Coming Home...

I can't believe the time has come for me to leave this unbelievable place...a bitter sweet feeling to say the least. We had a toast tonight to an incredible journey full of laughter and smiles. This place is indescribable...one of a kind...and I wouldn't have wanted to be here with anyone else but the people I have met along the way. From Raul to my core group of friends...people shape who you are...these people and this place have changed me...I have been able to see things through a bigger lens. I've been blinded for so long, living in my Elon, North Carolina bubble...where I'm comfortable...It's my home...However, I have another home now...Peru. I have seen so many things in the past 24 days that people long to see in a lifetime. What a beautiful place, what beautiful people. I hope I am meant to return here again someday, but if I'm not, I will always hold the memories I have made here...the memories that have shaped me, the people who I have grown to love and will love forever.

Thanks to all of you who have enjoyed this journey with me from afar. I hope I could share with you a small glimpse of this place with you, although words don't do this place justice. I love you all. Here's to Peru.

Machu Picchu

Quote of the day: " There will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever- improving path...But this, far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb." -Winston Churchill

Last day at Machu Picchu...WOW. Yesterday was a 4 a.m. wake up call. I didn't even remember picking up the wake up call. We were out the door and off to the bus station at 4:45. We then waited for an hour in the dark at the bus station just to get to the gates of Machu Picchu and wait in line even longer.

There are 2 hikes you can do...Machu Picchu mountain which is straight up the whole way in stairs...or Waynapicchu, where you have to sign your life away before going on the hike. Bex and I chose this one for the experience and to be out of our comfort zone....Only 400 people a day get to go on this hike, that's why we had to get there so early. We got lost for a little while in the ruins before reaching the starting point of Waynapicchu...but once we reached the starting point, we were up, up, up, and away. Raul said if you are afraid of heights, he highly advised you not to go. For most of the hike,there were ropes attached to the side of the mountain that you had to use to thrust yourself up the mountain. It has never felt so good to reach the top of a mountain before. Once you reach the top, you can either go down the way you came or go past the great caves...For the record, it was wet and rainy when we started the hike and didn't know if we would be able to see anything because in the cloud forest, you never know what the weather will be like. Luckily, once we reached the top of Waynapicchu, the sky cleared up and we could see the range of beautiful green mountains around us.

Anyways, we decided to go back down the long way...past the great caves...where the Incas buried their mummies. Bex and I took a picture in one of the tombs...a little sketchy if you ask me, but really awesome to be there. We thought we were hiking down the mountain, which we were for some of it...down some ladders and lots of slippery stairs...until we reached the caves...then we had to go back up the mountain to get somehwhat closer to the finish line. We were huffing and puffing to say the least. We were also ready to eat lunch..I think I ate my snickers bar in 2 bites. Then, we started the hike of the sun gate. We pretty much speed walked the whole way...and it was raining the whole time. We made it up in 30 minutes and down in 30 minutes...It was worth it....Everything is worth it here.

We were going to hike Machu Picchu today, but it was really rainy and cloudy, so we decided for our own safety, we would just explore the ruins for one more day...getting lost in and out of the Incas incredible masterpiece....Now we are about to get on the train back to Cuzco...My time here is quickly approaching it's finish line...although I will be sad to see this journey end, I know God-willing I will be back here again someday.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you when I get back to the states. Love always.

Chinchero

Today we visited Raul's hometown of Chinchero...born and raised. A quaint town in the Andes. Home to the center for traditional textiles where both his Mom and Grandma works. It is a place where women weave the finest clothes, socks, hats, scaves, you name it, in order to preserve the designs of the Incan culture. There were all different kinds of women, young and old, but with the same thing in common, preserving a culture. We watched them weave for awhile and we had a tour of how they make the yarn from alpaca wool to the dying of the wool to make beautiful colors. After our tour and walking around for a bit, we all got to try weaving ourselves. It was really hard to catch on to at first, and my helper laughed at me often....but then, I started to get the hang of it and probably sat there weaving for a good hour. We got to keep our design. Sitting there, weaving with women who have done this their entire life was a humbling experience...to be immersed in such a crtical part of Peruvian history and culture was a gift.

