South America

So, on Wednesday I got back from a 2 week trip in South America, in Peru, Argentina, and Brazil. It was a crazy trip... For those of you who I hadn't talked to before the trip, I went with my parents and 50 other Indians. Why, you ask? Well...

Last October/November, my parents were telling Oliver and I about a trip that they were taking in South America. They have taken a few trips with many of their Indian friends over the past few years and have really loved them. Anyway, Oliver suggested that I tag along with my parents, since he had spent 2 months traveling there in high school, and doesn't have the desire to head back there until he has seen the rest of the world. I brought this up with my parents, (suggested that they may want to pay for me to travel with them) and when they agreed, I signed up!

Hence the trip with 50 Indians... So, it was a unique experience to say the least - mainly because traveling through foreign countries with that many people is always challenging. Trying to cater to the needs of a group of 6 people is hard enough, but add 44 more people, most of who are vegetarians, tour guides with heavy accents, flight cancelations, lots of different interests, different traveling speeds, desires, and you get craziness!!! But it was actually a really fun trip that was very well organized and planned. It also helped that there were 3 other girls on the trip who are all around the same age whom I have known since I was young - we had a lot of fun together!

One of the best parts of the trip for me was my new camera. While my pictures may not be indicative of a new, fancy camera, I certainly had fun taking pictures!

Peru Highlights

Our first day in Lima, we toured the city. My parents and I at General San Martin's square.

This is a cool picture of the stained glass window in the Cathedral of Lima.

We also went to a winery in Lima, but none of my pictures came out well. I was experimenting with inside/dark lighting... It may have also had something to do with all of the Pisco we drank followed by all of the wine...

In Cusco, we went to an Alpaca/Llama farm and fed the animals...Here's mom and an Alpaca.

They look like stuffed animals...

Driving through Sacred Valley, we took a group shot (well, a partial group shot)...

Out drinking in the town of Machu Picchu with the girls... this is a terrible picture, but I obviously let some random stranger use the camera and as I'm having trouble getting pictures in focus, we can't really blame him/her...

After our late night drinking, I got up at 5:15 to go on a nature/bird/orchid walk. This humming-bird picture looked cooler in the camera viewfinder, but it's still pretty cool...

A picture of one of the million types of orchids in Peru...

Machu Picchu in focus, my parents out of focus...apparently I haven't mastered that yet...
Last night in Peru...

Argentina Highlights


We went on a city tour of Buenos Aires. I apparently didn't really take many pictures. Here's one of a really cute cat that I saw on the way to Eva Peron's grave site...

This is a picture of a bunch of the Indians going on a carriage ride at the ranch that we went to...

This guy really liked my mom... I had trouble with the action/dancing shot...

Iguazu Falls is a pretty amazing site. Having already been to Victoria Falls and thinking that was the coolest waterfall ever, I didn't have high expectations, but this blew it out of the water. Unfortunately, the pictures don't do it justice...

Brazil Highlights

The Falls from the Brazilian side...

Now, Rio is a very cool city... a picture with the girls...
Mom and Dad and the view of Copacabana... We went to a Brazilian steakhouse and the waiters invited us back into the kitchen...

I have about 1,400 more pictures... I may pic some good ones and upload them to picasa - I'll post the link when I do that...