I guess I should start this blog somewhere last week when mom dad and I went to La Paz Bolivia- It it pretty hard to do so considering the recent events that have ensued. But, I will save the best for last.
On my last day in Cusco I lost my Peruvian cell phone (Unfortunate event 1) We left for some traveling around Lake Titicaca and Bolivia last Saturday July 30th. After saying a temporary goodbye to my host parents I headed to the hotel that my parents were staying in in Cusco for an early morning bus departure. Next morning we woke up and got on the bust at 7 am. The first bus ride was pretty great. We had lots of stops at inka ruins along the way and I got to pet some more Peruvian livestock- this time I became friends with a sweet cow. We arrived in Puno (right on Lake Titicaca) around 3 pm. We checked into our hotel and also checked out the Farmacia for some meds- we weren't feeling to hot. Just coughing alot a little feverish not too bad. We got codene cough syrup though so we were excited for some sleep! Next morning we went on our tour of Lake Titicaca. It was very beautiful and we got to visit the floating islands- I even played volleyball with a little native girl. They build the islands using reeds that grow in the lake- its pretty incredible. Then we headed out to a further non-floating island for a small hike with amazing views. About half way up to the top there is a small market area. Here I changed lenses to creep some pictures of the natives with my telephoto. When I pulled it out of my bag it was covered in something sticky... I was confused- Then I realized that all of our cough syrup was now all over my bag. The lid didn't close correctly (U.E. #2) I managed to save everything though including my phone which was very sticky for a few days and laid my bag in the Sun to dry. We returned in the evening and by this time we were feeling a litte more under the weather so we returned for more magic syrup and were given a "natural alternative" which didn't do anything.
Next morning was our 7 hour bus ride to La Paz. We stopped in Copa Cabanna which is a cute town on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. When we got to La Paz we were a coughing choir. Feeling really sick and decided to stay in for the night and get some sleep. We woke up Tuesday feeling like death. We stayed in bed all day except for a couple hours when we went to find the Subway- (its been sooooo long). After Subway we were out of energy and back to sleep it was. Ice cream for dinner to soothe the throats. Wednesday we were feeling a little better and dad had scheduled a hike in the Andes. This hike was really beautiful and I enjoyed it alot! We were all really tired though so we went very slow. The hike back to the van felt like walking on glass to me. I lost all my energy, couldn't stop coughing and blowing my nose and just downright painful to put one food in front of the other.
When we got back to the hotel after I showered I came down with a high fever and on came the body aches. Friday moring we had a 13 hour bus ride back to Cusco. ROOOUUUGHHHHH! The border crossing was literally hell on earth. The bus had to push vendors out of the way just to get down the street. There were people EVERYWHERE it was apparently market day- I don't know what all those people were doing there but wow. And somewhere around here I pulled/ bruised a muscle right in front of my heart from coughing. Half the way through the border crossing I thought I was dying of a heart attack. But we made it and crashed in Cusco so we could head out Saturday afternoon.
After a tearful goodbye with Katy and Katalina and wonderful Chifa (Chinese Peruvian fusion food) we headed to the airport. Our flight from Cusco to Lima went smoothly.
We arrived in Lima around 5 and weren't allowed to check in until 2 hours before our flight so 7pm. Which was a little annoying but it was okay we just sat in the corner and coughed some more. Once 7pm came around we got into the "passengers with online check-in" line because we had our boarding passes NOPE- go in the other line- these aren't right (anger scale: 0.5) So we get into line. And here marks the beginning of the most waiting I've done in my life. We waited to get our boarding passes for 2.5 hours because they asked each person about 3284728379 questions and generally move extremely slow. So we then go to the gate, board our airplane and settle in for our 5 hour flight. About 15 minutes later captain comes on and says "We're just finishing some maintenance checks and should be leaving in about 5 minutes". 30 Minutes later "Well- were having a technical difficulty we'll keep you updated". Multiple announcements and 4 hours later we are finally aloud to deboard the plane (anger scale: 9 U.E#3).
