Home Sweet Home (30 Mar 2007)

After an absolutely amazing adventure, I have finally arrived home. Although I would like nothing more than to have continued endlessly on that journey, I have to admit that it's great to be back. It's just like Little Miss Traditional American Values said: "There's no place like home." Here's the wrap-up of my trip:

The High Points: (Literally and Figuratively) Summitting two 6,000+ meter peaks in two different countries in less than a week - Huayna Potosi, Bolivia (6,088 m - 19,974 ft) and Nevado Chachani, Peru (6,057 m - 19,872 ft).

The Low Points: (Literally) Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world (3269 m deep - 10,725 ft). (Figuratively) Losing all of my photos from Machu Picchu and Days 3 and 4 of the Inca Trail due to a corrupted memory card.

Fastest Pace: Mountain biking down the World's Most Dangerous Road in Bolivia.

Slowest Pace: Floating down the Rio Huallaga from Yurimaguas to Iquitos.

Best Wildlife: (Terrestrial) Amazon Basin jungle outside of Iquitos. (Marine) Scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands. (Wild life?) Montanita during Carnaval.

Most Exotic Foods: Crocodile, Tortoise liver, Grubs, Stingray, Alpaca, Cuy (Guinea Pig).

Buen Provecho! - Best Tasting Food: Chef Jose's culinary delights on the Yolita.

Salud! - Best Beer: Gotta be honest here - 'Best' is not an adjective I can associate with any of the beer down there.

Best Market: Belen, Iquitos.

Best Digs: Loki Hostel, Cusco.

Best Ruins: Machu Picchu, of course.

Best Reason to Return: Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia - I am still very disappointed that I was unable to see it.