how about a 4000 dollar orchid?

[Duane McDowell]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

"Todos los dias sale un idiota a la calle. Si lo consigues es tuyo! Celebralo!"

by the way, where is she from in Venezuela?

Gracias!
She is from Merida. Well, actually, she's from Cuzco, Peru, but her family left there when she was a child (Sendero Luminoso troubles), and she lived in Merida until a couple of years ago. Now she's here in Minnesota.

[kavanaru]

Very nice city, where she's grown up... One of my brothers and several cousins live in Merida too. In my opinion, one of the nicest places to live in Venezuela...

[Duane McDowell]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Very nice city, where she's grown up... One of my brothers and several cousins live in Merida too. In my opinion, one of the nicest places to live in Venezuela...

We visited there when our grandson, Noah was born. The city was beautiful, and the surrounding countryside was breathtaking. We did some birdwatching and hiking in the Paramo (Parque Nacional La Culata), La Mucuy, and several other parks. We visited Laguna de Mucubají in Parque Sierra Madre. On one really memorable day, we hiked up one mountain near the Andean Condor reintroduction station to see the Bearded Helmetcrest, and down another to see the lek of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.
We spent a few days at Hotel Los Frailes, too. I would go back to Merida in a heartbeat. One of the most beautiful places I've seen. Great people, easy to get around, lots of fun. We took buses and cabs everywhere.
I'm hungry for arepas and empanadas now... Gotta go!

[kavanaru]

wow.. I see you also like birdwatching the Bearded Helmetcrest is a fantastic bird!!! I think, the best on in the Paramos... and nice that you could could see the Andean Cock-of-the-rocks (P.S.- my nickmane 'Kavanaru' means Guianan Cock-of-the-rocks). I tried to go and see them last year when I was in Venezuela, but the road was completely destroyed and we could not continue. I wanted to continue walking, as I knew it was not very far from where we were, but we were not allowed by the army... for some reason they were on that road and said the whoel region was closed... it was a pitty...

[Masdyman]

The only way i would pay a high price is if a profit could be made from it as a stud if you had your own business.
For personal pleasure no chance the most i have paid is £35 for Vanda Rothschildiana and Masdevallia caudivolvula a similar price i think .

[Duane McDowell]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

wow.. I see you also like birdwatching the Bearded Helmetcrest is a fantastic bird!!! I think, the best on in the Paramos... and nice that you could could see the Andean Cock-of-the-rocks (P.S.- my nickmane 'Kavanaru' means Guianan Cock-of-the-rocks). I tried to go and see them last year when I was in Venezuela, but the road was completely destroyed and we could not continue. I wanted to continue walking, as I knew it was not very far from where we were, but we were not allowed by the army... for some reason they were on that road and said the whoel region was closed... it was a pitty...

The cock-of-the-rock were amazing. We went at dusk, so my camera was no good. It was almost as if the Universe was saying "you just have to remember." The road was almost destroyed when we went. We got stuck a few times and ended up walking the last bit. Thank goodness no army trouble. Sheila and I have talked about getting matching tattoos of the cock-of-the-rock, but we haven't done it yet!
I don't have most of the pics up on my Flickr stream yet - I'll let you know when I do.

[Wendy]

I just stumbled across this post while surfing the net, and thought some might like to know what happened with this plant.

Here is the division of Paph sanderianum 'Rapunzel' AM/AOS that is discussed in this thread. I have owned it for almost 4 years now and it bloomed for the first time for me last fall. It now has three old bloomed growths and three unbloomed growths....a very vigourous plant. Sorry the photos aren't the best.

[RosieC]

Wow, truely is a nice looking plant. Love those 'twizzls' on the petals.

I can't say I would pay that much for ANY plant, but it is a good looking one.