At this point I cracked like a spring chick. People probably thought I was crazy but I had had little sleep, I'm coughing and have snot coming out of every hole on my face, I want to go home after being goine for 7 weeks now and every time I cough I feel like I'm having a heart attack. Now we wait just "a moment longer" for our canceled out immigration cards so we can re-enter Peru) an hour later were headed back to the desk outside of security. Here we wait from 3 am until we finally get our to our hotel at 6:30am. That was 45 minutes from the hotel.
So we rest all day and eat some soup, have a good free dinner at the hotel and jump back in the bus at 8pm. Dad says "everybody got your passports!?!" I look in my purse and don't see mine, I have a flashback to the room and it being on the desk so I jump out to check. When I get to the room its not there- must be in my things somewhere. After running down 5 flights of stairs I jump back in the van and find it in my purse, great! I set it beside me to put in my pocket. Then we pick up another really nice guy from KY and talk a bit about his travels, get to the airport and jump out of the taxi, get in the line at American Airlines again and I go to take out my passport. I have a heart attack and keep digging, keep digging. Its not here-its gotta be here I just had it. But its not- (UE # 4) So I frantically run outside and see if the van is still there- yes it looks like it is. I run to the "green taxi" desk that we used our vouchers from . They remind me to "calmate and tranquilla" and I'm doing my best to speak Spanish and not loose my cool. 30 minutes later while outside calling- I lose my cool. I made so many deals with God- I was literally on my knees begging. The guy told me in Spanish that I believe in God and it will be okay. Its now 10 pm and my flight is scheduled to leave at 12:30. My green taxi friend is attempting to call the 25 vans that were working tonight "Cristian, Luis, Salazar.." and keeps calling most of the names fade out but Salazar still hasn't answered.
We went to the bus lot in far away creepy land of the airport, we ran, we walked, I cried alot more and prayed alot more. 2 hours later Salazar answers (its now 11:30). He has my passport and will be at the airport in "5 minutes". I know- after all this that 5 minutes means about 30 minutes Peruvian time. I kept telling them to fire him, but I didn't know the word in Spanish so I just kept doing the "cut throat" move- they probably thought I was the most psycho American ever.
10 minutes later I have my passport and I am Olympic sprinting to the front doors of the airport. I jump in line- we get our boarding passes, she says we have plenty of time. (I thanked God by the way- many times, I have some promises also). So we run through the airport through security. Come up over the handicap ramps and oh.... everyones still sitting outside the plane. We wait.. the captain who we're all on a first name basis with now tells us they should be finishing up with the new part to fix the fuel leak in the right engine. He says he wont wait longer than an hour. But, time keeps passing and its 2:45. The maintenance team has tried the test 3 times and it failed all three. But they wont cancel our flight- this is what got me. They know the flight isn't leaving but they wont cancel it. We're all just sitting ducks once again second night- no sleep. The captain and crew leave. 30 minutes later they announce it it canceled. Then we have to wait for our freshly second time stamped "canceled" immigration cards to return. We wait another hour and a half. Then race down through baggage claim and all the stuff. I could pretty much work here now, I know the entire lay out and passages. But I'd probably hate my life if I did because this airport is LOCO! So we go, once again back to the counter. And wait another hour for the mercy of the American Airlines ladies and overbearing idiotic unhelpful machisimo boss man to reschedule us. After we get rescheduled we go over to the TACA desk- with our new flight plan we'll be home at 7pm. Great! Not to shabby. Welp here it comes- unfortunate event 7328570293 they over booked our flight. So we angrily return to the the desk (level 10) and ask not to be placed on standby thank you. Its now 6 am.
And from there on out and a few more dumb mistakes from the counter followed by immediately leaving after every thing was done we have flights from Lima to Miami at 12:30 pm land and reboard to Atlanta- getting to Altanta at 12:30 and renting a car, driving home we will be home tomorrow morning around 4am. IF ALL GOES AS PLANNED. Which I've learned means nothing.
I know this blog is extremely long and the time estimates may seem off- but coming up on 48 hours I think lines at Carowinds will seem like a joke. And if I never see another cue line or Lima airport again I will be one happy girl.
Wish me luck that I see you stateside. Until then- count your blessings and when 5 minutes to 4 hours seems like a big deal I'm going to remember this experience.
