Home Safely

Thank you to our second son for collecting us from Heathrow last night, we are now safely back, unpacked, even slept (melatonin helps with the jet lag) and washing done.

Next Thursday we are off to Cardiff to see No 3 son graduate as Doctor of Psychology on Friday.  Then on the Sunday we will be picking up kittens Bruce (blue point) and Matthew (chocolate point Siamese) after watching granddaughter’s dance show.  This is really the end of the blog, but I will put pictures of the new kittens up on 17th if you want to check back then.  Thank you for sharing the journey with us, happy holidays all!

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Last day

Usually holidays fly past, but we have had so many wonderful new experiences that in may ways it seems we could have been away for much longer than 3 weeks.

Last days are often devoted to shopping, and in a way this is no different, I have a love of Canada’s Laura shops, and have to hunt one down as we are in Toronto.  Roger has gone off to collect the ironing from Preeners, so I have a moment to update the blog.  Have put lots of photos of Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake on the Toronto 2 page (scroll down  that one for latest update)

This is the ‘small’ car we were upgraded to for the drive to Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake!

 

In Brief, in Toronto

We had a lazy morning, but then walked along the lake side and booked a dinner cruise for this evening.  Have just come back, and too late to transfer photos, but watch the Toronto 2 page tomorrow!  We are off to Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake in the morning.

Settled in Toronto

As you will have gathered, it has been a long haul getting here.  We left Cusco at 3.30 pm, 31 hours ago.  I have written about the Cusco airport hotel and the kindness in letting us hang out there until we thought check in would open.  Having finally managed that and taken seats in the Sumaq Lounge at Lima, I was able to finish the blog for the day there.  Rog was keen to get to the gate in good time (he always is!) but a member of staff told us to wait in comfort, and then escorted us to the changed gate at the right moment.  We then realised she had stamped our boarding cards with ‘Sumaq’, and we were getting priority boarding, in fact I think we were in the first 10 on the plane!

It is no secret that I hate night flights.  I can’t sleep, get incredibly restless, and arrive exhausted.  We had booked extra legroom seats at the front of a section, and I think I have finally found a way to make it bearable.  Put your carry on bag at your feet, put a specially designed blow up footrest on top of the bag, and put the pillow the airline supplies on top of that.  You won’t exactly achieve a flat bed, but it will be way more comfortable, especially if you have short legs, like me.  Bring your own fleece blanket with you, these pack into the smallest space, and are much warmer than the airline supplied one, which you can put over it.  The J pillow I blogged about at the very beginning when we set off can convince you you are lying on a proper pillow.  If you struggle with the light, use eye shades and even ear plugs.  It was a struggle at first, but I did actually fall asleep, Roger had to wake me when breakfast arrived!

The pilot took the plane down to land it, then we were aware of a sudden engine rush, and we shot up into the sky again.  A slightly concerning moment, but he was soon on the intercom to assure us it was just that something had to be cleared off the runway.

Our pre-booked car was there to meet us, and in less than half an hour we were getting the keys to our Air BnB ‘Condo’ at the tower block 38 Dan Leckie Way.  We have a view of two building sites and a motorway, but the double glazing is effective, and on the 16th floor we are above most of the noise.  If I go out on the balcony, I can just see the lake.

As I type this at 10.00 pm I am still tired, but should be okay by the morning.  We are facing West, so sunset is spectacular.

Roger working on his piece!

Roger ponders Peru

The memories are so vivid just now, and many will never fade. We walked away from the main square in Cusco some 32 hours ago, to enter the dispiriting airport processes of queueing, checking-in, screening, waiting and  boarding on our journey from Cusco to Toronto via Lima. In Cusco on Saturday morning it had been as though they were celebrating our departure, but their multiple parades, were obviously for much more important religious and cultural reasons. Wonderfully decorative costumes in bright colours; vibrant, energetic dancing to rhythmic music; smiling faces of performers and onlookers alike. Then we strolled up into another square; more music and colourful costumes; ladies sitting patiently to see if we will buy – we do!

Peru is not a wealthy country, and it is diverse, but wherever we have been, from Lima to the rain-forest, to Cusco and wondrous Machu Picchu, we have encountered people generous with their friendliness,smiles and help, and rightly proud of their heritage. We have seen exciting animals, plants and trees in mountains and valleys. God in all His glory, Mother Nature and Pachamama expansive! We have tried new foods and enjoyed them and, well yes, a couple of sours too!

