#albespine

 To assess the relevance of my assessment of my experiences in my recent Eric Horvath Nature Tours Northern Peru: The birds, natural history, and ruins, "could be the readers, a considerable amount of introduction, it seems necessary ( 1) Even before that. It is necessary to distinguish between those who enjoy bird watching and "birders." I'm interested in human behavior and the behavior of other species, too. "Birders", by contrast, are primarily interested in identifying a species, ensuring that off your list of travel and (preferably) life list of birds seen / identified and passed to another bird (species). Bird on a trip, I'm more happy to see a bird go about the business of life. I consider myself a "birder" and many "birders" are not. In one of the Dry Tortuga Islands on a previous trip led by Eric Horvath remember I loved seeing a tear Merlin and consume a baker, while birders looked at him, pronounced "Merlin" and began looking for a bird.Not following as many as "birders" are "bastards" - the spouses of birdwatchers. There are individual birders and some couples in which both parties are bird watchers hot, but there are also significant numbers of spouses are along the trail (s) willing to look at some colorful new bird should come into view, but especially along because your partner wants bird. "Sons of bitches," removal of vehicles sooner than birders, or a bird watching excursion or week is going to be back (if possible, in hotels, or in vehicles by which the group moves from one place to another.) As I indicated, I consider myself a birder, but others might consider me as a son of a bitch. (2) Speaking of my mother, a third generation Danish Minnesota, who raised me to consider punctuality as a moral imperative. My culture believes others expect to make a disrespectful and reprehensible. I try very, very hard not to be late for any appointment you have done and do not like to be kept waiting. (3) This trip was my birding trip fourteenth night of the five, seven, bird-watching trip in Latin America and fourth trip led by Eric Horvath, one of Oregon with a degree in zoology was not completed a graduate degree. When I say that Northern Peru was the worst birding trip I have been and I saw fewer birds in less time, I have the basis for comparison. Of possible relevance is that Horvath took four trips were under the auspices of the Nature Conservancy of Oregon, and the longer two, there was a coexistence of Oregon Nature Conservation employee, Charlie Quinn, who was very good detection and identification of birds along, driving a second and probably will do more to make travel enjoyable than I realized at that time. (4) I am not particularly patient. Keelung, my partner is. (5) I like to walk. Walking 4-8 miles a day is no problem for me (at least below 2000 m altitude no way!) My back and legs are reluctant to stand in one place for more than ten minutes. (6) I like quiet, especially out "in nature." (7) I wanted to see the major sites in northern Peru Chan Chan and Chavin archaeological, and I thought we were going to the Peruvian coast, no in the Andes. (I think I "made" of the Andes, in Peru and Ecuador and my body does not fit particularly well at high altitudes.) I will provide that before paying money to go on the trip, I have insisted receipt and review of a detailed itinerary. (The one we have received, along with a checklist of birds of 36 pages was a list of hotel names and phone numbers.) THE TRIPFrustrations began before takeoff. I was under a 6 am flight on American Airlines from San Francisco to Miami with a scale of three hours before a Miami-Lima. When we required as at 5 am in the SFO, the estimated time of departure had been moved back to 8. Around 7, was moved back to 10. I do not know if or when he finally flew to Miami. We were rebooked through Los Angeles, the loss of my seat international business class, while the share of international air time intra changed from one to one-eight-on-one. Not only comes in the hours of Lima, later than planned, but narrow in coach 8.5 hours when it was supposed to be in line of business class.The Peruvian immigration at the airport in Lima to around midnight consumed another 1.5 hours, followed by a half hours by taxi to Miraflores. When we finally got to the hotel at 2 am, we were informed that (1), despite our reservations, there were no rooms available with two beds and (2) would be leaving to go to the airport at 6 AM. Even before seeing Eric was tired and frustrated, not only on American Airlines, but they did not ensure that our agreement requested room was waiting for us and not be somewhere near the airport.I met the two other paying members of the group, an Oregon couple and Ooie Oink call on the way back to the airport, where Eric's wife and daughter had arrived on an overnight flight through Miami. Breakfast at the airport and then flew to Cajamarca.After Cumbe a grueling journey of Maya, apparently a pre-Incan site, but mostly a birding site. After a few jolts in the van, we visited the niche in a sandstone cliff called Taverns (windows), where he became ill. The group returned to Cajamarca for lunch. I returned to the hotel and missed the afternoon trip to the baths. (The group went to the room as the last Inca emperor, Atahualpa, was filled with gold to redeem himself from the conquerors, who tried and strangled him after the rescue.) I was surprised to hear Eric say "no one got sick "and said he had. I see this as a first indication of insensitivity