We pampered ourselves with a day aboard the Orient Express train from Cusco to Lake Titicaca. We were entertained non-stop with fashion shows, Pisco Sour cocktail making lessons (Peru’s national drink), and elegant meals as we spent 10 hours passing through small towns scattered throughout the beautiful countryside. We continued spoiling ourselves with a night at…
Author: jayorris
Machu Picchu – A True Wonder!
So what do you write about a world wonder…..I wonder! And we did wonder, or more accurately, we were awed. We broke away from Cusco to visit one of the most famous locations in the world. The highlight of our three day, two night journey down from Cusco was Machu Picchu. In fact, many people…
Cuzco – Our Spectacular Home for a Week
Cusco, the capital of the Incas and the longest continuously inhabited city in South America, became our home for the week. We booked a room in an apartment-hotel on the hillside of San Blas reachable only on foot via an unending set of stairs. You would not think stairs would matter to our athletic Colorado…
Departure and Lima – A Wonderful Starting Point
We set out on our big adventure early on a Thursday morning. Thanks to Dunbar for getting up VERY early to get us there. In contrast to our last departure from DIA, we felt like we didn’t have any luggage. Since we will be traveling from country to country without a home base we tried…
Boulder – Finally, Really Home!
We have come home to Boulder for 3 weeks to enjoy the holidays and regroup before heading out again on our own for 4+ months. It was a joyous occasion to walk into our house and be greeted enthusiastically by our golden retriever, Evie, and our cat, Sierra. Our friends Julia and Dunbar are staying…
Ship Life – It’s a VOYAGE, not a cruise!!
Both times we’ve returned from our Semester at Sea (SAS) adventures, friends ask us what our favorite place was. After struggling to choose just one place, we have realized that the ship itself is among the most memorable places on Semester at Sea, although it seldom gets the attention the ports get. We spend over…
Guatemala – A Great Finale to 4 Months of Travel
After finishing our Semester at Sea voyage, we sandwiched in 10 days in Guatemala before heading back to Boulder over the holidays. Guatemala was the “bonus addition” to the first half of our year of travel, but it turned out to be one of our favorite countries. One of our goals for Guatemala was to…
Fort Lauderdale – “Home” for a day!
The last few days at sea were filled with activity. We had the alumni ball and a series of reflection sessions to allow people to look back at all they had seen and experienced over the last few months. Hallways and common areas were full with people exchanging contact information, trading maps that took the…
Dominica – A Slice of Paradise in the Caribbean
The last port during our Semester at Sea adventure was the untouched island of Dominica, not to be confused with the Dominican Republic. Dominica is a mountainous island with only 70,000 people, mostly descended from African slaves brought to Venezuela. This small island gained its independence from Britain in 1978 and is within eyesight of…
Brazil – Up the Amazon to Manaus
Our senses awaken as we leave the Atlantic Ocean and begin our two day journey up the Amazon River to the town of Manaus. The intense smell of campfires and smoke fill the jungle as Brazilians prepare their breakfast and perhaps clear land for cultivation. The air is a steamy haze of smoke and humidity…