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Skechers are a brand of shoes which are known for, hmmm... being lightweight and very comfortable? Definitely not "stylish" and they will never be confused with DW's beautiful shoes. But some of their items are passable for both daytime (walking around cities/ports) and night time (informal night). Thus they fit the bill for me when I need to limit the number of shoes I can put in my carryon. Multitasking is my motto. They tend to work better on expedition cruises where the evening dress code is more casual. Then I can get away with a pair that works as a light hiking shoe during the day. PS - they are not all slip-on (I refuse to wear those). The ones I buy do have proper laces.

Hey now. I wear them on cruises all the time!

Thanks for checking in. We got home at 1:30 Sunday night/Monday morning so not much sleep to be had before work yesterday. Last night I slept a normal amount, so I'm feeling somewhat human today. No flooding in our area. We did have to drive through some heavy rain on the way from Newark to Albany on Sunday night though. Looks very bad in some areas.

The elevation is sneaky. We were able to hike and climb at 16000+ feet while at Rainbow Mountain, without much of an issue. But the high elevation definitely affected the quality of my sleep. And funny enough, when I bent over to put my shoes on, and tie them, at high altitude it made me suck wind. Once we got back to sea level, Chris and I both noticed that it was a complete non-issue. So it's not just that I got fat from all the good food...though that's not helping!

Yes, we are at ATL and our flight is already 2h late. Such fun!

Hi from Lima. We boarded a few minutes ago and we are waiting to push back. The wedding party was wild and fun. We gave up and left at midnight since we had a 5AM wake-up call to look forward to. Friday when we arrived from Puno, we just walked the cliff tops in Miraflores for the views. It was amazing to be back at sea level, and not think about breathing. Of course we had ceviche, and Pisco sours. We visited with my Canadian sister too. Friday night we gathered informally for drinks and then went out for dinner. It ended up being another late night so we slept in on Saturday. Then we decided to try to see the historical center of Lima, since we'd never been. The hotel wanted to charge us $45 each way for a taxi. That's nuts. So my SIL showed us an app which is Lima's equivalent of Uber. We got a ride to within 2 blocks of Plaza des Armes for S30...about $8! The whole Plaza was fenced off amd there was.a strong police presence. Apparently they're trying to prevent massive protests. But on the plus side, pictures were easier to take! The empty Lima sign seemed like a missed photo op. But then I saw a short line at the fence, and the police were letting small groups through for pictures! We seized the opportunity to have it to ourselves! Some more random spots in Lima. A cool mural. We toured the convent of St. Francis and its catacombs. Knowing how bad the traffic was, I pushed lunch back 30 minutes but finding a ride back to Miraflores was still challenging! Eventually we found a willing driver but it took him 10 minutes to get just a few blocks to where we were. We had to walk down the street through stopped traffic, to find and get in his car before cars started moving. An adventure! But he was a great driver and got us to lunch close enough to our reservation time. We enjoyed some great dishes. Mariscos al fuego. Causitas! Tiradito Ají Pasión. We walked 5 minutes back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding party. After my brother and SIL renewed their vows the party started in earnest. Hours of non-stop Latin music and endless dancing. I got to give him a gentle roast which was fun. The party was supposed to go until 1AM but we left early. Work tomorrow. Wish us luck!

A day on the lake! Yesterday we did a full-day excursion on Lake Titicaca. But first, the sunrise. From our window! After some breakfast (appetite slowly returning) we got on the boat for a 1h30 journey. We arrived at the region of the floating islands and were picked up by a local boat. We glided slowly towards the island. A youngster was eager to show off his piloting skills. On the island we met some inhabitants, saw them cooking bread, and had some photo opportunities. The island wasn't totally solid. The base is made of big clumps of reed roots. Then on this base they spread multiple layers of reeds, with the layers 90 degrees from each other. The island touches bottom during the dry season but floats during wet season. We took our leave and continued the cruise. Another hour, and we arrived at Taquile Island. This is a UNESCO site where some old traditions are still practiced. In the far distance you can see the snow-capped Andes in Bolivia. Dancing ensued. We walked uphill to our lunch spot. Great views on the way! The island had a rustic Mediterranean feel. Except for the Andes on the horizon! Lunch on a shaded outdoor patio overlooking the lake. Tasty and filling. Soon we had to walk back to the boat. Luckily it was mostly downhill. Another 30+ minutes to the lodge. Yet another spectacular sunset awaited. We tried again to photograph the Milky Way, without any more success than yesterday. Then we had an early dinner and packed up for tomorrow. An early ride to Juliaca airport (6:30AM!) for our flight to Lima. Luckily the stomach bug (or whatever it was) seems to have passed.

