t Breath

Friday, February 16th, 2007

I liked Quito a lot.  It is the second largest city in Ecuador with 1.7 million people.  The largest being Guayaquil which I will discuss in a bit.  Quito is a city about 3000 meters above sea level in northern Ecuador’s Andes.  It is surrounded by active volcanoes.  The city sits in a valley with the old portion of town and a good amount of the newer sections on the valley floor and newer sections also on the flanks of the surrounding mountains.  With about 1.7 million people, it has everything you would expect in a modern city including financial businesses, modern airport and McDonald’s.  The old colonial section of the city is in excellent shape and the crown jewels are the many old churches that Quito is famous for.  I had fairly low expectations for Quito and I was really happy with my visit to such a nice city.

[read on]

Silicone Vacation

Thursday, February 15th, 2007

I lost notes from the following conversation I had with a woman flying between Cartagena and Bogota, but the conversation has not left my head so I decided to do my best to recreate it.  No exaggerations… if anything, this is completely understated and factual…

[read on]

The Coca Leaf

Thursday, February 15th, 2007
As soon as I hear the term "Common Wisdom" I think ignorance of the masses.  There is so much all of us accept as truth (me being included) without question and it is really a load of crap.  I keep ... [Continue reading this entry]

Lima is a Lemon

Thursday, February 15th, 2007
I went into the central historic section yesterday to see what Lima has to offer.  This is a sprawling, ugly city of eight million.  I think this is the first place on this leg of the trip that I truly ... [Continue reading this entry]

Jesus of the Andes

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
I love churches. Can't say I love the Church, but the buildings and their contents fascinate me.  I am awed by the faith and patience in their God by the builders.  We have a couple of real churches in the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Train from Machupicchu to Cusco

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
Chris would have loved this ride.  I sat in awe for 3.5 hours as we wound uphill from Aguas Callientes to Cusco area through river and farm valleys.  I don't think there is a train ride like it in America ... [Continue reading this entry]

Day Off

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
I took one today.  First time since I was sick in Mexico City.  I didn't do anything.  I have decided to head north from Lima on the 15th to Cajamarca.  It is described as a place that is like Cusco ... [Continue reading this entry]

Pinnacles of Granite

Sunday, February 11th, 2007
Two things escaped me about Machupicchu.  First, I never realized how green and lush the area would be.  I´m thinking 2500 meter altitude and that´s above the treeline.  Not so around the equator and Machupicchu is full of tropical and ... [Continue reading this entry]

Machupicchu

Friday, February 9th, 2007
So what´s up with ¨Machu Picchu¨ and ¨Cuzco¨ when the correct spellings are ¨Machupicchu¨ and ¨Cusco¨?  We climbed above Machupicchu today and it was glorious.  Well, the rain which came in half way up and cleared when we got back ... [Continue reading this entry]

Logistics Update

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007
I need a break.  Jillian and I head to Cusco and Machu Picchu tomorrow (in Lima now).  Jillian flies out next Tuesday and then I plan to stop for a bit.  Everything is going great, but I don't want to ... [Continue reading this entry]