Lake Titicaca en Peru

Lago Titicaca es el segundo lago más grande de Sur América, y el lago navegable más alto del mundo. Queda entre la frontera de Perú y Bolivia. El lago es tan grande que dicen que se necesita 7 días para atravesarlo el lago en barco. Mientras yo estaba, estaba lloviendo, y hacía frío. Las personas que viven en las "islas flotantes" siguen viviendo con muchos de los mismos costumbres por los últimos miles de años.

Las islas Galapagos - parte II

Yo sé que ya hace mucho tiempo desde que puse el primer video de las islas Galapagos pero quería mostrarles otro video con los animales de las islas.

THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - PART 1

It’s hard to summarize that week in the Galapagos Islands. All I can say is: ANIMALS EVERYWHERE. I think it’s necessary to point out WHY the animals are so unafraid of humans. The Galapagos Islands are 600 miles away from the mainland, and so NO LAND MAMMALS are there. So they have no natural predators. As a result, they are not afraid of humans, cuz they don’t feel threatened. (Rats, cats, goats and pigs unfortunately were introduced onto the islands, and are wreaking havoc on the ecoysystem). It’s something that they have been trying to get under control for over a decade. The islands are incredibly expensive, but worth every cent. It was so hard to decide which pictures to include.

UNA EXCURSION A LA MITAD DEL MUNDO - field trip to the equator

Did you know that right at the equator you weigh less than in your country? Or how about, it's much more difficult to walk a straight line with your eyes closed and arms extended at the equator than in the North or Southern Hemisphere? Watch the video for all this other stuff they told us about the equator and physics high school but never really understood why. If you have questions on the "hows" and "whys" these hapens I might be answer them, but no guarantee.

TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK - GREAT WILDLIFE (check out the video)

Tayrona National Park in Colombia used to be the home of Tayrona Indians about 600 years ago. The video has GREAT wildlife (yes I did put the army ant in the HUGE spider web ... i can not tell a lie). The crab was not happy either. I'm doing my best to stay away from mosquitos, but they are EVERYWHERE.

Señor goes down for the count to a Mosquito

Señor had to come home for about 10 days because he was bit by a mosquito carrying "Dengue Fever". But now he is back in action in Cartagena, Colombia, and is scheduled to fly out tomorrow to Quito, Ecuador.

Geography and Miscellaneous stuff about South America

The answers will be posted in the "Comments" Section.

1. Ahora mismo estoy en Cartagena, Colombia. The REAL name of Cartagena is:

a) Cartagena de Madrid
b) Cartagena de las Americas
c) Cartagena de las Indias

2. On the streets in the States, we have signs on the highway alerting for a "deer crossing", in Colombia, Señor has seen a sign for a "_________ crossing".

a) anteater
b) elephant
c) monkey

3. The exchange rate right now for $1 = 2,500 Colombian pesos. How much would a shirt for 30,000 pesos cost in US dollars?

a) $ 15
b) $ 12
c) $ 150

4. Este miércoles voy a Quito. Quito es la capital de ___________.

a) Quito no es una capital
b) Quito es la capital de Venezuela
c) Quito es la capital de Ecuador
d) Quitos es la captial de Panamá

5. What is the official currency of Ecuador?

a) Ecuadorean Peso
b) Venezuelan Peso
c) US dollar

The Crocodile Hunter (piranha too)

Just left the Amazon - what an amazing trip. To get to the lodge it took almost 2 1/2 hours. Our guide told us we had about an hour to swim and get our cabin prepared before we took off on our first expeditiion. So I took to the water...how many people can say they have swum in the Amazon before, right? OK, OK, OK, so my toes aren't exactly pointed in the back-tucks, but it was nice to know I still have it in me. I saw SO many animals, alligators (caiman), BIRDS GALLORE, monkeys, toucans, lizards, and both grey and pink river dolphins. So awesome.

(Check out the video in high quality)

"Poor Niagara" is what Eleanor Roosevelt exclaimed upon seeing the Iguazu Waterfall. There are two sides, this is the Argentine Side

The waterfall is beyond words. To think that it is like this 24 hours/day 7 days a week, it makes you wonder how there is any fresh water left in the world. It is beyond words. Another one of the cool parts was that in the Iguazu National Park they had signs up that as you walked over the bridges that were flanked by trees, they warned that snakes are hanging from the trees so be careful.

Trekking across Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande is Brazil's 3rd largest island. It's about 2 1/2 hours from Rio. It's located in the Atlantic Ocean and gorgeous, but it does NOT cater to your average tourist's demands. For example, there are no roads, no cars, no banks, and no atms - I think that is what gives it such charm. (watch the video en high quality - check out those insects)

Brazil - Qué sabes de Brazil

I will write the answers to these multiple choice questions in the comment section. Let's see how well you do.

1). What is the current capital of Brazil?

a) Rio de Janeiro
b) Sao Paolo
c) Salvador de Bahia
d) Brasilia

2) Which of these used to be the capital of Brazil

a) Salvador de Bahia
b) Rio de Janeiro
c) a & b
d) none of the above

3) T or F

You must apply in advance for a visa to go to Brazil

4) Brazil's population is quite unique because it combines elements of _____ cultures.

a) European and Indigenous
b) Indigenous and African
c) Indigenous, African, and European

5) The Amazon is the largest river in the world (T or F)

FACTS ABOUT BRAZIL -

* Brazil is the world's 5th largest nation (after Russia, Canada, China and the US)
* Brazil is the world's largest (and most populous) Roman Catholic country
* Brazil is the world's 8th largest economy
* Brazil contains the world's largest tropical forest and has the world's most biologically diverse ecosystem. This ecosystem contains TWENTY PERCENT of the world's bird and plant species.

Senor takes to the skies in Rio!!!!!

Estuve en Rio 5 dias. Hizo muy buen tiempo y el ultimo día hice Alta delta. QUE SUSTO!!!! Pero, del aire, había una vista preciosa. Ahora estoy en la Ilha Grande. Es la tercera isla más grande de Brasil. Allí puedes bucear, nadar, hacer trekking, y más tarde, incluiré un video de allí. Espero que hayan salido muy bien en los exámenes.

Señores y Señoras - Gather around and place your bets. It's Russian Roulette - Colombian Style

This is amazing!! It's the funnest sort of gambling I have ever seen. There are about 16 bowls down there with little holes cut into them. You put your 200 Colombian pesos (9 cents) on the bowl you think the guinea pig is going to crawl into. If you guess right, you win all the money. The gentleman running the activity doesn't take any of the money for himself. He says he's there to just provide safe, fun entertainment.

Climbing Monserrate - Bogota, Colombia

I am an IDIOT. I've heard about the whole concept of altitude sickness cuz there's no oxygen in the air at such high altitudes, but for some reason, I thought I would just make the most of my days in Bogota and climb Monserrate on the first day.(which is 8,600 feet above sea level compared to Chicago's 600 feet above sea level). I climbed for OVER AN HOUR. Even with taking small breaks, I would take another 15 - 20 steps and find myself gasping for air. Yes, I opted for the cable car on the way down.