Trip under way. Yesterday was a flat out day of travel to position ourselves for the rest of the trip.

Stayed at the Ritz in Orlando…

Had a little pregame gathering…

Got passports and visas back…

Next morning everyone was up early, not many slept well with the thoughts of what lays ahead.

Then time to gather the people and bags and head to the Sanford airport to finally get on our plane/home for the next 3.5 weeks…

Once settled in we took off for Lima, Peru. We had all beeen wondering what this plane set-up would actually be like. Well, it is a refurbished 757, configured to hold approx. 80 people. Reclining seats for all, a dedicated (and excellent) crew/staff, executive chef, and doctor on board.

Soon after take off it was time for the eating/drinking to begin…

Wined and dined our way to reading, sleeping, crosswording, and generally wondering how in the world did I end up here, and when is the next trip !

Five hours later, wait, what are those…

…our first sighting of the Andes. These are only things I have read and dreamed about, imagine I will say that a lot over the coming weeks.

Landed in Lima, did all the security doings, transfers, milling about and it was back on another plane for Cusco. One of the many amenities we are enjoying through this travel is that we never have to touch our baggage once we leave a hotel. 170 bags just disappear from one hotel and miraculously reappear in your next hotel room.

Cusco is the capital of the Incan empire, and the home of Manchu Picchu where the Inca Citadel is. But, by the time we landed in Cusco, got on vans for our hotel we didn’t care if it was the capital of Indiana – everyone one was beat. Things began to melt away though as we pulled up to the hotel and were met by hot towels, tea, and stunning surroundings. Immediately, I was taken by our hotel – Belmont Palacios Nazarenas. The lobby is the old Nazarenes Chapel, and is dripping with old world charm while blending seamlessly with the modern amenities we all enjoy.

Finally get to our room, and what should appear but is one of the nicest hotel rooms this boy has every stayed in…

Could just feel the wear of the day melt away as we walked to dinner…

Then had a buffet dinner I will be talking about for a long time to come…

We are taking most of today to relax and repack. Seems repacking will be on of the things we will do a lot, and hopefully will get good at – backpack, wheelie bag, big suitcase, camera bag ! Some Samoan kid might just find himself the owner of a new wardrobe.

Tomorrow will be another long day, but one I am looking forward to – Sacred Valley of the Incas and Macchu Picchu. Until then, I am feeling drawn to another activity…