Back Home safe and sound

Hello Everyone for one last email,

We finished our work at Taricaya on July 1. More than a few hours were spent pulling maggots out of a very sick sow; she had a massive eye infection (no eye left, no idea what happened) and a significant vaginal tear that was severely infected. With this loss of condition coupled with mastitis, she was no longer lactating. By the end of the week cleaning maggots and spraying the wounds with organophosphates (this is the norm there, it is amazing how quickly you start reaching for the "purple spray" when you have nothing else.), we spent our last few minutes on the farm watching her engulf a special meal of ground corn. A happy ending : )


VACATION! We spent the next four days hiking the inka trail to Machu Picchu. This trail can only be hiked with a guide and porters, as an attempt for preservation. Things I noticed about porters:

+ they run up mountains
+ they carry loads of supplies that often have dimensions larger than thier own
bodies
+ most of these supplies are completely unessecary luxuries for us tourists who are hiking the Inka trail - tables for example. i don't need a table when i am hiking the Inka trail, nor a chair, nor a different fork for my salad and dessert, heck, i don't even need dessert!
+ they run up mountains in sandals
+ they will stop and applaud hikers pass them on the trail, it's rare.


We then flew to Ecuador, and spent 8 days on a Galapagos Island boat cruise. The wilflife, history, and geological landscape is astounding. I will update my photos in the next day so you can get a taste for our experience, it is very difficult to put into words.

Our arrival home yesterday was gratefully met with friendly customs officers (i had a ton of brazil nuts in my bag, not sure if that's legal or not!?!?). Our voyage ended from where it had began, our lives profoundly different yet rushingly the same.

First stop: pancakes.
Second stop: sleep.

Thank you everyone, for accompanying us on this journey. I am certain to look back years from now, and identify our Global Vets experience as a defining time in my personal and professional life. I hope you have enjoyed our trip as well, thank you for all the emails to keep me company during our travels....muchly appreciated!

If you are in the guelph area, please email me or call me to hang out (519-651-3131, yes, i'm living with my parents because i have no money!). If you are not in the guelph area, please email me or call me to catch up!!

hasto luego,
cuidates,
Liz