Jennifer Lucas

AuntTravelingJen

Jennifer Lucas

It wasn't until my mid-thirties that I really got serious about traveling. For me, it is a part of the definition of who I am today. Seeing new places and experiencing new cultures inspires me. Whether I travel with friends or by myself, I find the experience enriching. I do find it hard to leave my dog, Skyla, at home and I hope to find ways in 2015 to bring her along with me while traveling in the US.

In the past, I would post updates during my travels on Facebook but it didn't permit me to capture as much as I could by journaling. I find myself forgetting the names of places I've been and have a hard time remembering why I took a picture that seemed so meaningful at the time. Blogging captures the moment on the same day that I experienced it and allows me to share that moment with friends and family. I'll also try to add in tips and tricks that I have learned over the course of time for others to use if they so choose.

DC to Phoenix Road Trip: Day One, Roanoke, VA

North America » United States » Virginia » Roanoke May 1st 2017

Beers at Jack Brown's Beer and Burger

AuntTravelingJen

After getting my apartment all packed up and off to storage, we headed out for our first stop on the trip, Roanoke, VA. Roanoke was a stop based upon convenience and distance more than what there is to "say and do" in town. That said, Roanoke has a special small town vibe in the downtown area. We walked through some of the streets downtown enjoying the small fun stores, then headed to dinner at Jack Brown's Beer and Burgers. With specialty burgers named after characters like Danny Laruso and Greg Brady, as well as classic artists like Elvis, we knew we were up for an experience. My dad tried the Jalapeno Popper with cream cheese and pickled jalapenos and I had the Greg Brady with macaroni and cheese, American and cheddar blend cheese and BBQ potato ... read more

Peru Day 7: Lake Titicaca - Floating Islands of the Uros and Taquile Island

South America » Peru » Puno » Lake Titicaca November 24th 2014

Uros Island Inhabitant

AuntTravelingJen

We woke up today to watch the sunrise on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Our hotel, Sonesta Posada Del Inca Puno, is situated on the shore of Lake Titicaca, South America's highest and largest navigable lake. The breakfast, despite the pretty views, was abysmal. I barely ate. Today was dedicated to a boat journey through Lake Titicaca. We said a goodbye to Dagmar, our tour guide through the Cusco region, last night and hello to Charo, our guide in Puno this morning. Charo is very engaging, funny, and knowledgeable about this area and the unique culture found here. I grabbed a seat at the front of the boat with a nice big open window where the lake breeze could blow in. Lake Titicaca has brackish water which gives the breeze a slightly salty tang. Our boat ... read more

Peru Day 6: Journey to Lake Titicaca

South America » Peru » Puno » Puno November 23rd 2014

San Pedro Apostol Church in Andahuaylillas

AuntTravelingJen

Today was a rough travel day for me. We took a long bus journey through the Andes. The countryside was beautiful. We drove through several small villages outside of Cusco. An interesting aspect of the villages that we drove through which were in the outlying areas of Cusco was that each village was essentially dedicated to a specific commodity for Cusco. For example, one village that we drove through and briefly stopped at, specialized in Chicharrones (Fried Pork Skin - tastier than pork rinds). We also stopped in a village that specialized in pan (bread). The bread was nicely sweet and fresh from the oven. The first place that we stopped for any length was the village of Andahuaylillas. This village is best known for its beautiful baroque 17th-century church dedicated to Saint Peter the Apostle. ... read more

Peru Day 5: Cusco Redux

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco November 22nd 2014

Inside the Fortress at Saqsayhuaman

AuntTravelingJen

Today was a free day with an available option to visit nearby ruins in Cusco during the morning. I opted for the ruins which included a visit to Saqsayhuaman, Q'enqo, and Tambomachay. The history of all three sites is fascinating but I'll try to keep it brief. Sacsayhuaman is a religious fortress overlooking Cusco. It has three walls shaped in a precise zigzag fashion. Much of the site was decimated by the Spanish after they won the battle at Sacsayhuaman in 1536. The original site had three large towers and only the foundations still remain. Only the huge stone blocks, some over 12 feet high, still remain of the once impressive site. Viewing the site was still awe-inspiring but also sad because this amazing site was lost to history. Q'enqo was a sacred site that has ... read more

