Jueves, 31-Julio-2014
Today technically is our last day in Peru but it's esentially a really long day of travel. I woke up in Cusco and will go to bed on a plane and wake up tomorrow in Atlanta. Home sweet home! Can't wait since my brain is tired from translating for 5 weeks and has started to shut down...
Contemporary Art Museum
Before starting our 22 hours of travel, we took the morning to appreciate one more museum. Lauren went to the contemporary art museum yesterday and told us about an exhibit with all old Machu Picchu photographs. Naturally I couldn't pass that up! There were pictures dating back to 1911 when Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu! The ruins had trees and roots growing in all directions and it's amazing to think that not more damage occurred in the 400 years the jungle took over. If you ever have time, google old Machu Picchu pictures because they are fabulous to look at!
22 Hours and Counting
Taxi to airport
We split up into two taxis to get to the airport. Our ride was pretty uneventful but the other taxi got in a car accident with a bus!! Everyone was okay and the driver didn't seem too phased. My friends weren't sure what to do tho since they didn't know if they should grab another taxi bc this might take a while to clear up. Well apparently accidents in Peru aren't that serious since the driver took a copy of his insurance card and license to the nearby traffic cop, said something, got back in the taxi and drove off! Guess there aren't crazy insurance claims happening here...
Flight CUS to LIM
I thought the flight into Cusco was bad partially bc of the quick drop out of the sky to land and partially bc I was tired and hungover. Nope turns out the flight out of Cusco was just as terrifying. Both times I wasn't confident we would make it to the next airport and so I read the emergency evacuation guide (in Spanish) twice. The plane was old and falling apart, the pilot was crazy, and the wind was not playing nice. Needless to say I was relieved to see the Lima airport 2-hours later.
Unpack, shower, repack
Che Legarto hostel let us store our bags while we traveled but now we had to consolidate everything from Machu Picchu trip and FIMRC trip into 2 bags. Help! Lauren, Erin, and I bought huge Peruvian plastic zip bags and somehow I managed to fit everything into those two bags! It's a miracle. Now just pray they don't bust somewhere between here and my car in Atlanta!
Flight HOME!
The end is in sight!! We successfully made it to the Lima airport, checked in, and got thru security. *side note: as Lauren and I waited for Erin to check in, a little old Peruvian lady came up to us and said something in German. She thought we were German/Dutch!! Best compliment ever!*
Anyways, the flight left at 1:20am and would arrive at 9:30am in Atlanta. Lauren and I were on the same plane so it was nice to have a buddy with me. Well as we got in line to do the gate security check and board the plane, somehow I got flagged. I was the last person in line (last person in that area of the airport) and they decide to pull me aside and do a full bag check. Peruvian plastic bag strike #1. The airport workers start packing up the tables and closing the gate while this idiot was still rummaging around in my bag. I actually started to tear up bc I wasn't sure what they were saying (my brain was done) and it looked like they weren't going to let me on the plane. LET ME ON!! There's only 1 plane a day to Atlanta! I was formulating some choice Spanglish sentences but at that moment the idiot decided I wasn't a terrorist and let me board. Thank God!
Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta
I'm back on US soil!! Customs and immigrations seemed like a breeze and I couldn't wait to see my parents outside the gate in just a few seconds. My Peruvian plastic bags drew some attention by the drug dogs (strike #2) but after asking what the contents of my bags were twice and I said the same thing, the guy seemed convinced and let me pass. One more person to talk to and I was freeee! Oh wait...
Peruvian plastic bags strike #3. Nope Atlanta agriculture control was not feeling Lauren and my Peruvian plastic bags and they turned us away. Just feet from the door! We had to go into the special security area and have someone double check the contents of our bags. Lauren was paired with the real jerk and I got this nice lady who looked like she felt bad for us. Probably because we smelled and looked exhausted... Just a guess. But anyways after removing all contents of all bags and laying them out for the world to see, they asked us to remove all outerwear. Cool so basically a strip search. I warned the lady that I hadn't showered in a few days bc I couldn't do cold showers anymore but she didn't care. After hand expecting all my dirty socks and underwear with no sign of crazy souvenirs, produce or drugs, we passed the test. And 30 minutes later we were free to go! Hualleluia!!
Atlanta I am home!!!!
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