April 2015 – Home is Here

Just as the sun became super hot and our boundless energy and excitement of being at and visiting THE Machu Picchu began to wane and as the crowds of people seemed to increase, we all decided it was time to leave. When I bought our train tickets, I made an executive decision to spend a little bit more to get a “free” snack at the only restaurant/hotel at the top of the mountain.

People were hot and the woman who tried to cut me in line declared herself dying of thirst (yea lady, now walk around with a 12 kilo toddler on your back). Because we had this “free” voucher for a snack, we couldn’t just enter the restaurant area normally. I’ll spare you the details, but needless to say, ordering, waiting, and then actually sitting down in the restaurant was somewhat of an ordeal. We didn’t expect much from our free Ham and Cheese sandwiches.

We were wrong. They were enormous, and pretty good.

Isabel and her giant ham and cheese croissant.

Our meal was accompanied by some traditional Peruvian music. Really, can’t get away from the pan flute here. Isabel, who had walked some during the day, but had been on my back for the majority of the time, was itching to start dancing. And dance she did.

I really should have taken a video of the Japanese tourist taking a video of her dancing with the musicians in the background.

and now here she is trying to jump to the Peruvian classic, El Condor Pasa.

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Long overdue Isabel update….

Isabel, at 22 months, has flown on an airplane about 14 times, traveled by train and bus and by car. She has run around Incan ruins, city squares, parks, and manicured museum gardens. She says “hola” and “hiya”; “bye bye” and “ciao ciao”. She can ask for “agua” and “more”; “cheese” and “palta” (avocado in Peru). She says “aqui” and “alli”; “arriba” and “abajo”. She says “mmm, good” and “rico”. She can demand to “walk” or “dance” or command you to “sit” or “sing”. She can offer to “help you” as well as ask for help by saying “help you”. (me and you are still pretty confusing).

Her favorite toys are her stuffed animal dog, named “Bow wow” and her “Dolly”. She loves writing with crayons; playing in her play kitchen; helping me in the real kitchen; helping me with laundry, folding clothes and then putting them away. She can sort of get her shoes on and off herself. As soon as she hears music, she starts dancing.

She still can’t jump. 😉

Here are a few photos of her running around Machu Picchu. (I have MANY more MP/Sacred Valley photos that I’ll get around to posting hopefully very soon):