Lastly, a testimonial to the people who brought me to this wonderful country. Sorry Air Canada, I do not mean you. Thank you to Roz for having the idea in the first place – it struck me as a bit daring initially, given that, come the day, our combined ages would tot up to 138 and our knees had been giving trouble! Anyway, she did the research and coughed up half the cost, so I knew there would be no point in resisting. Importantly, she found “Peru for Less”. Emma, you and your team tackled the logistics so coolly, and kept us reassured all along. Virtually everything worked perfectly, and your drivers and tour guides were very good indeed. I think both Roz and I agree that our first sight of Machu Picchu at sunrise was our star moment, but our rain-forest experience at Concepcion was similarly stellar in a different way. We shouldn’t have a favourite tour guide perhaps, but the young man we came to refer to as Fabricio 2 was terrific in his knowledge of the Sacred Valley. Furthermore he held Roz’s hand to warm it when he noticed she was looking cold. That’s caring for you! So, thank you all for the planning and transport, the fun, the sights, the sounds and for teaching and showing us so much about Peru in just two amazing weeks.

 

 

 

The leaving of Cusco

I am writing this at the airport hotel in Lima, awaiting our 02.55 am flight to Toronto, not looking forward to that!  Have put a bit about our unusual morning on the Cusco page.  The flight was only 90 minutes, we left in brilliant sunshine, the scenery was barren Andes all the way, until we approached Lima, which was in thick fog as usual.  Must be dispiriting to live here, perhaps a different season might bring a bit better weather.  I will hope to add more in the airport lounge, just off to eat.  The hotel staff have been wonderful, they know we are not staying, but they have put all our luggage, still on trolleys, into storage, gave us the internet code, a seat in the bar, we had a good meal in the restaurant, and they pushed my luggage all the way back to the terminal for me.

Okay, back now, Air Canada took ages to open their bag drop, but we reached the lounge about 12.40 am.  Fortified with strong coffee to keep me awake, and a couple of sandwiches I don’t need, but it might fool my body into staying awake for a bit longer!

Peru has been an incredible eye opener.  At no time did I feel unsafe, Peru4Less could not have done more to ensure we were looked after, never had to carry a bag or worry about a boarding pass.  They were always on time, with a smile, and that meant a lot.

I imagine people will ask what was the best bit, and the usual response is ‘all of them’.  I guess for me what will stand out is the stay in the rainforest, and Machu Picchu itself.  But the friendliness of the local people and their willingness to help made it special too.

Rog continues to cough very frequently and his nose is pouring.  He had real problems with ear pain coming into land at Lima, so I had to find an airport pharmacist for some decongestant tablets and cough pastilles.   Hopefully a change of country may bring a an improvement.

A few final shots of Peru

Isn’t she cute?!

Shopping in Cusco

Today was our day for souvenir shopping, Cusco is the place to do it, and we went a little overboard on the alpaca front.  But we will only be here once, it is really cold, and the light and warm sweaters are ideal.  There are lovely throws for really very little, and if some of them are not 100% Alpaca, I am not too bothered.

 

 

Back on the Train, with new experiences….

After our incredible day yesterday, it is time to start the homeward journey.  First the Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo, and then a private transfer back to the Cas San Blas Hotel in Cusco.  I have put the details on the Aguas Calientes page, but here is a picture to whet your appetite!

We did it!

This was the day everything was leading up to, and we got there.  It has been a long and exhausting day, and I don’t have the energy to post about our late afternoon and evening.  We were at Machu Picchu from 7.30 am to 2.00 pm, and completely exhausted by the time we got back, but you can read all about it on the Machu Picchu page.  Do enjoy it!

Machu Pichu within reach

Today we checked out of our Ollantaytambo (becomes much easier to pronounce after a while!), and boarded the PeruRail scenic explorer train bound for Aguas Calientes (translation hot waters).  We have just checked into our lovely hotel with a sheer mountain face and stream immediately opposite the window.  Will write up an new page for Aguas Calientes, look out for it, but right now we are going out to explore.

 

Follow yesterday, and today’s adventures on Here

Cusco is beautiful

Can’t believe we are halfway through our trip already.  Yesterday we made it safely to Cusco and are settled into our hotel, Casa San Blas, which is very old and atmospheric, with the roof beams lashed together.  The view from the bed, straight across Cusco, is stunning.

There is now a Cusco page for you to read here  hope you enjoy it, any comments welcome?

Finally a couple of pictures for you

26th June, we leave this magical place tomorrow.

