PERU

DAY ONE IN PERU-

LIMA

We came to Peru a day before we met with our tour group. We landed, had breakfast at the hotel, then headed West to Miraflores. We spent the day wandering the area and doing our own food tour of several Peruvian classics. We ended the day at Parque del Amor. May 2019

DAY TWO- JOINED OUR GROUP 

& HEADED TO CUSCO

Met our National Geographic guide, Aqui, and the group at 6:30 AM for breakfast then a flight to Cusco. Upon landing, we began a tour of the city in the Plaza de Armas. Lunch at Incanto. 45 drive to Chinchero for a weaving demonstration and shopping. Chinchero is located on the highway between Cusco and Urubamba in the Sacred Valley.

DAY THREE-

MACHU PICCHU

First stop at elevation of 9,160 feet, Ollantaytambo Ruins. Lots of stairs to climb and lots of time to stop and catch our breath at this high elevation. Next, we boarded the Inca Rail for our ride to Machu Picchu. We arrived in Agua Calientes then took a short bus ride to the base of Machu Picchu. Was such a great day with our guide, Katherina. Our train ride home turned into a dance party!

DAY FOUR-

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, GALAPAGOS

Not an easy place to get to…flight, bus, ferry then another bus to the port…then zodiac to the ship! But so worth it! Stopped for short hike then onto the Ranch for lunch and to enjoy the Giant Galapagos Tortoises. Finally got onto the zodiacs to board the ship and check into our rooms. After boat drill, we went ashore to visit the Darwin Research Station and quick walk through town before arriving back for dinner. First day aboard the National Geographic Islander.

DAY FIVE-

SOUTH PLAZA AND SANTA FE ISALNDS, GALAPAGOS

Zodiac ride ashore to South Plaza Island for hike…lots of land iguanas, boobies, and seal lions. We returned back to swim from the ship! Rest for few hours- naps and watching frigate birds sail above the ship from the sundeck. Return ashore,,this time to Santa Fé Island for hike on very rocky trail. This island shoreline is covered with sea lions.

DAY SIX-

SULLIVAN BAY, GALAPAGOS

Woke at 6 to leave ashore for yoga on the beach. We arrived and it was high tide so very little “beach.” We ended up stretching and watching sea lions and penguins. Did not disappoint! Back to ship for breakfast. Out to kayak along the volcanic shores of Santiago Island. Back on ship to get snorkel gear then head back to same area to swim with the penguins. So much activity and we returned back to the shop for lunch and it was only 1:00 PM. Time for a nap because we have a lecture later and then a walk.

A magical walk over the uneroded, black lava flow covered with lava bubbles. So many different flows that resemble waves, ropes, and even flowing hair.

DAY SEVEN-

GENOVESA ISLAND

Nesting Green and Red-footed boobies and many new chicks! Also magnificent mating frigate birds.

Manta Ray, lots of fish, and a White-tipped Galapagos shark…I’d say this hour was a success! Prince Philip’s Steps is an extraordinary steep path that leads through a seabird colony full of life, up to cliffs that are 25 metres (82 feet) high. 

SKYLODGE- 

SACRED VALLEY OF CUSCO

Located 1,200 feet up on the mountain in the Sacred Valley of Cusco, Peru. We climbed up the via Ferrata for close to two hours- turning on our headlamps near the end because there was no light. We arrived at the dining capsule for dinner then hooked back onto lines to climb short distance to our own capsule. We slept under the stars and woke to breakfast, a short photo shoot and to enjoy daylight up on the mountain and, finally we zip lined down the mountain.

This was the most terrifying yet, exciting experience in my life!

CUSCO ON OUR OWN 

BEFORE AND AFTER 

SKYLODGE- 

It was so fun to wander the city on our own. Said goodbye to our tour group and flew back to Cusco. Baby alpacas, beautiful balconies and lots of chocolate!

Vietnam

Day One-

Hanoi

It's Christmas Day!

After 19 hours of travel, we arrived at our hotel in Hanoi. It was very early and our room was not available. The hotel stored our luggage and we set out to explore on our own before our evening food tour.

