Tired, excited ... the usual.

The company did a great job of getting us squared away in our hotel in Miraflores. First order of business was to walk around town and find some food, and a pisco soure, of course. First thing of interest were the dozens of colorful little buses. There was also an abundance of colorfully dressed merchants selling …

Thank goodness for mate de coca and our tremendous guide, Vidal. I walked right past the oxygen station in the airport - I probably will take a few breaths on my next visit. The effects of altitude are curious, but the energy of anticipation and our our amazing guide are powerful!! Very attractive town square with many restaurants all competing …

Hint: take the bus up to the very top and hike down, then hit the market for lunch and return bus home. A GREAT day. Bus ride to and from passes through twisty, hilly terrain with some breathtaking overlooks, and a steep, rocky stairway down!! One of the best things about this company is that the small group size allows a bit more flex and freedom …

The colors of the clothing, sky, and landscapes are fascinating. The people are remarkably friendly, and each day is better than the last. Amazing. Great fun to meander through a bountiful and bustling outdoor market. Just watch out for passing donkeys and cattle, and you'll be fine! I ended up bumping my knee into the van trying to avoid a …

Altitude sickness turned out to be nothing more than one day of mild headache and some loss of appetite, but even with that, I couldn't resist roasted guinea pig, as I mentioned earlier. I'd call it "interesting", and leave it at that!! It does NOT taste like chicken. Worth a try, though, for sure, along with alpaca and other delicious …

A free box lunch and glorious views of the glaciers and the white water on the trip to Aguas Calientes. Wow! Spent a day climbing and reclimbing the stairs, and finally found "the spot" to take that classic photo. The train ride is fun, and those classic tourist photos of Machu Picchu will never be the same again when you realize that …

Feeling adventurous? Climb Putukusi mountain, but read about it first. One of the nearly-vertical ladders has 178 steps. It's a strenuous 2-hr hike to 1100m, from which point you look across (and down) on Machu Picchu, which is on the adjacent mountain top. It was one of those things I thought these 51-year old bones wouldn't be able to handle, …

We crossed into Bolivia after a long ride on the boat. Arriving at camp in the dark was amazing!! There's a small military outpost where you can get your passport stamped. Cool.

All the best-dressed turtles here wear orange butterflies on their noses (see pic). There are so many sights and sounds here it is hard to describe. At times the air …

Very hot, but lots of things to see ... and hear. Howler monkeys at night and spectacular macaws by day. Morning and afternoon hikes are great - but the night hike - OMG!!! Midday is perfect for a snooze in the hammocks with a view of the river. The food is absolutely incredible, too - a very pleasant and welcome surprise. This is an amazing …