Hi All,

Crystal and I leave tomorrow for our South American jaunt. Our first stop will be Quito, Ecuador for three nights, seven nights on the Silver Galapagos then six nights in Peru with Machu Picchu and Cusco being our main stops. (Thanks to Fred and Pat for their wonderful suggestions to help us get ready for this adventure.)

We may not post a lot from the ship but will have internet included in our hotels in Peru. If we aren't too tired from our daily outings, I hope we will share our fun! If we are "too pooped to post," I'll write up our trip when I get home.

I know you two will have a great time! I'll try not to dream of you being chased by gigantic lizards! Lee

Have a great trip I know you will love Machu PIcchu

WOW!!! Have a great time! Please check in with us as often as you can! But we will understand if we don't hear from you until you return. I would LOVE this trip! So really looking forward to hearing about your experiences. Bon voyage!!!

Beth and Crystal - I know this will be one of your trips of a lifetime. Another friend just returned from the Galapagos and said to tell you all the snorkeling is fantastic and the water isn't that cold. I will be expecting some wonderful photos of the giant tortoises. Please! And no need to bother with Lee's Giant Lizards.
So many of us will anxious be awaiting your posts - even if it's not until you return.

I did a similar trip a few years ago with Lindblad and it was spectacular! Have fun!

Awesome trip. We did the Galapagos on celebrity xpedition. And Peru on a totally separate land trip. Both were outstanding. So much that we are planning a return to the Galapagos on silversea. Just haven't figured the day out yet.

Thanks all for your wonderful Bon Voyages. Betty, we will try to overlook Lee's lizard dream!!

Good Morning from Quito 8/7/14

We woke up to a lovely sunny day. Our flight from DC National to Miami was uneventful, then our marathon walk from Terminal D to J was our major exercise for the day. What a trek! It was getting us ready for this adventure. Now our next flight was quite different.

After boarding the plane an hour late, we finally left the gate and proceeded to sit on the tarmac for two hours. The pilot told us interesting stories, one being something about flying in Jamaican air space. Never quite got that. There had been a heavy downpour while we waited for our flight, so we thought that the storm has backed up our departure time. Anyway, we were 1.5 hours late arriving into Quito. (FYI, Quito is in the Central Time Zone, so just one hour behind us. Luckily no jet lag involved.)

After our speedy way through immigration and customs, we walked through the arrival doors and immediately saw the sign that read WILLIAMS/PUNTE and we knew our car was available. Being so late, 10:15pm, we were leery that our ride would not be there. The trusty Stephen and Avi working with Silversea were quite amiable and seemed happy to finally see us.

A normal hour to an hour and a half drive into the city was only 40 minutes at this time of night. Stephen told us all about the hotel and our next leg of the trip, on to the Galapagos. Avi gave each of us a much needed bottle of water and we rode through the five parishes to the capital city of Quito. The airport was opened February 2013 but the road isn’t expected to be completed until sometime next year. One of the town’s names we went through was Cumbia.

On our midnight arrival at the JW Marriot, the registration desk employees were chipper and waiting to help us. Our room is a nice 2 double bed room with a lovely view of the mountain which we saw this morning.

After our 1 am lights out we were sluggish to get up this morning. We’ve had breakfast of bacon, tiny quiche Lorraines, tiny hard boiled eggs (not sure what kind of birds laid these), sweet corn cakes (with raisins baked in corn husks), a tangerine and coffee. After we were finished, I noticed the bread table with dulce de leche in a large bowl…… for a trying-to-be low carb eater, that was just sinful looking…. Maybe tomorrow!!

Well, we are off to see the city. Major stops today are the Old Town and Funicular. More later.

Are they quail eggs?

Just say no to the dulce de leche. the devil is trying to lead you to temptation. Be strong.

Beth and Crystal, we can't wait to read all about your adventures! It is a trip that we hope to take some time in the future.

RachelG, I admire your ability to resist temptation. I, on the other hand, would have to try just a little taste. If it was really good, I might decide to forego the champagne or evening night cap and have more than a little taste :).

Even with your small air glitch, it sounds like you all are off to a wonderful start to your trip. Do hope you can send these reports every day.
Did you feel the need to break into song while traveling through Cumbaya? I certainly hope so! You know I would have.

Yep, Betty, we sure did, my lord.

