Monterey: Part One

I will be intermixing my recent Peru trip and current California trip on here.

Right now: Monterey, California

I haven't seen Summer, Rich and Lucy in so long: since March to be exact. I was quite excited to get here. Rich is in training at the Defense Language Institute and Summer is working as an administrative assistant. Lucy runs around and cuddles with people. She slept with me the first night. She's the sweetest, cuddliest dog in the history of dogs.



I went for a run on Thursday morning, for the first time in 3 weeks. I thought it would be torture, but my body said "Welcome back, Tiffers. I've been waiting for you." I don't know the area well, so I just started running and hoped I would be able to find my way back. I made it nearly 3 miles and it felt wonderful.

Since both Summer and Rich work full time, I am on my own to explore and have fun during the day. Rich kindly helped me secure a bus pass and though it took me a day or two, I've figured out the transit system here. On Friday, I rode into downtown and had an hour before my transfer, so I walked around for a little while. Monterey is a quaint little town and I was especially delighted to find a used bookstore. I spent most of my time in there and bought an old book on Peru. I will soon be up to date on Peruvian history, at least up to the year 1965. I'm such a sucker for old books with neat covers though.



I also walked along fisherman's wharf for a bit, until it was time to catch my transfer to Big Sur.



I hiked a little around Big Sur, but wasn't really apparel prepared. I plan to go back a few days next week, when I'm better prepared, so I can get in some nice hikes. I walked two miles down to Pfeiffer Beach and sat on the sand for awhile. I don't necessarily like sand, as I have tactile issues with it and I don't like getting into the water, but the sand didn't seem too bad today, so I sat down and relaxed for an hour or so before I needed to get back to the bus stop.





The last thing I'll mention (this blog post doesn't flow very well. I apologize.) is riding motorcycles. Oh dear, it is sure fun. Saturday we took an hour+ ride into San Jose to go to a leather shop. I bought a rad pocket knife with a pearl and dark wood handle. I have been dreaming about this purchase for a year now, and it feels so wonderful to have it sitting in my back pocket right now. I rode on the back of Kevin's bike, a Victory, and it's really nice, but it doesn't have a back rest, so I am pretty sore. This morning, I went to breakfast with Nick, who rides a bullet bike (I don't know what kind) and he got to 115 mph on the freeway and he hit 100 mph going through the tunnel in downtown. It was terrifying and exhilarating and as much as I shouldn't want to... I want to do it again.

2nd to last day in Peru = Sad

I am glad you guys are reading my blog. I am sorry I am not posting anymore. Here is what happened...

(squiggly lines, squiggly lines, suiggly lines swirling and focusing into a scene)

I posted once and it took me so long to get even one post done. And then I checked a few days later to write the second post and only becca had commented, so I gave up. It is too hard. I want to spend every second here having fun. So I figure what I will do is this: I am going to type up my journal when I get home for personal reasons and because I have to turn it in to my professor. So I am thinking everyone who is interested and does not speak to me on a regular basis can hear about my adventures in Peru, day by day, while I am actually in California. Sounds fantastic, right?

While I wait for my amigas to get done, I will write a little bit, because I am too exhausted to wander on my own for a bit. My legs hurt. We got into Cusco on Saturday and it is suprisingly large. We met our host family and they are wonderful and loving and talented. The program for the University started on Sunday and we met Jesus who runs the Amigos Spanish School. He is fantastic and sassy and likes to share his sexual encounter stories with me for some reason. We started lessons on Monday and I had the most wonderful class ever. I learned quite a bit from Jossie, but we spent pretty much the entire time laughing. She even took us out for Cuy (Guinea Pig). It was muy rico and very hard to cut, so I did not eat too much, but I have some wonderful pictures for later. They bring the cuy out full. Teeth, hands, feet and all.

Archaeological wise, I have been to see Machu Picchu, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Qengo, Saqsayhuaman (pronounced Sexy Woman), Pisac, and Moray. They were all breathtaking. The most profound experience of the trip was stepping off the train in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes). I nearly cried when I saw the mountains soaring above me and the fog setting in all around us. It was... astounding.

We went out a lot too. They have a fun discoteca in the Plaza de Arms and we have gone salsa dancing a few times. I really am sad to leave.

My time is up on the computer. Love you guys. See you in a few days.

First off, here are pictures of our hotel room and restaurant/bar downstairs






I don´t have any pictures today, but I didn´t think I would be coming to an internet cafe. There are a lot of fun stories to tell, but they will probably only be told to some people in person, so my mom doesn´t have a heart attack :)

Seriously though...

We took the mirabus yesterday on a tour throughout Lima. It was amazing to see the entire city. We are staying in Mira Flores, which is a little out of the way, so we hadn´t ventured into the Plaza Mayor (I think that is what it is called) yet. We stopped at the Cathedral of San Francisco and got to tour the catacombs underneath. The paintings and woodwork are truly breathtaking. When we got back on the bus to head back, I met the first man I am going to bring home. His name is Rafael and he is Brazilian and gorgeous. My friends and I met he and his friends at a bar and went dancing.

Oops.. gotta go. I will post pictures from the tour and of Rafael whenever I get on here next.

Peru- Day One

I made it! I can not believe that I am actually here! 3 plane rides down, 5 to go over the next couple of weeks. The flight wasn´t too bad. I was a little worried about the ride from Atlanta to Lima, but they had lots of food and "New Release" movies to watch, so I was set. When we landed, we had a ride arranged through Katie, one of the girls I was traveling with. They are, by far, the scariest drivers I have ever encountered. There aren´t so many rules that need to be followed. People honk a lot and that is their way of saying "Get out of my way, because I am getting into your lane wether you like it or not". There were a few times where we literally drove between two lanes, squeezing in between cars on either side.

The food here is amazing and for some reason, we´ve taken ALOT of pictures of our meals and drinks.







We are staying in the suite at the Bella Vista hotel in Mira Flores and it is the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in, and for only $40 a night. I will try to upload some pictures later. The only problem is, our balcony shares a glass wall with the gym that is downstairs. So, we are woken up every morning around 6 when the cycling class starts and they blast the music. They have a really nice outdoor cafe/bar downstairs as well.

The first day we got ready and started walking towards the big mall that is on the beach. We stopped constantly to shop in the little stores along the streets. They have tons of shoe stores around and I am still contemplating a really cute pair. We stopped for drink at Mezze, a really cute restaurant with even cuter waiters. There are some very good looking men down here and they are all very nice. I might have to bring one back with me. Anyhoo, we finally made it to the beach and mall around 6 at night, meaning it took us 6 hours to make a 10 minute walk to the beach. They have some great stores at the mall and it is set right against the beach. We plan to spend a whole day at the beach tomorrow or the next day, but we got some nice pictures of it.

There is so much more to tell and pictures to show, but we really want to get out of here and start our day. This computer is really slow at uploading pictures, so I got as many in as I could. I will upload more soon. Today we are going in to downtown Lima to see the Cathedral, catacombs, etc. Talk to all of you soon!