After weaving, we went to Raul's aunt's house for lunch right across from the textiles center. I tried guinea pig for the first time. They brought it out on a plate...the entire guinea pig...full body picture. If I hadn't have seen that, it probably would have made it taste a little better, however, since I saw a childhood pet in front of me on a platter, it didn't taste as good as I would have hoped. After lunch, we toured Chinchero, visited the town square and the church that Raul was brought up in...it was beautiful perched in the Andes looking over Inca ruins.

We then toured Moray ruins which was yet another intricate Incan design of architecture. We then drove past the Salineras salt complex where there were buckets full of salt as far as the eye could see. Pretty cool.

Tomorrow we are off to Macchu Picchu...as Raul calls it...the new 8th wonder of the world. We will be arriving by train and will be there for 3 days so I won't have access to a computer...but don't worry, I will take pictures and soak it all in so I can tell you about it when we return. I can't believe we are finally going to Macchu Picchu tomorrow. It's been 2 years and counting. Feel so fortunate God has provided me with this opportunity.

I love you all.

The Andes

A day in the life of the Andes people. A beautiful life. A hardworking life. A simple life. The vollage of Patakancha welcomed us with open arms after driving almost an hour up the mountain to 14,000 feet and hiking the rest of the way. We brought bread for the children because it is like candy/a major treat for them. We helped out a local family with their land...we each planted a tree. Each tree had our name. They said they wanted us to come back when our trees were fully grown so we could experience the reward of planting something so beautiful. We then helped plow a potatoe field. They made it look so easy, we made it look so hard.

So fun story of the day...Bex and I really had to go to the bathroom at Patakancha...of course there were none around so we had to go next to one of the potatoe fields out back. It was an experience to say the least...most of all because due to going to the bathroom next to a field, we managed to get Peruvian poison ivy...It burned right away and felt like someone was scratching you. We had to rub the same plant where it had touched us before to help soothe the pain. We laughed it off, but it really hurt at the time :-)

We ate lunch in honor of Mother Earth at a local family's place...cooked from the ground over stones...we had lamb, potatoes, and corn. It was delightful. We left the hotel at 7:30 a.m. and got back at 8:30 p.m. It was nice to put myself in other people's shoes for a day, who I respect and admire due to their hard work and dedication towards life and their family.

Tomorrow we will be going to a weaving workshop. We get to weave ourselves with the locals. If it's as much fun as sewing, as we say in the south, "It will be a good ole' time."

8 more days. Hope you all are well. Peace out.

Sacred Valley

Leaving Cusco was bittersweet...I was sad to leave the city but excited to explore the Sacred Valley even more. Explore..that we did. Our bus dropped us off at the top of the Andes about 2 hours away from Cusco. We hiked down the mountain for hours in the rain, but it was well worth it. It was one of the Incas major strongholds, carved right into the mountains. There were not hand rails and the trail went straight down, over a bridge, through a tunnel, and weaving in and out of the side of the mountain. The views were breathtaking. We were actually in the clouds. We hiked to our lunch in Pisaq...I don't know if food has ever tasted that good. My new favorite Andean cuisine is ricotto relleno...stuffed peppers with meat. Soooo good. After lunch, we drove another hour and did one more hike for the day so we could further understand how inteligent and influential the Incas really were. What an amazing civilization.

We are now staying at a beautiful hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Andes. Bex and I have llamas outside of our window :-) We were more than excited about being able to wake up to them for the next 3 days. Tomorrow, we will be driving through the mountains to learn from and help the local people. A day in the life of the Andes people.

Prayers from the Sacred Valley.

Last Day in Cusco

Thought for the day: God give me the joy in the tasks that press, in the memories that burn and bless; In the thought that life has love to spend, in the faith that God's at journey's end.

As we are aproaching our last 10 days of this life changing experience, I just wanted to acknowlege that God has been with me every step of the way. I see him in the beauty of this place, I see Him in the kindness of the people here, I see Him in His major plan He had for me to come to Peru a year later than I wanted to make this experience that much sweeter.

