Aud bloggin

---

I could hardly sleep last night because I have so much that I am thinking about as Bob and I getting ready to leave this great country . . . Peru. If you look at a map of Peru it has so many different regions from the selva (jungle), coast, high mountains, and high plains. It kind of reminds me of all the variety California has to offer. The people are as varied as the geography, but what I like is they all have big hearts and retain their heritage/history whatever it may be.

Bob and I have made a few special life-long friendships here in Cusco. Maria (who I stayed with the last time I was here) and her family are very hard-working in their new business endeavors (two bars). What is a lot of fun for me is that Maria & I still connect on a "Mom" level discussing our kids, talking about how we hate the smoke in the bars, but they have to live with it for now and she understands my Spanish and says it has improved!

The Inca Trail for me was of course incredible. Not only were the mountains spectacular but Bobert was with me this time to see everything and experince the magic of the Incan spirit which continues to exist. On a personal hiking level, I had fun (except for the loss of my stupid voice) feeling my body go up and down, trying to keep my balance on the tricky trail, absorbing all the details and new scenes that change moment to meoment depending on the weather. The rainy day was in fact cold and only disappointing because it was difficult to stop and look at all the flowers and birds. Bob and I got lucky with a great group of people to hike with and get to know. There was a group of friends from New Jersey, a guy from NY state (originally from the Ukraine), a guy from Florida, 2 couples from London. Natually Bob & I encouraged all of them to hike the beautiful Sierra Nevada! Our guides were terrific, but I gotta say that the cook was amazing. Most of the food was yummy and as you can imagine well received after hours of hiking, but he still arranged the salads beautifully on the plates and made this huge cake with icing on New Years Eve I don´t think I will ever forget. I think part of my amazement is that I know how difficult it is to get the energy together to cook on the trail and to try to be creative too (which I have to admit Bob and I are improving on each summer we are in the backcountry), but a CAKE! That is genuis. OK, I guess you got my point on that one.

We are up in an airplane today. First back to Lima, then to Santiago, Chile arriving around 2:30 am. I checked on the weather and the temp is in the middle 90s. I am kind of glad because Cusco is cold and of course rainy. We´ll only be there for 1 1/2 days and then down to cold Patagonia. I checked the weather in Santa Cruz and it looks like days of storms are coming your way so be careful with all those crazy, phone talking drivers.

I love our trip, but I miss all of you too. Aud

---

Photos

One last photo
This is a photo with Maria, Marita her youngest and only girl and eldest son, Cesar. Joel is in the UK studying English and Coco had already left.

New Years Eve cake
YUMMY!!!

Comments

[diane]

Hi to you both- love reading the blog. Miss you and have so much to tell you! Your descriptions are wonderful, it is almost like being there. Have a safe trip home. love ya.