Astrid y Gaston
With my beau’s wallet safely back in hand and our year anniversary falling the day before the end of our three week trip to Peru, we decided to splurge. Being a foodie in Chicago on a social worker’s budget is not really an option, but in the paradise that is Peru, $60 can buy you a 12-course tasting meal from a top 50 rated, in the world, restaurant. We found out about Astrid y Gaston from an online travel guide and easily reserved... Read More
Three Places You Need to Visit in Peru
Having too much fun with our guide on the Ica winery tour It has been nearly two months since we left Peru, but my beau and I are still a-buzz about the experiences and fun we had there. Whenever we see family or friends, we sit them down for a slide show of our favorite pictures, while go on and on about the adventures we had. We talk about our favorite memories and the food we miss. We joke about the things we don’t miss as much, like cold... Read More
Huacachina
We took a Cruz del Sur bus to Ica, a city four hours (or in Peruvian bus terms, the length of a dubbed GI Joe and a bad comedy movie) outside of Lima. We went on the recommendation of our fantastic Lima hostess, bypassing the Amazon because of budget and time constraints. The ride was lovely; I watched as the coastal views turned into sand drifts and then eventually sand dunes. Villages dotted the country side tucked away between huge mountains... Read More
Lost City
Finally getting used to the shared cab program of Peru, my beau and I voluntarily climbed into a van on the side of the highway with 6 other strangers (three of them were toddlers, so they really don’t count) and rode towards Ollantaytambo, the city we would inhabit before visiting Machu Picchu. The van cost 10 soles a piece (about $3.50) for a two hour trip. We plunged over the mountains and flew around other vehicles to arrive in the very... Read More
Chocolate Cusco
After a confusing early morning flight from Arequipa (confusing because the plane skipped a scheduled stop of the flight and landed an hour early in our final destination of Cusco), we arrived in the highest altitude city we would visit on our trip. It was exciting to finally make it to Cusco because my boyfriend had been very ill a few days before and disappointing because we would have to miss visiting Lake Titicaca. Because of extensive riots... Read More
Colca Canyon
I don’t exactly remember what we were thinking when we agreed to a two-day, 20 km (about 12.5 miles) hiking trip into the belly of a canyon, but I can honestly say that I would do it again and recommend it to any who get the chance to spend a few days in Arequipa. We purchased the tour tickets at a recommended agency, one of the many that surrounds the Plaza de Armas. For a two day tour including transportation, food, shelter, park fees, and... Read More
Lima II
View of Miraflores from Huaca Pucllana Our second day in Lima started off with a bit of ancient adventure; after a lazy morning getting ready, we were out the door of our wonderful host’s apartment looking for a good morning bite to eat. Lucky, bread carts were roaming the streets, so we nabbed a few delicious baked goods and were on our way to visit Huaca Pucllana. Huaca Pucllana is a pre-Inca ruin that is nestled in the heart of one of... Read More
Yellow Fever
T-Minus four days until Peru. And what an insanely busy two months it was leading up to this trip. I can barely contain my excitement at the thought of this grand adventure, especially with the culmination of the 8-week ruckus– a move. With the help of four fantastic boys, my apartment was cleared of all of my belongings and transferred into my boyfriend’s place. I scrubbed my old apartment to sparkling clean and left the keys on... Read More
Places to visit in 2011
Spanning five continents and the creative imaginations of some of your favorite Go Girl writers, here a list of place we would like to visit this year (any of your own to add to our list?): 1. West Quoddy Head, Maine. Sounds a little random right? But it is the easternmost point on the U.S. mainland (and the closest point to Africa from a point in the fifty States) and after visiting the southernmost point of Africa last year I wanted to add some... Read More
How to Holiday Overseas
Holidays overseas require a decent amount of improvisational skills Sorry Anglophiles, this post is not about vacationing in a different country, but how to celebrate your cultural traditions while abroad. This year has brought about a lot of changes in my life, and has given me a lot of firsts. This is my first time in Asia, my first time having an apartment, and my first time living in a country whose language I don’t speak. To be bombarded... Read More
