会社をリタイヤ後、家内と一緒に毎年、海外旅行をするつもりだった。
しかし、家内は、私より友達とバンバン行くつもりだったようなので、
私は、静かにいろいろな、簡単には行けないような所に行こうと思っていた。

ついこの間まで、あんなに元気だった家内がＰＤを発症してしまった。
自ずと楽しみの対象を替えざるを得ない。

今から６年前、「家内にペルーへ行こう！」と言ったら、
「行きたいけど飛行機に乗っている時間が長すぎるので行かないわ！」
確かに目的地に着くまで約１日かかるので、無理には誘わなかった。
しかし、私は思う存分楽しんだ。
その旅行について、トーストマスターズクラブでスピーチした。
その時の印象をまだはっきりと覚えている。

―――　以下、スピーチ内容　―――
My impression on traveling Peru

Good evening fellow members and welcome guest.
I have been to Peru for eight days from November 19.
Tonight, I would like to talk about my impression on the trip that I experienced the Peru’s history.

I have visited Cuzco, the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, the Lake Titicaca, and Nazca Lines. 

The 1st visit place is Cuzco where prospered as a capital in the Inca Empire.
The golden Inca Empire was governing the whole central Andes from the 15th (century) to the 16th century.

Cuzco is in the altitude of 3,400 m.
The Inca Empire was completely destroyed by Spain.
And they built the church of the colonial style, and so on.
The beautiful rows of houses which the building of the Spanish style united with the elaborate rockwork in the Inca Empire era were registered into the World Cultural Heritage in 1983.

The 2nd visit place is the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu where prospered as aeropolice in the Inca Empire. 

It seemed that Spain destroyed the Inca Empire completely, but it did not result up to the Aeropolice Machu Picchu in the heart of the mountains with an altitude of 2,400 m.
The aeropolice where left the only figure is Machu Picchu.
However, there is no telling who abandoned, how, why, and it is aeropolice with many mysteries.
This year 2011 is a centennial since Machu Picchu was discovered by Hiram Bingham.
This photograph shows INTIHUTANA, that is like a clock of the sun. 

This photograph shows the Temple of the Sun and the beautiful building on which the only curve is drawn at the Machu Picchu. 

This photograph shows the Temple of Condor. 

The Condor was made into Helios's messenger in the Inca Empire.

The 3rd visit place is the Lake Titicaca where is the birthplace of the Inca Empire.

It is said that the lake is the 5th largest lake in the world in the altitude of 3,812 m higher than Mt. Fuji..
The deep beautiful blue surface of the lake is setting a mystic atmosphere adrift.

The 4th visit place is the Nazca Lines.
It is said that the Nazca Lines were drawn during the 6th century from the B.C. 2nd century.
The people in ancient Nazca drew huge pictures and geometrical patterns on the 450-square kilometer wilderness.
It is said that there are pictures of about 70 animals and plants, such as a Humming bird and 700 or more geometrical patterns. 

As mentioned above, by this trip, I was able to catch a glimpse of the advanced civilization of the Inca Empire and the Inca's history.
Do you understand my explanation about the history of Inca Empire?
It is regrettable that I cannot tell you my impression 100%.

Finally, I would like to talk about the point of having suffered troubles at this trip.
It was altitude sickness.
These places are not less than 3,000 m anyway.
When you have altitude sickness, even if you take oxygen with oxygen cylinder, you do not become well so easily.
The best measure is getting down the mountain.
But, the meaning of the travel is lost if I get down the mountain.
Fortunately, since I had light altitude sickness, I enjoyed myself getting a cold sweat.

I think that Peru is a visiting place when you are young.
However, about 50% member's age was 60 and over.
At this trip I realized senior power.
And I felt that we senior generation should demonstrate senior power more in order to support future Japan.