The Fisher's September Adventure
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This September Tim and Kirsten Fisher from Building 5 spent a few weeks on a magical vacation that took them to two of the most exotic and out-of-the-way places in the world. One was the famous Machu Picchu ruins in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Then, their group of 16, traveled to a cluster of enchanted volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador called The Galapagos. It was here that Charles Darwin did his research for his famed evolutionary theory on "the survival of the fittest." The Fishers took their trip under the aegis of the Road Scholars (not to be confused with the academic achieving Rhodes Scholars). It is an organization that conducts educational tours throughout the world. Below is an excerpt from the extremely detailed itinerary they provide to their tour guests.
Machu Picchu was an ancient Inca city that was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham who was a Yale graduate and U. S. senator. He was fascinated with Inca archaeology. Bingham found Machu Picchu, with the help of a local farmer who knew about the ruins. He made the discovery while searching for Vilcabamba and Vitcos two lost Incan cities dating back to the late 1500s. He hypothesized that the Machu site was a "citadel," existing for strategic and defense purposes. He also speculated that the beautiful mountainous location was a refuge for Cusco's Virgins of the Sun, based upon the finding of skulls there, although not scientifically classified as female. Breakthroughs in archaeology since 1985 have supported the emerging view of Machu Picchu as a ceremonial and administrative center for a very populous region. Machu Picchu was built, and fell into demise within a period of 100 years.
The Fisher's next flew to Quito, Ecuador and then took an 865 mile flight over the Pacific out to the Galapagos landing on Santa Cruz Island. The island is the home of the Charles Darwin Biological Research Station. Its objective is to conduct scientific research and environmental education to promote conservation of the islands' unique environments. The Station has a team of over a hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students and support staff from all over the world. They have a lot to study as the islands team with a vast variety of species ranging from iguanas, seals and sea lions to thousands of tortoises and the oddity of the blue-footed bird called a Booby. Crawling across rocks are the Sally Lightfoots the colorful crabs of the islands. By the way "galapago" is the Spanish word for "tortoise" and the blue color of the Boobie's feet is a result of the fresh fish they eat.
Now, you can enjoy some of the Fisher's two-week sightseeing tour in only 7 minutes by clicking on the slide show below that was produced from a sampling of some the hundreds of photos Tim and Kirsten brought back from their adventures in Machu Picchu and The Galapagos Islands. (See if you can spot the two blue-footed Boobies in the presentation. Hint: One of them is up high and far away.)
Once the show is started you can click on the diagonal double-pointed arrow at the lower right hand corner of the picture to fill your screen with some of the colorful sights Tim and Kirsten saw on their trip. After the presentation press the Escape key to return to this page.
Machu Picchu was an ancient Inca city that was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham who was a Yale graduate and U. S. senator. He was fascinated with Inca archaeology. Bingham found Machu Picchu, with the help of a local farmer who knew about the ruins. He made the discovery while searching for Vilcabamba and Vitcos two lost Incan cities dating back to the late 1500s. He hypothesized that the Machu site was a "citadel," existing for strategic and defense purposes. He also speculated that the beautiful mountainous location was a refuge for Cusco's Virgins of the Sun, based upon the finding of skulls there, although not scientifically classified as female. Breakthroughs in archaeology since 1985 have supported the emerging view of Machu Picchu as a ceremonial and administrative center for a very populous region. Machu Picchu was built, and fell into demise within a period of 100 years.
The Fisher's next flew to Quito, Ecuador and then took an 865 mile flight over the Pacific out to the Galapagos landing on Santa Cruz Island. The island is the home of the Charles Darwin Biological Research Station. Its objective is to conduct scientific research and environmental education to promote conservation of the islands' unique environments. The Station has a team of over a hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students and support staff from all over the world. They have a lot to study as the islands team with a vast variety of species ranging from iguanas, seals and sea lions to thousands of tortoises and the oddity of the blue-footed bird called a Booby. Crawling across rocks are the Sally Lightfoots the colorful crabs of the islands. By the way "galapago" is the Spanish word for "tortoise" and the blue color of the Boobie's feet is a result of the fresh fish they eat.
Now, you can enjoy some of the Fisher's two-week sightseeing tour in only 7 minutes by clicking on the slide show below that was produced from a sampling of some the hundreds of photos Tim and Kirsten brought back from their adventures in Machu Picchu and The Galapagos Islands. (See if you can spot the two blue-footed Boobies in the presentation. Hint: One of them is up high and far away.)
Once the show is started you can click on the diagonal double-pointed arrow at the lower right hand corner of the picture to fill your screen with some of the colorful sights Tim and Kirsten saw on their trip. After the presentation press the Escape key to return to this page.