to what was happening. Remember this is a group with only four members.After to pay, the journey continued consist of early departures and late arrivals, except for some short stops on the road, stops birding continued long after the Horvaths others Ooie, and leave and returned to the truck, and often after Keelung had too. The Ooie henpecked husband may have been perfectly happy to wait for hours each day to Oink and Eric. Keelung wanted to go to accommodation the night before dark to solve in Keelung, and paid to Oink and Ooie, and Eric stated not once the realization that there was something wrong with three of the four or four by four members of waiting group (cumulatively over many hours). The way down and the "Grand Canyon" or Peru, Maranon is rough and narrow, with huge drops. Passage which is regularly blocked by landslides. (Landslides - a word provides opportunities to demonstrate that it can roll my r) Nearly three quarters of the way up Leyembamba, a road crew was blown cliffisde the road. "Hysterical" is the only possible description for the behavior of Eric in the van. Instead of doing something to calm our anxiety, went on an extended rant that causes "mad scenes" in the operas of Bellini seem mild by comparison. I wanted to turn around and return to the bottom, the city of Balsas, which the guidebook describes accommodations very questionable ("what might happen as a" room "). Everyone else remained calm and willing, if necessary, to spend the night in the van at a height of 10,000 feet instead of going down and then back to the next day.The angry scene with the collapse not only showed a lack of leadership, but it soothes the lack of even minimal common sense. By contrast, Keelung extrapolate the progress in clearing the road and predicted it would be acceptable at 6pm. That proved to be almost the exact time the caterpillar drove through (and then spent another ten minutes to clean the remaining debris.) We spent three nights in bungalows new Biological Station Bgotona Owl in Bra Patricia Reserve, which allowed me to jump bird watching before breakfast. In the last full day there (the eleventh of the trip), which was frustrated by the low proportion of time birding walk time waiting for something that appears (see # 5 in the preface). I estimated that I was watching the birds around a second three minutes of standing around. (I forbidden to think about the inclusion of hours of bad roads in the denominator!) Oink and Keelung are better to detect (find) the birds than me, but I doubt that, except in the hummingbird feeders their relationship could have been more than one second after each minute of standing.I was fed also with Eric and Oink (especially Eric) playing recordings to try to attract the "birds objective" out (see # 6 in the foreword). Territorial birds respond to what sounds like intruders in their territory, which means that birders have a better chance to glimpse them. I think the repetition of the recordings (and even without any response, Eric was not inhibited by concerns about literally altering the birds in more than half a dozen iterations) harmful and detrimental to the birds . They are distracted to get food or rest, and the instinctive emotional responses probably shorten its lives.I considered that among the vast expanses of time in the van and walk around, I was not getting enough exercise on the trip, and off down the road (conveniently sunscreened, but the water does not cover transportation or rain). I was at least a couple of miles (5 km?). The next day, between Jaen and Olmos, a little more of the continental divide (finally, at least on the Pacific side, instead of draining to / from the Amazon), which again tired of walking around the torture and or waiting for birds and approached. I had my longest conversation with other Peruvians that our two drivers. Were walking home, carrying things and / or pushing a bicycle. Everyone told me if I wanted to see the birds, which should go down and west.I obtained by the second driver chain said it was time to go. When I joined, Eric said the driver had gone for me on their own initiative and that there was nothing to do in Olmos. I decided to go down the road (avoiding the bumpy ride) to the road. It was about 16:00. I decided to leave my jacket in the van, but made the alleged water.I saw both birds "destination" to stop (two flycatchers, a half-dozen of the local variety of finches Inca) in way. The young Peruvian with whom she had spoken were right.i thought to be overcome before reaching the road, but it was not. I decided that if it was raining, wet and walked me down the road. According to the road signs, I went to another 3.5 km on the road before being elected in Olmos up.By late and leave early, Eric made sure that no one could know if there was anything Olmos.At After dinner (I forgot to mention that Eric and Oink went through the list of birds most of the dinners, Keelung kept his own and failed to participate, have their own annoyance with the two of them and their ways of field), Eric get designated place at 5 am the next morning.I requested a start time business. Leaving the cottage Choctmal (where they have no electricity because the power plant in Chachapoyas had some broken belt and Eric had a smaller footprint "scene of madness" swirling alternatives that do not exist) was supposed to 6:30 AM. Instead of leaving on time, Eric took Oink out to show something and not leave until almost 7. Designated starting point at 9 am from the Abra