Yikes!

In Perú from Huánuco to Tingo Maria, where the road from the Pacific coast across the Andes finds its way towards the Amazon lowlands. This is near the top of the last mountain pass. From there, soapbox rider can enjoy a vertical 1000 meters of gravity assisted ride. As these kids help stranded truck drivers along the road, they're called bomberos (firemen). They transport drinks, food and spare parts to broken trucks.

GOOD NEWS

According to AP article date 15th of March:


Travellers visiting Peru will soon be able to visit the famous Inca city of Machu Picchu, which was closed recently following severe flooding.

The railroad leading to the historic site - which is one of South America's leading tourist attractions - will begin operating on 29 March and will carry passengers from 1 April, the Peruvian tourist board confirmed.

Ordinarily, people visiting Machu Picchu travel from the city of Cusco to a railway station at Piscacucho and from there take the train to Aguas Calientes.

Another option is to walk the Inca trail, although people planning to do this have been advised to check with authorities first, as the government has warned that some areas are still unsafe following the floods.

Other treks in the area include the Salkantay and Lares routes.

Next year, celebrations will be arranged at Machu Picchu to mark 100 years since the city was rediscovered by American explorer and politician Hiram Bingham.

Who are we?

Team leader: (center of photo)
Sandee Roberts, Ph.D., Incoming President of Miami Shores Rotary Club, Assistant Professor at Barry University.

Team members:
1) Kristy Brown, CPA (second from left in photo)
Lexow, Johnson, Koffler & Adorno, LLC
Sponsored by the Pembroke Pines Rotary Club
2) Madeleine Kir Ferry Johnson (fourth from left in photo)
Manager - Americas Society/Council of the Americas
Sponsored by the Coral Gables Rotary Club
3) Pablo Gentile (fifth from left in photo)
Director of Physical Education - Cushman School
Sponsored by the Miami Shores Rotary Club
4) Quincy Perkins (first from left in photo)
Filmmaker/Writer/Producer
Sponsored by the Key West Rotary Club

About Rotary - What Is Rotary?


Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 2000 countries worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 33,000 Rotary clubs.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is "Service Above Self."

District 6990
Group Study Exchange is always one of the highlights of any Rotary year. Teams of young professionals from the local community between the ages of 25 and 40, led by a Rotarian, are assembled and provided a travel grant to a foreign country. Over four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

In a typical four-week tour, the team participates in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the host district’s conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.

Here in District 6990, we look forward to hosting our visitors from other faraway Rotary districts and forming bonds that last a lifetime. We’re also proud to send our representatives from District 6990 to the district that we paired with to learn the customs and business operations of that region.

This year we are exchanging teams with District 4450, Peru. The Inbound Team arrived in October 2009. Our Outbound Team is scheduled to leave for Peru in May 2010.

South Florida Rotary Team to attend District Conference in Ica, Peru

The South Florida team, led by Sandee Roberts, will attend the District Conference in May in Ica, Peru. Below is the link to "Las Dunas Hotel" in Ica, Peru where the conference will be held

http://www.lasdunashotel.com/