Day 2

We woke up at about 9am and headed to the hotel's breakfast. It was actually quite nice. We had fresh squeezed juice and local fruit. They made us eggs and we made toast. Carlos and Alex, our white water rafting guides picked us up at 9:45 to take us south of Cuzco.

We drove for a few hours in a van with some other people to a nice spot on the Urubamba river. We helped to pump up the rubber rafts and learned a few basics about rafting. Josh was the only person who had been rafting before, so it was a crash course for the rest of us.

We separated into 2 boats (Josh, Joshy, Linze, me, and another girl in one, and 4 girls in the other) and headed down the river. It was so fun. Our guide realized how strong we were (unlike the boat of really skinny girls) and took us right in the middle of strong rapids. We were a little worried about getting many different mouthfuls of water (which was very brown), but stopped worrying when we were having such a good time. Half-way down the river, we stopped the boat just after a bridge. Our guide offered for us to jump off the bridge into the river and swim back to the boat. Of course, Linze, Josh, and I "jumped" at the chance. Joshy was not feeling as adventurous, so he played camera man. (we'll post the pictures later since they were taken on a disposable water camera that has not been developed yet).

After our jump, we rafted further down river to our picnic spot. The picnic was much nicer than we expected. They had chicken, vegetables, bread, Crush orange soda, and hot tea. We gobbled it down, cleaned up, and headed back to the van to go back to the hotel. Unfortunately, we had lots of sunscreen on, but got very burned on our hands (where I didn't even think to put sunscreen). I also got the tops of my feet burned, and my lips. Josh got it the worst. Over the next few days, he developed blisters and today is peeling very badly. My lips also developed blisters and is just now feeling better.

Once at teh hotel, we went to go shopping at an artisan market where we found many more purchases. We then ate dinner at a restaurant next door to the hotel because we were meeting at 8pm with Juan about our hike the next day. The Boheme Cafe was the best place we had eaten yet. Very good Pisco sours and excellent food at great prices.

After dinner, we bought some local wine (the night before we had some local wine that was very sweet and undrinkable). We also bought a back-up wine from Chile in case the Peruvian wine was undrinkable again. We opened it and waited for Juan. He arrived and asked for a glass too, so we drank and chatted about what to pack, what the trail would be like, and what to expect for tomorrow.

Juan left and we got packing. We sorted through our stuff and took more out. Our hotel was going to keep our extra baggage for us so we could leave a lot behind. The company was going to carry our sleeping bags, so that made more room for our stuff.

We went to bed later than I would have liked (about 11) and took one last shower before our trip.

Peru - Day 3

Day 1

After arriving at 8 in the morning after hardly any sleep, we were picked up at the airport by our coordinator and taken to our hotel. The ride to the hotel was interesting because we were able to see the layout of the city and what it looked like. It was much poorer than I expected (having been to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile). Not that I expected it to be cosmopolitan, but I did not expect to see so many "houses" without windows, tons of random dogs, and general poverty without many buildings that were nice or somewhat kept up. Our coordinator checked us in to our hotel, which was near the main square of town and pretty nice. We settled into our rooms and quickly got back together to do some sightseeing and shopping. We had a great time looking around the main square and finding the local markets. The pictures cannot convey the stench of meat, fish, and other local produce at the "people's market." We did find some cool souvenirs.

We found a restaurant at the square for lunch and all of us tried Alpaca. It is very lean, cholesterol free, and delicious.

The company had a city tour set up for us at 1:15, so we went back to the hotel to be picked up by a sight seeing bus. We toured the main square's cathedral, which was very beautiful and interesting. The Spanish had oppressed the Quetchuan people and converted them to the catholic religion. The local people were trained to paint all the classic pictures of images from the bible to decorate the church. Those sneaky Quetchuan's took classic images and made slight changes to embrace their own bliefs. For example, the last supper painting features cuy (guinnea pig), the paintings of the Virgin Mary feature very large dresses that make their bodies the shape of the local mountains. (they worshiped mountains in their religion, so this image was in several of the paintings). We loved how they subtly stuck it to the man.

After the cathedral, we went to a monistary. Inside the building was some origional walls that were built by the Quetchuan people to honor their gods. The walls were amazing because they were made of huge stones that were hand carved without the use of metal. We also learned more of the history of the Quetchuan people.

