" " " Lake Titicaca: July 2010 "
 
Holly eating a Totora reed on one of the Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca near Puno, Peru.

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Machu Picchu is one of the new wonders of the world, and despite its location in the high peaks of the Andes, it is accessible in the highest style. In one week you can visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes without feeling pressure like you are rushing through things. This is a once in a lifetime experience for most people, there's no need to rush through it.

A quality tour striving to make you as comfortable as possible, with all the little details means luxury travel. In luxury travel and luxury vacations you expect 5-star service, at top value and top quality. Just because you are travelling luxury doesn't mean you don't consider where every dollar is going. If you are interested in luxury service to Cusco and Machu Picchu, you should expect private, comfortable transfers, in order to avoid sweaty cab rides and miscommunications and language barriers. You can expect tours will be private or at least very small numbers. No one enjoys riding around in a giant tour bus, having to wait until everyone is ready to go, and not being able to move through the tour at your own pace. In luxury travel, you can request private guides to avoid those hassles.

When traveling in luxury your hotels are largely the biggest upgrade that you will have. You will be exploring 5-star hotel options, some of which are destinations in themselves. The Monasterio hotel in Cusco, for example is a restored 16th century seminary that is literally on the site of an ancient Inca palace. Staying at the Monasterio is like staying at a museum. Another example would be the Sanctuary Lodge, right outside the gates of Machu Picchu. While thousands of people have to walk or take the bus from Aguas Calientes in order to get to the gate and lines out front, you will litererally be walking out your front door. This is a big advantage as well for those adventure travelers who want to hike Huayna Picchu. Only 400 people are allowed up Huayna Picchu each day so a line usually forms at the gate of Machu Picchu before it even opens. The first 400 people lined up are the ones who get the exciting privilege of summiting Huayna Picchu.

Luxury travel is certainly the most comfortable way to experience Machu Picchu. With little hassle and the best of the best in comfort, style and service you will not be disappointed with your decision to upgrade your vacation and take your time in this amazing part of the world.

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This slideshow captures 2 days of a 2 week expedition of Peru.

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 7:18 AM | 0 comments  
Friends of Brian Reale bang out a beat cruising Lake Titicaca on a boat called El Rey.

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Some time in July I was watching our local TV station, CityTV, and I caught a part of a report about a Toronto couple that had remortgaged their home to start a non-profit community development organization in a small town on the Pacific Coast in Peru. I didn't catch their name or their contact information, only the website: http://www.paraelmundo.org. I used the contact email on the website to try to locate this couple and to ask them for an interview.

I got a response back and met Danielle Lafond, the female member of the couple and co-creator of the project, in a restaurant in Toronto's Greektown and was struck by her youthful energy, idealism and commitment to improving this world. The decision to put their own finances at risk and invest at least a year of their lives in this Peruvian community had a strong impact on me and I am delighted to be able to introduce to you this delightful young woman: Danielle Lafond.

1. Please tell us about yourself. Where are you from, what is your educational background?

I am in my mid twenties, and I just completed a 4 year social work degree at Ryerson University. Before that, I studied music and also worked and traveled for several years as a tour guide in Canada.

2. You have a very strong social conscience. What life experiences have shaped your belief system?

As a woman of color, I've always been conscious of issues relating to racism and sexism, but I became more politically active after moving to Toronto and connecting with others who had similar experiences. I also had many personal struggles in my teens which influenced my desire to help others.

3. When you were young you hitch-hiked across Canada. Please tell us about that trip and what you learned from it.

I left high school to travel when I was 16. My trip took me across most of the country, and I met many interesting people who were leading very interesting lives, making their living in non-traditional ways. It inspired me to follow my dream of making a life, not just making a living. Also, my faith in humanity, in people, was completely restored. I met many people from many walks of life, and almost everyone was willing to share, laugh, talk and open their hearts and homes to me. The
experience left me with a sense that all people share an essential goodness.

4. Some time ago you also went to Cuba and taught ESL classes in exchange for room and board. Please tell us about that experience.

A few years ago, I went to Cuba with no plans, and very little understanding of the sociopolitical situation in Cuba. To me, it was just another island in the Caribbean. I knew I didn't want to do anything typically tourist-oriented, so I ended up at the University of Habana in the summer months, where I worked out deal with someone working there to give me room and meal tickets in exchange for teaching English a few hours a day. I had $500 dollars in the bank, and a return ticket, and I
managed to last a few months this way. It was an incredibly humbling experience, because I saw for the first time how people outside North America live, and I was able to meet and learn from Cuban people. I learned a little Spanish, and fell in love with Afro-Cuban and Latin music. I had been a musician my whole life, but this trip showed me how music could be used to connect with people across language
and cultural barriers.

