Background information

I was looking at the local weather in the locations I will be visiting and am surprised by what I have found. The daytime temperatures range from 65 degrees to 94 degrees, with the night temperatures ranging from 34 degrees to 68 degrees! It is currently winter in Peru, but apparently the jungle is pretty hot this time of year! And the higher elevations can get really cold at night. I'm glad I looked before I pack :)

I was also looking at the time in Peru. Part of the year, Peru is in the same time zone as the eastern US. They do not participate in daylight savings time, so part of the year, they are one hour off. Right now, Peru is 1 hour behind the eastern US. Also, being closer to the equator, the days are less and 12 hours right now! It will be strange having shorter days.

If you have not done so, you should scroll down to the bottom of my blog. I recently added a couple pictures. I will likely work on the layout of this page, so be sure to check it out. Also, there is a button you can click on to "follow" me on this blog. Not sure what exactly happens, but maybe it gives you messages that I have posted a new blog? You can also post comments that I will get when I check my blog, so feel free to write. I will be checking email & facebook when I can, too (email is the priority).

Preparing to Leave

Welcome friends and family! I will be in Peru for 3 weeks, beginning in just one week, almost to the minute right now! I have officially begun my countdown & getting nervous that I won't be ready in time. But, of course, I am mostly very excited! For those of you unfamiliar with what I am doing, I will spend 3 weeks in Peru, visiting Machu Picchu, Puerto Maldonado (the jungle), Colca Canyon (the world's second-deepest canyon), and other amazing places. I will be doing some hiking, some sight-seeing, and whatever else looks fun. I will stay in hostels and join tour groups, so I am bound to meet other interesting people from around the world. If you are wondering if I'm nervous, the answer is yes. A little. But I know it will be a wonderful, fun, and educational trip.

Why have I chosen to visit Peru? Since I was little & saw a picture of Machu Picchu, I have wanted to visit. In January & February this year, I was looking online trying to think of what I wanted to do this summer. Once I came upon a picture of Machu Picchu, I remembered that I wanted to go there & decided it would happen this summer. I was originally going to join a tour group for the entire time, but quickly learned how easy it is to do it solo, joining groups as I go.

So here I am, with one week to go. I have had two wonderful friends to talk with about my trip, one of whom visited about 6 years ago, and the other who is currently living in Peru. I can't thank each of them enough for all the help they have given me already!

I will do my best to update this blog as I go, but make no promises due to not knowing how much internet access I will have & how much time I will devote to typing. Please check often & feel free to contact me!