We boarded the bus and headed up the hill for a tour of sachsaywaman. Pronounced "sex-ay woman" This is a huge zig-zag wall that was made much like the monistary wall. These boulders were even bigger and moved from much further away. Modern technology cannot figure out how the people built this monument. If you look at the pictures closely, you'll see that the stones fit perfectly together and yet they have no motar between them. They are perfectly placed, smooth, and rounded. It was amazing.

After that, we headed to a gift shop, where we got to try a coca remedy for headaches. The tour bus headed back to the square where we decided to get dinner. We were adventurous and tried some interesting food. Joshy got a whole cuy (guinnea pig) which looked like it was surprised to be cooked. It had an open mouth (complete with teeth), curled toes (with nails), and a crispy ball sack. Josh ordered a sample platter which had beef hearts and cuy. His cuy was exactly 1/4 of a cuy. They literally cut the cuy into a 1/4. He got 1/2 of the head, split lenghtwise down the middle. Again, Linze and I were staring right into the mouth of a cuy while we ate our tamer meals.

After dinner, it was time for bed! We settled in our comfortable rooms, showered, and jumped in bed.

Peru - Day 2

Our travel to Peru

Ok, we are crazy to plan this trip over such a short amount of time.  Here's the time line for our travel to Peru:

Josh picked me up from school early at 3:30pm.  We drove to Linze and Joshy's house by 4pm.  We loaded our car and headed for San Franscisco.

If anyone knows where Portland is in relation to San Franscisco, it is a nice long car ride.  We arrived to the airport at 2:30 in the morning.  Of course, we did not know if the airport would even be open (which it wasn't).  So we parked our car at a park-n-ride and rode to the airport.  Once there, we realized that the counters weren't open, neither was security.  So, we hunkered down in some very uncomfortable seats and waited/tried to sleep.  It was a long, uncomfortable wait until 5am.  We checked in and headed to the terminal to wait until our flight at 9:25am.

Our flight landed at 10:55am in L.A., we had to go to the international terminal.  The L.A. airport is a real hell-hole and under construction, so instead of going to the international terminal via a tunnel or escalator, we headed outside and through a very long line for inspection.  Then, it was hurry up and wait for our 1:50pm flight to Lima.  

As I said, LAX is a horrible airport and there was only 1 store in the whole international terminal, it was expensive, and the food was terrible.  Anyway, we boarded on time and were off to Lima, Peru.  

The flight was pretty nice because each of our seats had a t.v. screen and you could chose any movie, tv show, or game to play for free.  So, of course, instead of trying to sleep, I mostly chose to watch movies and listen to music.  Joshy, Josh, and Linze were able to get some sleep, but I only got maybe an hour.

Unfortunately, we arrived in Lima early!  Just before midnight, instead of 12:25.  It might not sound like a big deal, but when you have already been awake for over 24 hours, any additional minutes of possible sleep (even if on a plane) is desired over waiting in a closed airport.

Turns out, the Lima airport is awake a kicking 24 hours a day.  We found a food court just outside customs where we had to wait until our flight was posted on the bulletin board outside the gate.  So, we were waiting until 2AM in the food court.  Joshy decided to try and sleep on the uncomfortable chairs all lined up in a row (see the picture).  We enjoyed the food choices:  Papa John's pizza, Dunken Doughnuts, and Mc Donald's.  Instead, we indulged in gelato and Peruvian beer.  (it is our vacation afterall)

We were able to get into the terminal just after 2, so we found some pretty comfortable seats and I finally got a few hours of very interrupted sleep.  Every 10 minutes or so, the intercom would bing and a very loud voice would announce a flight that was taking place in a different terminal in at least 2 languages.  It was very annoying, but at least we were able to fully lie down and sleep in between bings.

Our flight to Cuzco was at 5:50am, but of course it was delayed...So we actually didn't leave until 6:30.  We arrived just after 8am and were picked up by the company we  booked our travel with.  This was the offical start to day 1 in Peru.

Peru - Day 1

Machu Picchu!

We got home on Sunday night after 10pm, so we have taken the last 2 days to catch up on our sleep and our sanity.  Here are the pictures and the diary of our crazy, fast-paced week long vacation!

