La llegada

So, after many hours spent in O´Hare and Miami International, Mike and I arrive in Lima, Peru. On separate planes, in fact. Who knew that 2 flights to Lima would leave within 20 minutes of each other? And that Mike would buy tickets for the flight that I was NOT on.

Lima gets such a bad rap, but it was not unspectacular! Of course la garua (the fog) was covering the city until about 11 a.m. and made it seem dreary... but when it burned off, the city was bright and cheery. We walked in our neighborhood and came upon a mall built into the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Not too shabby!

We took a city tour in the afternoon and evening. Hmm... the places we saw were government buildings that really held no interest for me, but at the end of the tour we went to a church with catacombs. Who doesn´t love catacombs?! And what great timing, we went out to eat afterwards. Yum, I love to eat when I´m covered in hundred year old bone dust. The meal was fabulous however, and the ceviche was to-die-for. (Ha! I couldn´t help myself.)

Our flight was leaving Lima the next morning at 5:30 a.m. Mike, being a prudent traveler, insisted we leave our hotel by 2:30, since our seats on the flight were unconfirmed. (You can book a ticket online for Lan Airlines, but you cannot confirm it online. This is the where Mike begins to understand the complexities of South America, he used the word ´tricky´) Needless to say we were more then early, as the airport desk did not even open until 4. And since we had fallen asleep at the airport, we didn´t even wake up in time to get in line right away. So, we wait in line, and finally by 5 we get our boparding passes. Oh but wait, next is the line for the airport fee (cash only!) and then security...When we get to the gate we have to catch a bus, which takes us to the plane, which then takes off. Many obstacles.

We arrive in Cusco, our ears bombarded by pan flutes and people offering their tour services. The soleche (altitude sickness) begins to set in and our heads are slightly pulsating. (Is soleche also caused by pan flutes? It certainly doesn´t help...

Well, tomorrow I will post pictures. (I learned that you use the word colgar when you want to say that you post things on the internet) Entonces voy a colgar fotos de Cusco manana and I will tell you more about my Aventura Andina (Andean Adventure)

CHAU!