So after our impatience for waiting to check in the woman behind finally decided to relieve us of our bags. An entertaining competition commenced of who's bag was the heaviest and who was trying to cheat with very little stuff!! Well Kim was discovered to be that naughty cheater, but she was excused by us all because she was ill. Alita's and Sara's bags were to be by far the heaviest (under Louises of course!)
Next was the wonderful plane journey to Madrid upon which very few of us experienced the take off due to that wonderful thing called fatigue! Of the few who did, Michelle's experience was her first! Having never been on a plane before she really was a bit scared!!
Upon landing (which Michelle decided was scary and horrible!) we all came out into some gorgeous, warm weather with a brilliant blue sky! I'm sure many of us could have stayed there and have forgotten about Peru! LOL! But unfortunately, this was not possible L so we all went to nurse our sorrows inside the airport where we had another 2-hr wait.
This wait turned out to be far better than everyone thought as some random Spanish musicians started playing some music. It was very good! Somehow though, it went from 1 person singing and playing guitar and 1 person drumming on percussion to = 6 people on guitar, 1 bass guitar, 2 drums and endless clappers and singers and DANCERS!!! Despite this excellent entertainment, the whole team was in agreement and praying to GOD that they would not be on our flight- that long 12hr flight! WE NEEDED OUR SLEEP! Our wishes came true, we discovered shortly later with a huge sigh of relief! LOL!
When walking on the plane we all practically died from the smell! B.O & later, stale alcohol. Take-off took forever this time I think the driver/pilot could not remember where the runway was!
During these looooong 12 hrs, many of us encountered random people. The strangest being when Kishani, Kim and Hasmita got talking to an elderly couple from LOUGHTON!!! And, in case that wasn't enough, they so discovered that this couple knew� (Drum roll please!)��our very own�MRS DANNATT!! Yep! The maths teacher from school!
Another person that we all encountered happened to be an extremely rude old man. We were standing around Caroline & Clare talking, because we didn't really want to get deep vain thrombosis! First of all, as I needed to go to the toilet, I walked past him & the crowd & he stuck his foot out and nearly tripped me up! Then, about 10 mins later, he got up & rudely pushed past us all. Even Howie found it rude & said something to him. Needless to say, he didn't bother us again!
Upon arrival in Lima, it all became very confusing - what with having to fill in many forms & worrying about whether or not our baggage would be nicked or not. The majority of us were okay but unfortunately poor Shantalie lost her sleeping mat. It wasn't fatalistic though & said we'd get her another one in Huaraz.
We left the airport, got in a taxi & headed straight for the hostel - Jose Luis. We decided that the road and environment when coming out of the airport looked just like any other country so we couldn't quite feel like we were in Peru!
The hostel was another matter. All our pre-conceived ideas of it would look like probably consisted of smelly rooms, no space, cockroaches, no hit water & just general filth! In for a surprise were we when we saw Jose Luis. It was probably better quality hotels you can stay in! We all loved it there and I'm sure we all would have stayed! LOL!
Right, well this is getting far too long so I'm gonna try and briefly explain the rest.
We got to the hotel, met Roc (very cool American guy living in S. America) who took us to an authentic Chinese restaurant which was really cheap & nice. Especially their Wanton soup and Inca Cola.
And that pretty much wrapped up that long day for us! We were all so tired that most of us slept like logs!
Well, Ciao for now! Day 2 over, only to start day 3 out of 30!
Sara x-x