Update on the Last month

Molly and I have been fairly busy for the past 3 weeks. We have both been working out a lot to try to get in good shape for our Peru hike at the end of March. I'd say that we're doing very well with that. I'm down to 207 lbs, and put on a ton of muscle. Molly has lost a little weight, too, and is getting very strong too.

On top of that, we have been on a budget... in this economy you really can't be too careful. Not that we we're crazy spenders anyway, but we have been lazy about getting the credit cards paid off. We were sitting at 15k at the beginning of December, and we'll be credit card debt free on March 20th... and that is including the Peru trip, and a trip to Atlanta that we added in between there. So we've been playing it all pretty low-key. Eating in as much as possible, not buying expensive wine (it was suprising how much we were spending on that). Quicken really is a life-saver for tracking all of that.

Last night we went out for the first time this month. We had a coupon for a place here in town near our house, and had some movie tickets that we had purchased from Costco last year. The dinner was pretty good... a bit expensive, but it was nice to get out of the house. Afterward we saw Coraline, which is a Tim Burton animated film. It was filmed here in Portland, and it was in 3D... I loved it, and recommend it highly.

On Monday Molly is getting a colonoscopy, just as a preventative thing since she has family history (and personal history) of that kind of problem. So tomorrow she cannot eat anything except clear liquids, and has to take a "sh*t ton" of mirolax. Not fun... but at least its not me doing it :)

Molly flew out to Atlanta for her Mom's birthday over Valentines day (last weekend)... I stayed home because it really was cost-prohibitive... one ticket was $500, and $1000 for 48 hour trip is really out of our budget right now. She said she had a great time and enjoyed seeing her family. She gave her mom some neat gifts. She spent like 5 weeks learning some of her Mom's favorite songs on piano and did a concert for the whole family. She had them down cold here at the house, but said she messed up a lot when it counted. She also put together a cool slide-show of her mom's life to music, and burned it onto a DVD for her. It was very cool.

I've been working my butt off. I've worked pretty much 75 hours a week for the past 5 weeks. I should be working right now, and I'll get back to it right after this. I'm ready to be done with this project, for sure. I'm hoping to be "over the hump" so-to-speak by Tuesday or Wednesday... and I think that is obtainable.

Anyway, I should get back to it. I apologize to everybody that I've been ignoring as of late... its not on purpose. I'm just swamped. I can't wait to get back to a "normal" life of wine-tasting, hot-tub-sitting, skiing and mountain climbing. I love it here!

A Terrible Weekend

Ok, so Molly and I had a really horrible weekend that I think we should blog about. 

It all started out on Friday the 16th of January. We were going to stay at home at eat some leftovers... but we opened up the fridge and discovered that we didn't have any leftovers. THE HORROR BEGINS! We had heard about a restaurant that has this thing like "rat fest" or "crab fest" or something like that. We decided that our day was already in a downward spiral... lets give it a shot. We got in with our friends Lindsey and Josh and had to sit at the bar to wait for a table... and drank martinis. When a table opened up, a whole 10 minutes later we discovered that it was "bug fest"... these giant sea bugs called "crabs". We gave it a shot. It was terrible... this whole crab with long spikey legs and butter, crab bisque, crab cakes... yuck.

The next day we found that it was kind of sunny. Us Pacific Northwesterners don't care much for the sun... we decided to try to escape to the coast. It is January here... so we were expecting 35 degree weather. DAMN IT if it wasn't 70 degrees and sunny on the coast. We had to walk on the beach, sweating our balls off. Then we ate a twinkie glazed in banana icing (gross), ate some terrible seafood (crabcakes, oyster po' boy... nasty) and drank a really cold bottle of wine while listening to the waves crash on the beach. Lastly we splashed around in the tide pools near Haystack Rock. Bleech!

Sunday morning, because we were so tired of the sun and heat, we decided to drive east to the mountains to escape the horrible weather. When we arrived at our destination, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, we found that the weather was also sunny.... and COLD!  The slopes were practically pure ice, making the skiing awful! Slid around for hours and hours and hours... when the sun finally went down, they turned on the lights and then continued skiing for another hour... GOD, terrible.

Monday, back to work... But then Monday evening we discovered that we bought tickets to a Blazers game (the Portland Trailblazers). We ate at an irish pub downtown... you all know how much I hate irish food and beer... and then we hopped the "MAX" to the game. It was terrible.. Portland won, scored 100pts, scoring US a free coupon for a gordita at Taco Bell.

