Miracle Baby

I couldn't muscle the energy to type last night, but I'm feeling slightly more energized today!  The 20 mile run yesterday was a great success!  And by success... I mean that I finished.

I am training with a speed-demon named Dennis who I met while training with West Coast Road Runners.  Our best half and full marathon times are within 1 minute of each other, so I feel so fortunate to have such an PERFECT training buddy!  What works out even more is that he and I both got drawn in the lottery to run the St. George Marathon next month.  We've been training 2-3 days/week together; doing hill repeats, long runs, and tempo runs.  And I'll have you know.... he kicks my butt. He pushes me much harder than I would push myself.  And yesterday?  Well.. it was no exception to the rule. What I planned to be a leisurely, comfortable 20 mile run, somehow transformed into a hill-dominating, mentally-challenging, sub- 8:00 mile, tempo run.  I'm not complaining in the least, but I'll guarantee you at mile 16 I would've told you otherwise.  It was by far one of my more challenging runs lately, but the second I got back to the car, that feeling came over me and I was so grateful he pushed me.  

Although it might seem slightly strange and/or crazy to get up at 4:30 to inflict 20 miles of torture on myself, it was a great run.  And how often do you get to watch an amazing sunrise (while running up a hill the size of Mt. Everest)?  Or watch surfers catch some "radical" morning waves? Or run through beach campgrounds (while being tortured by the delicious smell of pancakes)? And how about enjoying the most delicious cup of coffee you've ever had?  All before 9 AM?  Yeah, it was pretty awesome.  

I had every good intention of going to a coffee shop to study all day, but my legs refused to be seated in a hard, wooden chair... so I stayed at home and studied on my bed.  I got a lot done and I'm happy to report that I only fell asleep once. 

The best part of my training plan is that I get to do back-to-back long runs.  So today at 6:30 AM, Dennis and I did run #2.  It wasn't nearly as long as yesterday, but you can guarantee the 7.5 miles did not feel awesome.  Have I mentioned that I'm ready to taper yet?  

Okay, enough complaining and running talk.  The title of my post today is Miracle Baby. And while my runs the last two days were pretty miraculous, I'm not actually referring to that!  The most heart-wrenching patients to see are mothers whom you have to explain that either: a.) there is no heartbeat or b.) there is an empty gestational sac.  AKA- they've had a miscarriage.  It literally breaks my heart into a million little pieces and I have to hide my face as I choke back the tears.  

Today we had a pregnant patient follow up that had gone to two different ER's in the last 10 days because of severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding.  They each performed an ultrasound and she was told that the fetus had no heartbeat and she had miscarried the baby.  She was then told to come to our office to schedule a procedure (without going into too much detail) to remove what is remaining in her uterus.

We went and saw the patient and the doctor explained that he would need to do one final ultrasound to confirm.  After doing a little exploration, the gestational sac appeared, as did a flickering shadow. There was no mistaking... there was a heartbeat!  The doctor said, "This almost never happens.  I don't know how they missed it, but your baby is alive!"  He was in shock!  After doing fetal measurements and listening to the heartbeat on doppler, it was safe to say the baby was alive and healthy!  At the visits at the ER, the fetus was simply too young to see the heartbeat.  I can't imagine a more beautiful and shocking surprise for the mother! :)

I couldn't find any pictures that would reflect my happiness for the mother seeing her little miracle baby. 

So... here's a picture with my dear friend, Mr. Alpaca while I was at Machu Pichu last year.  

Sonrisa!

Favorite Place in the World!

Baby Catching

As many of you know, when I began this blog last year, I was in Peru volunteering in a hospital in Trujillo.  My job (if you want to call it work!) was to help deliver babies. There was no greater job than helping bring babies into the world.

I'm currently doing my OB rotation in Escondido, CA- let's just say, I'm in love.  OB is my calling.  There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a baby be brought into the world.  On Monday, I got to see a few births and it was amazing to see the difference in medicine from Peru to America.  Here is a little insider view into some of the differences in the "birthing experience"

Peru:

"Waiting Room" for family & friends

Infant Warmer

Birthing Center

Baby Nursery - all babies share a bed

America:

Infant Warmer

Birthing Room

Babies stay with the mom after birth

It's a completely and totally different experience both from a medical and patient perspective.  Patients in Peru are not allowed to have any family or friends in the delivery room.  In America, you'll likely find cousins, friends, and good ol' Aunt Jane standing by the mom's side.  Both have their advantages, but it was very enlightening to experience the American way!


