FINALLY

We have a definite place to stay. The previous apartment was great- however they wanted $800 wired to them for the deposit. While I think this may just be how business is done down there, nobody on this side of the equator was comfortable with that idea... so we're going with an apartment that we can pay for via PayPal. We're actually going to have to move apartments on June 11 due to availability issues- but both places look great, were very reasonably priced, and the owner is going to help us move.

Here are the links to the places:
http://mseg.info/salazar_902/
http://mseg.info/grimaldo/

We're pretty happy. And it's in a great location in Miraflores- and it will minimize the amount of walking from the grocery store to the apt (because our appetites will likely outweigh our arm strength).

I got my Hep A and TDAP (tetanus) shots today at the Health Dept office. That was an experience. The shots were fine, however about 10 seconds after the TDAP my arm began to feel on fire, and hasn't really stopped since. I had to think for a long time which arm is better to lose use of- I check people out all day at work with my left arm, but who wants to sacrifice ol' righty? So the left it was. Jason got this last year and was in pain for days. My friend Ida was in the same boat last week. Hopefully it won't be too bad. I did run 8 miles with Jessica this afternoon which I thought would help, but turns out bringing my huge water bottle actually caused me to keep my arm entirely still for the whole run (tucked water bottle between arm and body like a football). Genius.

Today was my first day off work of the last 8 days. I work Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, and Mon of this week. I'm getting slightly exhausted... hopefully the next few days fly by. I'm happy, though, because this trip is DEFINITELY well earned (after this entire school year, especially the spring semester, and now the last couple of weeks).

Time for bed I guess. This time next week we'll be in Lima!

Home Sweet Home

Could it be true? Well, almost. I think we've finally sealed the deal on an apartment. Jason's mom has been emailing the property's owners and told them we want to reserve the place for the month, we're just yet to put any money down to make it ours. The place looks great- it's in a good part of town and has everything we need (place to wash clothes, internet, and oh yeah- running water 24/7).

We should know in the morning if we're really good to go- here are some pics:

some news

part two to previous post:

I now have my train tickets to Machu Picchu! although- I am QUITE frustrated because while waiting for Expedia to confirm my revs, the "backpacker" tickets sold out, and now I must go slightly more expensive "Vistadome" train. Price isn't really the issue I guess- just frustrating that last time I checked (hmm... yesterday?) there were still tickets, and today- there are not.

OH WELL! Just need to find a place to stay in Cusco for the 16th and 18th and my trip planning is done! I'm very excited, yet very anxious to see how well this all works out...

no news is bad news

Still waiting on an apartment. The beach one we loved doesn't have internet or cable. While I am fine being without internet and TV for that long... if I have any hopes of being productive for school (or blogging! duh), I think it'd be really nice to have that kind of thing available at home. Sooo we're still very frustrated, trying to find a place to stay.

On the bright side, I got my typhoid and yellow fever immunizations today. I now can't move my arm. Oh well, I guess it was worth the $220 to be temporarily paralyzed? Right. I'm just a TDAP/Hep A away from being disease-free in Peru (minus traveler's diarrhea... can't wait for that one).

I also am staying in a SUPER nice hostel/3 star hotel in Aguas Calientes now. The room I'm in is worth $75, but I told them I am poor and can't pay that much, so we cut a deal. So I'm very happy. It's called Gringo Bill's in case anyone is wondering. I'm still waiting on Expedia to confirm my flights before I buy my train ticket... this is getting annoying. I will NOT be happy if I have to pay a million dollars on the "Hiram Bickham" luxury train to get to M.P. just because stupid Expedia can't get their stuff together. I will be quite relieved when that all gets sorted out (oh, and when I find a place to stay in Cusco- that's next on the to-do list).

That is all for now. Paz :)

waiting game

We still haven't figured out where we're staying in Lima. We had some great options- one of which we're 90% sure was scamming us ("please wire us $375 before you get here"), and the other is now booked. We have a BEAUTIFUL place that we're really hoping to score... however, we're dealing with the potential scamming issue again (give us your passport #, pay in only cash, etc.). We've seen these requirements on a few sites tho (only accepts cash)... so it's hard to tell if that is just how renting abroad goes, or if Peru is full of horrible, lying people.