Yesterday, arriving in Puno. The train had made it to Puno some time after we went to bed, but they weren't kicking us off until 8:30. We were so tired that we didn't bother getting moving until 7, so we missed the sunrise over the lake. Oh well. Breakfast then we packed up. Our transportation to Titilaka was early so we were on the road by 8:20. The guide decided we should take the scenic route and make a few stops so we wouldn't end up waiting around the hotel all morning. We agreed! So we stopped to see the Chullpas at Molloco. Pre-Incan burial structures. Some round and some square. We could go inside to see the burial niches, where the dead were mummified and placed in the niches, in fetal position. An overview. Next we visited the Gate of the Gods. Here at this niche, you could pass into another dimension. We did not try. Some imbecile was flying a drone all over the place which really killed the atmosphere. I had to restrain myself from picking up a rock and trying to take it out. The view of the lake was nice as well. The faint peaks in the distance are in Bolivia. Behind the gate, another stone forest. We headed to the hotel where we got an overview of the available tours for tomorrow. And a tour of the hotel. The dining room has a beautiful view. And our room does too! Since we weren't hungry for lunch yet, we went for a walk on the beach. Cool castle, but not our hotel. A Puno Teal got within range of my cell phone. The shoreline. The ridges in the sand are very well-defined. Lunch was huge. This is an appetizer, chicken with molle pepper. After lunch we napped for a bit, but made sure to get up in time to see the sunset. Then we went stargazing. The Milky Way was much better than this photo suggests. Neither of us was hungry for dinner, and we were still feeling wiped out. So we waited a few hours and tried to stay awake. Might be a bit of a stomach bug? Chris finally gave up and went to sleep. I went down around 9PM and had one light course before calling it a night.

Really enjoyed your cruise! Appreciate all the effort that went into your posts. Safe travels home and thank you again!

Are they holding their breath?

Andean Explorer, afternoon and evening. After lunch we went back to the observation car. The Altiplano was dry and the mountains were rugged as we gained more elevation. The first Pisco sour made an appearance. We had a rest stop at Abra la Raya, which was the highest point of the journey. Only 14285 feet though, so nothing to worry about. The vendors were out in full force. Prices were reasonable. I had Soles in my pocket. Why not? The sun started dipping behind the mountains by 5PM. We stayed out in the open air. The train continued on towards Puno. The chilly air made jackets necessary. The SS puffy jackets are perfect for this weather. And Chris is modeling her new Alpaca scarf. Sunset. The rails were glowing. Time to get ready for dinner! Cocktail hour first, as if we needed it. Then we had the same table as we had for lunch. The starter was a delicious tortellini with a tomato consomme. Beef tenderloin. Rare of course! The nearly full moon was beautiful. Dessert. Chocolate mousse and mango-passionfruit sorbet. An early night. We were exhausted.

