What I Learned in Peru

1. Clean drinking water is a precious commodity. Don't waste it and always fill up your bottles when it is available. And don't forget to use it to brush your teeth!

2. Don't pass up anything that resembles a toilet. You never know when you'll see another. Wipes and Toilet paper are essential in your backpack.

3. Oxygen is wonderful! The lack of it is not so great. It brings on high altitude sickness. It's not too fun.

4. You can do most anything you put your mind to. The hiking in the Andes was te greatest challenge of our lives. We tried to keep a positive attitude and take the steep climbs in small chunks. You couldn't look at the whole mountain or you'd give up!

5. There are thousands of people in Peru who live very simply. They seem to be happy.

6. Cold showers are best when they are over!

7. You can go several days without a shower if you have baby wipes.

8. Good hiking shoes are worth every penny you spend for them.

9. Bridges and walkways over rivers and streams would never be approved by our transportation authorities.

10. Handrails and guardrails are not essential to walking and driving. They hinder the "adventure element."

11. Jungle sounds and rain are better than lullabys, fans and sleeping pills to lull you to sleep (even on mattresses that sag into the wood frame and small, lumpy pillows).

12. We are so blessed. But then, I aready knew that. This trip just confirmed again that we are so blessed.

13. In the jungle, monkeys in diapers are allowed in the kitchen; Children in the Andes have never tasted "Hot Tamales" candy; and Women and children appear at the top of the mountain to sell you a soda pop.

14. Peruvians start projects and then when the money runs out, they are left with partially finished buidlings, roads and bridges. (see thought for the month)

A few interesting jungle photos:

In the jungle town of Puerto Maldonado, the mode of transportation was the motorcycle and taxis that were motorcycles with three seats in the back. We saw only a few cars in the town. the airport had one flight in and one flight out each day.

The bus driver in the jungle had to stop and repair the bridge so we could go over it. We all decided to get out and walk and then watch him go over the bridge.

Our little furry friend in thejungle---A tarantula. Isn't he cute? Our jungle home