Tess The Travel Addict: Peru Day 1

Tess at Terminal 1 Toronto

It is finally happening. After several days of packing and re-packing, checking my list and finalizing itinerary bookings, my friend Tina and I are flying to Lima Peru today. It is our gateway to Cuzco where we are going to tackle the 4-day hike to Machu Picchu along the sacred pilgrimage route of the Inca Trail. I was already wide awake when my son came to wake me up this morning to drop him off at school. My flight is not until 12:35 pm. I have plenty of time so I am pretty relaxed and none of the jitters from prior days of packing. The first flight is via United Airlines to Houston Texas. While waiting to board, Tina and I are talking about grabbing late lunch at the Houston airport before catching our next flight. We have about 1.5 hours layover.

To account for what is to be expected once we get to Lima, it will be before midnight and probably around 1:00 am when we reach our hotel. We are staying at a guest house Casa Serena in Miraflores. Miraflores is an exclusive residential and upscale shopping district south of downtown Lima. Casa Serena is within walking distance of many restaurants and parks. It is not very far from the Pacific ocean according to Google Maps. We haven't decided how are we going to spend our one day in Lima yet but one thing for sure we are going to check a couple of restaurants and try Pisco Sours, a popular Peruvian drink.

To reflect on this journey while waiting in Terminal 1 departure area…. It was in the year 2012 or even before that when I started thinking and dreaming of Machu Picchu particularly hiking the Inca Trail. I was dreaming of travelling solo but I was nervous to venture out on my own to South America. I was researching about it when I stumbled on Emily Sandidge's post comment in Travelocity. She has a link to her video of the Inca Trail. I watched it several times and was mesmerized. Emily is a beautiful American blond girl who filmed her trek of the Inca Trail. She struggled as she climbed the highest peak but she made it. She even cried as she documented her plight. I messaged her and it was the beginning of our virtual friendship. In her Vimeo account, she has a video of her solo drive around Iceland. As I watched the video, it gave me the idea of going to Iceland first. I thought it would be a safe place for me to try as a solo traveller.

The trip to Iceland has paved the way for planning extensively on a trip. I want to do more exploration travel. Funnelled by the book I read called "Akyat", the story of the first Filipino who summited the seven highest mountains in seven continents, I started dreaming of trekking. There are a few mountains I want to see and hike even though I thought it is impossible at this age but I need to at least try. So to get me going, I started hiking .... so here I am .... on my way to Machu Picchu.

Now my fear is getting real though. The only mountain I climbed is Batad Rice Terraces in the Philippines and it is not even high. I already laboured on that one… so much more of climbing to 13,000 feet above sea level. This I know is going to be hard on me especially my lungs and knees. It is a test of limits and determination. I will prevail no matter how hard it is. I will take it slow, soak it all in as my cousin Theresa said.

I will take this like a pilgrim ….. As I walk the miles, I will shed every emotional baggage ….. Let go of any worries …. overcome my self-imposed fears. Along with my friend Tina… we will conquer this mountain… the first of many.

Loving Tina already... my foodie travel buddy! Did I mention she's paying for all our food?