Missions 
The flight from Quito to LA will be my next and last. For over a month, Julie and I have traveled overland from the north of Chile into Bolivia, through Bolivia and into Peru, and now across the entire length of Peru to the border of Ecuador.
In contrast to the make-ourselves-at-home time in Huaraz, we spent the last two nights on crowded buses, curled up in semi-reclined seats like fetuses. In theory, you fall asleep and wake up in your desired destination, but the lack of legroom, fresh oxygen, and courtesy of bathroom-goers makes satisfactory snoozing a farfetched feat.
We had planned a brief layover in Trujillo, a town put on the map for its Pre-Colombian civilizations. We had just spent ten hours on a bus, but another eleven-hour ride was still more appealing than a day in Trujillo. We searched desperately for an early departure, but there was nothing until late in the evening. With fourteen hours to kill, we did what any hopeless tourist would do – no, not see the adobe ruins, but watch “Mission Impossible 3” and try our luck in one of the many casinos. After the movie, I was inspired to launch my own mission: win back the money I had lost before the movie. Mission accomplished.
I spent my prize money – a grand total of about three dollars – on crackers and water, dinner for the next night bus. We arrived in Mancora, one of Peru’s best surf beaches, at the crack of dawn this morning. It took three tries to find an open hostel. It will take three showers to feel clean. My next mission: learn how to surf.
A look at Peru, from its ancient wonders to casinos, ceviche to guinea pig, coca tea to ubiquitous, bright yellow Inca Kola:
4/27 Crossed the border at Lake Titicaca
4/28 Explored “Sexy Woman” and other parts of Cuzco
4/29 Inca Trail meeting, prepared for the trek
4/30 – 5/3 Hiked the Inca Trail
5/4 Machu Picchu
5/5 Guinea pig experience
5/6 The Nazca Lines
5/7 Met up with Julie in Huaraz
5/8 Scrabble and mac ’n’ cheese
5/9 Dog guided us to alpine lake
5/10 Night bus to Trujillo
5/11 Casino and movie, night bus to Mancora
5/12 Day at the beach
5/13 Bus across the border to Guayaquil
Hey Charlie!!!!!!
May 13th, 2006 at 5:46 pmJust saying hi. I can’t wait to see you in 1 week!!!! I can’t believe it is that soon. Don’t be sad to end your journey, L.A. misses you, and I’m sure you will find some way to keep yourself busy while you’re home. Back to writing my crazy history paper. talk to you soon,
~Hailey
Wow, you only have a couple of more weeks to buy as many t-shirts as you can, so get shopping boy. The big question I have for you and really the only question I care about is can you wink yet? I’m hoping that the 13 weeks of lessons I gave you haven’t been forgotten and you’ve been working hard on the wink. I’m going to be popping through LA on my way back down to the Sth Pacific around the 30th of this month, so I look forward to seeing the wink. Tell Julie to hurry on back to the office as I can only keep Jen out of trouble for so long before I need back-up. Did I tell you how much fun it has been being back in the office after six months of traveling around. It’s amazing how the work piles up on your desk. Well my little travel mate take care and enjoy the rest of your time and I look forward to seeing you before I leave this grand land they call America. Julie I’ll see you in Ohio matey.
Peace out,
SBCR (Tanya)
PS. Was I right about Inca Cola, got to love that drink!
May 12th, 2006 at 8:22 pm