Author Archives: kcbernick

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About kcbernick

I love to travel.

Last Day in Mashpi

Posted on January 14, 2019 by kcbernick

Friday, January 11, 2019 On this, our last day in Mashpi, we took a short hike where we observed a few more birds, butterflies, and even a millipede and an iguana. The iguana flexed his throat in agitation, he looked … Continue reading →

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Mashpi Dragonfly and Waterfalls

Posted on January 11, 2019 by kcbernick

Thursday afternoon, January 10, 2019 Mashpi Lodge has a an open-air cable car ride – The Dragonfly, which carries its passengers on a 45 minute ride over the forest canopy, at up to 650’ above the ground. The setup looks similar … Continue reading →

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Mashpi Cloud Forest

Posted on January 11, 2019 by kcbernick

Thursday morning, January 10, 2019 What’s a cloud forest? How does it differ from a rainforest? These were questions we had after coming to Mashpi. The area feels and looks like some of the rainforests we’ve visited. The difference is … Continue reading →

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Quito to Mashpi: 70 miles in 3.5 Hours

Posted on January 10, 2019 by kcbernick

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 We left Quito at 9am to head to Mashpi Lodge. The lodge is only about 70 miles away as the crow flies, but it takes 3.5 – 4.5 hours to traverse the 135 miles of winding … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Butterflies, Ecuador, Hummingbirds, National Geographic, South America Travel, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Quito City Tour

Posted on January 9, 2019 by kcbernick

Tuesday, January 8, 2019 We enjoyed a tour of central Quito this morning. The day was a bit cloudy, with a drizzle that turned into a heavier rain by afternoon. This is the beginning of the rainy season for Ecuador, … Continue reading →

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Quito, a First World Heritage Site

Posted on January 8, 2019 by kcbernick

Monday, January 7 In 1978, Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, became one  of the first cities to be named a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Located about 15 miles south of the equator, with an elevation of 9,350’, … Continue reading →

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Getting in Touch With Nature in Ecuador and Peru

Posted on January 7, 2019 by kcbernick

Sunday, January 6, 2019 We flew from Minneapolis to Quito, Ecuador today, the first leg in another voyage of discovery. We will spend a few days in Quito, then head to the cloud forest area of Ecuador. After that, we … Continue reading →

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The Joy of Lists!

Posted on January 5, 2019 by kcbernick

January, 2019 Several years ago I started using a checklist for our trips. I won’t say that it prevents all problems, but it certainly reduces them. I use an Excel spreadsheet ( reflects my background as an accountant/business manager). I’m … Continue reading →

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Who Loves to Fly? No one!

Posted on January 2, 2019 by kcbernick

December, 2018 My husband and I love each other, and we love traveling, but there are some aspects of travel that can test the bounds of that love. For us, the most challenging part of any trip is getting there, … Continue reading →

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Dengue and Malaria and Zika, Oh My!

Posted on December 27, 2018 by kcbernick

December, 2018 It’s virtually impossible to avoid picking up some illness when traveling. The passenger in front of, behind, or beside you hacks throughout the entire 8 hours of the flight. Fellow cruise passengers are sneezing all over the buffet. … Continue reading →

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