So we're in Peru again! It's been three years since we were here last time, and it's the first time coming down here with the girls.
We left our house in Woburn at 6:00 am on Tuesday, and we arrived in Trujillo at Mando's parent's house after midnight Thursday evening (so, really on Friday).
Talk about a long journey---especially with three tired kids in tow. Every flight we had ran into some sort of problem. We spent at least 4 hours (probably more) sitting in airplanes waiting on tarmacs for one thing or another. Out of the 66 hours of travel time, I'd say we spent most of it waiting around in airport terminals, baggage claim lines (for lost baggage), or on airplanes waiting for take off.
The #1 thing this travel experience has taught me is: My kids are AMAZING. Holy Cow. Troopers, every one of them. After every flight, I had one or two people tap me on the shoulder to tell me how well-behaved my kids were during all of the delays. After the first flight I was like, "Thank you! I know, I was pleasantly surprised too!" (That was the flight where we waiting at the gate for an extra hour, and then on the plane for another hour and a half before taking off). But by the third airplane ride (which was the longest one, from Miami to Lima), people told me how great the kids did, and I wanted to yell, "You have no idea! These are MIRACLE children! They've been traveling non-stop since 6:00 a.m. on TUESDAY! They're the best kids in the world!" Because....seriously... they played with each other nicely, there was very minimal crying (one seat assignment disagreement, and a tuffle over a backpack) considering they had all been awake for about 24 hours without any naps, and they all carried their own backpacks, and played quietly with the toys we brought.
I love my kids, and I know that they're great kids, but I was a little bit blown away. Especially because on several occasions I turned into a raging beast of a mother. I yelled at a poor food server in Miami because she tried to give me a greek salad instead of a green salad, and then pretended that they were the same thing--- the manager had to come out and clear it up.... yeah, not proud of that moment.
Traveling aside, Peru has been very hot and sunny--- a great change from the 4 feet of snow we had back home. I got burned to a crisp in Lima before we'd even made it to our final destination of Trujillo. So when I finally saw all of Mando's family, I looked like a tomato, and that's all they could talk about.
We are enjoying ourselves--- I get to sit on the beach and read, and his family gets to play with the kids whom they never see. Win Win.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
muuuuuch better :)
* FOR KATIE: Because I know you probably want more details. Our first flight out of Logan was delayed because of snow and ice. They incoming flight (our plane and crew) arrived late, and then we left even later because of de-icing and something else that I can't remember. We arrived in Washington D.C. too late to catch our next plane.
United offered us two options-- going through Mexico City and then on to Lima, or going through Miami, and then on to Lima. If we went through Mexico City, we'd still be with United, and we'd have two flights that were both 5 hours. If we went through Miami, we'd have to switch over to American Airlines (which poses problems with luggage and seating, and we'd have to change terminals), but we'd only have a 2 hour flight and then a 5 hour flight. I voted Miami :)
We made the trek across the D.C. Airport to get to the American Airlines terminal, and we were assured that our bags would be switched (ha, we knew the whole time that wasn't really going to happen). Our second flight, from D.C. to Miami was delayed because of a faulty chair that needed to be signed off by a mechanic. We waited about an hour for that one, I think... can't really remember, but we waited on the tarmac, and they had videos playing, so it wasn't terrible. We arrived in Miami around 8 or 9 p.m. and waited in the airport until midnight when our flight to Lima was going to leave. At 11:30, they asked for volunteers to give up their seats on the flight. It was overbooked (because of all the snow in Boston and the cancellations--- all of the international flights were having problems like this).
They were offering $1000 vouchers, paid hotel and food, and guaranteed seats on the next afternoon's flight. We decided to go for it, so that we could at least sleep in a bed that night. Our flight from Lima to Trujillo didn't leave until Thursday night anyway, and it would be nice to sleep in a bed. And we'd have an extra $5000 in plane tickets for another trip to Peru (Armando's vote) or a family vacation to Europe! (my vote). Anyway, we offered our seats, but they said that they wouldn't know if they needed us until everyone else had boarded. So at 12:30, we finally got the go ahead to get our vouchers and go.
I went to the customer service counter (I literally sprinted, so I'd be first in line) to get our vouchers and hotel arrangements, while Mando waited with the kids (all sleeping) and bags. I got to the counter and waited for my turn, three more people from our flight got in line behind me, also waiting for vouchers. Quickly the line filled up with people seeking alternate routes. I waited for about 20 minutes, and I was next in line when the girl at the counter said, "I'm ONLY doing vouchers for the Peru flight, if you're not here for vouchers, just wait, please!" and as I said, "I'm from that flight, I'm next!" and raised my hand, the three people behind me pushed me aside and ran to the counter before me.