Another fun tangent of the day:
Yesterday one of my patients told me she was a mother of 10.  That's a lot of babies.
Then she told me she delivered them all herself at her farm in the "campo" (countryside). She delivered every single baby, without a doctor or nurse, not even an extra pair of hands to help catch the baby.  She said all of the births were without complications and to this day all are alive and well. Unbelievable.  She also told me that they would feed the placenta to the cows.  Interesting :)  What a contrast from the elective c-sections, inductions, and epidurals that mothers are able to have thanks to modern medicine!

My lesson learned: (Besides that she was my instant hero...) Our bodies are pretty amazing and 99% of the time, they know exactly what to do and when to do it.

Baila, Gringa, Baila!

Whoever said white people can't dance may, in fact, be correct. Or maybe it's more of a Walker sister thing. Don't get me wrong, we can definitely dance in our own way, but my hips just don't move like the Peruvians do. Amber and I took a dance class on Wednesday at the gym. Think Zumba on steroids. This was some serious dancing. Front, side, criss-cross, together, spin forward, side, back, repeat! Whew! Let's just say I was almost made roadkill by the other dancers :) After letting go of the fact that I looked ridiculous and attracted many stares, I had a great time. It was definitely an ab workout from all of the laughing!

The best part (insert sarcasm here) was that there is an overhang for observers, and the back of the room is lined by floor to ceiling windows that open to the gym equipment. During the dance classes, I think the men do less working-out and spend most of their time watching (or in our case, laughing at gringas) while we get our dance on! It was absolutely hysterical.

I am SO happy to tell you that I got to help deliver my first baby yesterday! (And second baby, a 28 week old preemie!) It was absolutely incredible. Let me first tell you how lucky women are in the US. (It giving birth freaks you out, you may not want to read all of this!) 

In Peru:

1.) Women are not allowed to have any family (no spouses, mothers, sisters, etc.) in the room from the time contractions start until the time they go to recovery 8 hours post-partum.

2.) The labor and delivery rooms are combined. When it's time to push, women have to climb off their bed and climb onto the delivery bed. (Which is no more than a metal bed with stirrups, covered in a plastic towel, with a metal "catching basin" that leaks fluids into a bucket below.)

3.) Forget an epidural injection. These do not exist here.  And forget numbing medication for episiotomies... eek!  I could not believe the strength these women have; barely a sound was made in the room until the baby's first cry! No tears, complaints, or screams!

4.) After giving birth, the baby is literally whisked away to a little room where it is measured, cleaned and placed in the same crib as all the other newborns. And Peruvians are so creative! I learned swaddling techniques I had never seen, and a genious way to make a hat- simply put a diaper upside-down on the baby's head! They definitely make use of what they have! The teeny tiny newborn don't meet his mother until approximately 2 hours later.

5.) Sterile is a relative term. Washed sheets are used to cover the mother's skin, betadine is poured over her and wiped away with non-sterile cotton gauze, scissors and instruments are placed on a non-sterile table, sterile gloves are also used to move things, open packages, etc. In addition, some nurses and doctors wear masks and hairnets, while other's don't, and the same scrubs are worn daily.

6.) Forget privacy. Women give birth either nude or wearing only a shirt, with the door wide open and approximately 15 people are scattered about the room observing the birth. After delivery, all of the mothers are placed together in large room filled with beds- it would almost be like a slumber party if they weren't so exhausted from giving birth...

7.) Fetal monitoring is nothing more than hand palpations, blood pressure monitoring, and checking the babies pulse using a heart monitor every hour, or less.  Even in the case of the premature birth. 

It was such an amazing learning experience and the best Mother's Day present for those young women! Speaking of which, ¡Feliz dia de Madre! (Happy Mother's Day!) to all of you who are mothers, and a very special "Happy Mother's Day" to my Mom!  I love you!  I am so much more appreciative of what mothers have to go through to bring us into this world!

Poco a Poco

Day Two in Summary:

1.) I did not work in obstetrics as planned. (Anyone surprised?)

2.) I did not work this afternoon as planned. (Sigh...)

3.) I talked to the airlines and it seems my bag mysteriously left this world but they are "still looking." (Deep breath...)

4.) Given the above, I decided to buy a change of clothes so I took a taxi to the mall. After finding a shirt and shorts, I was told at checkout they will not accept credit cards without ID. (Where was my ID you ask? Of course I left it at the hotel!)

Peruvians frequently use the saying, "Poco a poco," meaning, little by little.  Although my day presented challenges, I am learning poco a poco that they are nothing compared to what Peruvians face on a daily basis.