We met Thao at 6 PM and loved every minute of wandering the city. It was Christmas Day after all. She was so cute with all her fun expressions. Even though we were terribly jet-lagged, she kept us very entertained.

Day Two-
Hanoi

Hanoi city tour with Long (means Dragon). End of day rode to train station for overnight train to Sapa.

Day Three-
Sapa

Arrived in Sapa, ate breakfast and waited for our guide to meet us at 9 AM. No room so freshened up and left luggage in back sunroom. Wonderful trek to Tan Van Village. Beautiful rice terraces and friendly women along the way.

Day Four-
Sapa

Another great day in Sapa. Shorter walk into Cat Cat Village. Then onto van for drive back to Hanoi for the night.

Day Five and Six-
Ha Long Bay

Arrived at our junk boat, had lunch then off to kayak. Back to boat to fish for squid- no success. Playing cards, dinner then bedtime. We woke early the next morning for Tai Chi on the sundeck. Then a short trip ashore to hike Sung Sot Cave. Made spring rolls then back ashore.

Day Seven-

Hoi An

Lots of rain today! Rode bikes for 30 minuets to Bamboo Basket Boat tour. Foot massages, cooking class then lunch. Back to town to wander. Enjoyed rest in hotel then out for dinner and New year’s Eve energy on the streets.

Day Eight-

Hoi An

Happy New Year! 2019! Relaxing day with no planned tours…wandered this beautiful city…lanterns, street food and shopping.

Day Nine-

Ho Chi Minh City

Early start by waking at 3:30 AM in Hoi An, driving to airport for flight, and arriving in Ho Chi Minh City at 9 AM. Quick freshen up at hotel then off for city tour of Saigon. Great day with our guide, Hiel. We toured the Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum and heard stories of how Hiel fought in the Vietnam War by learning to pilot by US Army. Short break at hotel, massages, then met up with the girls of XO Food Tour: we rode on the back of their scooter to different districts. Great ride on streets, yummy food, and so much fun with the girls!

Day Ten-

Cu Chi Tunnels and Ho Chi Minh City

Alaska in July- 2018

Day One-
Seward, Alaska

Our bucket list included walking on an iceberg....we have an amazing state so close and we've never been! Our first day was to visit Seward...

Our first day in Anchorage, we drove 2 1/2 hours South to the town of Seward. It was the most beautiful drive. We toured on a catamaran along the Kenai Fjords National Park. So much wildlife today! Bald eagle on our drive to Seward...on the cruise: whales, sea otters, bear, puffins, common murres, seal, and sea lions. And the highlight was seeing the monumental Aialik Glacier calving.

Day Two- 
Girdwood

Today a 40 minute drive to Girdwood. Fun ATV Tour on Bird Valley Trails in the Chugach State Park. Our guide, Bob was quite the character. Very laid back and a great photographer. It was a hot day for Alaska so no bear sightings. We stayed pretty dry through all the mud. It had rained the two weeks prior to our visit. After our ride and lunch, we headed to Alyeska Tramway. The tram carried us up @2,300 feet. There definitely was evidence of how much snow each winter. There was still snow after rain and 73 degree temps.

Day Three- 

Spencer Iceberg & Placer River Float-

This was an exciting day filled with new experiences. We boarded the Alaska Railroad in Anchorage. The train ride alone was a lot of fun for us! We exited in Portage and toured the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center. They rescue and rehabilitate wildlife. We saw moose, bears, wolves, foxes, muscox, bald eagle, owl, bison and more. After eating lunch, we again boarded the train and headed to the Spencer Whistle Stop. We drove on a long dirt road until the Spencer Glacier came into view. We were fitted with life jackets and then boarded the rafts. It was unreal floating around the icebergs. We continued down the Placer River. We floated until we arrived back at the train tracks to be picked up.

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Day Four-

Matanuska Glacier

Happy Fourth of July! We were picked up by Heather from Salmon Berry Tours at 8 AM. We drove about 2 hours to Matanuska Glacier. This was the most incredible day of all....we walked on the glacier!