I was so bugged, but whatever, right? Not worth getting my panties in a twist, I'll get my turn. Then 20 minutes turned into 40 and I'm getting agitated. Pretty soon, I'd been in line for almost an hour and when I finally got up to the counter I found out that the three people had taken the last three rooms in the hotel attached to the airport. So now my three sleeping children, two strollers, and five carry-on bags, are all going to have to schlep down to baggage claim, across the street, and wait for the shuttle. I. Was. FURIOUS. Thus began my burning contempt for Peruvian's rudeness--- yes, I realize I'm being totally rude by saying that, but the WHOLE COUNTRY is full of people who's only instinct is to put themselves first. I'm not joking. For example, in Lima I was in a bathroom with two kids in my arms, and I asked the woman who was standing in front of the sink fixing her hair, if she would mind if I used the sink. Could she please move six inches to the right, so that I could wash my kid's hands? Guess what she said? No. NO....... I will not move six inches to the right because my needs for fixing my hair and waiting for my friend that's in the stall is greater than your need right now. So I had to STAND THERE with two kids on my hips, while she WAITED FOR HER FRIEND to emerge from the stall and wash HER hands first. Then, after they left, I was given passage to the sink. This kind of thing happens ALL THE TIME here. It's totally commonplace. We asked a man on the airplane if he would mind switching his aisle seat for a window seat so that our two year old wouldn't sit alone across the aisle, and he said, "No." And then kept reading. Simply, no. phsaw. whatever.
There was yelling match at the airport in Lima because someone accused a woman of butting in line, and she said she had been there for a long time, and so another guy who was sitting 20 feet away (not even in line) felt the need to come over and join the fight because "he saw her butt in line, and it wasn't fair, and she should move," etc. etc. etc.
Also, there was another fight when we checked-in for our Lima to Trujillo flight. You know how they leave a "buffer zone" between the beginning of the line and the ticketing counters? So that there's one line, then a big space, and 6 counters with people all working. When one person is open for the next customer, they just wave their hand and the next person in line crosses the "buffer zone" to be helped at the counter. Know what I'm talking about? Well, because there were five suitcases, six people, two strollers, and five carry-ons, I had to stand in the "buffer zone" with the kids while Mando and his Dad were at the counter. I was literally right behind them, but because of our abundance of crap, I was far enough back to be in "the zone." It took about 30 seconds of me standing in "the zone" before people started to think I was cutting in line. I had five people on my right (one man was so close behind me that I could have put my ear in his mouth) and about 7 on my left. All crowding around trying to get in front of me, or at least, right behind me so they would be next. The ticketing agent had to STOP working in order to come around and redirect people BACK in line because there was so much commotion. It's ridiculous. They kept saying, "But SHE's there! She's not in line, she's just walked right up there! It's MY turn!" I tried to reassure people that I was already being helped, I was not a threat, but it made little difference.
Anyway, we lost the close hotel, so we had to take a shuttle to get to the other hotel. Really, I'm pissing and moaning about it, but it was a super nice hotel, and the shuttle was very convenient. We had to check-out at 11:00 am, but our flight didn't leave until 4:55 p.m. So we took a little walk with the kids, and chased some butterflies in a grassy patch behind the hotel. Our next flight took off late because of something, and there were some seating issues that took a while to resolve because EVERYONE was trying to switch seats. It was like a game of Pit---- 2, 2, 2, anyone? 2 seats together? anyone? TWO!---- when we were finally settled, a baby two seats in front of us started crying and cried for the rest of the flight. We waited on the tarmac for more than an hour, but I cannot remember why. It all started to blur together. It was on this flight that we had our first crying incident over seating. Everyone wanted to sit by mom AND sit by a window. Blessed be the peacemakers (Kate). She let Nicholas take her window seat, and then they both agreed to sit by each other instead of Mom--- so I sat across the aisle. NOT idea, but it worked.
We arrived in Lima after midnight, and then waited for another hour or two for our bags. They told us they were lost (along with 15--- yes, FIFTEEN--- other people. Tell me, how do you lose FIFTEEN people's bags on ONE flight????). After we had waited for an hour and filled out mountains of paperwork, they said, oh, wait, we DO have your bags. They came last night on your original United flight. GREAT! Then it took them another hour to bring them to us. sigh.
So we finally get to our hotel after 2 in the morning. Kate has been awake this WHOLE time--- what a trooper. She's smiling and laughing and being totally obedient. We are up and out of the hotel by 11:00 am the next morning, waiting for our flight that leaves at 9:25 p.m. (but we arrive at the airport at 6, because someone said it left at 8:00 p.m.). It's those few hours between leaving our hotel and going to the airport when I get burned to a crisp.
Finally, our last flight gets delayed on the runway for refueling. We also had a little seating issue because they wouldn't let two kids sit by themselves, and everyone wanted to sit by Mom. We figured it out (when a flight attended gave a package of cookies given to crying Lauren who had to sit with Papá Pepé), and forty minutes later got in the air. We arrived in Trujillo with very tired, very over-sugared (because that was one of THREE packages of cookies given to our children!), should-be-grumpy kids, who smiled and hugged their unknown relatives with aplomb. Then promptly fell asleep in the taxi.
