FEBRUARY 25, 2019 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON
I am so excited about heading back to Peru this evening, well tomorrow morning after a transfer in New York. All my gear is in tow in a backpack and my oxymoronish Calvin Klein pink duffel bag. A backpacker’s backpack of some sort is the way to go if you’re doing anything remotely close to backpacking, as in hiking, trekking, traveling across cities, countries, and taking buses, taxis, collectivos (shared taxis) along the way. This will prove most efficient for lugging things around quickly and for those “stuff it in your bag and go quickly” moments. (You will also want to take a smaller backpack that you will mostly not carry on your back but on your front – I will put together a comprehensive guide for traveling safely so you will have everything together in one place). The smaller bag is the one you will have on hand for the much smaller ventures while you’re walking around or even taking some local transportation. Duffle will be chilling back at the hostel or hotel.
The plan today is heading from work to the DC National Airport, which is just two stops away. I decided that this was the easiest stress-free quickest way to get me back to the small city of Pisco, after I do one overnight in the capital city of Lima. I’m already guessing there will be some considerable changes to Pisco from the years ago when we were rebuilding as volunteers, performing earthquake recovery. I’m already impressed that there is more than a few hostals available. Although we got around Pisco and the surrounding areas for fun and relaxation during downtime, it did not have the touristy feel I would come to encounter in other South American cities. Still, there are attractions in and around Pisco, like Paracas, the Ballestas Islands specifically and Huacachina. There are lots of opportunities to see some diverse animal life in Paracas, do some dune buggy riding and sand boarding in Huacachina and of course have amazing cuisine everywhere. Pisco, itself is a place to have amazing food. I had many a meal from restaurants, semi restaurants, and not to mention some delicious home cooking.
My first night will be in Miraflores, the recommended nice neighborhood to stay in while you are in Lima. This is where I stayed for one night before heading to Pisco during 2010 and Miraflores is also where I stayed for my last week in Peru in 2011, before heading back to DC. I went back there from Cochabamba, Bolivia. I spent time in a few other Lima neighborhoods but was never without planned company.
I’m being cautious of myself today because I’m prone to working hard and I like to help, so I don’t want to accidentally be late leaving for the airport, because I’m helping.
I’ve made general plans to meet with several of the people in Pisco who have permanent residence in my soul. We’ll work out the details that come with travel and catching up.
I’m doing last minute mental preparations as I feel the excitement bubbling.