Peru Trip

What's up,

This past weekend I planned to meet my good friend RJ in Cuzco to celebrate his 27th birthday, get Machu Picchu on film and do the rafting I missed on my previous visit. Unfortunately, I began celebrating his birthday in La Paz the night before I was supposed to leave. Continuing into the wee hours of the morning, I obviously slept thru my flight.

Reaching RJ on his phone while he waited patiently for me to come off the plane, I told him I missed the flight but would get there sometime in the next 24 hours. RJ selflessly volunteered to set up our rafting trip, train to MP and place to stay while I found a way to get there.

All the direct buses had left earlier that morning, so I began another play it by ear overland journey. Instead of arriving on a 50 minute flight, I showed up at 2am after 16 hours of painful hangover travel - including a fine at the border, bus breakdown and wandering around Cuzco for an hour and a half looking for RJ's hotel.

Hanging out with an old friend when you live alone in a foreign country is the best and RJ and I continue to do this right. From running with the bulls in Spain to scuba diving in Honduras to speed boats and cliff jumping in Guatemala, this time RJ and I got in some world class rafting and one of the 7 man made wonders of the world in Peru.

In search of the most difficult rapids, RJ and I found ourselves on a river exploding from the rainy season. Within twenty minutes of starting, 3 of the 6 people in the raft were tossed in the middle of a very dangerous section. It was comedy as we all scurried back into the boat, bodies flailing in the raft and only the guide left to steer. Following a 20 foot jump into the rapids from a pedestrian bridge, we brought the raft ashore on a grassy knoll surrounded by luxuriously green mountains.

RJ and I next headed to Machu Picchu. After a brisk hike up Huayna Picchu and a picnic lunch with a view from high above the ruins, we spent a couple hours exploring. (see pics) Following our day at the ruins, RJ and I finally made our mark on the Cuzco nightlife. After a couple beers to smooth out the rough edges, we headed for the Plaza where we encountered the four Canadians he had met in the airport when I never showed up.

They took us to a club where we rocked out to some mid-90's music. I was entertained watching RJ relentlessly pursue his group of Candian suitresses. Having returned to our Hostal after 5am. I was in danger of missing another flight. Luckily, RJ got me up with an hour to spare.

Stumbling off the plane in La Paz, I was greeted by a smiling immigration officer. Apparently, she recognized me or the 7 entry stamps in the last year (3 is the limit) and said you travel here a lot? And I responded "sometimes".... at which point she must have gotten a whiff of the spirits which I was now emanating from the night before. With one word she put me in my place, "Whiskey?" I said, looking at the floor, "No, it's beer. It was a long night."

Machu Piccu pics:

http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b336b182a405

Im out,

NJG