llama wool

Llama wool is used to make many colorful fabrics in Peru.  First, the dies are extracted from a cactus plant and stored in large containers.  Next the wool is placed inside of the containers and then hung out to dry when enough of the dye has been absorbed.  The wool is now ready to be used in making the colorful fabrics such as hats, socks, sweaters, bags and toys.

cusco

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Cusco is picturesque.

miraflores

Founded in 1857, Miraflores is Lima's prosperous commercial hub, boasting shopping zones, theaters, art galleries, flowery parks, craft markets, cinemas and the city's highest concentration of cafés.

The roof terrace at Larcamor shopping center has a reflecting pool and spectacular views of the coast.

A view from the clifftops overlooking a pier containging shops and a seafood restaurant.

A modern sculpture stands near the coastline.

This bridge is a gateway to the coast for those driving down Avenido O. Benavides.

Inaugurated on February 14, 1993, Parque del Amor is devoted to the old Peruvian custom of courting in public gardens.

haiti faces

A boy from the village plays with an old bicycle rim.

A girl poses in the shade at the pavilion where others have come for medical assistance.

A cute little boy carries goods on his head.

A girl watches from the nearby bleachers.

A boy hangs from the rafters.

haiti landscapes

The sky and ocean are bathed in sunlight.

Two trees at sunrise.

A view through the trees.

At the beach.

Early morning hills.

gourdough's

Last weekend's trip to Austin yielded some excellent eateries. One of which was Gourdough's, famously known for their exotic donuts.

The tag line says it all.

The menu provides both savory and sweet donuts.

I tried the Flying Pig (bacon with maple syrup icing) and the Porkey (Canadian bacon, cream cheese and jalepeño jelly).

One last picture of the afternoon indulgence.

flip happy crepes

Yesterday I took a road trip to Austin and went to Flip Happy Crepes where I found delicious hand-made savory and sweet crepes being served out of an Airstream trailer.

A blue tarp stretched between trees provided shade for scores of people at picnic tables playing board games and enjoying the goodness of Flip Happy Crepes.

A line was forming by the chalkboard menu.

After placing your order you could grab a beverage out of the ice box.

I tried the Moroccan Chicken Crepe and the Three Cheese Crepe and wished they had a Flip Happy closer to where I lived.

middle east

It has been almost ten years since I traveled to the Middle East, but many of the sites and places visited have stayed with me over the years.

A gate leading into the market area of the Old City Jerusalem.







The remains of a Roman coliseum located in Himmeh, Jordan.






The gold plated roof of the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem.






Roman ruins discovered in Jarash, Jordan.






The agora located in Jarash. The torch in the center of the market area remained lit constantly.

ethiopia landscapes

The road in front of the church.

Trees provide shelter from a hard day's work.







A typical village in the Rift Valley.

The majority of the land is government owned.






Tree branches stretch out like a man's arms when waking from sleep.

ethiopia heartaches

Shoes are considered a luxury in this area of the country.

Clothes are worn long beyond the point of shredding.

Diseases often abound when feet go unprotected.







The hesitancy of these hands say much more than facial expressions.






A pair of sandals is a good fortune to those who can afford them.