Rachel, you have more will power than I do. I can definitley be lead down the garden path with Caroline!!

Writing up today's HOHO tour now. Will post later.

Can't wait to hear more from you, Beth! Nice to know we are going to have a lot of activity here next couple of weeks from two wonderful parts of the world!

So looking forward to your reports, Beth. We are taking a Silversea Galapagos cruise in early December. Before we board we are going to spend 10 days in the Andes, staying at some haciendas and also spending time in Cuenco. I just got an email from SS touting their second round of refurbishment.

Can't wait to hear more....and take lots of pictures - please! Have fun!

Crystal and I are on Day 4 of our SG cruise and it has been fantastic. I have been blogging, but for some reason my slow netbook isn't cooperating.

The wildlife here..... on land has been unbelievable. Can't post pics now, but hopefully when we get on land in Peru next week. Went swimming with sea lions, Pacific Sea Turtles and loads of great fish.

The staff and crew are great and meeting lots of fun people from around the world.

The highlight so far has been Fernandina Island aka Lizare Land with lots and lots of marine lizards. Don't worry, Lee, no attacks yet!!

More later.

Thanks for posting Beth. You two are having such a great trip ! Can't wait to see your pictures.

Thanks for posting Beth . We are looking at taking a similar trip this time next year so we're excited to hear more and see your photos .
Greg

This is a trip we have put off for the future as the itinerary didn't seem to have down time. We didn't want to arrive home from a trip exhausted. Your description makes it sound like a trip we should take sooner rather than later. I'm looking forward to reading and seeing the photographs from your experience. Enjoy!

Hi Beth and Crystal - Glad to hear you haven't been eaten yet (only kidding but you know that)! Keep on enjoying yourself and we'll see each other soon. We are in Hamburg and joining QM2 tomorrow. We've had a bit of an upset in that Michael has twisted his foot and it's quite swollen and sore, so our exploration of Hamburg has been limited. I went for a walk this morning (I haven't told Michael) and managed to get completely lost and to make it worse, the shops weren't open! Enjoy every moment! xxx

Hi all, we are at Machu Picchu. Unbelievable! !! The cruise was fabulous and now we are in Peru. More later.

Machu Picchu is really special. So glad you are having a wonderful trip.

Hi All,

Crystal and I have had 3 exciting days in Peru. Ker and Downey´s Lima Tours have taken good care of us. We highly recommend Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley. Our casita was wonderful and wished we could stay there 4 days. Here in Machu Picchu, the park is magnificent and everything we hoped it would be plus more. Our great feat yesterday was climbing to the Temple of the Sun. Words are hard to describe the whole entire place. Using our binoculars, we saw people actually climbing Hauchhu Picchu, the smaller mountain. My favorite phrase has been...... I am so happy for them!!! The Sanctuary Lodge is in a prime location and was a wonderful respite for us yesterday afternoon after being on the go for 2 weeks. Can't say enough about the staff here at the SL. They turn over backwards to make your stay amazing.

Late this afternoon we are off on the Hiram Bingham train to Cusco for two days of touring there. Will give you all a more detailed write up next week when I get home.

Love reading about your exciting trip! We too loved Machu Picchu. We did the reverse on Hiram Bingham train from Cusco, so nice.

Watch out for the higher altitude in Cusco, it got to a few in our group, including Tom.

Beth and Crystal . .this sounds great!

Peggy

Thx Marcie and Peggy, we have our meds, been drinking the coca tea and had coca toffee in our room here. Will take it easy in Cusco. We have met some folks who are really affected by the altitude. They didn´t do their research!!!!

Believe it or not, Beth, George did climb little Picchu and made it to the top along with some Israeli soldiers! I was happy to stay below!

Are you staying at the Monasterio, Beth? Well worth it to request the oxygen piped into your room.

Looking forward to details on the Galapagos cruise - we are going in early December on the SS ship.

Rachel, so glad George has that to add to his list of accomplishments.

Leslie, when we get home, I will do a more extensive write up on the SG. We loved it but it had its quirks.

We are staying at the Hotel Monasterio and it is lovely..... with oxygen. We both are needing it as we have head colds as well. The joys of travel.

Crystal and I did some walking around this morning and I went out with our guide, Mario this afternoon. Tomorrow we are going south of the city to see the countryside.

More later.