…just a quick post to let those that might have been worried (mom) that i got my ATM card back without too much of a hassle. I’ll write up the full experience later but let’s just say that this little laptop and Babelfish came in really handy.

Now i’m buying a train ticket to replace the one that i missed this morning. I’ll have to take a bus to Ollanta first so i better get going!

The previous three posts total over 2,000 words (and grows as i think of things to add).  They are also mighty image heavy.   I’ve taken over 400 photos in three days but try to be concise in my image selection.  So i decided to split the posts so you have to go to the post page to read the full entry.  This will make the main psge load faster and not be so long in case you skip a few days and want to read my experience chronologically.  By looking at my stats, this will also let me know if anyone is even reading them!

Thursday. January 29, 2009…

Highlights: A day to catch up on sleep, losing my ATM card, not finding sandals

Pictures taken: 38

Travel: None other than a lot of walking around

When i checked in to my hotel i originally told them i would only be there for one day. I had planned on staying in Ollanta the next night. But check out times are extremely early and a late night combined with three evenings of broken sleep prior just mandated that i take a day to rest up.

I slept until almost noon. My clothes were not really very dry but i put on a damp t-shirt, fresh socks, and my pants from the night before and had the mission of buying some sandals.

My one pair of shoes is getting awfully rank. I walked the streets that were suggested by the guy at the hotel desk but didn’t see much. So i decided to find some food. I went to an ATM and marveled at my balance – three times as large! Then i took out 400 soles and looked for a place to eat and look out over the Plaza de Armas.

I picked a spot just in time for their “happy hour” special (i think it didn’t start for another 30 or so minutes but he noticed i was moving toward the door after looking at the menu and that the only balcony seats were taken). I ordered my 2 for 1 mojitos and picked a spot that had a nice view of the plaza and cathedral. I started perusing my guidebook and people watching the locals and tourists in the park.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Highlights: Tour of Sacred Valley sites,

Pictures taken: 289

Travel: Flew from Lima to Cusco

Technically, my second day in Peru began with me being relegated to an unused part of the Lima airport. I was checking in for a flight more than 5 hours away. The spot they put me was good though – no airport announcements, a clean bathroom, electricity, and benches long enough to lie down and sleep on. I washed my socks and shirt from the day in the sink and set them out to dry. I wrote about day one after uploading my photos. I then slept for two or three hours.

My flight to Cusco ended up departing an hour late. My conversation with the two Australian girls in my row and the view from the plane as we landed made me regret not planning further ahead and taking on the Inca Trail. You can hike to Machu Picchu taking a long or a short trek (a week being long and 4 days being short). It really is beautiful in the mountains.

I had planned on making a connection with a family friend that i figured could give me some good pointers on a place to stay in Cusco. I asked a taxi driver to take me to the address that i had for her and he looked confused. Turns out that he can’t take me to her postal box.

So i told him i wanted a private bath with a hot shower and a moderate priced room. I ended up at Casa Grande for $25 a night. I checked my guidebook and i’m paying twice the price i should – probably a kickback to the driver. In the future i’ll be sure to have a place picked out before the cabbies swarm me… although i did have a plan!

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Highlights: Monasterio de San Francisco

Pictures taken: 83

Travel: Flew from LAX to Lima

Favorite photo of the day:

I left Petersburg on Saturday, January 24th. I stayed with Seth and Kahn until early Monday morning when i flew to L.A. and spent time with Kevin doing some shopping and leaving him a few things to mail back to me.

Then a bit after midnight on Tuesday i boarded the plane headed to San Salvador, El Salvador. I had a brief flight change there and then on to San Jose, Costa Rica for another quick flight change. I arrived in Lima at about 3 PM local time (it’s the same time zone as the US east coast).

Wednesday, January 27, 2009.

I hopped in a cab and paid 70 soles for a short tour and a drop off at the Palacio de Gobierno a short walk from the Monasterio de San Francisco.

It's hot out.

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I’m genuinely bummed. Just got an email from Wamu…

Your credit card online account access is moving

Dear RYAN MCFARLAND,

Now that WaMu is becoming Chase, online access to your credit card account will be moving to Chase OnlineSM effective March 9, 2009. You’ll have access to many of the services currently available at wamucards.com (or wamu.com if you usually access your credit card account through that site) including credit card account management, online payments and email alerts.

After the move, you’ll have the convenience of exciting new features including:

Online Statements and Paperless Statements
Mobile Banking
Online enrollment in AutoPay
Management of employee spending limits plus online access for employees
(for Business card customers)

However, please note that your free FICO® credit score will no longer be displayed, and only 3 months of transaction history will be available online. If you wish to access your historical transaction information currently available online, you will need to save, download, or print it by March 1, 2009.

As we move your account to Chase.com, online access will be unavailable from
March 4-8, 2009. If you’d planned to make payments online at our site during that time, please make arrangements to log in prior to that period to ensure that your payment reaches us by the due date on your statement.

Important dates to remember:

Print or download WaMu transactions: By March 1, 2009
Online access unavailable: March 4-8, 2009
Log on to Chase.com: March 9, 2009

For additional information about the transition to Chase Online, please visit www.chase.com/wamucards anytime. If you’re concerned about online security, you may type the URL directly into your browser.

Sincerely,

WaMu Customer Service

That might be another credit card that i get rid of. When Bank of America gobbled up MBNA a few years ago i dumped a few accounts. I just closed my business Alaska Airlines Bank of America card too.