Dunkin' Mau-nuts

Dunkin' Mau-nuts
Originally uploaded by maujb.

This is Mau after the first dunking, she was a good sport even though she crushed her finger when she was hauled back into the raft. A bit further down we both got dumped into the river when the raft nearly flipped in some gnarly rapids.
When we got back to Baños, you guessed it, more caipiriñas! That cane liquor is a great antiseptic.

Shaka Rafting on Rio Pastaza, Ecuador

Shaka Rafting on Rio Pastaza, Ecuador
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Class 2-3 rapids with our guide Toby who insisted on lingering in every sinkhole and steering us into the whitest water (bless his heart).
Toby also coached us through a team-building exercise where we abandoned our seats and paddles to stand on the edges of the raft while holding hands, leaning backwards and rocking the raft through some rapids (what a jackass!).

Mau on the diarrhea-inducing cable car

Mau on the diarrhea-inducing cable car
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Yes, you can get diarrhea without drinking the water. This cable car traversed 300ft above a gorge using a cable that appeared to be manufactured from banana leaves. It was terrifying as evidenced by Mau`s white-knuckled grip and hysterical smile.
We needed several Caipiriñas after this ride just to steady our nerves.
Once you get over the fear of the cable snapping its actually a lovely view.

Biking down El Pene del Diablo

Biking down El Pene del Diablo
Originally uploaded by maujb.

In Baños, Ecuador we rode our bikes down the Pan-American Highway checking out waterfalls all along the way. The largest of these waterfalls is called El Pailon del Diablo but we preferred the above nickname "the devil`s penis".
In Baños we began sampling Caipiriñas, Brazil`s national drink made from cane liquor, limes, sugar and lots of crushed ice. Yum!

Is that a Podocarpus?

Is that a Podocarpus?
Originally uploaded by maujb.

We traveled from Cuenca south to Vilcabamba and hiked in Podocarpus Nature Reserve. The Podocarpus is the only pine species native to Ecuador.
Up close it looks like a cross between a cactus and pine tree.
We stayed in a rustic cabin on the river and saw fireflies, vibrant butterflies, tons of bromeliads, colorful humming birds and flowers. One interesting specie of bird called the Hornero (oven bird), a rust colored woodpecker-like bird that builds a new nest each year from mud in the shape of a clay oven.

Street Fair in Cuenca, Ecuador

Street Fair in Cuenca, Ecuador
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Our favorite thing about Cuenca was the dearth of musica folklorica (aka panflute bands). In one of Mau`s spanish class fieldtrips they visited a mercado where curanderos (folk healers) employed egg and guinea pig scanners to diagnose illness and demonic possession, in the way that western medicine uses CT and MRI scans.

Iglesia San Blas, Cuenca, Ecuador

Iglesia San Blas, Cuenca, Ecuador
Originally uploaded by maujb.

We arrived in Ecuador on July 1st and our first stop was Cuenca. This world heritage site is full of beautiful cathedrals, nice people, gorgeous flowers (1 dozen roses for $2) and most importantly ICE CREAM!!! We spent one week here while Mau studied a little spanish and Don sampled all of the exotic fruit flavored ice cream.

Lil Donnie in Paracas, Peru

Lil Donnie in Paracas, Peru
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Pisco sours are really sour! Yum!

Redhot Chili Vultures

Redhot Chile Vultures
Originally uploaded by maujb.

There were two tours we took while visiting Paracas. The first was a boat tour of the islands and the second was a land tour. On the land tour we saw an incredible lunar desert dunescape with pink flamingos, red-headed Peruvian Vultures, and more seagulls and pelicans. After the tour we drank some more Pisco Sours. Yum!

Pancho y Pedro

Pancho y Pedro
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Pancho the Humboldt Penguiño recently adopted Pedro a young peruvian boy from Pisco.
Pisco is a small dingy town and know for its famous brandy of the same name. We downed more than a few Pisco Sours, the national drink, made from egg whites, sugar, lemon and pisco. Yum! Word of advice: don`t attempt drink Pisco neat as it is known to cause ulcerations in the gastric mucosa. The egg whites in the Pisco Sour not only add a decorative foam but prevent ulcers as well. Yum yum!

See the sealions, Paracas, Peru

See the sealions, Paracas, Peru
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Unfortunately, sealions are not large contributors to the guano collection of the islands and they are considered free loaders by the boobies and pelicans.
In the recent harvest of guano the Italians purchased more guano per capita than the Spanish.

Dirty knees, look at these!

Dirty knees, look at these!
Originally uploaded by maujb.

. . . Peruvian boobies, heh heh heh.
The main contributers to the sweet guano that coats all these island are the boobies, pelicans and seagulls.
Did we mention how much Italians value guano?

Humboldt Penguiños in Paracas, Peru

Humboldt Penguiños in Paracas, Peru
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Because the Humboldt current brings frigid waters along the Peruvian coast many Humboldt penguiños winter in Paracas.
Our last week in Peru we took a boat tour of Paracas where we got to see lots of guano and other cool stuff. Interestingly, every six years or so the guano is harvested and exported to Spain and Italy who consider it to be worth its weight in gold. The guano is rich in calcium and is used as a fertilizer.