It's Not So Much the Destination, As It Is the Butt-Kicking Journey

Dave and I had one amazing kick-off to summer vacation these past two weeks. Once that last school bell had rang, we packed our bags and headed to Peru where we played around Lima, explored Cusco, and backpacked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. That's right, I said backpacked.

Who would have believed that I, miss "I'd like to spend the whole day reading in a coffee shop", would strap on a 25 pound pack and climb some mountains over four days? And when I say climb some mountains, I'm not kidding around. We began the journey at 8,528 feet and reached our highest point at 13,776 feet at Abra de warmi wanusca, otherwise known as Dead Woman's Pass. We hiked ten hour days, two of which were during a rain storm and over one section known as The Gringo Killer, and visited beautiful Inca Ruins along the 26 mile trail that was built by the Inca civilization.

This is what is even more surprising...I loved every second of it. The journey was amazing, difficult and challenging, but truly amazing. The trek, not to mention seeing and walking through Machu Picchu, was the most incredible thing I have ever done. Words can't describe it and pictures definitely don't do it justice. I could try to recreate the journey from day one, but we all know that I can get pretty wordy, and I just don't think I can capture the true essence of the experience. The only way you can truly grasp how completely challenging, exhilarating, and incredible the Inca Trail is, would be to do it yourself. So what are you waiting for? Save up those pennies, book a guided trek, and find out for yourself. I promise, you won't regret it.

Final Destination-Machu Picchu, assembled gear, kilometer 82, and campsite.

Ancient Ruins, Dead Woman's Pass, Inca Terraces, D & D excited to have survived the rainy day!

The trek is only as much fun as the people you hike with. We were really lucky to spend the four days with funny, supportive, and wonderful people.

First Sight of Machu Picchu

The ruins of Machu Picchu City

Machu Picchu

I never thought I would be able to do anything like this before. Honestly, the first time I went camping was when Dave and I first got married. Looking at these pictures, and the five hundred I didn't post, I'm a little in amazement at this person I'm becoming and at the things I'm experiencing. Watch out world--you never know what I will do next.

Años Viejos, Pyromaniacs, and Fireworks...Oh My

I have to admit, it has been quite awhile since I have actually been awake to ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old. Dave and I have always been a bit more concerned about the eight hours of sleep necessary to enjoy life rather than seeing the ball drop. But this year...is different. It is 12:58 and the neighbor's hired band just started, there are rapid fire explosives (aka fireworks) going off in three minute intervals, and the car alarms throughout our block seem to be answering the loving call of said fireworks. There will be no eight hours to start off the year for the Richert's this time. Nothing about our experiences in Ecuador could be classified as typical, and New Year's Eve is proving to be no exception. The evening started out quite and low key, dinner at home with a movie. There were the occasional firework, but that isn't anything atypical. I was even contemplating continuing the tradition of snuggling into bed by 10:30. Before I called...

Yes or No?

A couple weeks ago, slipped in the far reaches of my mailbox, I found a note that took me back to the good ol' days of elementary school. You know what I'm talking about. Remember how you would just be sitting at your desk, one leg pumping back and forth, pencil eraser nudging your bottom lip, as you tried to puzzle out those mind-boggling multiplication tables? And then, out of the corner of your eye, you would see Andy passing a note to Melissa, who would then pass it on to Mark, who would then palm it off to you right before Mrs. Nelson turned around from the blackboard. Your name would be written all in cursive and curly-q's on the clumsily folded paper. Carefully, stealthily, you unfold the paper to find: Well, InterAmerican sent me a 'check yes or no' note, and it raised the same sensation of anxiety that those old love notes of yesterday used to inspire. Instead of the traditional, "do you like me?" question, it was the "will you continue...

Christmas in Colombia (The post is better late than never...)

As promised, here is the Amazing Richert Christmas Adventure 2008, with special guest star, Sherry Silvers. Bogota, Columbia. As you can see...this city and I were obviously made for each other. Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops were on every block. Yes, the majority of the books were in Spanish which causes some slight difficulties, but I don't like to focus on those kind of details. I'm more of a cup half full kind of gal. Also, the city is bike crazy. There are hundreds of miles of bike lanes; we saw bike lanes throughout the city and even along the highway. They just created a bike/walking lane in the middle of the highway, incredible! They even close off some of the major streets every Sunday and holiday so people can ride their bikes through the main arteries of town without dealing with the potentially dangerous obstacle of cars. The city had me at hello. Dave found a wonderful place for us to stay that was right in the heart of the historic district of ...

Living The Good Life

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