On Our Way to Cusco at Over 11,000 feet

Traveling Peru With Smiths

We are so excited to take our first trip with our good friends, Steve and Vicki Smith. Sadly, we had to travel to Peru without them as they were attending Vicki's father's funeral on the day we were to leave. So sad. But they were able to catch up with us and then we traveled to the jungle together. Here's a few pictures of our time in the jungle. Here's our jungle bungalow -- complete with mosquito netting around the bed and hot shower!! Getting ready to take a jungle walk -- trails still muddy at the end of the rainy season. Some of the animals we've seen. Smith's on top of the canopy -- we walked up a tower 120 feet so we could get some great views. Enjoyed our boat rides on the Amazon -- on one of them we were served lunch which was a rice dish wrapped in a banana leaf. Very tasty -- we all enjoyed it!

We had a great three-day week-end with Steve and Vicki Smith. Vicki was the instagater of it all. Her idea was to snowshoe up at the lake. So Steve went on-line and got us hooked up with going to Mt. Lassen Park and joining in a "low-adventure" (as he put it) snowshoe interpretive walk with a park ranger. We did that and did some walking on our own to see the hot beds. It was a beautiful, warm day and we all enjoyed it. The only thing that would have made that day better is if the guys would have let Vicki and I win at cards that evening!! ha ha Great time with great friends . . . life is good! >

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

From Sand to Snow !!

Just a few weeks after getting home from the Middle East, Gerhard and I were enjoying some time at our lake house. We went from living in the sand to being in the snow. We happened to be up at the lake when the annual Dog Sled races were going on so we enjoyed the day doing something we had never done before. I never enjoyed or appreciated the snow more! Being back home from Saudi has made me appreciate alot of things more than I ever had before. Here's a few pictures of our day in the snow.

Final Post From Egypt

I realize that if Gerhard posted the most interesting pictures from our trip, they would be total scenery and archeological sites. I, on the other hand, find the people the most interesting and since I'm doing the blog -- I am posting mostly people pictures. I said that I was very disappointed in Egypt because it was so dirty. I've never seen anything like it. But realizing that this country has been in political conflict, where the government was overthrown and they held elections by the people for the first time, I guess it's no surprise that the infrastructure is suffering. I did find the people friendly and inviting. I hope the new government can get this country off and running . . . for the sake of it's people.

I bought this bracelet from this little boy and he was so thrilled. I told him it was because he had such a great smile and he was a good salesman. Then he asked me if I'd buy all his bracelets for $20. Cute boy!

Coming Home!!

Egypt continued

Here's some more pictures of our tour in Egypt. We went to several interesting restaurants -- one of which I was invited to join in in making flat bread on the outdoor oven. I was a complete failure . . . it's alot harder than it looks!! We visited a rug factory where we saw a young girl weaving a silk rug. We also went to the National Museum, the National Mosque, the Coptic Church and a market.

Tour Guide showing us a Burial coffin

Egyptian Soliders

Papayra Making Explained

Burned Out Government Building From 2011 Uprising