Another fascinating part of Rapa Nui culture is the Tangata Manu ritual. An annual competition was based at the village of Orongo, adjacent to Rano Kau. Hieroglyphics at the site illustrate the patron god Make Make and other mythological creatures.
Continue reading “Rapa Nui Wrap Up”
After visiting the quarry at Rano Raraku ( Rapa Nui | Seeing is Believing Pt I ), it’s time to explore the island to see how far and wide these monolithic statues traveled. No one knows for sure how the Moai were transported. NOVA’s Secrets of Easter Island provides an excellent overview of prominent theories. Continue reading “Rapa Nui | More Moai and Some Wild Horses”
Miles from nowhere – the nearest inhabited land is 1289 miles away – Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island) is one of the most enchanting and remarkable places I have visited. In the tradition of great things coming in small packages, this 63 square mile triangular-shaped island has enough wonderful sites and activities to warrant spending at least a week. We barely scratched the surface with six full days of hiking, biking and exploring and hope to return one day. Continue reading “Rapa Nui | Seeing is Believing Pt I”
I had to restrain myself from subtitling this post “A Llama’s Eye View”! They are so engaging (from afar) and I couldn’t get enough of them. However, the real attraction at Machu Picchu is the amazing architecture. The citadel at Machu Picchu (which means Old Peak in Quechuan) dates to the mid-15th century when it was built under the aegis of Inca Sapa Pachacuti. (NB: The term Inca applies only to the rulers and the civilization; the indigenous people are Quechua.) Continue reading “Magnificent Machu Pichu – a Closer Look”
There are two main ways to get to Machu Picchu with variations on each. You can hike for four-five days along the Inca Trail or you can take the train to Aguas Calientes followed by a bus ride or a moderately challenging 90-minute trek to the sanctuary.
After three days in the Sacred Valley, we opted for a hybrid route. We took the train from Ollantaytambo to the prosaically named Km 104 station (so-named because of its distance from Cusco). If you blink, or nod off, you could definitely miss it! Continue reading “Machu Picchu – Getting There is Half the Fun”
Peru’s Sacred Valley took my breath away – literally and figuratively. The valley floor is at 3000 meters above sea level outside of Pisac and descends over its 100 kilometers to just above 2000 meters near Machu Picchu. Also known as the Urubamba valley, its namesake river meanders the entire length and irrigates the otherwise arid region. Continue reading “Peru |Highlights of the Sacred Valley”
As many travelers do, we visited Lima en route from one place (Jackson Hole) to another (Machu Picchu). It was the means to an end but is worth a few days on its own merits, especially for food lovers! Continue reading “Foodie Friday | Lima, Peru”
These two islands were by far my favorite on the trip. That is not to say I would have skipped a single one, just that if I had two days, these are where I would spend my time. Continue reading “Genovesa and Bartolomé Islands”
Charles Darwin and the Galápagos are inextricably linked in many people’s mind. After all, this archipelago and its inhabitants gave birth to his theory of evolution. Darwin only spent five weeks on the islands, but what he observed resulted in his masterpiece On the Origin of Species. Santa Cruz Island is the most populated island in the Galápagos and home to the Charles Darwin Research Center. Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Santa Cruz Island”
Only a few miles away as the pelican flies, Santiago Island is as different from its neighbor Rábida as night from day. Its stark cratered surface reminded me of the moon. Sea lions, marine iguanas and American Oyster Catchers were abundant, and we saw fur seals (which are actually sea lions – a fact that caused great confusion) for the first time. 
This bright Yellow Warbler with its colorful plumage was a standout, especially on Santiago’s moon-like surface. Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Santiago Island”
travel magnolia 