GALAPAGOS

The aim was to see the animals there. Although the islands are very close, each island had its own flora and fauna. We have collected a few of the many pictures under the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W89CVrTAyYq5msQ-lKmHpQ?feat=directlink

PERU

Following the islands we had a severe culture shock as we returned to civilisation - to Lima, a city with >7 million inhabitants. Here we joined the main part of the group who had flown directly from Germany.

http://picasaweb.google.com/denisejschmitz/Lima?feat=directlink

We then flew to Cusco, the old Inca city in the Andes. The height of 3.400 to over 3.700 m caused several problems - we suffered!

http://picasaweb.google.com/denisejschmitz/Cusco?feat=directlink

From Cusco we took the train to Macchu Pichu, the centre of the Inca culture. We really had to climb there.

http://picasaweb.google.com/denisejschmitz/MachuPicchu?feat=directlink

CHILE

The next stop was Santiago de Chile (7 million people). So many high tenament buildings are rising in Santiago. There are as many business suits as in the streets of Zürich or Frankfurt.

http://picasaweb.google.com/denisejschmitz/Santiago?feat=directlink

ARGENTINIA

After Chile we flew to Buenos Aires. It is a very European city, often called the Paris of South America. We immediately felt at home here, although an estimated 13 million or more live there.

http://picasaweb.google.com/denisejschmitz/B_Aires?feat=directlink

IGUASSU FALLS

Back to nature, in the rain forest of Iguassu. The waterfalls of the Parana river lie on the border between Argentina and Brazil. We explored the falls in both countries.

http://picasaweb.google.com/denisejschmitz/Iguassu?feat=directlink

BRAZIL

At the end of our tour, a real climax - Rio de Janeiro. There was so much to see, a very interesting city - we were fascinated. Just the permanent warnings about criminals got on our nerves.

http://picasaweb.google.com/denisejschmitz/Rio?feat=directlink