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...