For our last day in my favorite city...we had our second to last spanish class of this course...It is bittersweet because Bex and I's teacher is absolutely awesome...We then toured a bunch of the ancient Incan ruins and realized how inteligent and unique the ancient Inca civilization was...they built extravagant temples and held ceremonies at the highest places in the city. We were standing on top of Incan ruins, looking down at the beautiful city of Cusco below. The orange roofs of every house, the futbol stadium, and the Andes mountains in the distance where objects that stuck out to me. Once again, another beautiful place in Peru. I haven't found a place here that I wasn't amazed by.

Journeying farther into the sacred valley tomorrow. Love. Love. Love.

Cusco

First of all, happy belated birthday to my beautiful twin sisters...Kelley and Maggie. The sisters who have inspired me along the way...the ones who besides God, I wouldn't be here in Cusco today. They developed my love for Spanish and that is why I'm here mostly...because of them.

So yesterday and today are kind of similiar days. We start off with Spanish class at our Maximo Nivel School 5 minutes walking distance from our hotel. We have the same teacher that we did in Arequipa and I absolutely love her. We found out yesterday that we was only 28 years old but having the time of her life teaching Spanish to  kids like us...She lives here in Cuzco. It is such a beautiful city. Located in the Andes...but still has the hype of a ancient Incan town. It reminds me a lot of Salamanca where Kelley and Maggie studied abroad because it is quaint and clean with awesome people. Cuzco is Raul's town as well. We got to meet his 1 year old son yesterday and his wife...His son looks exactly like him and loves his Daddy just like we do. If you haven't noticed already, Raul is the man.

I have to go to class, so sorry this was so short...Today is our last day in Cuzco...We will touring ancient Incan ruins today. They were great architects that's for sure. Oh by the way, Cuzco is in the Sacred Valley...so I'm finally here..the Sacred Valley. What a beautiful place.

Love from Cuzco.

Isla Amantani

Isla Amantani...No electricity, no means of transportation, no America that's for sure. Yesterday we took a 4 hour boat ride to Amantani Island located in the middle of the highest navigable lake in the world...Lake Titicaca. When we got to the island, we hiked up a hill that seemed to take an hour at least...the locals were passing us left and right as we were hyperventilating with each step. Once we made it up the hill, I thought we were at least at the top of some mountain..I was wrong...It was just where we were eating lunch. We ate lunch at one of the local families houses that Raul knows from years past. We had trout straight out of Lake Titicaca.

After lunch, we got divided up into groups of 4 so we could spend some time with our individual families. I am already missing mine. Bex and I were in the same family so that was a plus as well. Our "Mama's" name was Dona Augustina...she liked laughing at us quite often. She spoke little spanish and mostly quechua which in the indigenous language of Peru. We helped her peel potatoes( Mom would be proud, you taught me well) and other vegetables. We also grinded some type of maize with a giant rock. She made it look so easy...It took 3 of us to do what she was doing in twice as much time. Yesterday, we also got to hike up to the highest points on Isla Amantani...Mama tata and Mama Pancha. We could choose to do one or the other...so Bex and I decided to do both. A breathtaking and rewarding experience to say the least. We could see Bolivia from both points. It was awesome. After the hike, we ate dinner with our families and then joined the rest of the group for Lake Titicaca dancing in the traditional outfits they dressed us in... Don't worry, I have pictures :-) I had a ball dancing with all of the little kids. They were better than all of us hands down.

Today we did some work around the house and then played a game of futbol. We didn't last that long since we were at 12,500 feet above sea level but it was a lot of fun.

After saying an emotional good bye to our families we took a 3 hour boat ride to the Uros Islands or the floating island of reed. It was like a dream. What a life. The people were awesome as well...but that's the norm here in Peru.

About to go out to dinner in Puno...the folklore capital of the world. Tomorrow...a 9 hour bus ride to Cuzco...this is where Raul is from and I think we get to meet his family. Looking forward to it. Thank you to all who are reading and enjoying...this is for you. Wish you all were here.

