Next Stop, Peru

I love to travel. I like to return to places I've enjoyed visiting -- a fourth trip to Chicago is scheduled for this spring -- and I like to visit places I've never been. For decades, literally, I've kept a list of places I want to visit and plan and research things to see on each trip. Somewhat regimented? Yes. My theory has been that if I get to somewhere once I don't want to miss anything I might enjoy. I've also scheduled my travels around work. Whether it meant not traveling at certain times of the year -- around Christmas -- or simply scheduling around events and colleagues' schedules, I tended to schedule somewhat far ahead. There wasn't a lot of room for spontaneity and I became used to it.

But that's all different now. There aren't a lot of long-standing commitments, unless I choose to make them. I did schedule this trip in the summer, but it may be the last major trip I schedule so far ahead. The big difference in this trip...it wasn't on my list of places I especially wanted to see. It sounded interesting and the scenery looked gorgeous, but for years I flipped the page in the brochure. Last summer I didn't flip the page and next month I'm going to Peru.

 Machu Picchu is on the cover of this guide I borrowed at the library today

 

I enjoy archeology sites and I'm especially interested in seeing Machu Picchu, the Incan city in the Andes. I'll also be in Lima, the capital and Cuzco, which was the Incan capital and combines both Incan and colonial sites.

 I'll also spend a few days in the Amazon, and yes, I'm hoping to see a monkey or two while I'm there. The Amazon rainforest will be very different from the cities of Lima and Cuzco, both of which have very high elevations.

I'm not exactly sure why I stopped flipping the page for the Andes and the Amazon, and really it doesn't matter. Something in me said this is the trip for now. Next month I board a plane for Miami and then another for Lima. I need to start brushing up on my high school Spanish and make sure I know how to use my new camera. Next stop, Peru and you know there will be pictures.

I enjoyed the NY Times Travel Show a lot. If I ever have doubts -- can't imagine that I will -- that there's nowhere I want to visit, yesterday's visit to the show reminded me that there are a lot of places left to see. Some I've been thinking about for a long time -- Sri Lanka -- and some I've never thought of before, like Greenland. I've got lots of brochures to read and enjoy.

I walked part of the way home yesterday after the travel show and enjoyed the spring-like day. Today it was winter and I wore a hat and heavy coat while I did my errands. The forecast for tomorrow is snow and I'm getting my boots ready.  

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy!