This is the rainy season in Costa Rica. It comes down so hard - the streets are quickly flooded and the pavement seems to move beneath the water. Storm gutters soon fill and the flow is not to be resisted. My leathers and boots are well waxed. Even so, I keep a slicker and rain pants in my saddle bag. If possible I stop under an overpass and wait-it-out, usually less than an hour. Then another thirty minutes for the streets to drain off. Once back home, the clothes go in the dryer and a cocktail is enjoyed under the protection of the patio roof.

A neighborhood temple.

The light in the East.

A blue lodge room in Lima.

The East.

As a visiting PM I was put in the East. I couldn't understand a word of the work, but sat there with a "knowing expression" that satisfied all. I was asked to speak after the meeting at dinner and did! All seemed to understand my spanish. I told them that all Masons are brothers. They liked that. Lodge of 30 brothers with 15 in attendance.

Dinner afterwards.

Condor lookout on the way to Colca Canyon. The condorsbirds are flying in the canyon. They would pass overhead so close the whistle of their wings through the wind could easily be heard.










Seven would fly around the point.

Very close.

This is the lookout point to see condors flying about the Colca Canyon.

Man does ont live by condor alone.

Our trekking startpoint ships sheep by bus. The critters get stuffed into the luggage compartment under the bus.

This is the agricultural train from our starting point to trek the Colca Canyon. The donkeys just follow one another, no rope is necessary. Sometimes the first one has a bell.

Our canyon from the rim. It is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. One of the two deepest in the world. And we are going to hike to the bottom and then back to the top!!

The trail, or part of it.

"Maybe this isn't a good idea!"

Our guide, who did a good job.

I don't know why but he was close behind me. Several times I fell backward because the trail was steep and I was hiking down. Once he actually guided my fall.

My fanny pack did an excellent job of providing a pillow for my butt.

A village on the canyon rim.

Cooking school.

Cooking student.

This toilet was made by the folks living in the canyou entirely from cut stone. Which they had cut in order to make the toliet. This was part of their efforts to become a stopping point for the trekkers. Amazing!!

High in the Colca Canyon. This was the best of the trail.

Federal Express?

The mule owner.

Our destination for the day. We hosteled from night to night.

Near the bottom of the canyon... and darn glad, too!

Three of us shared this bamboo hut.

Cocktails (tea) after a day's effort.

I bought a bottle of liquor off the locals and we shared!! I said "Nobody lives up here with some booze handy." I sneaked around and made a purchase.

The pool in the background was appreciated, even though the water was not heated. You can see that the climate was still cool from our dress.

This is my buddy, Nicole from Switzerland, taking the mule to the top.

Guides on break.

At the worst of it! Way above the tree line. Only two of us had altitude sickness.

This photo is out of order. Public market.

Public market in tiny village.

"Mirador de los Volcanes" is the high point on our return to Arequipa. 15000 feet.

The "High Andes." Not a shred of flora or fauna.

This is a Peru public toliet.

The public market lunchroom.

I am now on my way to Salkantay Pass at 4800 meters. The range is behind me.

My trekking group at the start of our climb.

Andean peak at sunset with the moon rising.

Making camp.

Me with the Israeli´s. A high energy and noisy group! All spoke good English.

This high mountain pass is at 4800 meters or 1500 feet. We trekked for three days to reach it. By then, I had had all the fun avaliable and was ready to go home.

Our group of twelve had 7 Israelis. After doing the two years of national service (army) they travel around the world. All in their twenties. One said to me "When I am your age (62), I hope I can still keep up! (like you)." It made me feel old and good at the same time.

At 15,000 feet and feeling it!

Our group and guide. I paid $130 for the trek. Food and tents were provided.

Martin is from France. This is a typical Andean bridge of sticks and boards.

A three level waterfall, one of many.

Note the narrowness of the trail and the stones supporting a portion which recently collapsed.

Which way to run? This community is between two cliffs with a small river running between.... unless it rains and there is a flash flood.

Does this look like a Starbucks logo?! Close enough.