WE HAD TWO FULL SHOPPING DAYS, AFTER OUR RETURN FROM MACHU PICCHU, A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY DINNER FOR DIANNE, ON JULY 6TH...WE DINED ON ALPACA AND GUINEA PIG! WE WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO MEET THE DUTCH LADY WHO OWNS THE MARIANI, SHE STARTED THE "HOPE FOUNDATION", AN ORGANIZATION HELPING LOCAL PERUVIAN YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVE PROPER CARE, TRAINING AND EDUCATION. ALL OF HER EMPLOYEES ARE INDIGINOUS PEOPLE SHE HAS "RESCUED" FROM BAD FAMILY SITUATIONS. "HOPE" HAS BUILT DOZENS OF SCHOOLS IN REMOTE VILLAGES.
FOUR GENERATIONS!!
JULY 9TH, JIM'S BIRTHDAY, STARTED AT 5:00 AM FLYING FROM LIMA TO SANTIAGO, CHILE (KNOWING YOUR FIFTH GRADE GEOGRAPHY, YOU ARE CORRECT.... THAT IS THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM MAINE). WE THEN FLEW TO TORONTO, WASHINGTON, PORTLAND, ARRIVING AT 1:30 PM ON JULY 10TH!! A RATHER CIRCUITOUS ROUTE...NO MORE AIR MILES FOR US!!! SO ENDS OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY TRIP!!!