Love always. T

Psalm 90:12..Colca Canyon to Lake Titicaca

Sorry about the delay of blogs the past couple of days. Our last hotel didn't have internet and we've had a lot going on as you've been reading. Anyways...Every night in Peru, I think to myself, there is no way tomorrow can get any better than today...and you know what? I'm wrong every time. Now I know why Peru is called the land of extremes. We started off at the beach, moved to the desert, now we are high in the Andes at 12,500 feet...Lake Titicaca. Oh how I fail to recognize how extravagant God's creation really is...

Before we got to Puno/Lake Titicaca here's the summary of yesterday and today. We left Arequipa 2 days ago and drove straight up the Andes to 16,000 feet. It was a stuggle for me to get up the mountain even though we were on the bus. I got light headed for a couple of hours and felt as though my lungs were closing by the second. We first drove through the National Park full of Vicunas, Llamas, and Alpaca. Vicunas are my new favorite animal. They are a mix between a llama and a deer, except softer looking.

We stopped at the top of the National Reserve at 16,000 feet so we could get adjusted to the altitude and drink some specially made coca tea that helps with altitude sickness. I drank 2 cups..however, I added about 3 scoops of sugar to drain out the taste of the 20 actual coca leaves floating in my tea. I actually quite enjoyed it though. Next stop, the land of permafrost. It went on for miles. Large and small puddles of water from the ice capped mountains surrounded by beautiful patches of grass. A girl on my trip sprained her ankle jumping across one of the puddles. Elly has taught me well...I wrapped her ankle, made her do the ABC's, ice, elevate, and then I massaged the swelling out as best I could. It's all because of you Nor. By the way, 16,000 feet above sea level is cold...very cold.

Then we stopped in Chivay(Small town in the Andes) where we were droppped off by the bus so we could hike the most beautiful trail to our hotel down in the valley of Colca Canyon...Colca Lodge...the hotel I want to aspire to own one day. It's in at least the top 3 of my favorite hotels...and that's saying a lot coming from me. The hike made me feel like I was in Ireland times a hundred. Gorgeous green pastures with crops that go on for miles, Andeans transporting their crops to town by donkeys, and stoned walls lining every corner...unbelievable. We got to our hotel a couple of hours later and went straight to the hot springs until dinner. At dinner I tried alpaca for the first time...it was surprisingly awesome.

The next morning(today) we had a 5:20 a.m. wake up call and out the doors we went. We drove through multiple agricultural villages around colca canyon, on the side of the biggest mountains I've ever seen. The dirt roads don't have gurard rails so if you're afraid of heights I wouldn't recommend the window seat. Anyways, we drove 2 hours into the canyon to get to the Cruz del Condor...this is where we sat for hours, waiting for the 8 foot wing spanned condors...the birds of the Incas. I'm not a big fan of birds, but these are big and beautiful soaring high over the Andes..what a life. We then hiked a ways with our Colca Canyon guide Pedro...so cute. Then we ate lunch in Chivay and continued our trek to Puno, the town next to Lake Titicaca. Our hotel is right on the water. I can see the city lights glimmering across the way.

Tomorrow we have a native home stay with families on the Amantani island on Lake Titicaca. Hopefully will be able to write the day after tomorrow. I love you all. Sweet dreams from Puno.

Arequipa

Yesterday was a 5 a.m. wake up call to start our voyage up the Andes to around 8,500 feet above sea level. ..Arequipa, Peru. It was at least a 12 hour drive up the Pan American Highway but we had multpile stops in between to make it seem a little better. The drive was beautiful. The highway is carved into the mountains on the coast almost the entire way. It's nothing like driving down I-40 I can tell you that.

First stop..the Nazca fault line. It's the equivalent to the San Andreas fault line in California. It was huge. Once again, I've never seen anything like it. Next stop...45 minutes later...the walking dunes. There were miles and miles of different size dunes you could walk across. However, it was like sinking sand, therefore, a little difficult to walk across. It depends on which way the wind is blowing as to which direction the dunes face. Next was my favorite stop of the day...Puerto Inca. It was a civilization built by the Incas in the 1400s/1500s on the coast. You could still see the foundation of their houses. Some of us decided to take our first hike of the trip with Raul. We climbed up the rocks, passing the ancient civilization on all sides. We finally got to the top where we could see the beautiful white waves crashing into the rocks and bright blue water for miles. It was worth the trip in itself...I can't even imagine what Macchu Picchu will be like. After our hike, we dipped into the Pacific very briefly due to the cold water. Most people at Elon are from the North so they thought I was being a wimp since I live on the warm Atlantic. Next was a power nap and then time for lunch. We pulled off the highway and sat on some rocks near the coast..so simple yet so beautiful. Found lots of shells and the bus driver had to fix the speedometer on the bus.

