New York

This is a friendly reminder that you have a time limit of 20 minutes for two
locations! 

Keep note of this! The time can be seen at the top of your browser or to the right of your screen.

Welcome to New York City, the city that never sleeps! The time difference doesn't affect your bright mind, you just found a ticket on the ground of the legendary Broadway Avenue. You're convinced that it belongs to Valentina.

Look at the ticket: what means of transports should you use? Type in your answer.

Dial above the last 4 digits of the taxi phone number to book a ride. You hope that the driver is your contact in this gigantic city!

Your taxi has arrived. Get in and get quickly to the point because time and meter fly by!

Argghhh, the driver noticed your accent… In NYC, taxi rides can be negotiated and so is information. He wants to test you to avoid any trick… He gives you a 1-dollar bill. Pay attention, he's going to ask you questions. Let's take a closer look at the bill…

Who is the president on the bill? Type his last name only!

Now, which symbol of the U.S.A is on the bill? Type your answer below.
2 points

Now, how many visible arrows are there on the bill?
3 points when you get the answer right.

Finally, there's a hidden detail on the bill (on the side with the portrait of G. Washington). You might need a magnifying glass to see it. Once you do, type what animal it is below!
3 points when you get the answer right.

Well done, you earned the driver's trust. He drives you to where he dropped Valentina, a few blocks away from here.

Here you are at the feet of the Empire State Building, in famous Midtown. Your contact has another question for you: as rare as it is for a building, it's the only one in NY with its own. But in Singapore, every building has its own.

Kathie Holten, a New York-based artist designed the "New York City Tree Alphabet" in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department. Each letter is assigned a tree from the NYC Parks existing native and non-native trees.
It allows New Yorkers to rewrite the urban landscape by planting messages around the city with real trees. What message was  left by Valentina?

Suddenly, the driver stops and smiles at you. The screen of his yellow cab displays some coordinates.

Note the fragment of the coordinate to be ready to assemble them at the end of the activity. Do not forget the details, the letters and the " . " It will be needed to identify where to position this fragment or others.

Your search for Valentina brings you now to the Amazon forest.
Heavy, hot, and terribly humid: A lot of the trees have been cut here.

Suddenly, you hear a deafening bulldozer noise. In front of you, you see a crater along a river and a lot of men frenziedly shaking sieves.

You go closer to a man, but he doesn't seem to be open to dialogue. You're in the South-East of Peru which became home to thousands of migrants in search of work. What are they looking for?

The man wears a jacket from the NGO of which Valentina is a member. He lives (or survives) in a plastic shelter similar to the canteens, shops or even makeshift brothels gathered around this illegal concession called La Pampa.

Your curiosity begins to annoy him, and he joins a comrade who heard of a Spanish galleon stranded on Colombian coasts and which allegedly contains millions of dollars in gold, silver, and emerald. They plan to leave in order to find this treasure. You need to question him quickly.

The frenzy of gold miners hits men of all ages, races, and nationalities. A lost city  of gold, led many a conquistador on a fruitless trek into the rainforests and mountains of South America. What's the name of this city?

Solve the maze to figure it out!
2 points

Hiram Bingham, an American academic and explorer scientific discoverer of Machu Picchu is sometimes referred to as the 'real Indiana Jones'. He made public the existence of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu with the guidance of local indigenous farmers. In which year?
Check Valentina's notebook for a hint.
2 points

Nestled atop a mountain ridge in Peru, the 15th-century Inca city of Machu Picchu had sat largely forgotten for centuries—until archaeologist Hiram Bingham began excavations of the ruins a little than hundred years ago.
Machu Picchu's original purpose is still unknown—though many archaeologists think they are closer to finding an answer. Which the most accepted purpose? Select from the list
2 points

The former  capital of the Inca Empire is known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. Beautiful city.

It is also one of the city at the highest altitude in the whole world. Do you know its altitude?
3 points

Suddenly, a panting man comes to you and whispers in your ear. The Incas invented a running relay system and used to whisper important messages up to the top of the mountains. It seems that you are at the final addressee.

Find the flag that represents the native people of Peru to understand the message!

The man at the bottom of the mountains wasn't really demonstrative but he "whispered" this precious information.

Note the fragment of the coordinate to be ready to assemble them at the end of the activity. Do not forget the details, the letters and the " . " It will be needed to identify where to position this fragment or others.