Two Backpackers

Photo of the Day: Little Girl Spinning Wool

| by Aracely | No Comments » | Photo of the Day

We know you like beautiful scenery pictures but this week we decided to bring you pictures that show more culture of the places we have visited.

This is a little girl spinning wool in Arequipa, Peru.

Little Girl Spinning

All Mothers Are Not Created Equal

| by Aracely | 9 Comments » | Reflections

Street Food Vendor And Child in Antigua Guatemala

This Mother’s Day is the first I’ve spent away from my mother during twenty-eight years my of life.  I miss her very much.  On a day like today, every mother should be praised for carrying a child in their womb, providing unrelenting nurturing and for the unconditional love most mothers provide.

During my travels I have seen many mothers struggling to feed and provide for their children.  However, one particular story, which I am about to share, reminded me that being a mother is so much more than giving birth to a life.

We were enjoying yet another delicious Argentinean steak and wine meal at an outside café in central Mendoza.  Suddenly, a young boy approached our table, whom I guessed to be 5 or 6 years old.  With a soft but confident voice he asked for some of my french fries.  I immediately handed him a handful of the fries from my plate.  He grabbed the fries, put them directly into his mouth and walked away. (more…)

Photo of the Day: Five Year Old Sales Girl

| by Aracely | No Comments » | Photo of the Day

Taquile is an island on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca 45 km offshore from the city of Puno. About 1,700 people live on the island. The people from Taquile (Taquile̱os) are well known for their fine handwoven textiles and clothing. These are reputed as among the highest-quality handicrafts in Peru. Everyone on the island Рchildren, women, and men Рspins and weaves. Taquile is also are known for having created an innovative, community-controlled tourism model, offering home stays, and restaurants to tourists.

Children on the island sell handmade bracelets to tourist for 1 Peruvian Sol (about .30 cents) Jason and I both bought one bracelet four months ago and they are still as colorful as when we first bought them. Unfortunately, we witness high level of competition between the children to the point where they would push each other out of the way to win a sale.

Five Year Old Selling Bracelets in Taquile Island, Peru.

Photo of the Day: A Peruvian Boy And His Puppy

| by Aracely | 13 Comments » | Photo of the Day

This photos was taken near Cruz del Condor overlooking Colca Canyon near Arequipa, Peru. This little boy was very excited about his new puppy. He was struggling to keep a tight hold on the puppy but with a big smile on his face. With his parents permission I snapped this shot of him.

A Peruvian Boy Holding His Puppy

Photo of the Day: Children Of The Quilotoa Loop in Ecuador

| by Aracely | 1 Comment » | Photo of the Day

While hiking the Quilotoa Loop high in the Andes mountains of central Ecuador we came across Miguel’s Carpentry Shop. Here, Miguel shared a little bit of Andes culture by carving images into wood. His larger projects included hand carved head boards for your bed. Many tourists stop by, especially those touring with an agency and have their purchases shipped back to their countries of residence. As independent hikers we were fortunate to discover this shop when no other tourists were there. Miguel also seemed to be babysitting his nephew and niece as he worked on his projects. Miguel gave us a personal tour of his one room shop and demonstrated his work as the children curiously watched. They were more interested in the gringo backpackers than their Uncles work at that moment. Through the boys eyes you could see his determination to be a wood carver, yet at this moment he had the responsibility of caring for his baby sister.

Children Of The Quilotoa Loop in Ecuador

Photo of the Day: Innocence of a Child, Uros Islands, Peru

| by Aracely | 1 Comment » | Photo of the Day

Uros are a pre-Incan people that live on forty-two self-fashioned floating man-made islets in Lake Titicaca near Puno, Peru.  They form three main groups: Uru-Chipayas, Uru-Muratos and the Uro-Iritos.  The Uros use the totora plant to make boats (balsas mats) of bundled dried reeds, and to make the islands themselves.  During our visit we used an organize tour with Edgard Adventures and we had a knowledgeable guide.  However the visit to the Uros Islands were a bit over the top as far as “tours”. It reminded Jason of “It’s a Small World” in Disney world.  They Uros people sang to us.

The Innocence of Child from Uros Islands, Peru

Photo of the Day: Child of Bolivia

| by Aracely | 3 Comments » | Photo of the Day

We were in Copacabana, Bolivia during their Virgen de la Candelaria festival.  As I was taking pictures of the parade this little girl was so curious about my camera that she stepped right in front of it and I just continued snapping away.

A Curious Girl Gets in Front of the Camera While I Was Taking Pictures at Festival in Bolivia