5. Through your studies in social work at Ryerson University you spent some time in Peru, completing the placement for your degree requirements. Where did you go and what did you do there? What places did you travel to in Peru and what did you learn about the culture?

As my third year placement, I decided I wanted another international travel experience, and made plans to travel with a close friend. I knew that the experience of doing social work in South America was going to be challenging and emotionally trying, so I was glad my friend agreed to do this together. We spent the first part of our time in Peru travelling, along with my partner Josh. The three of us were amazed by the diversity of the country.

We started in Lima, a city of over 11 million people, with distinct neighbourhoods and cultural practices, then traveled to Arequipa and Cusco, Macchu Picchu, Puno, and Lake Titicaca, which each had completely different cultural groups, languages and food. Many of the people we met were Indigenous Peruvians who spoke various dialects of Quechua. Many of them spoke no Spanish at all. The more we traveled, the more I felt in awe of the strength, resilience and resourcefulness of the
people we met, who had been struggling for many hundreds of years, but who are also rich in cultural traditions, food, music, art, history and languages.

6. This time in South America convinced you to stay involved on a more lasting level with the people of Peru. In particular you wanted to do something for a fishing town called Mancora. Please tell us how you got the idea to create a non-profit international development organization.

After our travels, my friend and I ended up in a small fishing community in Northern Peru, 19 hours north of Lima by bus, and about an hour south of the border to Ecuador. Again, we were completely surprised to see another part of Peru so different from all we'd seen thus far. Mancora is in a desert climate, so it is very dry and sunny, and the town has little infrastructure. Many people don't have running water, and most who do only have it a few hours every other day or so. The power cuts out unexpectedly, and safe clean drinking water is not readily available or affordable. Also, there were no social services and very limited access to health care, unless one could afford to pay for it.

The town's dependance on a once-booming fishing industry is rapidly changing to a dependance on tourism. A big El Nino in 1989 caused much grief for the town, which was isolated for 15 days, but it also created a beautiful beach which is now popular with surfers year-round.

As social work students, we were mostly working with women in the community, and we met an amazing couple who had started a small NGO (Non-governmental Organization, or not-for-profit organization) to try and help the people in the community in various ways. My friend and I spent the rest of our time in Peru living and working with them, working and researching what the most pressing needs in the community were. What we discovered from interviewing Mancorians was that
the people in town were concerned about the lack of affordable/accessible health care, unemployment, alcohol and drug addiction and domestic violence.

When I returned from my trip, I began discussions with my partner Josh, a Toronto Paramedic, and with a few close friends about starting a not-for-profit organization in Canada to help this under-serviced community in Peru. The most important thing for me was to be able to provide assistance to the people of Mancora as they saw fit, and not to impose my own ideals on them. The people we worked with last year seemed to feel strongly that having accessible medical care was an urgent need in their community, so this is where we focused most of our energy and resources for our first year projects.

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Machu Picchu Tour Guide Recently named a "New Seven Wonder of the World," Machu Picchu is massive and intricate. The entire time I was there, I couldn't find words BIG enough to describe its grandeur. So, if it looks like I'm short on words -- it's because I *am*. See more and Take your Tour to Machu Picchu: www.MyPeruBoliviaTours.com See you soon!

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In a nutshell, he places the capitol of the empire in Bolivia - and he believes that the entire continent of South America is, in fact, Atlantis. He does have an interesting theory -and he has found some remarkable evidence to strengthen his claim. Ancient Atlantis? Two miles above sea level? Seems impossible but there are many archaeologists working in the Bolivian Altiplano to prove it!

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With all the wonderful places and sights that South America has to offer, it is hard to decide which ones you should go to first. One of the places you just have to see is of course the Galapagos Islands. This archipelago is one of the strangest and interesting places on Earth, located 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador. There are 13 major islands, and five of these are inhabited by humans. The rest of them are home to some of the most diverse species of wildlife ever together in one location. From tortoises, sharks, seals and other land and marine animals, as well as a multitude of plant and birds species. There are an abundance of different ways to see this remarkable area, from cruises, to Eco-tours, you will have no problem finding ways to visit here.

Another must see place to go if you are in South America is the Amazon Rain Forest. This is one of the largest rainforests in the world, and mainly accessed only by boat, because of how dense the forest is. There are many different river boat tours to choose from, and for a truly unique experience, try the Ariau Amazon Towers, the largest and only tree house hotel in the world. This is truly a one of a kind adventure, and the whole hotel and resort is completely at tree top level, above the jungle floor. You can experience a wide variety of Eco-tourist activities here, from swimming with rare pink dolphins, hiking through the rugged rainforest, adventuring up the Amazon river, or simply relaxing in one of them most luxurious hotels in the world the choice is yours. This is one of Discovery Channel's thousand places to visit before you die.