Patricia and was the last to arrive at the van, so we left at 9:30. The white bird in the morning was an adult male Hummingbird Wonderful. Juvenile males had seen their extravagant (mot-mot-like) stories. After climbing down a path that was alternately mud and loose stones, who waited more than an hour before I gave up. The only bird I saw on the way up than domestic chickens was a black vulture in the sky. Oink and Ooie did briefly glimpse the white bird. After lunch around bird feeders where children came to see wonderful man Spatuletails.There are 1300 birds documented in Peru, and I totally fail to appreciate spending three hours (and somewhat difficult to get on and off) for see a better example of one of them. (Actually, this would be abhorrent even the hardcore birders willing to increase the number of species seen!) I do not want to get up at 5 am and wait for him again. Eric said that those who were observing birds in the morning at 5:15 on the left. However, there was no statement that the bags were going to get on top of the truck later, after being so careful to prepare and leave without waking me, Keelung had to knock on the door so I could open it to bring these bags. And to our real game of Jaen, the four paying members of the group also is expected in the hotel lobby to him.I said the purpose of my question was not recrimination, but to decide the time to set the clock alarm, but could not (not) gives me a start time business. He reiterated that the best time to see the birds was in the morning. Vital as it was to get to the birds when you wake up, coffee Oink and Ms. Horvath was more important. We could not leave before you get your coffee, so he could not give a firm departure time.The White-winged Guan (wattled bird that resembles a small black turkey) has been reintroduced in Quebrada Limón, an hour and a half drive northeast of Olmos (70 of 90 minutes of rough dirt road). White-winged Guan is also in the conservation reserve Chaparrí found east of Chiclayo paved road. (That is, instead of being stuck in Olmos or along this difficult path, I could have gone anywhere near Chicago, while those who wanted to find the semi-wild turkeys did. I've seen wild turkeys and I really I have seen other birds who were born / raised in captivity and released.) Olmos If the hotel (where, incidentally, was not expected, so the rooms had to do after we arrived, it was after sunset) had a pool, I would have stayed and has been reflected in the way back through Olmos before driving to Chiclayo.As it was, there was another wait extended by three of the four (and 6 of 7) on Oink and Eric van deign games). In the last full day (before exit 5 am for the airport in Chicago, followed by a scale of 16 hours in Lima), the usual 3 of 4 do not want to get up early and go birding with Oink and driver Eric. The Oink had caught the cold had before. Might be too much for Eric to consider not only when it is bird watching three-quarters of the group did not want to go, but to force the driver sick to get up at 5 am, knowing I would have a field trip six hours after the end of the outputs of the day seems deeply inhumane. Repeated failure to consider by most group members do not blame Eric, Oink. Oink wanted birds and apparently was Ooie loving facilitator of Oink. I think Oink is guilty of what I regard as abuse of drivers, Juvenal, on the last morning in my case Olmos Chiclayo.After departure time for a company, including those beyond / leader insensitive (Eric) was aware that it was very resentful for having to wait. Said he would return to pick up those left behind (the three quarters of the group) around noon. I do not know when Oink got his coffee in the morning and left the group a member of the group payment, but had not returned at 12:30 pm, when we went by taxi to the Museum of the Lords of Sipa ; n.When returned, left me asking Eric to put our boarding passes, reimbursement of input costs Sipan, and small amounts for lunch and dinner that day and the last (when I was watching birds somewhere north of Lima airport) at the reception. We made our own arrangements to reach the airport of Chiclayo and eat, and I was so relieved not to have a more participation.CONCLUSIONSHad known that the trip would be almost entirely in the Andes and not go to any of the capital of the major civilizations of northern pre-Inca Peru (see # 7 in the foreword), I would not have gone into it. I have to accept the responsibility to accept the uncertainty about where we were going, but I think that a reasonable, albeit moderately competent companion continues day after day to keep one of the members of the group while others have to wait in a van. On previous trips to observe birds in Latin America, the leaders (who are all natives of the country you visit) back to the waiting time (or shortly thereafter) the majority voted with their feet not to continue in one place. On a birding trip Panama, which had 13 members, was in the happy position overall, with the swing "vote." (That is, if I turned around, it would be only six to go forward.) Never, never, never had to wait for the leader of a birding group, either at the beginning or end of a day travel and / or observation of birds (see # 2 in the preface). I have not been previously on a birding trip in which the leader insists on the observation of birds in a staging point to 1/4th or 0/4ths of group.I saw some rare birds, endemic and some birds I could see (some flycatchers, including a torrent Tyrannulet I've seen for a long