But I have managed to upload a couple of photos onto the Rainforest page, one I am very proud of, a two toed sloth with baby, which we were so privileged to see last night.  Do have a look!

Rainforest adventures.

This intrepid pair have now settled in at the Inkaterra Lodge in the Amazon Rainforest.  I have start a new page for our exploits called, unsurprisingly, Rainforest, do click on the link at the top of this page above the banner to find out more, feel free to comment? :-):D Apologies for lack of pictures, will put these in when WiFi speed permits.

Arrived

We have reached the lodge!

And on to Peru..

We have now arrived in South America, in the early hours of this morning, and been out for a wander.  I have started a new page, Lima  and full details are on there.  Do have a look, especially good if you like cat photos! 🙂

This is what it Miraflores should have looked like, but we are in the middle of a low cloud. As it is winter here, the sun sets at 5.30 pm, feels weird!

Phew!

Well, we finally got through security after an hour and a half! Only 3 gates open for over 350 people in the queue.  Finally made it to the Priority Lounge to grab a bite to eat.  I don’t do alcohol in anger, but on this occasion I felt it was justified!  Let’s hope for a smooth flight to Peru.

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Utter Shambles!

Arrived in good time at Toronto Pearson Airport, have been in the security queue for well over an hour, had nothing to eat, not impressed.

A day at the zoo

!8th June was spent at the Toronto Zoo.  Please see the Toronto Part 1 page for details, (link also at the side and top of the page) I will add tomorrow’s activities to the bottom of that page too, to keep it all together.  But don’t miss the adorable panda cubs!

Take off

A smooth take off on time, and we are given seats with a spare one to the side, so can spread out.  Air Canada food is edible, if a little reminiscent of school dinners, more than I can say for our last British Airways flights.  Chicken breast, mashed potato and ratatouille with a small bottle of wine were enough to send me into sleep mode.

However I managed to stay awake to watch ‘I am Malala’ which I had not managed to catch at the cinema.  What an incredible young woman, with wisdom and courage far beyond her years.  It was especially poignant, as one of our daughters in law teaches at Atlantic College outside Cardiff, where the two friends shot when sitting beside her on the bus are now receiving a wonderful education.  I am still reeling from the appalling death of Jo Cox in Yorkshire yesterday, another woman not afraid to stand out and fight for the poor and the rights of others.  We need more of them, but we don’t need more martyrs.  Please spare them that.

Looking across the aisle, Roger seems to have found an electronic version of ‘Hangman’, if our granddaughters were on the plane, they would have loved that!  He then found an equivalent of Trivial Pursuit, and by the time we disembarked, ‘Granddadio’ had the second highest score on the plane, well done!

Swapping over the SIM cards, we find that we have forgotten to get Roger’s international one cut down to fit his new phone, so that will be one of our first forays into Toronto.

In the final hours of preparation yesterday, we found a second kitten as a companion for our little blue boy, we will collect both when we get home.  That is assuming that the second one passes his DNA test, which is being organised now.  This second one is already registered, a chocolate point boy with the wonderful name of Moonfrost Braveheart.  However his owner, who had to use supplementary bottle feeding, and thus got very fond of him, uses the name Matthew.  A strange name for a cat, but actually, when you look at him, I think it fits!  (However we are still unable to agree a name for the first. I do think, as he is very full of himself, that Boris would be a great choice, but so far Roger is having none of it!

I have moved the rest of this post to the Toronto page, just in case you had seen it and thought your mind was playing tricks!

 

Here we go..

This has to be the most relaxed start to a holiday yet, taxi kindly paid for by daughter, friendly knowledgeable chap from Gold Line taxis checked the traffic for us and got us to Heathrow in good time.  Heard last night that our son and his wife will be taking up residence while we are away, along with our delightful daughter in law who lives with us, the house will be well looked after.  As the taxi driver said ‘they are protecting their inheritance, whilst you are spending it!’ 🙂

Just in through the doors, we were met by a lovely Heathrow volunteer (didn’t know they had them!) who insisted on escorting us to a terminal to print off our luggage tags.  We are going on this holiday just in time if we appear that decrepit (I am joking, she was lovely).

We are now very comfortably ensconced in the Premier Lounge, we treated ourselves to Lounge Passes on a bargain offer through Marriott Hotels reward scheme, and couldn’t resist the full English breakfast, fruit, croissants and coffee.  This does not bode well for my trouser fitting me by the end of the holiday.

Gate just announced, will pack the laptop away!