Peru Day 4: Cusco

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco November 21st 2014

Coricancha / Santo Domingo

AuntTravelingJen

This morning we started with a tour of Cusco. Cusco is a bustling city with the Plaza de Armas serving as the central hub. Our first stop of the morning was Coricancha and Santo Domingo. After defeating the Inca, the Spaniards worked to destroy the images of the pagan gods. Coricancha was essentially the home of the gods in Cusco. The Spaniards repurposed Coricancha as a convent of Santo Domingo, repurposing much of the original stone for the colonial church. Much of the original foundation can still be found surrounding the church and inside the convent there remains some of the original rooms of Coricancha. Coricancha was also the source of much of the gold in Cusco. All of the walls and rooms had gold leaf along the tops of the walls. There was also a ... read more

Original Structure of Coricancha Inside Santo Domingo

Peru Day 3: Machu Picchu

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu November 20th 2014

First View of the Ruins

AuntTravelingJen

Today was a very long day starting with a 6:00 AM bus to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, we took the Perurail Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. The train ride was very scenic and you could catch glimpses of the Inca Trail all along the ride. We saw a few ruins on the sides of the mountains and many terraces. The ride followed the Urubamba river all the way to Aguas Calientes which is the village where you transfer over to buses to ride up to the ruins. Aguas Calientes used to be a very small village before the tourists started coming to Machu Picchu. Now it is a bustling little town filled with restaurants, hostels, and vendors. The buses up to the ruins are all privately owned by a cooperative who are now apparently quite rich from ... read more

Peru Day 2: Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac

South America » Peru » Cusco » Ollantaytambo November 19th 2014

Market at Urubamba

AuntTravelingJen

We had a full day today. The day started at 8:00 am with a weaving demonstration. The woman that led the demonstration was hilarious, if you just understood a smidge of Spanish. It was actually interesting how they weave the cloth by hand, using natural dyes and even natural soap (a tuber that grows in the Andes). At 9:00 AM we were on the road to our first stop, Urubamba. We stopped by the market to see how the locals go “grocery” shopping. The market had a wonderful assortment of meat, dried beans and grains, medicinal herbs, and produce. The smell was surprisingly nice, given the fact that there was every type of meat just there in the open air. That is a little gross, given American sensibilities, but I was assured that the climate of ... read more

Peru Day 1: Ancient Valley of the Inca - Yucay

South America » Peru » Cusco » Urubamba November 18th 2014

Cusco

AuntTravelingJen

8:00 AM Landed in Lima using LAN airlines with no issues. The sky is grey and it is about 65 degrees. The customs process was a bit complicated, however the airport personnel were very pleasant and happy to help. Once I got through customs, my smarTour guide met me right at the gate. I’m now waiting for the flight to Cusco. One thing that makes this trip very easy is the fact that the time zones are aligned, it is the same time here as it was when I departed from Miami. I also made sure to hit the ATM to get Sols for the trip. My bank doesn’t charge a fee for international withdrawals, so check your bank’s policies to see if you should get Sols prior to your trip. My carryon strategy worked perfectly ... read more

My Itinerary

North America » United States » Virginia » Arlington November 15th 2014

AuntTravelingJen

I'm getting geared up for my trip to Peru. I can't believe I am traveling on Monday! I need to straighten up the house for the dog sitter and start packing. First thing before packing is writing the list, what to take with me without adding unnecessary weight. Why? Weight restrictions for flights are a big deal. I want to leave plenty of room for souvenirs on the way back. For myself, I always like to bring back an item of jewelry and one art piece but I also try to bring something home from my trips for family. While writing my list, I need to keep my itinerary in mind. Below is my travel plan... November 17: overnight travel. Sleeping in flight requires a very comfy outfit, including a large silk scarf, cozy socks, and ... read more

Joined	November 15th 2014	Trips	2
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