more

This is the hike down from Wyana picchu, and yes it was that steep. It was a really hard hike because it was steep and the elevation was high!

This is the side of Macchu picchu where the incas would farm. The irrigation system is still working, it was amazing!

This is the river that is at the bottom of the mountain.

This is the spot where the inca king would come for inspiration. It was amazing because when you would stand in that spot, everything went quiet and you could feel a breeze from the valley below.

This is the temple of the 3 windows. Its just mind boggeling how much work these people did with carving and hauling these stones. Our tour guide said that the average life expectancy of the incas was 40 years, and its no wonder because they worked themselves to death!

Macchu Picchu

last but not least

Macchu Picchu! I really think these pictures need no explanation. And again on this trip I was absolutely amazed at this city! Words cannot describe it!

Maxi and Nelly

This is Maxi and Chris. Maxi was Chris's ward mission leader while Chris served in Chile. He is only 4 years older than Chris and so they really got along good. We went to their house and Nelly (Maxi's wife) made an authentic Chilean dinner which was sooooo good!
This is inside their house and it was a very nice house, especially for Santiago!

Another picture at their house. They live in a suburb of Santiago called maipu (pronounced my-poo) and we just thought that was the funniest thing! Maxi was asking what we were laughing about so much so Chris had to translate to him what Maipu meant to us. Maxi thought that was hilarious and as we were leaving Santiago he said. " Remember maipu is your poo" He is a riot!

We went to an Argentine grill for dinner ( yes I know we were in Chile) and it was yummy! Maxi served in Argentina on his mission.

On top of the Virgin Mary hill in Santiago.

You can see Mary in the background here. It was pretty cold at night here and Nelly was so sweet to give Brenda and I coats. We had so much fun visiting them and hopefully someday they can come her to the US!

Santiago

This is a castle in the middle of the city in Santiago, Chile. I have no idea of the historical significance of it but it was really cool!

My first trip on a subway ever! I was fun but a bit scary during rush hour. Alec caught a guy trying to pick pocket him and actually slapped the guys hand out of his front pocket!

This was the bottom part of the castle, it looked a bit newer than the top part

It was really fun to be in Santiago and hear Chris speak ALOT of Spanish. This was actually 10 years to the date of his return from his mission so that was really cool. We even went to one of his wards he served in while he was there for church.

B is for Bugs and Boat

This butterfly actually landed on Brenda's finger

This is a boat from the Argentina side of the falls, it was similar to ours only ours was smaller and when we went thru the rapids I did fear for our lives!

Iguazu falls is the longest waterfall in the world. We saw turtles in the river, a flock of parrots ( yes parrots not seagulls), and Tucans in a nest. It was AMAZING!

BTW Iguazu falls in right on the border of Brazil and Argentina.

Cataratas

This was before we got drenched going on the boat ride into the falls. We thought we were safe because we wore raincoats, boy were we mistaken!

This is the hike down to the boatride, there were tiny falls and lush jungle all along the way!

This is just one of the bugs that we saw on the hike to the boat ride. There were tons and tons of butterflies too!

The ride thru the jungle!

I just had to put this pict in because of Alec in the background, Im sure Chris hates this picture! Sorry babe!

So after our walk along the waterfall we took a ride thru the jungle and then hiked down to the dock where you take a boat that rides along the Iguazu river and up to and thru the falls. Our tour guide said that you get wet but we didn't know that you would actually get soaked. Before the boat left the lady said, "Ok have a nice shower." and we all laughed!

BTW Cataratas means waterfall in Portuguese

Iguazzu, Icuagu, Iguazu???

This is Iguazu falls and its only the beginning of it. These falls are HUGE and go on forever and ever. I seriously lost my breath a few times just in awe of how huge and powerful they were. We went on a mile or so walk along the whole falls and it was just amazing!

another section of the falls

and another

and another, I'm serious they went on for at least a mile!

We started here and went on the walk along the falls.

I Heart Rio!!!

More of the Jungle, it was so pretty and green everywhere in Brazil!

Inside the cathedral they have the carriage that the pope rode in when he visited and it was decorated with fresh flowers.

This was our hotel room in Rio and we thought it was hilarious that we had twin beds! We totally pulled an Ozzie and Harriett!

This was the view from our 11th story hotel room in Rio. The streets are tiny and the buildings are really tall. The other way down the street was the ocean!!!

Me on the beach. The sand on the beach was a weird texture, it felt like a combo of brown sugar and white sugar and it didn't stick to your skin when you were wet!

I decided while we were in Brazil that I must be part Brazilian. The Brazilian women are light skinned and have light colored eyes, tiny waists and bigger bums with muscular legs, and smaller upper bodies. Plus I felt right at home there on the beach! The weather was PERFECT! I think it was like 65 for the low and 75 for the high!

Rio De Janerio

This is the top of sugarloaf mountain in Rio. You take a cable car to the top and the view was spectacular!

This is the cathedral in Rio, its really strange and modern looking but inside there are 4 huge stain glass windows that are gorgeous, I need to get the picts from Alec!

This is a freshwater lagoon in the middle of the city ( at least I think this is that pict!) From a certain angle it is shaped like a heart.

Another view from on top of sugarloaf

This is the HUGE, HUGE statue on the highest mountain in Rio of Christ the Redeemer. It was under construction from April until June and the were taking down the scaffolding. A bit of a bummer that we couldn't see the feet but it was totally breath-taking to see and the view from this mountain was beautiful as well.

Just got home!

We just got home about 5 hours ago from our 15 day South America Vacation and all I can say is WOW! It was full of adventure, beauty, historical sightseeing, interesting foods and lots of laughing ( of course!) There were also a lot of firsts for me, like my first plane trip longer than 2 hours ( I know I need to get out more), my first meal on an airplane, my first swim in the Atlantic ocean, my first subway ride, my first time using an outlet converter, my first boat ride thru a waterfall, and oh yeah my first stamps in my passport. We started in Rio De Janero, Brazil( after a 10 hour flight), then went to Iguassu Falls, Brazil, then off to Santiago, Chile, followed by Cuzco, Peru, then Machu Picchu Peru, and then back to Cuzco. It was amazing and maybe the best vacation We will ever have. I have the greatest pictures too but for some reason I cant get them to post soooooooo...... I guess I will do it later!