Avicularia avicularia

somewhere in a tropical forest .... After a good night's sleep, I love waking up surrounded by hairy friend (I mean not you stefan)... almost 15 cm :-) - It's called Matoutou, one of the biggest I ever saw...

Love -Greg

A bientôt sur la route....

A mes deux potes qui nous font leur adieu Amazonien très bientôt..J'ai compilé des moments que nous avons passé tous les 3 sur dans plusieurs localités. 

Wilou. Iles du Salut. Guyane Fr. (Novembre 2008) - Dodo. Kourou.(Juillet 2006)

C'est aussi deux lieux de résidence: Le Gosier. Guadeloupe. (Novembre 2007). - et Kourou. Guyane Fr. (Noël 2008) - Et plein de trip et voyages que j'ai pu faire avec wilou et dodo... (sans parler de la forêt ou du fleuve)

 San Cristobal de las Casas. Chiapas, Mexique. et Copan ruinas. Copan, Honduras.  (Aout 2007)

 Wilou avec Lulu au milieu de l'Amazone. Para, Brésil (Février 2009) et une petite soupette en ma compagnie sur un marché de Bali. Candikunning, Indonésie, Bali (Juillet 2010)

Mais c'est aussi beaucoup (vraiment beacoup) de fêtes, et surtout des amis(e), car les potes, c'est ...hihihiihi

  Gwada....(avec marion...ette)

...lol...

 ...les proches...

Magic bus with magic friends (Guadeloupe)

Marais de Kaw. Guyane Fr.(2009) 

 dodo, t'es là dessous?  Ponton du village de San Andrès, Peten. Guatemala -

 Wilou au carbet de Georges, fleuve Sinnamary. Guyane Fr - avec son chien mErLin...

Vous allez nous manquez les copains -

Bonne route en Inde et en Equateur  - on se retrouve sur la route !

Love - Greg 

The Inca Region: a memory of a unique civilization

After few days in the Ancash region, I directly traveled to the South of Peru - then, I immidiately went to Cuzco town to visit the mythical Machupicchu ! At this time, I was not really sure to visit this monument - mostly because of the tourisitic pressure ! Anyway, I found a good way to visit the Machupicchu using a pedestrian approach (lol)-  thus avoiding the crowds !  

From Cuzco, I took two bus to reach the most southerly town close to Machupicchu (Santa theresa), then I walked following the train rail to finally arrived in Agua calientes (about 7 Km) !

I highly recommend to follow this peruvian train rail, you can observed all the montain surrounding the Machupicchu valley ! Pretty cool ! Do not follow the mass of people who take the train - you'll miss all the charm of the site! (not to mention the financial side)

  See upthere?

 I got up at 4am to start the walk from agua calientes to the site of Machu Picchu! I arrived at 5h30am! Lots of fog covered the site that day, but great atmosphere! Love it!

Welcome to Machu Picchu ! 

View of the opposite mountain: the Inca prison (the liars were also incarcerated) !

I finished my trip with this surprising site, it is salt marshes of the Inca period (not so far from Cuzco), where the salt comes from the nature and the composition of these rocky mountains, it is unique! (geologically speaking) !

Las Salinas Incas

I did a very short and intense trip in South Peru - Give me a lot of motivation to travel all around the southern border with Bolivia - Next trip June 2012: Pantanal, Bonito (Mato Grosso, Brazil) 

Nothing is more important than the cultural and the biological diversity of a country! Peru is a perfect blend of both!

Peru hermosa, nunca me voy a olvidarte!

Love u ! Greg

Beyond the Amazon

After 6-mo study in a tropical forest of Northern Peru, I travelled two weeks in the Andean mountains. Here is an overview of the two visited region: Ancash and Cuzco! After few scientific expeditions in Loreto region, I took a plane back to Lima and start my trip, especially to visit other kind of ecosystem, meaning non-forest habitats! View from the plane !

I added two wildlife pictures for my Irish cousin, the butterfly is called Owl butterfly (Caligo sp.), I don't know the name of this snake in English (Paucar machaco, nearly 3.50m) - but sure, this guy scare the .... out of me !  lol (Loreto, Peru)

One of my good friend back in Iquitos always told me that I have to visit the "Cordierra blanca", close to Huarraz ! One of the most beautiful place on Earth (not really touristic) ! That was my first choice!

Located in the middle of the "Cordierra", the surrounded mountains around Huarraz are 'super' high, way above 5000 meters!

The gorgeous Huascaran national Park, recently classified as biosphere reserve by UNESCO ! Biologically speaking, it's just fabulous!

Nevado Pasto Ruri: my first 5000 meters elevation: Opa !

After this nice trip, I decided to perform another trek to reach the Laguna Chullup, not so far from Huarraz town ! Pictures was taken during this trek !

The most diverse Tropical Forest in the World

Amazonia Peruana

During my research conducted in French Guiana Institute, my main work consists of studying both insect and plant communities in very rich and diverse tropical lowland rainforest. Located in the Eastern side of the Amazon basin, I was able to finish this work in French Guiana in 2010, and therefore lucky enough to conduct my next mission in the other end of the Amazon: Loreto, Peru. In 2011, I was in Peru for 6 month mission mostly in the tropical forest close to Iquitos in the North part of Peru. I conducted my field work close to two main river ; Rio Ucayali and Rio Nanay.

My "house" and one boat from the project ! My colleagues and friends Italo, Magno, Julio, Chevas and la sobrina Milagros !

 Here is an overview of my work in an Amazonian Tropical forest. The place are called Porvenir and Jenarro Herrera ! 

The kids from the community and myself installing an insect trap in a flooded foret. 

                         Catterpillar parasited by ants and a grasshopper (Caelifera: Acridoidea) on a Fabaceae

That's a picture of my field lab when I have to sort and identify my insects- and the biggest Lepidoptera in the world (right) 

  The famous Morpho

Light trap in a tropical forest ! So, the idea of this insect trap is to collect all insects attracted to artificial light - All kind of bugs are attracted - come within the trap, and passively died into the bucket: One of the most efficient trap!

Living in Loreto region in the north of Peru is defined by only one type of transport: the boat ! Here is some pictures of all the boat I pilot ! As my dear Claire said, look like an old ex-URSS stylish engine ! lol - Lots of fun !

And off course amazing sunset (River Amazon, Ucayali, Nanay...)

It was definitely the best experience of my young life ! It gives me a ton of motivation to follow my objectives in ecology of tropical forest ! 

Gracias a todos mi hermanos peruanos de nuestro proyecto por los recuerdos - Un abrazos bien fuerte a cachalandia !

Love- Greg

Sunset (Amazon River, before Colombia)