Today, we had our first Spanish class at Maximo Nivel school about 1 minute down the calle(street) from our hotel. Bex and I are in the same class which is awesome. We just look at each other and laugh half of the time. We love our teacher and pretty much want to be her one day. Her name is Kris. After our awesome spanish class, we had another sociology class and then were off to explore the city. Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru full of 1 million people. It's full of cobble stone walkways and Spanish architecture. Much different from Lima. It reminds me of Spain in a way...historic, beautiful, unique.

Keep warm for me in North Carolina and where ever you may be. LOVE.

Nazca...

Quote of the day: "Adventure is worthwhile in itself." Today was another adventure to say the least. We woke up to llamas outside of our window alongside a beautiful mountain. Our hotel is full of animals roaming the property. Last night when we got here, a llama walked right into the lobby and proceded to come up to us. It was so friendlly and so awesome. Anyways, the other animals I have seen are ostriches, deer, roosters, cows. It is a beautiful valley oasis full of flora and fauna.

For the afternoon, we drove to the Nazca airport. We then proceded to board around a 12 passenger plane...the smallest plane I've ever been on. It was so hot in plane but we were in the air before we knew it...with a lot of turbulence. There were trash bags in front of each seat because it's a common tendency on these tiny planes to throw up. First, because they are not air conditioned and it is 85 degrees outside. Second, because in order to see the Nazca lines, the pilot steers the plane almost on its side and circles the figure in the sand with the wing of the plane. They are still a mystery to everyone, however, there are multiple theories behind them. After the first two lines, I started feeling nauseous along with the rest of my plane...it was a bonding experience.

We then had lunch in Nazca and walked around the aquaducts near our hotel. We then had a friendly game of futbol/soccer in a nice green field in the back of our hotel. We have a 12-14 hour drive up the Andes to Arequipa...8,000 feet above sea level...only the beginning.

Love to you all.

Pslam 139: 3

So we've only been here a few days and I feel like I've lived here my entire life. I've already decided I'm coming back...Today we took a boat to the Ballestas Islands to see penguins, sea lions, and birds...lots and lots of birds...more birds in one place than I've ever seen before. The animals around the islands are protected by guards who switch out monthly...what a job that would be :-) The sea lions were my favorite, with babies on every rock you looked at....also, the penguins were awesome. Who doesn't love penguins?

After getting off the boat, Bex and I had an unbelievable experience with a few of local children of Paracas...Abril and Mel were the names I remember. The highlight of our trip so far...I have probably said that about everything, but today was extra special. We saw these precious little girls playing volleyball in the street when we got off the boat...Bex and I simultaneously looked at each other and said " Let's go!" We walked over to them and asked them kindly if we could play with them and they welcomed us with open arms. The smiles on their faces were priceless. Although their smiles were not quite as big as Bex and I's...:-) We wanted to stay all day...

Unfortunately, we had to leave our new friends with hope of returning again someday. We then traveled about  an hour to Ica where we ate lunch at the oasis. The Ica oasis is full of enormous sand dunes that look like huge mountains. On to the next adventure...dune buggying and sand surfing...Dune buggying was like an hour and a half rollar coaster...except better. We stopped at the top of the dunes for the ones who wanted to sand surf...I was a little hestitant at first with visions of tearing my ACL dancing in my head. The first time down the dune, I slid down on my stomach...I had to work my way up to conquering my fears. Then we drove to the next dune...this one was even bigger...Even though Mom and Dad probably wouldn't have approved with fear of me getting hurt, I conquered my fears and sand surfed down the enormous dune in the Ica desert...what a blessing. After not being able to do anything this time last year, it was pretty awesome to surf down a hill...let alone even being on this trip. Although my muscles are already sore, it was well worth it. I felt like I was on Fear Factor.