This morning I went with a nurse to various neighborhoods near the clinic. The nurses go out every week to do house visits with patients that miss appointments or haven't been seen in a while. Most of the patients lived in areas called quintas, which are living spaces with a communal kitchen, toilet, and washroom for laundry. If they are lucky, there may be a shower to share among 20+ families.

The quintas are located in the space between buildings; a cobblestone pathway no more than 3-feet wide surrounded by disinigrating brick walls reaching high into the sky above. Hoses bring water to the homes and trash is scattered throughout the walkway. Stray dogs are curled in the doorways, their legs scratching away ticks and fleas. Doors are no more than 3 wooden planks nailed together or even a tarp hanging from the rotting wooden doorframe. House numbers were traced onto the cement with a pencil, as were multiple initials, drawings, and inappropriate comments. It was better to breathe from my mouth only, as the stench of urine lingered in the air. Inside the homes was a dark room filled with multiple bunkbeds, a handful of dishes, a small rickety table, and a clothesline hanging from the blue-tarp celing above.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." The people I met today have insurmountable strength and it truly puts my challenges into perspective. I aspire to live as they do, especially in every day-to-day obstacle that happens to come my way.

First Day of Volunteering!

If it hasn't been made clear enough in my blog thus far, I am definitely learning that things usually do not go as planned. In fact, I think it's better to eliminate the word "plan" completely from my Spanish vocabulary and change it to "possibility." I started volunteering today, not my possible start date of yesterday.  This was actually was a huge relief because I was so exhausted from traveling. Instead of the possibility to volunteer at the hospital in labor and delivery, I will be working in many clinics throughout Trujillo.  So... no baby catching for me!  There is a slight possibility that I am going to work tomorrow night 7PM-8AM in the delivery room which would be amazing!  But... I am not going to get my hold my breath! :)

This morning I ventured into a poorer neighborhood of Trujillo, where I'll be helping in multiple specialties. Today, I worked in family medicine and in just 3.5 hours we saw 25 patients and three pharmaceutical reps! Whew! Literally no sooner had the patient walked out of the door and the next patient was being called into the room. Charts are no more than a stack of papers stapled together, examinations are sporadic, and some sort of medication was given to every patient. Antibiotics were prescribed for most symptoms: from stomachaches to sore throats to coughs.

Also advised by the doctor was drinking lots of LUKEWARM beverages. Never, ever, are the patients to drink cold beverages. If they do happen to drink something cold, the doctor told the patients that it will aggrevate their symptoms and they will only get more sick. One patient had a fever and a slightly redder-than-normal throat and the doctor said that it was caused by the ice cream she had eaten the previous day. It is no joke that Peruvians truly believe cold drinks, foods, showers, etc. can cause sore throats and flu-like symptoms. Definitely a difference from what I am used to. I get many stares at the gym when I drink my refrigerated water. Although it is probably becuase I am a gringa and not as much the water. :) All in all, it was a fabulous first day and a true learning experience! The majority of the patients were children and infants which was exactly what I wanted to see!

One of the funniest parts of the day was meeting with the pharmaceutical reps. For all my fellow OPA'ers, it was quite the change from what we're used to! The rep handed a drug sample to the doctor and gives a 15 second speech on how it will help the patients (most saying, "it will solve all of the patients' problems, it is the most effective on the market, and you will be very pleased!"). Out of the bag comes another box if medicine, and the same speech is given. This goes on for approximately 3 minutes and they shake hands and in comes the next patient without skipping a beat. I was given approximately 20 samples today from arthritis drugs to iron-fortified pain medications. Very interesting!

Tomorrow I get to work in obstetrics and help with pregnancy exams. The doctor informed me today that the average first-time mother they see in their clinic is around 17 years old. By the time they are 30, most mothers have 4 children. I asked about contraceptives and she said that many do not take it for one of two reasons: either they are not well educated and don't know how to take the prescriptions correctly, or that their significant other believes taking the pills will increase the likelihood of her infidelity, so they do not allow it. Most of the mothers are just children themselves and it is not uncommon to see 12-year-old mothers in the clinic. My experiences are definitely humbling and put my superficial complaints into perspective. It makes me ask myself what is truly important and how incredibly much I have to be thankful for. I challenge you to live vicariously through me and remember how blessed we are to be Americans!

Peruvian Time

Fact: Things just move slower in Peru.

