Peru Journal Entry #4 DAY TWO

07/17/10

Day Two

Our flight finally left at about 12:55 am. Rode in fancy LAN plane. 

Pick and choose movie wise I picked Valentine's Day and watched it almost all the way through. Turned it off at about 2:00 AM. 

Slept lightly, head on tray table. 

Woke exhausted. 

Plodded into Lima Airport, got passport stamped. Went to Lima-Iquitos flight (1:20 hours). Fell asleep for an hour. Woke a little before we touched down. 

Iquitos is beautiful. I think so anyway. Or parts of it are. 

Landed in a large grassy area. Fresh air at last! 

Met Arecelly at Lima Airport and Megan at Iquitos. Put luggage into huge truck and got into a (it seemed) windowless van with wooden seats. 

We also met our guides. One is Caesar, the other Dono(?). They're both native to the Amazon. 

It was a blast. We came all too soon to our hotel. It's name is Victoria Regia. It means something, but I don't recall what. Supposedly the city of Iquitos was named for the tribe that used to live here, the Iquites. 

On the way to the hotel, Caesar told us about the cars here. They're called Motokaros if I recall correctly. They're powered by a motorcycle, have 3 wheels, and look kinda like something you'd see at Balboa Park.

We were assigned roommates. Nicole and I, much to my pleasure, were put together, room 512, top of five floors. 

There's a pool here in the center and the hotel gathers around like this: [. .] 

There's also a bumpy elevator -- which Nicole loves. I can't blame her. It's quite fun. 

We had lunch after that. Odd chicken and salad and 'licious juice. Pineapple? 

After that we went out shopping. We talked through one of the biggest markets in Iquitos. There were both good and bad bits about it. 

Good -- The Peruvians have a lot more style than we do. -- IMO of course. On the bad side, the farther we went the -- and I hate to use this word -- but it got filthier and filthier.

Flies, birds, dogs, and trash. The road got more rough as we went on. I was surprised to see how many children were working with their parents.

I saw jaguar skins, anaconda skins, and several girls saw turtle eggs. 

Once we came out of this haunting market, we came to a stone wall, which looked out at the amazon: Beautiful flowers, trees, and a view of the floating village. 

We also saw several boys playing soccer or sliding down hills on cardboard boxes. 

After this, we went to an artisan's market, as they are called. 

Found some beautiful handcrafted items (cheap too). A purse and necklace for me, a wrist band for James, earrings for Mom, and a backpack for Dad + postcards. I want to give Mom something else though.

Nicole says we'll shop in the village tomorrow.

We're back in the hotel. Nicole (and I) watched part of a Spanish Powerpuff Girls (Among other things).

Went out to dinner. Had 3 pieces of vegetarian pizza and (out of a choice between Incan Kola and this) coke. Melanie G and Caitlyn each (at my go ahead) took a piece of my pizza. Cassidy eyed mine as well as she waited for her Hawaiian one to appear. While I dug hungrily into mine.

A musician, playing what looked to be a small piano but having some sort of straw device to aid his playing, and after a bit, a guitarist joined him. They sounded fantastic. Some of the best music I've ever heard.

After three songs, they stopped.

When we were done with dinner, all of us went home.

Arecelly went over what she calls TEAM.
Tomorrow,
Expectations,
Acknowledgements,
My best moment.

We also went over what we're doing with the scouts tomorrow. In acknowledgements I recognized Arecelly, Joanne, and Megan. Here are some notes about my trip, Peru, and things in general.

• When you shower in Iquitos' shower (much to Nicole's surprise) CLOSE the curtain so no water gets out. 
• Talked to Caitlyn about handwriting analysis. 
• Peru (Iquitos) has no stoplights! Therefore why you're always nearly getting hit!
• In Iquitos most stores are either booth like or have no front wall. 
• In Iquitos sales people are WAY too pushy. (One stalked Cassidy to our hotel -- and since they aren't allowed inside -- tried to sell through the window.) 
• There are now two groups. Scarlet Macaws and Green Treefrogs. I'm in the latter with a lot of the friendly people. Megan and Caesar, (YAY!) but I wish they wouldn't split it. Cassidy said it's done by last name. 

Peru Journal Entry #3 DAY ONE

07/16/10

Day One

Way, Way, Way, Way! Not enough air. 

I could learn to hate airports.

Also dislike time change. GAH! 

