Lima, Peru

Our plans, hopes and dreams were about to begin as the wheels touched down on a stary night in Lima, Peru. Oh, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado were hours behind us, our fitness training was over and our own llamas and border collie were in the safe hands of friends.

The Peruvian symphony was about to begin. The Costa del Sol-Ramada was only steps from our baggage claim and introduced us to our first and complimentary Pisco Sour as they greeted us.

All of the daydreams from 8th grade geography staring at small pictures of Machu Picchu, wondering about what the Incas were really like, and what kind of adventurer was Hiram Bingham were about to pass from virtual to actual reality as my head hit the pilow.

We were a party of three:my wife Melissa, her sister Jill, and me. Adventuring on the brink of my 70th birthday, I felt wildly excited; perhaps just like Hiram.