Well I'm a few hours from departure time, and am SO excited to get down to Peru. The past six days - er actually, the past six months - have been a whirlwind. But business school is finally on the horizon, and over the next four months I'll have multiple opportunities to travel with friends and family, and mentally prepare for b-school.
Ok, need to stay focused. I can already tell that's going to be a problem for me within this blog concept. But, hey, isn't that the point? Heard of 'stream of consciousness' people? Since this is my blog, I'll go ahead and take full liberty at format, style, etc. Your feedback (aka 'Comments') is apparently welcomed here at blogspot, but by no means does that makes this a democratic process. I'll try to keep you all entertained, but some stories may just have to be left offline...
So over the past couple months I've met a number of wonderful Peruvians, most of whom will be attending Duke with me this fall. All have been most helpful in planning my itinerary and anxious to offer recommendations and advice. Muchas gracias a todos ustedes! I'm excited to meet a couple of them in person for the first time tomorrow in Lima.
I'll have a couple travel mates this trip, which is going to make this experience quite unique for me. Jamie, a best friend from high school and Huntington Beach, now lives in NYC. Steve and I stayed with Jamie when we ran the NYC marathon in November - and that was when this trip, albeit at a very high level, was conceived. Jamie will meet me in Lima tomorrow and spend the next ten days with us in Peru. Stirling, a best friend from UVA, will join us in Cusco on Tuesday, and will actually stay with me through the Galapagos. She recently was accepted into Yale's residency program, and now has a couple months off to decompress from med school. Stirling and I actually spend a semester together in Buenos Aires back in 2000, so this is a 'South America Parte Dos' for us. To have this opportunity to spend time overseas with Jamie and Stirling is truly a blessing.
My first weekend will be spent in Asia, a coastal down 97KM south of Lima. A new Duke friend, Juan, has invited us to stay with his family at a beach house there. There's NO way the rest of the trip is going to work out THAT perfectly.. so stay tuned... :)
Peru
I'll be in Peru 4/5-4/25: Jamie, Stirling and I will experience the Sacred Valley area (including Cusco, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo) and Machu Picchu together. Next, Stirling and I will travel to Lago Titicaca and later Puerto Maldonado, before heading north to the beaches of Mancora and the surrounding area (Talara).
8 comments:
Mo! Have fun. I would give you a LumberJacks Link to put under "who and what I love," but I have seemed to have lost the site address. Steve do you have the address? Drink some Miller Lites while you are down there and we will get your Pequods care package together throughout the week. I would say something in Spanish but usually google meeses it up. I'll try anyway. Muchos de la bebida de cerveza!
Monique- Love your blog! so impressed! I am so incredibly jealous of you right now - hopefully you are on the plane absorbing the latest scoop on Brad and Angelina or catching up on some zzzz's. This is the best moment- just daydreaming about what is to come and adventures to be had! Looking forward to hearing all about the beautiful places you visit and crazies you meet :-)!
How was the flight down? I have not received any text messages from you since this morning, so I assume you made the flights and will soon be in Lima. If you forgot to pack something let me know and I can send it down! I am beginning to think that maybe I should tell my boss that I am quitting my job for a few weeks so I can head down to meet you…maybe in Galapagos or something…thoughts?
PS. I will save the slice of Quads that is in fridge until you return on May 8th.
Buenos dias Senorita Monique,
Your Blog is great! No entiendo if you write too much in Spanish. Hope everything is going well. Frio in Chicago, so enjoy the caliente weather.
Tom
Hello monique,
sally was on the phone right now and nicole was sending me your blog -- always nice to read what you all are doing -- so i hope you still have a great time in peru.
wish you nice eastern
greetings
Matthias
Germany
ola and g'dday from down under in sydney! nicole and i've had a delightful easter here and hope the easter bunny found you in lima. we're thrilled to begin hearing of your adventures. i wish you some clear and sunny days in lima.
much love,
mom and nicole
just checking to make sure you made it to mass on Easter Sunday...mother of 3 here very envious of your freedom and sense of adventure...and to think you were once my "ho"....enjoy, be safe and keep posting "Mo Mo on the Go Go!"
Hey Mo! Hope you are having a wonderful time while I'm at the office without you. Miss ya ton. Just want to let you know that the company is at 100.5% for Total Results! We would not be there if it wasn't for you! Wish I was with ya. Sar
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