Spent until 3:20 on AA Airlines = meditative

Got lost in D terminal. 

Jo - Anne (my first impression came when she said "so the lost is found!") rescued me. 

So far, I like her. 

Super down to earth. 

Nice. 

Spent 8 hours in the (Florida Time!) in the Airport. (And counting!) 

So far I like (or have spoken with)

• Teresa, Lorilay 
• Cassidy, Ashley
• Kyrene
• Tayla
• Caitlyn
• Meline, Jamie
• _____________

From

San Diego

Maryland

Michigan

________

Alaska

________

________

Tempted to buy things. 

Bought dinner so far. $5 for a Bacon Cheeseburger and drink (sprite & pink lemonade.)

Plane delayed (as Jo Anne reminded us.)

Hour/2 hours

GAH!!! AIR!!!

I can't believe I'm not freaking out. 

YAY!! 

~ Emery

P.S SMILED at a (black) woman standing in a subway line. 

P.S.S 

Watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid and read body language book on LAX -- Florida flight. 

Got free headphones from stewardess to keep when I changed seats to help an old guy and his wife sit together.  

Peru Journal Entry #2

07/14/10

OMG! 2 days until I go to the AMAZON -- y'know, the stuff out of LEGENDS. I can't believe its taken this long to sink in.

I hope that when I come back, I'll have enough courage to last me years 

Peru Journal Entry #1

03/03/10

Got this journal today in the mail. 

Just read that it is necessary to use it pre-trip.

I am both terrified and thrilled to be going to Peru. 

Hopefully I will get rid of the fears A.S.A.P. 

That's kinda what I want to get out of this trip. 

No more fears. 

All fun. (I consider learning and service a blast). 

I also (as a random note) love trying new things.   

A blast from the past/update

My life, of late, in short, has been chaos. As such, my creativity has taken a toll. And, even though I have moved up to Northern California, other than that, I haven't really traveled much. The last trip I took solo was back to my Alma Matter in May and to Mills college earlier that same month. And before that, it was in October of 2017, when I made my way to New Mexico with a brave friend. Obviously, I'm dying to get back out there and see some new things, but right now isn't the time. So, I thought instead I'd take a step back and go back to where, in many ways, it all started: my trip to the Amazon in Peru, in the summer of 2010, nearly ten years ago now. For now, I'm just going to be typing directly from my journal, but I hope in future to dig up some old photos for you guys. Hope you enjoy this blast from the past and a close look at one of the most beautiful places in the world,
~ Emery

Trip Planning: Destinations: IRELAND and SCOTLAND

I'm going to try something different here, mostly because I'm talking to a wall 90% of the time. Instead of showing you guys the finished product, I'm going to show my personal trip planning process, as I attempt to put together my next trip. I'm hoping to go to Ireland, Scotland, and maybe Wales, in Spring or Summer of 2019. I want to spend three weeks there, and I want it to be magical and inspiring for my writing.

And for some of you, that might mean going to writer's houses. But honestly, that's never been my cup of tea. I am fantasy writer, and I want to visit all kinds of magical places, have good food, be by the ocean and in the forests. and otherwise have a magical adventure.

So, to do this, I first need to decide on a budget, where I'm going, when I'm going, and how I'm getting where I'm going.

I already have a rough idea of airfare -- A round trip ticket, at a good, well timed price, is about $700 to $1000 depending on when you fly and out of where.

I'm guessing my budget for three weeks is going to be anywhere from $5000 to $10,000 depending on how ambitious I get and if I decide to travel with a tour or not.

If I'm touring and I just stick to Ireland, and I make my trip 2 weeks instead of 3, I can probably wind up with trip costs being $3000 to $4000, including airfare, if I plan well. But I think the things I want to see might be off the beaten path, so right now, I'm not making a choice yet.

So far, I've got out a map, Atlas Obscura (hasn't been helpful yet, but you never know. I should also check the website), I have Hopper and Hipmunk installed on my phone, and I've been looking at some tour sights, as well as buzzfeed articles, to get an idea of where I want to go.