time, orioles, and immobility trogones usual), but I can say without reservation that I have seen fewer birds and fewer species of birds on this trip, despite that was longer (both in days and hours in the field) than any of the above. I think Eric is good at detecting and identifying birds in ads, but has not spent much time birding in northern Peru and I think he knows less, if the birds indigenous leaders of the other Latin American Travel bird watching where I went. I think the birds of the northern Peruvian Andes are particularly lonely. I mean, even the jays (the "green jay, which has a yellow to me) are solitary in time I think Eric has become less sensitive to the needs of their customers that they are the hardest of core - in this case, a. It has become like a teacher who only places his favorite pupil, not worry about boredom or puzzlement of the rest of the class (group birding). If you are willing to get up early, have 16-hour days day after day after day, never get tired of waiting for the birds, are capable of preventing the disease (during the trip, I wondered what would happen if someone with diarrhea severe, as visitors from the U.S. to South America regularly do!), perhaps you could consider a tourist nature Eric Horvath. I have no doubt that he was happy to have Oink own guide (s) itself. Although it was purchased at other times (I think it had been on previous trips with him and Ooie Oink, Keelung and had been with them in Amazonian Peru / Machu Picchu one of the three intra-well I liked), and , as I wrote Oink paid up for the dubious pleasure of being on this trip, I felt it was subsidizing the journey of Eric and birding Oink beyond trying to abuse my absolute patience native driver (who I thought was ill-treated/exploited in other ways during the trip - and I am sure that in place has to get home, why it was abandoned before we take the Chiclayo airport was to avoid paying for their accommodation and food for our last night in Chicago). We (not just me!) Were so frustrated by Eric "leadership" of the trip in northern Peru, his (mis) treatment of customers, local people and birds, including the fact it is local to the past Eric Horvath Nature Tour for any of us. I think I have been away from any bird watching trip in the future and almost destroyed my interest in bird watching (remember the distinction between "bird watching" and do bird watching from the beginning of this long trip !). So, perhaps, may be considered a cure for any interest in going birding trips: therefore, I conclude that title.The I would lay in bed "- at home or at least and certainly have not registered on a trip without an itinerary that I have said that this was not where I wanted to go to northern Peru.

 Joran van der Sloot admits he killed the girl in Peru today. Stephany Flores 21, was killed by van der Sloot because he takes on his laptop to search for information on van der Sloot. In his anger and rage he killed the girl, according to Fox News der Sloot Live.Van will travel with the authorities today, so it can act on what exactly happened to the police that day he killed the girl. Fox News reports that Van der Sloot confessed in exchange for a reduced sentence in this case. The young man who said hotel employees "looked like Brad Pitt and was very nice," proved to be the brutal killer many have suspected it was all done along.Van der Sloot face these charges alone in Peru. After the death of his father last year, van der Sloot had nobody come to his rescue. Her mother has not even made a statement to the press.The van der Sloot smug arrogance that we have seen taunting and teasing the Holloway family over the past five years with false confessions and stories of Natalee Holloway, where abouts in constant evolution, has been brought to der Sloot justice.Van was seen on security camera in his hotel on foot hotel with 21 years Stephany Flores last week. A few hours that the images showed the same camera leaving the room alone with luggage in hand. He said hotel staff did not clean his room because his "girl" was sleeping and did not clean the room before the next day. He then brought a taxi driver to drive him hundreds of miles to neighboring Chile. Van der Sloot was arrested at a roadblock set up to find him, after authorities found the murdered girl. Authorities arrested the taxi in the routine roadblock and van der Sloot in custody.In another cruel blow, van der Sloot has been in Peru on the money he extorted from the family Natalee Holloway. After the van der Sloot father died, he contacted Beth Holloway, Natalee Holloway's mother and told her he had pushed Natalee that night she disappeared in Aruba and she hit her head and died. He picked up his father for help and he and his father buried the body of Natalee. Van der Sloot offered to tell the family where Holloway's body was buried for Nathalie quarter of a million dollars. The Holloway contacted the FBI, who worked with the family in establishing a case of extortion to obtain van der Sloot on the fees. $ 15,000 was wired to take into account van der Sloot in the Netherlands and is apparently the money he was traveling around playing in poker tournaments. His last tournament poker led him to Peru, where he killed this young girl.Van der reign of terror Sloot is done. He will be responsible for the murder of the young Peruvian girl and if ever gets out of jail on this charge, charges of extortion have been registered in the United States against him.References: Fox News This Morning Live