When walking down the street, people tend to move at a very leisurely pace, even when they are running late. If you happen to say, "tengo prisa!" (I'm in a hurry), they give you either a glare or a deer-in-the-headlights blank stare. Unlike a certain someone who is used to mapping every second of the day (e.g. wake up at 4:45AM, gym at 5:30AM, work from 7:30AM-4:30PM, run at 5:00PM, 6:00-11:00PM to include: grocery store, clean the floors, study/work on applications, cook, eat, spend time with friends/family, get stuff ready for tomorrow, fall asleep while reading and... repeat! Who could this be?!), their days are less rushed.  Time is spent doing what is absolutely necessary with the ones they love: Relaxed breakfast, leisurely walk to work, walk home to have a gigantic lunch, 2-hour siesta, walk back to work, walk home and enjoy a light dinner with family and friends.  That is not to say that life is not hard here.  I cannot even begin to fathom the stressors that they face on a daily basis!  As I said above, things just move slower, not easier. 

That being said, it has been a challenge to adapt to their slow pace.  I love the lifestyle: A built in naptime for adults?  Sign me up!  Required lunch breaks?! Yes, please! Walking everywhere? Sounds amazing! But when it comes business, (specifically the LAN airlines lost luggage department) it is a whole different story.  Two days have passed since my luggage disappeared, and the airlines doesn't seem to think it's an issue.  I have called probably 15 times, spoken to different people (in Spanish, which is frustrating in itself!), to find out, "Lo siento señorita, no sabemos nada.  Pero estamos buscando." (Sorry Miss, we don't know anything.  But we are looking.)  I suppose it is a blessing that they are speaking in Spanish because my vocabulary isn't good enough to tell them what I really want to say.  I am trying to change my frame of mind today, because I know everything happens for a reason.  Either this is a really mean lesson in surviving as a smelly person, or it's a lesson in handling things outside my control.  I suppose it's the latter, but I definitely do not smell very good!  I am very grateful that I have my sister here to lend me clothes and shoes, and I am learning that things can be easily replaced.  Well, everything except for the 5 lb block of Cheddar Cheese that I was bringing down for Amber.  Mmm... can you imagine how good my clothes are going to smell if they do find my luggage?!  Maybe I should be thankful for the way I smell now... :)

Semana Santa and Surf Lessons!



Procession during Semana Santa

In many Latin American and European countries, the week before Easter, called Samana Santa (Holy Week) is often more celebrated than Easter day itself.  This was definitely the case in Peru!  Starting with the Sunday before at Palm Sunday Mass, the priest described parade after parade that would occur in the upcoming week.  Thursday and Friday before Easter are considered National Holidays, so most businesses were shut down as the people flocked to the coastal towns to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather and fabulous festivals.  The most interesting part, however, is that on Easter Sunday itself, most businesses opened back up and resumed life as usual! 

The parades were amazing to see, with gorgeous displays of the Crucifix, huge marching bands, incense, and people following the procession as they walked for miles.  One specific procession walked over 15 miles, from one end of Trujillo to the other.  On Easter Sunday, my family and I went to the Cathedral in Trujillo for mass.  40 minutes later, the mass was over (if you have EVER been to a Catholic holiday mass, or any mass for that matter, you will know this is not normal!) and life continued as any other normal day.  It was a change from the celebrations that I am used to! 


Sunset in Huanchaco, Peru

Since Amber was able to get the Thursday and Friday before Easter off of work, we went to Huanchaco, a town 25 minutes by car from Trujillo.  It is well known to be a surfer's paradise.  Amber has recently become an avid surfer, so she convinced myself and her friend Kathleen to take surfing lessons.  One more fabulous thing about Peru:  it's affordable, if not downright cheap.  A two-hour surfboard lesson, wetsuit and surfboard rental coast only s/35, or about $12.  After learning, in Spanish, that I am a "goofy" (a universal word!) and how to balance on the board on land (not as easy as it sounds when the instructor is pushing you back and forth to mimic waves!) we headed out into the ocean!  First wave came... and I caught it!  Second wave came.... success again!  By the third wave, I thought I was a pro!  It was 4th through 35th waves that got a little ugly.  :)  Let's just make this fact known:  Surfing IS NOT as easy as it looks.  However, equally as true:  Surfing IS as fun as it looks!  Although I swallowed gallons of delicious sea water and attracted many stares as a ridiculously horrible Gringa surfer, it was a fabulous first experience surfing!  Next weekend we are going to another well-known surfing destination in Peru, so hopefully I can try it again!