Andean Explorer, yesterday. Relaxing morning at the hotel while packing up. Had a much more leisurely breakfast, then checked out and got our ride to the train station, less than 10 minutes. We were immediately met by train staff and our bags were whisked away to be loaded on the train. A welcome drink and dancing followed. We heard that there are only 18 (or 20) on board and the train should hold 48. On board, all gathered in the piano lounge. The dancers saw us off. The first part, through the city, wasn't so scenic. Occasionally a dog would chase us, though they couldn't keep up and soon lost interest. Once the view got better we went to the very last car where there is an open observation area. Lots of landscape to see! The course ran along the Urubamba River for most of the afternoon. Is it lunch time yet? Here's our cabin. Cozy but enough room for one night. We settled in for lunch with a view. Giant corn to start, then sea bass. From our prime lunch seat, we didn't have to suffer from FOMO. We had a great view of the passing landscape. Dessert. Light and sweet, with very ripe citrus. Back to the observation car. The weather is beautiful. Not too hot, and clear blue skies. Sometimes it gets dusty because it's the dry season. We'll put up with it!

A little dancing before boarding the train. The professionals... 20230704_103943.mp4 And a few passengers that were asked to join. See Chris's Silversea jacket? 20230704_104455.mp4

Rainbow Mountain, part 2. Some more views from the third mirador. A close-up of Auzangate and its glacier. Another good luck charm at the mirador. The stone forest was still taunting us... But those switchbacks! Chris tried to distract me with a view of the last striped mountain. And Auzangate again. With a rather impressive cairn (apacheta). Puts ours to shame! Well, we decided that we had to climb up to the stone forest after all. The overview was even better! Auzangate was everywhere. I took far too many pictures. Now for the way down... This looks challenging! Luckily it was an easy descent amd we barely stopped. We were back near the start around noon. Since we had finished so early we held off on lunch. Back on the road, we encountered a crossing guard. We stopped in Uco for a picnic lunch overlooking another gorgeous lake. The air felt heavy, back at 11,000 feet. Since we had hiked so quickly, we were back at our hotel just after 4PM (not 5:30 as scheduled). So why not go for a walk in town, considering the low altitude... The main square was beautifully lit in the late afternoon sun. The Church of the Compania de Jesus, and the Cathedral. We continued downhill to find an ATM. Then we visited Qorikancha, a monastery built over an Inca temple. Nice gardens! Back to our hotel where we had a nice dinner with two of my brother's friends. They had just arrived and were spending a few days in Cusco before the wedding. We are now on board the Belmond Andean Explorer, leaving Cusco for Puno. It's beautiful! Next stop, Lake Titicaca! Until tomorrow, then.

Rainbow Mountain, yesterday. We were up by 5:30 and had breakfast at 6:00 when the restaurant opened. Ready to go at 6:30, for a 3+ hour drive to the trail. Some beautiful landscapes along the way. We arrived around 10AM and hit the trail. This looks steep! And this is the highest altitude we've ever visited. Let's go...but slowly! We climbed slowly, which really takes discipline for us. And we took frequent photo stops, necessary when the landscape is so gorgeous. This view looks back to the start, with one of the three rainbow mountains in the background. So much iron oxide in the rocks. Beautiful colors all around. And bright sunshine to make the colors really pop. Before we got too far, we had to build a small cairn for good luck with the climb. Sounds like a good idea at this altitude! Far above us, the stone forest looked like an unattainable goal. One step at a time. We got to the third mirador after about 40 minutes. Only about 1km distance but not easy. One striped mountain. And in the distance, Nevado Auzangate, covered in snow. Here comes the guy with his alpacas. What a spectacular view! Well, we had made good time so far, and the altitude hadn't defeated us yet. Should we go for the highest point, and tackle the stone forest? Chris is unsure...

