We are back from Peru. We’ve been back two days, and I didn’t post while we were there, so there is a lot to cover.
I am going to do highlights (and lowlights) rather than try to go day by day, which is too tedious and not that interesting.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP:
- The views. Oh my fricking god. I have never experienced anything like it. I took soooo many photos because it was just so breathtaking, everywhere I looked. Machu Picchu is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, as was Cusco and the drive to Machu Picchu. I am going to share some pics at the end of the post. They won’t do it justice, nor will they cover 1/10th of what we photographed while there. That is a major bucket list destination.
- The hotels. We stayed in lovely hotels in Lima, Cusco and Aguas Caliente, thanks to Dad’s painstaking research and planning. They were each very different – sleek in Lima, monastery-like in Cusco, and eco-friendly in AG, and they were each great.
- The food. I think Peruvian might be one of my favorite cuisines. I love the beans and meat and nuts and all the corn. It is not a good place for people avoiding carbs.
- The planetarium in Cusco. M and I went to see a presentation at the planetarium and then got to look at stars after. The sky wasn’t littered with stars like I always fantasize about (hello, Taos!) but we saw some, and we saw Mars with our naked eye. Plus the Southern Cross (for the first time). It was freezing but fun.
- Cusco itself, with its main square. What a cool place. And just gorgeous, with the houses up in the hills.
- The tour we took of Daikun Stadium during our Houston layover. It was a great tour! And we saw the exact place where the Nats won the 2019 WS. It’s really weird to be in an indoor stadium.
- Being all together for a week! It doesn’t happen often these days and it was really nice.
- All the fun stuff to buy and browse – alpacas and sweaters and hats and necklaces. I got some souvenirs and some gifts and just enjoyed seeing what was on offer.
- Did I mention the views?
- Machu Picchu just wins it all.
LOWLIGHTS:
The lowlights would have to be the altitude sickness. Dad and M and N each had it on Monday when we got to Cusco, but they recovered pretty quickly. Poor A, however, was sick the ENTIRE week. She was miserable, understandably so. I felt terrible that her experience on the trip was so different from the rest of ours. She is still recovering. It was truly awful.
Meanwhile, A is back at school. She moved in yesterday to her off-campus house, where she is living with 6 people. Here is a pic of her with her housemates today, the first day of classes.
M is only home for one more night after tonight, when she is going back to Princeton. We will really miss having her at home – it has been a lovely summer with her positive energy, constant hosting, enthusiasm and frequent grocery runs.
N got his advisory assignment and class schedule today. Looks pretty good, except for Spanish teacher who is “really old”. (He does look kinda old.) Dad and N are going to go to Shohola tomorrow to see Grandma Dina and Grandpa Ron for a few days. I will take M to Princeton.
OK here are just a few pics. I have SOOOOOO many more.
I think that is enough for now. Tomorrow will post more Peru pics and also some from Houston.
