Steve H. Taylor

Forty years ago, I (Steve) remember a man from South America viewing the Guinea pig exhibit in the LA Children's Zoo and stating, "Hum Cavy." Traveling to Ecuador and Peru, Sarah and I saw it first hand. Guinea pig, the same creature that is one of my Grandchildren's pets, is either a delicacy or "peasant food," depending on who who you are. Love new cultures!

WOW! It is so difficult to describe Machu Picchu. Photographs do not do it justice. After five days in the Sacred Valley and in Cusco, we visited Machu Picchu on February 5. It is huge in scale. It is complicated, but simple in many ways. It is a part of the rain forest environment, not separate from it. The Inca craftsmanship is difficult to fathom, especially since it was built five centuries ago. Even today, over hundred years after Hiram Bingham made Machu Picchu w

The Galapagos Islands do not have the diversity of bird species as other areas, but the ability to get close to these amazing birds is unsurpassable. Great fun photographing the three species of boobies and frigatebirds. This trip I (Steve) saw a short-eared owl, a bird I missed when I visited 31 years ago.

The water was cold in the Galapagos during our visit January 23 - 30, even in a wet suit (Humboldt Current). The opportunity to snorkel with penguins, sea lions, green turtles and amazing colorful fish was very special. We really enjoyed the sea turtles. As our friend Paul stated, "the turtles do not seem to know the concept of personal space." At one point we were surrounded by about a dozen turtles.