Here is what we're hoping to score:

http://apartmentclubperu.com/acp_apartments.php?arr_date=&dep_date=&beg_apt=0&locref=&prop_no=189&internet=&cable=&hora=&sorp=&furnished=&floor=&elevator=&disabled_access=&parking=&meters=&bedrooms=&phoneinstalled=&smoking=&pets_allowed=&rate_type=&max_amount=

wallet is burning

Just bought my plane tickets from Lima to Cusco. If I leave Lima at 5:40am on June 16th, they cost $300. If I leave Lima at 7:00am on June 16th, they cost $450. I think we know I'll be getting up early that day.

I need to buy my train tickets from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, but the Expedia tickets aren't confirmed yet... so I'm going to wait till I'm off of work tomorrow to purchase them (and cross my fingers I get some confirmation). Let's hope this isn't a costly mistake...

The itinerary right now is: arrive in Cusco at 7am, spend day there. Head to AG at 7:52am on the 17th, spend the night in AG, get up at 4am on the 18th to head to Machu, spend day there, head back to Cusco at 5pm that day... fly out of Cusco at 3:10pm on the 19th. I think it sounds like a winner winner, chicken dinner trip to me.

Machu Picchu

Alright, so I've been trying to plan my Machu Picchu trip for some time. Considering I have to arrange a flight from Lima to Cusco, then a train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, and then a bus from A.G. to Machu Picchu, I'm a little concerned about a glitch popping up somewhere in these travels (if their time-keeping is anything like in Spain).

Here is what I'm planning on right now:
June 15, Monday- fly to Cusco early morning.
June 16, Tuesday- take the 7:42am train to Aguas Calientes (the only one I can afford).

Here is what I'm unsure of...

Either stay in Aguas Calientes for the night, go to M.P. at like 6am in the morning to catch the sunrise, then spend the day there and catch the afternoon train back to Cusco, OR just spend the whole day of the 16th at M.P. and come back that same day. I won't get into Aguas Calientes till noon on the 16th, so I'd like to get there early to avoid crowds and hike up Wayna Picchu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huayna_Picchu).

Here are the hostels I'm thinking of:
Aguas Calientes: http://www.wiracochainn.com/location.html ~$55/night
Cusco: http://www.sanblashostal.com/ingles.htm ~$25/night

Either way, I'll probably spend the whole day in Cusco after I do M.P., then head back to Lima early morning on Thursday or Friday.

Suggestions (especially from experienced travelers) accepted :)

where we stand

well, after a many-week search for apartments, Jason and I have narrowed it down to two:

http://lima.en.craigslist.org/apa/1126285923.html
http://lima.en.craigslist.org/apa/1151005381.html

both look super awesome- we're waiting to see the exact location of one (relative to Miraflores and the beach), and then we'll be in business for our official apartment! The previous offer we had for $200/month was awesome, but apparently one of the twin beds we'd be sharing was a mattress thrown over wooden slats, and Linca (the district in Lima) isn't the nicest. considering that I will be hanging around the apartment all day, I'd like a nice running trail/stuff to do, rather than be 30 min away from anything entertaining.

I'm pretty excited about our current selections. Can't wait to get down there. I get my immunizations next Tuesday morning; that outta put me out ~$200, but oh well... the price you pay to spend a month with your boyfriend in Peru :)

PS- input accepted on our apartment selections.

hopeful

Hi Kelyn,

I just emailed Jason back, sorry for the delay in answering. As I told Jason, I have rented rooms for a while for international students, Amanda was in my house this past month. I will have a room available for June, its in the 3rdfloor of my house and has an independent front door, the room has its own bathroom, wooden floors, curtains, a bed, a closet, night table, a table and 2 chairs, internet connection (not wireless). The room shares a small kitchen with 3 other persons. The kitchen has a refrigerator, microwave, and small gas stove. Our house has water service 24/7 ( I specify this because there are some areas of Lima tha have water cut downs). The price per month is $200 for both of you, this includes the internet, water, electricity.

Please let me know if you are interested, so that I can book you guys for June. Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them.

bye

Rosa Maria