Peru will be "breathtaking"... literally!

 
"Little by little one walks far."
---- Peruvian proverb 


Hola!

After much research and planning, I've finalized a journey for Sal and I this summer that will be Inca-redible... we're heading to ¡PERU!

OK no more Inca puns.  Promise.

I've embarked on a serious training/exercise regimen, with a physical trainer even!  That's because Sal and I are gonna arrive at Machu Picchu the same way the ancient Incas did--- by trekking the famous Inca Trail !!  YIKES, I'm n-e-r-v-o-u-s!  The hike's kinda, um, grueling .... 26 miles over 4 days through some steep mountain passes and rough terrain. Not to mention the high altitude + thin air.  I'm gasping for air just thinking about it! 

OMG, am I loco ?!?  I know that Sal can do it, he's in great shape.  Me tho?  Not so much.  But my trainer has me on a path to fitness, building my strength and endurance gradually. Gotta admit that I'm not really a "gym person", never have been... I'd rather play tennis or swim... something outside in the beautiful sunshine rather than stuck inside a stuffy gym. But those activities won't get me ready for serious trekking, I need targeted training.  I've gotta do what I've gotta do because I plan to be READY for this!!  (your words of encouragement are welcome anytime, btw!) 

{Just. Do. It.}

I'll have a ton of incentives as I ache from the training (gasp!).... along the Inca Trail, we'll be passing through incredible Andes Mountain scenery, pristine Incan ruins, and cloud forests filled with colorful wild orchids.  Not a bad way to pass 4 days and 26 arduous miles while huffing and puffing, right?  We'll have help tho!  Our trekking package includes several porters who'll not only hike along with us, they'll carry all the camping gear! And they'll cook our gourmet (vegetarian) meals!  Those men are in amazing shape!  I've gotta get in shape or they're gonna wind up carrying ME !!!  And this is special.... we were also able to arrange a 'homestay' for the night before our trek begins.... we'll be guests in the home of one of our porter's families.... a real slice of Peruvian village life!  Because some things you just can't Google.

Of course, after all our trekking effort, the pièce de résistance will be arriving at the wondrous, fabled ruins of Machu Picchu!  

And OMG I was able to schedule our trek such that we'll be exploring Machu Picchu--- one of the Seven Wonders Of The World!--- on our wedding anniversary !!!  How special will that be?!? ❤️

And overall, Peru looks like an amazing destination!  In addition to the Inca Trail, we'll explore Peru in other fabulous ways....

STROLLING the beautiful cobblestone streets of colonial Cusco...  

EXPLORING the colorful street markets in the quaint towns of the Sacred Valley....  

ENJOYING a remote (yet luxurious!) jungle lodge in the Amazon while spying incredible wildlife during nature excursions deep in the Amazon Basin.  And the lodge even has a spa -- YEP!  And I'll need (ahem, I'll DESERVE !!) some pampering with all that trekking!
To continue our anniversary celebration, we opted for the lodge's "Romantic Adventure In The Amazon" package... complete with sweet surprises!! ❤️  

VISITING "floating" villages on Lake Titicaca, where everything is made from the reeds that grow in the lake--- from homes to boats!  Our visit will include staying for a night with a local family in their "floating" home, made entirely of reeds! 

(We'll also spend an additional night with a family on another lake island (Amantani) to give us a true sense of high-altitude, remote Peruvian living.)

MEETING the artisans who so skillfully craft the famous (and stunning!) Chulucanas pottery in northern Peru.  I first encountered this incredible pottery many years ago at Pier 1 and fell in love with it... I have several pieces (ha!) that I display on top of our china cabinet:

After I bought them and read about how they're made, I vowed that when we go to Peru someday, we'd visit the Chulucanas region to meet the talented artisans.   Well, 'someday' has finally arrived !!  It's in a rather remote part of northern Peru --- it'll take some effort to get there... another flight and a car down tiny dusty roads --- but we're going, just as I promised myself!

{Make. It. Happen.}

To celebrate our plans and introduce ourselves to Peruvian culture--- and because 'travel anticipation' is just plain fun!--- we recently ate at a Peruvian restaurant that I found near campus.  The food was delicious (complete with vegetarian options!)... we chose a quintessential Peruvian dish, tacu-tacu.

And we enjoyed delightful conversation with the native Peruvian staff.  They were excited about our trip!

Our journey through Peru will be an EPIC adventure!!!  It'll be our first visit to South America and our first time in the Southern Hemisphere. 

I am STOKED !!! 

(photos courtesy of various Peruvian travel websites)

pre-IU fun!

Hey there... I've been back from Inspiration Unlimited (IU) for a week and was so swamped with Aruba's care, catching-up at the lab, car to the body shop after someone scraped-up our bumper in a parking lot (ugh!), etc.... I still haven't finished unpacking (!!), and am just now blogging.