This is my favorite list, but I have others too. https://www.buzzfeed.com/timchester/20-magical-secret-places-in-britain-baqg?utm_term=.nh1M3Omkr#.aaEMekgAX

Other faves for UK

https://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseypippin/18-unmissable-british-places-you-must-explore?utm_term=.qjb8M1j9n#.lkzyB9m7w

https://www.buzzfeed.com/erinchack/surreal-uk-places?utm_term=.haYoWjXrw#.ok1gLkM1x

https://www.buzzfeed.com/ailbhemalone/visit-i-the-uk?utm_term=.ijY9gvP0w#.ln1oaL4lD

(some additional faves: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/surreal-places-to-visit-before-you-die?utm_term=.utRmOENgd#.idGDzne9j

https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahloewentheil/worlds-most-beautiful-places-for-travel?utm_term=.ldK0y23nW#.yuOaxYoEW

https://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/magical-travel-destinations?utm_term=.yheXRAkeP#.hqxJ4QVon )



I've also pulled out The Best of the Best places in the World by Reader's Digest as well, but what I really want to do is look through the Treasures of the Earth cards that are somewhere in our living room or in my mother's teaching supplies. There were some things I really wanted to check out there.

I'll also be keeping my eye on Mental Floss, just in case.

So far, I've been keeping my eye on GAdventures, since I have a friend who recommended them, but also this one here, http://www.cultureheritagetours.ie/?pagid=fairies-fables-folklore but I I'm not so sure about them, because other than not having existing dates, they also don't have upfront prices, which is never a good sign. Either way, I intend to have them checked out with a travel agent.

I've also consider http://wandertours.com/destinations/ireland/ because I know she's really cool (I own her book) but I don't think she has any going on right now, so I'll keep checking back.

And then, of course, I'm also thinking of designing my own trip!

But that's all for now!

Bye!

Part Two -- Packing for Roanoke

When packing for Roanoke, I made a TON of lists, but here are the simplified ones. I had decided very earlier on that I didn't want to run through the airport with a carry on, due to the sheer hassle -- and my ankle, and I stand by this choice. The $25 each way was 100% worth it.

First, I had my list of what I would wear for the airport. I did a pretty good job of this, if I do say so myself.

I wore:

• Black boots (rainproof, for Roanoke).
• Soft pants 
• My MIT mystery hunt shirt 
• Bra 
• Underwear
• Jacket (around my waist)
• Trench Coat
• I decided against my tiny bag from the last trip, and it worked out well. 

The only problem I ran into with this set up was that I had to POWER WALK through Charlotte and as a result, when I arrived in Roanoke, my clothes were soaked with sweat. I had to change my clothes, wash my hair, and shower, before I could do anything. Luckily, I had brought a spare dress. 

I also never wound up wearing the sweatshirt. 

I also initially wished I had brought flats. But, as the rains continued, I realized I was quite fine without them. 

Second, I had a list of stuff I wanted to go in my personal items backpack, which is pink and giant, with perfectly placed pockets. I've repaired it numerous times, but it's still my #1 choice for an airport bag, especially since my only regret from my trip up to Mills was that I had a bag that didn't close! 

In my pink backpack, I had: 

• Notebooks (3. A sketchbook, Fancy Notebook, and Plain Notebook). Of them, I used one, once, for poetry. But I was glad I had them all. 
• Books. I packed 6. I read 2. Next time, I'll try to stick with the 5 that I told myself I'd bring, especially since I only finished one, Candymakers and only read a few pages of the other: Everless. I packed: Everless, Chasing Vermeer, The Gods Themselves, Candymakers, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and City of Saints and Thieves. 
• Boarding Pass
• ID 

I always try to keep this where I can reach them, for fast access

• Wallet. Includes backup ID (I have a State ID and a Driver's Licence), Debit Card (of which I've notified my bank that I'm traveling), backup credit cards, just in case, cash, just in case, and anything else I might need. 
• Pens. I brought an entire case full, plus colored pencils. I used one pen. It's how it goes sometimes. 
• Snacks. 4 Luna Bars each way, and goldfish on the way over and cheese its on the way back. They held me over. This was something I did well. 
• Headphones. Always a must. 
• Phone 
• Charger. 
• Toothbrush
• Toothbrush cap
• Toothpaste (mini)
• Mini deodorant 
• Plastic bags for the toiletries, electronics, and (a new rule) food. I got my Goldfish swabbed on the way over, I'm not sure if it was because they weren't in a bag or if the scanners were giving them a hard time. My pens also caused trouble. 
•  I also kept a small bag with my earplugs and sleep mask. These came in very handy this time indeed. 
• Chapstick times 3. My lips get so easily dried out! 
• Soft headbands
• Hair ties. 
• Hollins ID, just in case.