High above the sea and an altitude of over 12,500 feet is another place that you have to visit when in South America is of course Lake Titicaca. This lake is the biggest freshwater lake in all of the continent, and is on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It has some of the bluest dark water that is unlike anywhere else on Earth. High in the Andes mountains, the Inca people believe that their god Virococha was born on the Island of the Sun, one of lake islands. Los Uros, otherwise known as the Floating Islands is actually a man made island, created some 500 years ago by Indians who fled to the lake, and created it out of reeds, which are constantly being rebuilt.

While in this area, another great sight to behold is the ruins of Machupichu, Lima, and the Inca Trail. Be sure to bring warm clothes, and realize that this area is higher in altitude that most places, so you want to take your time and not over work yourself. There are many other places to explore like Patagonia, which stands for "Land of the Big Feet." and was first discovered by Ferdinand Magellan.

With so many places to choose from, the best thing you can do is go online and explore some of the South America travel websites. You can easily find cruises and Eco-tourism adventures, the official Ariau Amazon Towers website, as well as many others. Whether you want tours of Macu Picchu, or go kayaking on Lake Titicaca, or anything in between, you can find something to fit your plans and budget.

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Traveling is something that most people enjoy, especially if you are going on vacation. There are many places where you can go to explore and contemplate wonders that you have never experience before. A wide variety of traveling destinations are available to be enjoyed. Europe is one of the favorite destinations for Americans while Europeans probably are more interested in vacationing over the new world. One area that is generally overlooked but can offer the vacation of a lifetime is South America. The continent offer many natural marvels and sightseeing that you cannot find anywhere else.

There are a couple of things that you must know before heading to South America. Many of the countries in the continent are actually quite modern and civilized unlike what some people might think. One detail to remember is that most people in South America speak Spanish except for in a few nations: Brazil, Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana. There is also a population of natives on each country that speak only their native language. Learning a little Spanish might be very helpful in order for you to communicate effectively. Knowing how to ask directions can make your trip way more fun and less troublesome.

Traveling with the appropriate paperwork is a must. Your passport and other identification are necessary in order to travel to these countries. If you are going with the family remember to bring the documentation of every family member otherwise your vacation can take a bad turn. The use of common sense regarding your safety applies too. Night traveling should be avoided and going to solitary places is not suggested at all. South America has many amazing places to see, one of them is the Angel Falls in Venezuela. You can get to the area by taking a tour in the nearby city of Ciudad Bolivar. Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the whole world and is a sacred place for the natives of the area.

Another place to visit is the ancient city of Machu Picchu. This is most popular city of the old Incas Empire. The ruins of this mysterious place are astonishing and the fact that is in the top of a mountain makes it more perplexing. Lake Titicaca is the biggest fresh water lake in South America. One of the most amazing things about this lake is that is located at an altitude of 3820 meters. The unparalleled beauty of this lake makes it one of the most mesmerizing places on Earth.

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As South American countries go, Bolivia -- high in the Andes and landlocked -- is somewhat remote. That may be why it is not very high in the list in terms of popularity as a place to study Spanish.

Bolivia is a beautiful country, though, offering many natural and cultural attractions. It also has a number of fine Spanish schools where you can learn the language without being disturbed or distracted by hordes of tourists.

Here are 4 good reasons to study Spanish in Bolivia:

1. You can immerse yourself in the language here far easier than in places such as Mexico or Guatemala. Fewer of the natives speak English than in more touristed countries, so you'll be forced to speak the local tongue in many situations.

2. Bolivia has stunning natural beauty, from that of Lake Titicaca to a "hidden" valley where lush tropical vegetation grows (a surprising counter-example to the image of Bolivia as completely high, dry and windswept). Adventures of all kind await you during your breaks from studying.

3. Bolivian Spanish schools emphasize one-on-one and small group learning. Perhaps reflecting the slow pace of life in the country as a whole, their teachers have a reputation for taking plenty of time to make sure each student gets the maximum learning from his or her classes.

4. Tuition for schools in Bolivia is generally lower than it is in other countries in the region.

Information on different Spanish language schools in Bolivia is easily available by doing a web search. One thing you'll discover is that most of the schools are situated in Sucre, a delightful city of 150,000 people, with a mild and pleasant climate and drenched in history. It's also home to a university and many restaurants and shops.

Sucre is a great place in which to study Spanish in Bolivia. Other choices include schools in La Paz, the nation's capital, and Cochacambra.

Whichever city and whichever school you choose, if you're the adventurous type you'll be glad you decided to learn Spanish in Bolivia.

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