IU was a blast!  It was my 2nd time attending this scrapbooking retreat (in Henderson, Nevada)... and after such a sad summer, I was so ready for fun & friends!  I arrived early to enjoy some down time + recover from the jet lag; it hits me hard!  I was immediately missing Sal & Aruba, but loved how FaceTime kept us connected.

The event is held at the Green Valley Ranch Resort, and I spent a day at their lovely spa.... that jet lag didn't stand a chance against pampering treatments like a brown sugar + vanilla body scrub and a hot stone massage!  

Some time in the steam room & lounging in a poolside cabana under a sun-drenched blue sky perfected the day.  B-L-I-S-S.

I emerged a new woman!  For me, the spa is like pushing life's 'reset' button. Total rejuvenation!

Enjoyed a fun dinner that night at PF Chang's with Lisa & Sandra:

The next day, "pre-IU" festivities began.  A day full of fun optional classes, and I took 2 of them, both by Bazzill.  Had a great time and made an interactive album with Kelli Collins, and layouts with Joey Otlo.  Both are lovely ladies, so sweet & fun!

Also finally met in person Anelsie from Puerto Rico... we had chatted on the IU Facebook group... {waving hello Anelsie!}

I again enjoyed dinner out with Lisa & Sandra, complete with a yummy (virgin) mango-raspberry swirl drink.  And, being scrapbookers, we of course photographed it all !!

Later that evening, IU hosted a 'meet & greet' with the event teachers, plus opened the on-site store... always an exciting moment for the 300 product-hoarding scrapbookers attending!  Of course, I wore my ever-popular special shopping T-shirt... it always gets lots of laughs! :-)

I was caught stalking Thickers & ribbon!

Met up in the 'store' with sweet friends (and fellow Dog Moms) Shannon & Michelle... we shared a group hug.  (Shortly after I lost my precious Buddy, Shannon lost her precious Sassy... shared sadness.)

The next morning, bright & early, IU officially began... I'll be back soon with deets & pics of all the fun!  Thanks for stopping by!

Thanksgiving 2012

Well, it's back to reality this week after Thanksgiving break.  Another busy semester is coming to a close for me and Sal... although the research lab never slows down!

Hope you enjoyed the holiday weekend?  Sal and I had a fun visit with family.  Spent some time enjoying Florida's delightful fall weather, relaxing under my parents' orange tree and walking in the local park.

We started the holiday off with attending a Mannheim Steamroller concert the night before Thanksgiving. 

 

I've loved their Christmas music for years... their masterful blend of unique instruments (think lutes, dulcimers, synthesizers, snare drums, various flutes) gives an addictive twist to holiday tunes.  And we had front-row seats (!!) which allowed us to watch them work their magic, to see how the music is made, up-close.  And the musicians met with the audience after the concert, so nice.  Hoping they come back to SoFla again next year!

My Mom and I enjoyed some Black Friday fun at (where else?) a few scrapbook stores, Whim-So-Doodle and Scraps of Art and Michaels.  But the deals just didn't seem to compare to last year, for some reason?  What did you think?

And all that shopping fatigue meant that we needed some pampering, LOL !!  So Mom and I spent an afternoon of indulgence at Indaba Spa. 

It was her first visit to a spa and she loved it, we'll definitely be going again sometime!  Indaba is a beautiful facility, with African-themed artwork and treatments with Moroccan oils.  They have a unique labyrinth garden where you can spend a little quiet time reflecting as you walk through, greeted by stones etched with thoughts that invite you to slow down, to ponder.

Enjoy the holiday season!  :-)

Susan

happy spa-li-days (to me!)

I had planned to start the new year off right ... relaxed & refreshed with a visit to the spa sometime in January. But the month got busy and slipped away from me, and here it is February already!

During the holidays, I noticed that the Seagate Spa was having a giftcard promotion, including a free beach tote in one of my favorite colors (lime green!), so I made that a "from-me-to-me" Christmas gift ... a gift card to use "someday". And who can't use a new beach tote? ;-) It's a fairly new spa here in Delray Beach, and I've driven by it several times thinking "I'll give it a try someday".

So today was "someday"! I took the day off, got up really early to catch-up on some work, and then spent today at the spa. I chose the Rain Massage ... 80 minutes of B-L-I-S-S !! It starts with a full-body exfoliation using sugar cane and coconut oil. This really gets the blood pumping, and leaves your skin so soft, smooth. Next came a tension-relieving massage performed while a rain shower of warm water cascaded down onto me. I added on a soothing scalp massage, too. They use frangipani oil, it smells sooooo good! Geez, I'm relaxing all over again as I write this, LOL !!

Also spent some time lounging in their eucalyptus-infused steam room and in the outdoor heated pool (even tho today The Sunshine State ... wasn't). Took a break for lunch and savored this DELISH tomato soup !!
Overall, a nice spahhhh day!

I just love going to the spa, it's like pushing life's "reset button".

ok, NOW I'm ready for 2012 ......