Wow! I am leaving for Peru in two and a half weeks. Frankly it is hard to believe that the dream of this trip is finally here and bearing all its reality hard upon me. Everyday I feel like I am running from the world of Real Estate to Peru planning and back again. Frankly it has been exciting and at times a bit overwhelming. Funny, I now realize how very much out of international travel practice/planning/execution I have become in the last ten years! The good news is the internet has been a wonderful source for information, ability to purchase needed things (like airline tickets and hotels), and also an instructional tool. So what is left to do in T-16 days... hmmm let's see:
Online/telephone orientation with United Planet folks
Pick up Cipro in case of an antibiotic needed emergencies (I am told by my new Peruvian expert friend John "if it can't be peeled and/or boiled don't eat it!)
Continue fundraising efforts
Pack clothes
Finalize house sitter
Exchange some cash before I leave
Book hotels for flight layovers (yeah does anyone have any Marriott points they would like to donate?)
Write a new Will (I know this is a good excuse to get it done though)
Relearn Spanish
Wait!! It is true...I have been completely neglecting my Spanish lessons. Out of everything on that list this is probably the most important item, don't ya think? Well thank the lord for Mr. Tim Ferriss. I read his book about a year ago and have implemented many of his suggestions, but this guy is pretty amazing! An expert at business, sports, physical fitness, he is also a language master (or freak whichever you prefer). Believe me if you want to learn what efficiency is there is NO better teacher.
So after reading his article on How to Learn Any Language @ http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/01/20/learning-language/#more-1077
this is what I am going to be doing:
Watching one movie a day in Spanish with subtitles, reading a fashion magazine in Spanish for 20 minutes a day, reading a Spanish phrase book on my layovers, and working with Vis-Ed cards 30 minutes a day. So off to the library I go and maybe I should go get a bartenders manual in Spanish and knock out two goals at once!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
A Little Bit of Easter Week Luck
What a great week the last one has turned out to be for me. I hope everyone else had a fun holiday with friends and family, and that you have also had a minute to enjoy this spring weather we are having! I am happy to report "a lot a bit of luck" has been thrown my way regarding my upcoming trip.
First off thanks to everyone who came to Preservation Pub for my fundraiser last Wednesday. I had a lot of fun being a "celebrity" bartender, and Danielle the real bartender was a great sport. I ended up raising $100 towards my trip. Like I said before every bit helps, and I am really grateful to everyone who gave. I am working on another event in late April so stay tuned. It also looks like I may be able to get my flight/travel cost down significantly. "Luckily" I discovered if I leave out of Miami directly I can get a ticket for $500 as opposed to $1300 out of Knoxville!! The catch is I will need to get into Miami on Friday night and I won't leave for Peru until Sat night. Anybody know some folks in Miami who can let me crash on their couch for a Friday night??
Now onto to my Easter luck. I was out enjoying a Sunday brunch with my friend Mieke when the table that we had been sitting next to on the patio overheard me say that I was looking at flights to Peru. The young man with them perked up and asked "did I hear you say you are going to Peru??". Sure enough he studies (and teaches) Andean/Incan history and has spent a large amount of time living in and around Cuzco. Not only that but my best friend Jennifer sold him his house IN MY neighborhood!! What "luck" that I sat down next to (probably) the most knowledgeable person in Knoxville on where I will be spending two weeks of my life! So, John and I are scheduled to have coffee next Tuesday to discuss my trip further. He was also kind enough to bring his Lonely Planet book and a book on Machu Picchu to my house on Monday morning. So how is that for some great Easter week luck? Got to love serendipity...
First off thanks to everyone who came to Preservation Pub for my fundraiser last Wednesday. I had a lot of fun being a "celebrity" bartender, and Danielle the real bartender was a great sport. I ended up raising $100 towards my trip. Like I said before every bit helps, and I am really grateful to everyone who gave. I am working on another event in late April so stay tuned. It also looks like I may be able to get my flight/travel cost down significantly. "Luckily" I discovered if I leave out of Miami directly I can get a ticket for $500 as opposed to $1300 out of Knoxville!! The catch is I will need to get into Miami on Friday night and I won't leave for Peru until Sat night. Anybody know some folks in Miami who can let me crash on their couch for a Friday night??
Now onto to my Easter luck. I was out enjoying a Sunday brunch with my friend Mieke when the table that we had been sitting next to on the patio overheard me say that I was looking at flights to Peru. The young man with them perked up and asked "did I hear you say you are going to Peru??". Sure enough he studies (and teaches) Andean/Incan history and has spent a large amount of time living in and around Cuzco. Not only that but my best friend Jennifer sold him his house IN MY neighborhood!! What "luck" that I sat down next to (probably) the most knowledgeable person in Knoxville on where I will be spending two weeks of my life! So, John and I are scheduled to have coffee next Tuesday to discuss my trip further. He was also kind enough to bring his Lonely Planet book and a book on Machu Picchu to my house on Monday morning. So how is that for some great Easter week luck? Got to love serendipity...
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