Picarones in Peru

After a fun day of surfing, we were starving.  Peruvian street food deserves an entire blog post of it's own, so I won't go into too much detail.  Amber, Kathleen and I shared some amazing Peruvian delicacies called Picarones.  Picarones are essentially deep fried dough made from squash and sweet potato. It is served in a doughnut form and covered with a syrup made from chancaca (solidified molasses- way yummier than it sounds).  If you aren't drooling, you should be.  They are perfectly brown and crisp on the outside and soft and warm on the inside.  Topped with the sweet sauce, you forget that you are on earth for a few moments and drown in deliciousness.  Mmm... A perfect end to a semi-successful day at the beach!

Trujillo, Peru: Combi rides and one sweaty Gringa!

After 10 long days of unforgettable adventures, we ventured to the Northern coast of Peru. It is here, in Trujillo, that my sister lives and volunteers as a physical therapist. We all felt immediate relief to be staying somewhere for more than a couple of days! Traveling is exhausting, and living out of a suitcase can get very smelly :) We are staying at a hotel two blocks away from the beautiful Cathedral and Plaza de Armas, which has been the perpetual host to parades and celebrations since it is Semana Santa, or Holy Week.

Combi in Peru

On our second day in Trujillo, my gringo family and I got on a Combi and took the journey to Amber's house in La Esparanza, a suburb 20 minutes outside of Trujillo. A Combi is a privately-owned "mini-bus" (think old VW van) that transports passengers along specific routes. They are generally filled past capacity and it is not uncommon to see roosters, infants, and bags of produce overflowing from within. They are also more affordable than taxis and buses, generally costing less than 1 sole ($0.33) and a safer alternative to a taxi. Safer in the in sense that robberies are less common... the ride, on the other hand, is a whole other story. The Combis race from one street corner to the next, swerving in and out of "lanes" with passengers holding on for dear life (forget the concept of seatbelts or carseats here!). Sudden stops are to be expected as is speeding off before new passengers have got both feet into the vehicle!

After a safe arrival to La Esparanza, we met Amber's host family, who is absolutely wonderful! They take such good care of my sister. We met many aunts and cousins and enjoyed a huge lunch consisting of roasted chicken, rice, carrot & beet salad, choclo (huge corn = my favorite thing in Peru!), and Chicha Morada, a delcious juice made from Purple corn. It was truly one of my favorite meals I have had here. After hours of visiting, my Spanish skills were officially exhausted and we headed back to our hotel.

Trujillo is close to two major archaeological sites of pre-Columbian monuments: Chan Chan, the Chimu city considered to be the largest adobe city in the ancient world, and the temples of the Sun (the largest adobe pyramid in Peru) and Moon. We took a tour to Chan Chan which turned out to be a great photography experience, but not the best edcuational one. Unfortunately, our guide did not speak English very well and what he did speak, we could not understand. Therefore, I found myself standing close to the nearby children's fieldtrip which was conducted in Spanish and precisely at my Spanish level! :). From my fieldtrip, I learned that the city of Chan Chan covers an area of approximately 12.5 square miles and it is estimated that over 30,000 people lived in the city. The adobe city was built by the Chimor (the kingdom of the Chimú), a civilization which grew out of the earlier Moche civilization. The adobe city was such a drastic contrast from the bustling city of Trujillo, a mere 20 minutes away.

A favorite part to my arrival in Trujillo is being able to run again! You all know how much I love a good run. :) Given the knowledge from my prior blogs about Peruvian drivers, it's safe to say running on the streets is not the wisest idea. I did it my first day here, but after a few too many close encounters with taxis, I decided to look at Amber's gym. They offer spin classes, weights (thinking of you, Riley!) and have treadmills, so I decided to sign up for the remaining month I'm here.

First lesson learned at the gym: Bring a towel. There is a belief here that any sort of cold draft can cause a cold, so all the windows are closed and there is not a fan to be found. So, after 7 miles on the treadmill in 85+ degrees I'm pretty sure I looked like a wet dog, dripping profusely out of every pore. The same belief goes for cold beverages, therefore most bottled water is served at room temperature.

Second lesson learned while at the gym: Do not run on the treadmill during rush hour traffic. The treadmills are lined up against the front of the building with floor to ceiling glass directly in front of the machines. It literally feels like a museum display case with me, the sweaty Gringa, on exhibit for every passerby's pleasure. Three lanes of traffic were stopped for an average of 2 minutes per car directly in front of my treadmill. This meant 2 painfully long minutes of "running-man" imitations, blatant pointing, hysterical laughing, and many baffled stares. Needless to say, that was the longest run of my life. :)

Our week has been filled with more fun and there are many more stories to come... Thinking of you all!!