Well, I know the pictures will bring you to our personal HELL we experienced.

Try to enjoy.

Fun Weekend, Jan 09

Peru Itinerary, per request:

All this for $685 per person, doesn't include airfare.

CUSCO ADVENTURE BUDGET (7 DAYS AND 6 NIGHTS)
*********************************************************

DAY 1: MARCH 22ND CUSCO
Reception at the airport of Cusco and transfer to the hotel.
In the afternoon: Cusco City Tour from 2 pm to 6:30
pm. This tour includes the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun) and the Cathedral.
The tour drives along the Circunvalacion Road up to famous fortress of
Sacsahuaman, then to Q'enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay with Spanish and
English speaking professional guide. Includes Tourist ticket valid for the
entrance to many museums and ruins as well. Overnight.

DAY 2: MARCH 23RD RAFTING
Breakfast. At 09:00 hrs. we leave for Urubamba river on the Sacred Valley of
the Incas (North of Cusco), where our guide will give a introductory chat on
safety and equipment for our trip running the Urubamba. After lunch we
return back to Cusco, arriving at around 17:00 hrs. Overnight . (B,L)

INCLUDED:
*Private Round Trip Transportation.
*Professional English/Spanish speaking rafting guide.
*Lunch (Meal, salad, sodas, tea, coffee, desert, fruits) *Complete Rafting
Equipment (helmet, life jacket, rain coat, paddle, wetsuit, boat).

OPTIONAL:
Video and Photos Service.

WE RECOMMEND TO BRING:
*Bathing suit
*Towel
*Sandals or running shoes
*Short pants (to use over the wet suit)
*Hat, sun block
*Photo camera.

DAY 3: MARCH 24TH INCA TRAIL 4DAYS 3NIGHTS
PISKAKUCHO (KM. 82) - WAYLLABAMBA
A spectacular early morning drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas
takes us to our trailhead at Km. 82 of the Machu Picchu railroad. After
getting acquainted with our trail crew we set out, crossing a footbridge to
hike a gentle two hours down the Urubamba canyon, and then visit imposing
sculpted Inca farming terraces and the settlement of Llaqtapata on the banks
of the Cusichaca side river. We then climb a short way up the Cusichaca
valley to Wayllabamba, the last inhabited village on the trail, where we
camp.

DAY 4: MARCH 25TH WAYLLABAMBA - PAKASMAYU
We climb the steep-sided Llullucha valley past a rushing stream and through
enchanted native polylepis woodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we
abruptly find ourselves in the puna, the treeless grasslands of the high
Andes. The trail traverses an open slope opposite mighty mountain crags as
we ascend to the first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft).
Here we encounter spectacular views of the trail ahead to the second pass,
and look back to the sweeping snowpeaks and valleys of the Huayanay massif.
The trail to the floor of the forested Pakasmayu valley, where we make camp.

DAY 5: MARCH 26TH PAKASMAYU - WIÑAY WAYNA
We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small Inca site of
Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass, the landscape opens onto
spectacular new views to the snowpeaks of the Pumasillo range. We descend to
the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth of
houses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur
overlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca trail, now a massive buttressed
structure of granite paving stones, continues along the steep upper fringes
of the cloud forest through a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses
and ferns. At the third pass pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms
overlook the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town).
Pausing to explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone towers, fountains and
stairways that spillins down the mountainside here, we begin a long descent
through ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut
from living granite leads us finally to our camp by the ruins of Wiñay Wayna
(Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites.

DAY 6: MARCH 27TH WIÑAY WAYNA - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
An early morning hike takes us across a steep mountainside through lush,
humid cloud-forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation. Suddenly we
cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and encounter an
unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry -a backdrop of
twisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu.
We complete the final leg down the royal flagstone walkway, past outlying
shrines and buildings and into the heart of Machu Picchu, where we spend the
rest of the morning with a guided tour of the highlights and some individual
exploring among Machu Picchu's multitude of hidden nooks and corners. In the
early afternoon a bus takes us to the small town of Aguas Calientes, where
we board our return train to Cusco Overnight at the hotell.

DAY 7: MARCH 28TH Transfer out
Breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of our services. (B)