Author: cperez

…for tomorrow. And PHL airport is well known as one of the worst in the country when it comes to handling less than ideal conditions. ARRRGGGGG!!!!!!!!!

In any case, please check flight status before heading out to pick us up!

For me, one of the best parts of the Inca Trail is getting back into civilization and enjoying the comforts I otherwise can’t help taking for granted: running water, a mattress, clean sheets. My first contact with these amenities feels so incredibly good, it’s almost melodramatically comical. I love it!
The best part of last night was seeing Hanna doing well, in good spirits, smiling, joking, happy to see us.
Tonight we begin the marathon trek back, this time on planes.
Can’t wait to get home. I miss my cucarachita tremendously — she’s changing and learning so quickly that she sounds different on the phone now than she did three weeks ago.

Hi, everyone —

We made it to Aguas Calientes, the little town below Machu Picchu. We are sore, but otherwise healthy; all very eager to get back to Hanna, hot showers, and beds.

More later –

Alejandra is a great cook. This is the balcony of our hotel; they’ve been nice enough to lend us a plug-in stovetop. The past few times we’ve come to Cuzco, we’ve cooked almost all of our own meals, as a way to save money and also prevent getting sick. Oh well, no guarantees…

I’m alive!!! It’s unnerving to be so careful and yet to get so sick. On Saturday morning I went quickly from being afraid that I was going to die, to being afraid that I wasn’t going to die. Thankfully, Alejandra and I know a great doctor here who makes house calls (why did doctors stop making house calls in the US? House calls are a beautiful thing!) and he took good care of me.
Anyway, bummed as I am to have missed the weekend’s outings, (my favorite days in Cuzco) I’m very grateful that I’m feeling so much better.
The kids all seem healthy, though tired. One doesn’t achieve as deep a sleep at this altitude, and that adds up. The priority for the next few days is to try to rest, eat smart, and take care of ourselves.

Hola, mi papá, ¡Jaime Pérez!  I’ve tried calling you all day and no one answers any phone!!! ¡Te quiero mucho!

After the marathon that was yesterday (was it yesterday? I’ve lost all track of time) today seems totally civilized, oxygen or no.

By noon or so on Friday, we were all at the Spanish school where the students’ families were waiting to take them home for lunch and a well-earned nap.  The host parents all seemed friendly and warm and eager to host our kids.  I told the families that we wanted the kids home by 8:30pm last night so that they’d get to bed early and sleep.  Alejandra and I started calling at 8pm and most of them were already in bed!

So far, everyone is doing pretty well — a few headaches, some nausea, a cold… all of the normal symptoms of 11,000 feet.

At 2pm today we’ll all be convening in the central plaza to check in, walk around, maybe watch a little world cup soccer.  Viva COLOMBIA!!! 🙂