Good Night and Good Luck....

I'm home! And alive!! Thanks everyone who read this blog, commented, emailed, kept my spirits up, and understood that grammar is not really my thing. Special thanks to Steve, Sridhar, Sarita, Sev, and Sarah for hosting/hanging out with me, and another even more special thanks to LauraK for not being afraid to share my tent or touch my arm when I said: "Touch my arm! It's gross! Should it be like this?"

American Airlines--my thanks is delayed due to a gate change. One day you might get it when I get my luggage.

Anyway--words cannot express this trip, but I will do my best and turn to the greats--

Now I've....had the time of my life....and I've never felt this way beforeeeeee....this I swear, it's the truth!! And I owe it all to youuuuuuuuuu!"

Photos and Stories: Peru

After setting off, all alive and aglow....















And surviving both Dead Woman's Pass and the surrounding mountains.....



















We arrived shortly after sunrise expecting to see the beautiful and amazing Machu Picchu---but instead saw mostly fog...
















But we waited it out, and out of the fog emerged....











Yes, the ever-present lama!! Whohoo!! (One comment: "Do you think that this is heaven? But with Lamas?") Anyway, after the fog (finally!) moved, we saw it---one of the most incredible places in the world!!











































The pictures don't really do the city justice, but it was unbelievable. As I said before, the Incas were nothing if not hardcore, and also in seriously good shape--they seemed to have a complete love affair with steep stairs. The lack of cathedrals means that the Spanish never found the 'lost city' - but sadly, the Incas only built it to have to leave shortly after they heard of the Spanish arrival. Regardless, I think it should be one of the 7 wonders of the new world--it's incredible! And before I forget, the lovely LauraK deserves a HUGE shout out for planning the entire trip, being awesome, and managing to completely gracefully walk the trail without ever breaking a sweat:

































THANK YOU LAURA!!!!!

And, small shout out to my feet, for not giving up the ghost (Me: "How do they look?" LauraK "Umm, you look like you have been shackled.") I will spare everyone the pic I took for posterity!

And lest I forget, there IS a Save Tall Dave pic from Peru. And it was NOT AT ALL doctored. At all. Thanks Mom!!


So if you have a chance--go trek the Inca Trail! Just don't take American Airlines to get there!!