Peru... the rest of yesterday. From Saqsayhuaman, we slowly trudged uphill to Q'enqo. More overviews of Cusco. The Saqsayhuaman ticket included this site as well. An impressive monolith. And another cave to explore. We were worn out by now. Time to find our way home. Our hotel is way down there somewhere! A forest adjacent to the site. We had climbed at least 1000 feet. So we took the express way down. The stairs were a bit worse for the wear. You had to watch your step! And then halfway through the trip home, the stairs were suddenly barricaded! No way are we climbing back up to search for an alternative route! There's a trail off to the side... We cut sideways through what looked like a construction zone. Ditches, makeshift "bridges" of 2x6 boards, piles of gravel, and a self-appointed guard dog who eventually stopped growling and let us through. We found the next "street" and continued down more staircases for what seemed an eternity before returning to the hotel. We soaked in the tub to rest our weary muscles and then headed to dinner at Pachepapa, a place specializing in local cuisine. Started with a "Cusco" mule and a Captain Pachepapa. Alpaca skewers and giant corn to whet the appetite. And some nice main courses. Chicken in aji amarillo, and pork prepared in a delicious broth. Too dark for good pictures. Instead, a picture of the wood-fired oven. Home for a well-deserved rest. We are hoping that our success climbing here today bodes well for tomorrow's hike at 16000 feet! *** Spoiler alert. We survived the hike to Rainbow Mountain! Incredible views. Pics to follow.

Day 1 in Peru (yesterday). All of our flights were on time or early. Our hotel in Cusco is gorgeous and they had the room ready for us at 10:30 when we arrived. So instead of resting we set off on a long uphill hike to Saqsayhuaman. Because the first thing that you should do after arriving at 11,000 feet is to climb higher! We took our time and stopped often. It was a decent uphill slog. But the stonework was impressive! And the overview of the city was spectacular. In the distance, a snow-capped mountain. Salcantay? And the main square. A few more pics from the site. As we were heading out we saw an opening in the rocks. So we explored a cave. Time to rest? No, there's another site a little bit further up the hill... Besides, we need to get trained for tomorrow's hike at 16000 feet!

Ron has inspired me...I might go back and add some pictures to my 2011 Svalbard report!

The two-layered parka sufficed for the bulk of our stops, with one base layer (thin Eddie Bauer mock turtleneck or similar). If you're just sitting on a zodiac as opposed to getting out on land and walking you would best add another layer such as a sweatshirt or a fleece or sweater under the parka. Sitting around on the water with the wind whipping around will get really cold, really fast. There are three key points to staying under the weight limit. 1, only bring clothes that can be multi-purpose. I don't bring a dedicated fleece or a jacket for example. I'd bring a sweater that can tuck under my parka as a base layer, but is also nice enough to wear to dinner. I bring a heavy button-down shirt that could be worn to dinner but could also double as a light jacket. Pretty much all of the pants that I bring are good enough for dinner, but OK for wearing ashore, especially because they are covered by waterproof pants and don't get dirty. Remember the expedition dress is far more casual than the classic ships. 2, bring fewer shoes. They take up tons of room and weight. Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane. 3, take advantage of the free washing machines on board. They even supply the laundry soap. Just bring dryer sheets if you want. This was a godsend before we got to the magic 100-day level and earned that "free" laundry.

If you're coming to see M&M then you'll have to come to Albany and see us too!

Love Iceland! For us, we just have to drive 3h to Boston and hop on that last flight. It's even more beautiful in the winter.

Yes...but out of all my "people" I am the only one there. So if I turn 🥶 Chris will have to rescue me! We aren't too worried. We will have a day in Cusco to acclimate. Bring on the coca tea!

For @highplanesdrifters: This Peru trip is for my brother's wedding. Except he and his bride couldn't wait through Covid, so they got married 2 years ago. So this is an excuse for a party on their 2-year anniversary. That's in Lima, a week from tomorrow. We're going early because, why not? We fly out tomorrow afternoon. We've been to Machu Picchu in the past so we're not going again. So we land in Lima Sunday morning and immediately fly to Cusco. Nothing planned for Sunday other than around town on our own. Monday we are hiking to "Rainbow Mountain" to see if we can get some good pictures before we die of hypoxemia. Tuesday we take the Belmond Train - not to MP, but to Puno. It's an overnight train which will be fun! We have two nights on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Then Friday (a week from today) we fly back from Juliaca to Lima for the pre-party, then the party on Saturday, then fly home early Sunday (ugh).

Thank you! We are, but probably not where you're thinking. I should refrain from dragging this thread OT and put the details in the Cooler. Stay tuned.

Where's the wine fridge, M? Just teasing. It looks lovely! We'd come visit.