I also may have had other items, that I have since unpacked, but this is a fairly close list. I did not bring jewelry because it is a hassle, and I don't want to lose it, but I did miss it. 

For my suitcase, a rather ordinary looking purple bag but with a new pink tag, I packed the following items. Here is where I really began to go wrong.

For starters, I packed neither raincoat or umbrella. Big mistake. Big Rookie Mistake, because I failed to check the weather and it rained almost every day I was there.

I also had no cosmetics bag, which meant they all cuddled together in my laundry bag, which meant, you guessed it, no laundry bag for my dirty laundry.

I also wished I had a pair of flats the first day, and I think in future I'll always bring flats just in case.

But here's what I did pack.

• Two towels. Not a bad idea, but my hostess already had them. I could have saved valuable space by simply asking ahead what was available on hand. 
• Two wash clothes. Admittedly, even though my hostess had these, I liked having my own. 10/10 would pack again. That said, it was awkward to ask to dry them and it was tricky to remember I had them on hand. 
• Neosporin. I was super glad I had this. 
• Bandages. Not only did I use them, but one of my hostess's friends did too. Always good to keep these on hand. 
• Small Purse. Not to be confused with my tiny bag. This one can fit my wallet, phone, and headset well. It's always good to bring a spare bag (one that not all your stuff is in!) on trips. I was super glad to have this one with me, but I wish I had a bigger one that could bring a book! That's one of my biggest regrets! 
• Nail clippers. I HATE my nails long, and whenever I've forgotten these (which is often) I get very angry at myself. 
• Benadryl + other anti inch cream. I didn't use it this time, but going on a trip without this is just foolish. 
• Q-Tips. Don't leave home without them. 
• Razor. ALWAYS, if it's a trip longer than two or three days. 
• Laundry Bag (for dirty clothes) 
• Plastic bag for some of the smaller items, to make sure they don't open and spill. 
• Beat up shorts. We didn't go hiking or anything, but it's always a good thing to have on hand. 
• Shirt to go with it. 
• Bras - 3 plus a sports bra. One for every two days. 
• Pants. This was in case I needed long pants for hiking. Not a bad idea, but I think in future I'd like to invest in those two in one transforming pant/shorts things. 
• Grey Sweater. I love this sweater and nearly live in it. This trip was no exception. 
• PJs, one pair. I thought that would be good, but I wish I had brought more. I had to borrow from my hostess. 
• Swim suit. Didn't use it. Was glad I brought it just in case. You should always pack a swim suit just in case. :) 
• 5 regular dresses. I regretted this so much. They were all too short and impractical. I really wished I had something different 4/6 of the days. 
• One Fancy Dress for graduation. My dress wasn't fancy enough. And I had no makeup or jewelry. I didn't think it would bother me, but it did. 
• Shampoo
• Conditioner. These were worth their weight in gold, especially the first night when I'd run through the airport. I taped them both shut, put them in their own little bag, and it was perfect! 
• Soap and soap holder. I am so glad I got the holder. Otherwise, as per usual, it would have been misery. A very good investment indeed. But it still got its own little bag. No regrets. 
• Face Masks. Also worth their weight in gold, I used two out of the three I brought and it stopped my face from seriously breaking out. 
• Ibuprofen. Never leave on a trip without it. 
• Dental Floss. Same. 
• Lotion (must have)
• Face Wash (kept my face from hating me)
• Birth control. I take it for my presumed Endo (only one way to diagnose it - surgery - but 9/10 odds are I have it) and in this case, I used it to skip my period for this trip! It was a SUPER move but you obviously have to check with your doctor first. 
• Hairbrush. 
• I also brought stuff for PB and J but I think in future, I'll just buy stuff there. It really wasn't too hard and I didn't wind up using it until I came back. That said, it made me happy to know I had stuff I could eat. Still. I wouldn't want to do this again. Instead, I would want to pack oatmeal, which carries and holds extremely well.

I'm sure there's other stuff that I'm missing, but that's all I can remember for now. 

Hope that's been helpful! 

Oh -- and some last words. I created a "pack later list" that was very helpful. It included: Driver's License, Boarding Pass, Wallet, Hairbrush, Birth Control, Razor, Lotion, Pens, Headphones, and Phone and Charger. 

Happy Traveling!

~ Emery