After a long day at the dunes, we took a 3 hour bus ride down to Nazca. Tomorrow we fly over the mysterious Nazca lines and have class in the morning. Now that I'm sore and a little sunburn, however content, I will be going to bed. Thinking of you all.

P.S. I'm not sure the next time I will be able to write, but until then, love from Nazca.

Lima to Paracas...

Today we had a 6:30 a.m. wake up call to depart Lima for Paracas. Paracas is about a 6 hour bus ride down the Pan Americana del Sur( Pan American Highway) which extends all the way down the coast of Peru. In route to our destination, we passed the slums of Lima. They are all piled on top of each other on the mountains surrounding Lima. Supposedly the Peruvian government gave them different colors of paint so they could make their tiny, concrete houses look better in pictures of the city...wow. There is no other way besides walking up the mountain to get to their houses because they are all piled on top of each other. They each built their own house by carrying what they could find/afford of concrete and stones/bricks up the mountain that they call home. Looking at this place that they call home convinced me of taking what I have for granted. I've never seen anything like it...

We drove for miles out of the city watching house by house pass us by. These aren't houses like I'm familiar with back home with yards full of grass and growth. These are houses side by side. In Lima, grass is considered a sign of growth and you only see it in wealthier parts of the city or towns that finally have enough money to plant a patch of grass. After passsing the slums, we drove through 2 different shanty towns or "pueblos jovenes(young towns)." First, we drove through Villa de Salvador. It used to be undevelped full people and bamboo houses who migrated there after several natural disasters in the Andes and their homes were washed away. Villa de Salvador is only a 40 year old shanty town, but now it is built up into a place full of business and smiles. It is the same as the slums where the people build their own homes. The first floor always has to be some kind of business where they can make money, and the second floor is their living quarters. I've never seen a harder working group of individuals. Imagine building your own home while also trying to work to get by. Be thankful.

The next shanty town we visited was "Lomas de Marchan." Probably my favorite part of the trip so far. We actually stepped off the bus here instead of just driving through. Raul said in Villa de Salvador, "they will take your socks off before you even notice your boots." Shanty towns symbolize community. They believe they couldn't get by without each other. There is a sense of unity among these families. The children are overjoyed with excitement if you take a picture of them and show it to them...to them, happiness comes from the simple things. They are the most beautiful children I've ever seen...not concerned with anything else but smiling. Even though they have nothing, they don't beg for your money because they don't need it, they have each other. I want to go back already. Maybe one day...

We are now down the coast in the beautiful town of Paracas. Traveling to the Ballestas Islands tomorrow to see penguins, sea lions, condors, etc. Should be an eventful day.  Sending summer love from the coast of Peru.

Full Day 1...

I quite possibly might be the most tired I have ever been...but in a good way. Lima, Peru...population...9 million. Population of Peru...29 million. That means around one third of Peru's popluation lives in Lima. Although there are much more people walking around the streets of Lima than the streets of Elon, I thought there were going to be many more Peruvians walking around the streets than we saw today. However, Don Ernesto, our professor, told us that the city of Lima goes on for miles and miles, hence why I can't get a clear picture of it yet. Now I'm not saying this city doesn't feel like a city with people walking, cars honking, and street vendors on every corner...because it is the epitome of a city, but with much more history and culture than any American could have thought possible.

Instead of Raul taking us around the city today, we had a friend of his, Shayla, a native of Lima, show us around the city. She knew everything anyone would want to know about the city. They say Lima is combined of 3 different cultures: Incan, Catholic, and Moorish.  We visited St. Francis Monastery which is open to the public and also still used by monks. Besides the Moorish architecture, the most thought provoking part of our tour were the catacombs. I was too tall to fit through most of the passage ways so I was slighty hunchback for most of our time under the church. There were thousands of bones and skulls of all sorts just piled on top of each other....it was a sight to see.

