Travel

Anticipation – Pre-Trip Prep

Summertime and the living is  wonderful in Jackson Hole. With so much to do in my fabulous backyard, I won’t be venturing afar or for long. A wedding in Boston,  a few days in Montana, and a return to our favorite ranch in the  Rocky Mountains are the only excursions over the next few months. Come autumn and I’ll be off again on some big adventures. In the meantime, I’ll be getting ready. 

¿Habla Español?

In early October, I will travel with a group of friends to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. The next month, I head to Andalusia, Spain for a week of food and art on my second  Oldways |Culinaria expedition.  Time to brush up my language skills by listening to Slow News in Spanish , and binging on telenovelas including “El Tiempo Entre Costuras” , “Las Chicas del Cable” and “La Reina del Sur.”

By the Book

I love reading history and non-fiction about upcoming destinations.  My list for Peru  includes Hiram Bingham’s Lost City of the Incas,  Last Days of the Incas by Kim MacQuarrie, Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams and Cradle of Gold: The Story of Hiram Bingham, a Real-Life Indiana Jones, and the Search for Machu Picchu by Christopher Heaney.

When I am actually “on location,” I love reading fiction that takes place there.  Mario Vargas Llosa won the Nobel Prize and Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter seems like a good place to start. Thornton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey is on my shelf as well.

Getting in Shape

Lastly, since we will be hiking in Peru, I am out in our beautiful mountains at least four times a week, building my strength and endurance. I am hopeful that living at 6200 feet means my altitude adjustment will be minimal.

Please share any recommendations or favorite ways you prepare in the comments section below. ¡Muchas Gracias!

 

9 thoughts on “Anticipation – Pre-Trip Prep”

  1. Planning to build strength and endurance in Megeve this summer and California later on but as far as altitude is concerned not sure it will be enough ! Te de coca sera util !

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  2. Have fun as I know you will have a great time in Peru. I have been there twice spending about 2 weeks both time and I am already trying to plan another trip in the upcoming years. It helps I have some family friends that live down there so they can give me the inside scoop.

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  4. Oooh, I’m looking forward to reading all your adventures, near and far! I’m also glad I’m not the only person who tries to learn the local language a bit before I travel… I’ve found the Duolingo app pretty handy for learning vocab and practicing on the go! Happy travels 😀

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  5. Hi Maggie!
    Enjoy Peru, I really found Cusco to be a fascinating place (if you’ll stop by) and an interesting example of ‘cultural repurposing’ by the Spaniards of the pre-Columbian infrastructure.
    I’ve found Bingham’s book a bit of a crossover between a novel and a diary, for in actual facts Machu Picchu hadn’t gone lost, and it wasn’t the place he thought it’d be… However, if you’re not going to do a trail I wholeheartedly recommend at least to walk from the Pueblo to the top. Takes an hour or so, but it’s really an experience.
    Best
    Fabrizio

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