Majestic Machu Picchu

Magnificent, spectacular, extraordinary, phenomenal... no words can even begin to describe the splendor of Machu Picchu. It was by far the most wonderful place I have ever been.

Early yesterday morning, we took the train from Ollantaytamba to Aguas Calientes. When the train arrived, we got on a bus and went up a steep switchback road overlooking the beautiful Urubamba River. The road climbed up to the entrance of the park. It was foggy and very mystical looking; like walking into Jurassic Park. We started up a steep trail through the jungle which led to one of many overlooks to the Inca ruins. The ruins were so pristine and perfect; absolutely awe-insiring!  To make the scenery even more incredible, llamas walked around us, posing just perfectly to be in the picture as the fog started to lift and the tall mountains appeared. It was unbelievable. We watched the fog lift, revealing mountains dropping deep into the valley below, cliffs so steep it makes your head spin, untouched ruins that beg to be explored, blues and greens that take your breath away. So surreal.

The day kept getting better- moment after moment of gorgeous, breathtaking views! It was so tranquil and peaceful; the world felt so quiet, as if time were standing still. What is amazing is that the ruins were only discovered in 1911, and at that time they were completely untouched. The city is one of the only sites that wasn't destroyed by the conquering Spaniards, which I am so grateful for. It was truly one of the most unforgettable days of my life.

Simply BreathLESS!

Cusco, Peru:

A city with so much culture, history, and beauty. It was one of the two imperial capitals of the Americas at the start of the Spanish conquest. Cusco has been an area of conquest for centuries between the Spanish and Inca cultures.  The city itself still has a lot of Spanish influence with the quaint stone alleys and baroque churches. However, the villagers still wear their colorful Inca native dressings.

 Cusco is a stunning city that literally takes your breath away! Mainly because it is sits high in the mountains at 10,912 feet! Talk about short, shallow breaths. Whew! Immediately upon landing today, I could feel the effects! We walked up three flights of stairs and had to stop for rest in between. Altitude sickness, or soroche, is a big problem for tourists- it includes high fevers, shortness of breath, fatigue, tachycardia, headaches, and other horrible symptoms. Extreme altitude sickness can lead to pulmonary or cerebral edema! Unfortunately there is no way to prevent it, except for Peruvians sware by the infamous Mate de Coco. Hopefully it works for all of us.  I think we'll acclimatize in no time!

Amber and I in Cusco, Peru

Today we spent most of the day relaxing in our hotel, drinking Mate while looking out at the city. We walked around the city, enjoying the beautiful Plaza de Armas, or city square.  It was an overload of photo opportunities!  The cathedral, convent,  baroque buildings and the gorgeous native people were an amazing sight to see.  We ended the night with a delicious dinner at Pacha Papa (Translation: Potato of the Earth) where I had the most amazing quinoa and potato soup of my life.  Quinoa is considered a sacred grain to the Incans and is one of the most protein-rich grains in the world. I also learned that there are over 300 types of potatoes here! So far, the food has yet to disappoint me and I haven't gotten "Montezuma's Revenge." According to Amber, it will happen.  I'll just enjoy the food for now and hope I don't get sick!  

An Adventure Begins...

36 hours passed, four plane rides taken, two books read, innumerable cups of tea consumed, and one broken rib later... I arrived in Peru!  I truly love to travel, but I vow to never travel again while injured.  Lifting a gigantic backpack was not fun!  I survived nonetheless and, with all considered, it was one of the most flawless trips I've ever made! I met my parents in the Miami Airport (yay!) and we continued on our adventure to the Lima airport. The sun was just coming up as we landed (for the second since leaving the Anchorage Airport!) and as the morning fog lifted, we were able to see amazing cliffs extending into the Pacific Ocean.  I had no idea how stunning Lima was going to be!

Cliffs of Lima

We spent most of the day exploring the city and scoping out activities to do with Amber after she arrives tomorrow.  I can't wait to see her!  Six months is entirely too long without my big sis.  After a day of walking, I pulled out my running shoes and ran along the beautiful coast. As much as I have loved running in the break-up slush of Anchorage, it was definitely the most breathtaking run I've had in a while!  If you know me, you know there is no better way to end a fabulous day than with a run.

We will spend one more day in Lima, then we are off to Cusco and Machu Picchu.  I am so blessed to be able to share this amazing experience with my family, and hopefully you can all enjoy my many adventures and stories in the next 6 weeks!