We then watched the changing of the guards in front of the "Palacio de gobierno," where the President of Peru lives. While watching, we were sitting in the Plaza de Armas/Plaza Mayor which is the city center of Peru. It has a beautiful fountain in the middle with yellow buildings and the rather large Palacio de gobierno surrounding. We then went to lunch at "Los Escribanos," for our first real Peruvian meal. We first had "Chicha morada," which is a special drink of Peru made out of purple corn. It somewhat resembles grape juice but not quite. No food that I've tasted in peru is quite like anything in the States. We then had our appetizers( mine was potatoes with peppers in the middle), our main dish( Bex and I got a dish with beef, onions, peppers, and french fries all mixed together) and desert( the most delicious vanilla ice cream you've ever tasted). This is the way every meal is...which is convenient for Bex and I who are constantly hungry. They say for lunch in Peru, if there is no rice, potatoes, or noodles, then it is not lunch. We then went to El Museo Larco which contains artifacts from pre-Incan civilations...pretty cool.

Now Bex and I are back in the hotel for a short break before we go see "Circuito Magico del Agua," which is a fountains display in the Parque de la Reserva and attend our "Welcome to Peru" dinner. Supposedly there's dancing involved in our dinner. I'm going to see if I can pull a few strings and get Bexy up on stage :-)

Hasta Luego! Mucho Amor a todos( Much love to all)

Your Journey Starts Here

We have arrived in Lima, Peru! It took us ahwile to get here. Our plane was delayed, we had to wait for at least 20 students bags, and we had to navigate our way through Lima to get to our hotel...one of the oldest hotels in Lima. Our tour guide Raul met us at the airport. I already can tell you he is the man.

Everywhere we go, there are signs that say," Your journey starts here." The journey of a lifetime started today. We woke up with much anticipation and now we are finally here. Bex and I played UNO for awhile to pass the time. It was only around a 6 hour flight, however, we are athletes and can get pretty antsy..needless to say we went to the bathroom multiple times.

I will try to write more tomorrow about our travels here but it is 1 o'clock and we have a big day tomorrow of exploring the city of Lima. Buenas Noches!

For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go...

Dr. Seuss once said "Today is your day. You're off to great places, you're off and away. The world is waiting so get on your way!" First stop, Miami, Florida. I am getting closer and closer to the country I have longed to visit ever since I learned the Spanish language. Although I am perfectly content with sitting at home,watching LOST with my family and the dogs, I am thoroughly excited to fly South for a month and visit another wonder of God's creation. Sometimes you have to break out of your comfort zone to realize the meaning and importance of life. I already did that once by tearing my ACL...but now I am ready to hike the Andes with my partner in crime, Bexy.

The quote of the day in my journal wrote " They say you will never be lonely from the start of each day to it's end if you walk life's pathway with love in your heart, and side by side with a friend". A good omen to the start off our trip I would say. Not many people get to travel the world with their best friend. Bex and I are making this a tradition. Two Spanish speaking countries in two years...Mexico, now Peru, next we are thinking Spain.

Mom flew down with me to Miami for work. Probably a good thing because more than likely,I would have been a little too emotional if I would have had to say goodbye to everyone at one
time...I'm the baby of the family..maybe a little too attached. Our plane to Miami was delayed twice. The first time they wouldn't tell us why, the second time was because our flight crew's taxi broke down...so needless to say it took a little longer than expected to get here. Bex anticipated our arrival for hours. However, we are finally here and we went to a nice dinner at Coral Gables...Season's 52...one of Dad's favorites. Coral Gables is a cute little town near the University of Miami with lit up Palm trees,lots of unique stores, and tasty cuisine. We made friends with the waitress...Her name was Kat. Her grandma was Peruvian and the rest of her family is from Ecuador and Uruguay. She might even come visit us in North Carolina one day...you think I'm joking...but really she loved us that much...we loved her too of course.

After dinner, we drove around the University of Miami. I think I could get used to palm trees on every corner of my campus, with a big lake in the middle. Also, it's currently 70 degrees outside and the locals think that's cold...wow.

Bex and I have a big day tomorrow. The day is finally here. Peru bound. Sending love from the sunshine state. Love love love you