Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

I know, I know. I said I would post every day and I've already missed one. There are lots of things I could blame, but really I can only promise I will do better in the future. So here we go.

Hiram Bingam was the real Indiana Jones. His most famous exploit, made in the early 20th Century, involved the discovery of the lost - at least to the North Americans - city of the Incas, Machu Picchu.

I am currently reading his book "Lost City of the Incas" but before I get to that, let me introduce Hiram.

By the time Hiram wrote the book he was in his seventies and since "finding" Machu Picchu in 1911, he had been to war twice, built and lost two fortunes, served as a US Senator for seven years and published several books.

The edition I am reading includes several pictures of our explorer and although I would guess that Hiram was a bit more of a dandy than Indiana, he certainly had the look down pat. Standing before his donkey at Pampaconas in 1911 he looks every inch the intrepid American abroad. A felt tipped hat sits atop a handsome lean face with a pencil thin moustache. A handkerchief tied haughtlily around the neck is tucked into a buttoned jumper over which the archetype explorers jacket is worn, casually half tied across the chest. The look is finished off by knee high webbing down to well worn boots. He casually rests his right hand on the donkey and gazes seriously at the camera. This is a man of action. A man of action...and style.

There, now you know Hiram. My new hero - even if he was a Republican.
I think I might grow a moustache. It would have to be better than this horrible beard.