It was never the plan, if anything I was trying to avoid it: the whole process of checking off the list. But, I guess that is what happens with plans, as with life: things change. Not to be philosophical, but having just finished my list of Seven, I can’t help to reflect, think, and in some weird way, feel a bit unsettled and guilty. Maybe it has to do with the fact, that for the first time on this trip, I finally see the sign-post, identifying the date and final destination of this trip. Or maybe it is that feeling that you get, when you finally complete something, that has been a goal forever, and now that it is complete, you are a bit lost and numb.

Today, I returned to Cusco/Cuzco/Qusqo from the previous lost civilization of the Inca’s known as Machu Picchu, my seventh and last Wonder of the World. The road back to Cusco has been long, exciting, exhilarating, tiring, frustrating, and a ton of other adjectives that words can not correctly express, but in sum, truly an adventure. Since, I left you last in Potosi:

Along with my dorm mates, we decided to risk it, and make our way north for Sucre. What should have been a two hour bus ride, covering just over 120 km, became an adventure that I will probably never forget, as we crossed road blockades, one after another, to only travel 20 km, about half of which on foot, over the course of three and half hours. Eventually, we arrived at the last blockade, just as dusk arrived, and hired a taxi to take us the rest of the way. After that bonding experience, our group of four, stuck together for a few days in Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia (versus La Paz, the administrative capital), where we witnessed a street race through the city, that only a developing country can host, and the World’s Largest set of Dinosaur tracks. Feeling the urge to keep moving, I left the group, and my buddy Linda, and headed north to Cochabamba, home of Cristo de la Concordia, a Jesus statue taller than the Redeemer in Rio (by less than a meter). There, I stayed at the home of the Leano’s, a relative of a friend from home, where they showed me Bolivian hospitality and helped explain some of the culture differences of a developing country. Next, I visited the “other” capital city, where words can not express the craziness that is La Paz. Where, I entered a prison; raced down the World’s Most Dangerous Road, where people die every year, with a mountain bike; but still had enough time to take in a little culture by celebrating the Winter Solstice/New Years at the ancient city (ruins) of Tiahanaco home of the Sun Gate, and ancestors of the Inca civilization. Next, as I was literally on my way out of La Paz, I was finally convinced to visit the wild and jungles/pampas of Bolivia, at Rurrenbaque, where after a crazy dust infested 17 hour bus ride down a portion of the aforementioned World’s Most Dangerous Road, we boated on the River Beni (an upstream tributary of the Amazon), swam in caymeninfested waters with the pink dolphins, hunted/searched for anacondas and cobras, and fished for piranhas. Having spent more time in Bolivia, than I originally planned, I headed north for the border, and spent a few days on the Bolivian side of Lake Titikaka, at Copacabana and Isle del Sol. After, entering Peru, where I again got ripped off by another travel agent, I arrived in Arrequipa, and spent a couple of days, starring at arguably the world’s most perfectly shaped volcano: El Misti. Which now, brings me back to the present, where I signed up for a four day trek to Machu Picchu, and ended up with a seven day adventure, which included a farmer’s strike, road blockades, protests, biking 10kms up a mountain, to avoid sleeping in the middle of no where, hitch-hiking, a waterfall, 40 km hike, Machu Picchu, and a couple confrontations with travel agents/guides.

The last month has truly been an adventure, and I am definitely sad to know that it is soon coming to an end. But having just completed the list, a large part of me is ready to come home, to start the next adventure. With six weeks left before my flight, strangely enough I feel pressured on time, funny how your perspective changes, in my previous life six weeks off was unimaginable. So, the plan? Well, tonight I leave Cusco, and head west and to lower altitude, where I hope to ditch some of the winter clothing for good. I will spend another week to two in Peru, with stops in: Nazca, Ica, Pisco, and Lima. Than, it’s off to Ecuador to visit the equator, and cities to be determined for a week or so. Finally, I will finish this leg in Colombia, which was once a country that was only visited by the daring, but now has become one of the most popular destinations in all of South America. The goal is to spend at least three full weeks, between Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin. If you have any suggestions for other stops, or for a new list, please let me know, but I am short on time :)

Hope all is well.