I still haven't blogged about parts of my trip, including the Amazon, but I've been so busy since I returned, catching up at work and also working with the details of the relocation. I've had dozens of phone calls and emails related to the various details of moving to Texas. My new employer provides a wonderful, comprehensive moving package that is very generous financially, but there is a lot of paperwork and other hoops to jump through.
I'm just about to head off with H, S, and R now to Houston. We'll have Saturday, Sunday, and half of Monday to find the house we're going to buy. We've been researching online and through people we know in the area for months, but it's still scary. Wish us luck. We have a list of about ten homes we want to see, so hopefully one of them will be the right one.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Back from darkest Peru (I)
In the Paddington Bear, stories my mom used to read to me as a child, Paddington was from "darkest Peru." After a journey of 36 hours to get home that included two boats, a hike, a bus, five flights, and a car ride, I don't question the appellation.
My trip to Peru was great, a once-in-a-lifetime trip. For those of you who are interested, I encourage you to check out my brother's blog. He is a more diligent blogger and has many additional anecdotes to report.
Without backtracking for now, I'll pick up where I left off, which was getting ready to head into the Amazon basin with my dad. We didn't know if M would join us; after commenting to my dad about my supposedly "weak constitution" after I was smitten with an intestinal bug for the second time on the Machu Picchu day, he got ill just as I was getting better.
In fact, I started feeling better shortly after I threw up and dragged myself onto the train. While the train ride down to Machu Picchu--yes, down, for while Machu Picchu looks to be high in the mountains, and it is at 8,000 feet, this is almost 3,000 feet lower than Cusco and over 1,000 feet lower than Ollantaytambo--was highlighted by the spectacular scenery, it was dark on the ride home. So naturally, the train crew, after serving drinks and snacks, put on a fashion show. They modeled some clothes with an Andean touch, like Alpaca shawls and sweaters, but it was mostly, well, a second-rate wannabe J. Crew fashion show. Weird, but not as weird as the strange man dressed in some sort of traditional Andean costume who did a little dance down the aisle, making sounds rather like a guinea pig, before the train attendants came back to try to sell the clothes they had just been modeling. I wasn't feeling well and mostly pretended to be asleep.
Anyhow, the next morning I was feeling somewhat better, so Dad, G, and I headed back to Cusco. M, however, had been hit hard with the bug during the night and was simultaneously fighting vomiting and diarhhea. He was not well enough to come with us and he thought he might have to skip the jungle part of the trip. Luckily, some doctors from Houston were staying in the same hotel, and they wrote him a prescription for various drugs. Since they are available over-the-counter in Peru, Dad and I also picked up some Cipro to clear up our own lingering intestinal issues.
We all proceeded to Cusco and G got ready to head to Grand Cayman and Dad and I to the rain forest. Luckily, M dragged himself in that evening, looking like death, but clinging to hope that he could join us the next day. The next day, he was indeed just barely well enough to come. Dad and I were still tired, but looking forward to the trip into "darkest" Peru, and G headed off for some scuba diving. This post is getting long, so back to work. Next post: the long-awaited trip to the Amazon.
My trip to Peru was great, a once-in-a-lifetime trip. For those of you who are interested, I encourage you to check out my brother's blog. He is a more diligent blogger and has many additional anecdotes to report.
Without backtracking for now, I'll pick up where I left off, which was getting ready to head into the Amazon basin with my dad. We didn't know if M would join us; after commenting to my dad about my supposedly "weak constitution" after I was smitten with an intestinal bug for the second time on the Machu Picchu day, he got ill just as I was getting better.
In fact, I started feeling better shortly after I threw up and dragged myself onto the train. While the train ride down to Machu Picchu--yes, down, for while Machu Picchu looks to be high in the mountains, and it is at 8,000 feet, this is almost 3,000 feet lower than Cusco and over 1,000 feet lower than Ollantaytambo--was highlighted by the spectacular scenery, it was dark on the ride home. So naturally, the train crew, after serving drinks and snacks, put on a fashion show. They modeled some clothes with an Andean touch, like Alpaca shawls and sweaters, but it was mostly, well, a second-rate wannabe J. Crew fashion show. Weird, but not as weird as the strange man dressed in some sort of traditional Andean costume who did a little dance down the aisle, making sounds rather like a guinea pig, before the train attendants came back to try to sell the clothes they had just been modeling. I wasn't feeling well and mostly pretended to be asleep.
Anyhow, the next morning I was feeling somewhat better, so Dad, G, and I headed back to Cusco. M, however, had been hit hard with the bug during the night and was simultaneously fighting vomiting and diarhhea. He was not well enough to come with us and he thought he might have to skip the jungle part of the trip. Luckily, some doctors from Houston were staying in the same hotel, and they wrote him a prescription for various drugs. Since they are available over-the-counter in Peru, Dad and I also picked up some Cipro to clear up our own lingering intestinal issues.
We all proceeded to Cusco and G got ready to head to Grand Cayman and Dad and I to the rain forest. Luckily, M dragged himself in that evening, looking like death, but clinging to hope that he could join us the next day. The next day, he was indeed just barely well enough to come. Dad and I were still tired, but looking forward to the trip into "darkest" Peru, and G headed off for some scuba diving. This post is getting long, so back to work. Next post: the long-awaited trip to the Amazon.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Machu Picchu
Sometimes you wait so long for something that when it comes, it is a little bit of a disappointment. We have seen so many cool ruins on this trip that I was afraid that might be a little bit the case with Machu Picchu. However, I was not disappointed, except that I wasn´t feeling great.
After seeing awesome ruins on Sunday afternoon in Ollantaytambo--the entrance was just a couple of blocks from our hotel--we arose early yesterday morning to take the train to Aguas Calientes. The ride along the Urubamba River was spectacular in its own right, but the bus at the end of the line on the dirt road up the windy switchbacks left much to be desired. In fact, I felt ill and the rest of the group went ahead of me. My dad and brother wanted to hike Wayna Picchu, the peak you see behind Machu Picchu in the pictures, but my constitution wouldn´t allow it. I barely staggered through the gate and took a nap on the grass near some llamas.
Luckily, my strength slowly returned. I began slowly seeing some of the ruins, stopping when I got tired. I eventually ran into my bro in law, which was nice, and we saw more sites together. The hike to Wayna Picchu wiped out dad and tired out M, so I probably saw as much or more of the ruins as they did. I got sick again just before I got on the train, but I made it back okay, and I feel somewhat better this morning. Dad and M, however, are quite sick and are in bed. G has felt fine this entire trip and has been flexible, which is nice.
Anyway, despite that, the ruins are almost beyond description. It is amazing how the Incas built such cities high in the mountains with stone age technology. It was worth the trip and is something I will always remember.
After seeing awesome ruins on Sunday afternoon in Ollantaytambo--the entrance was just a couple of blocks from our hotel--we arose early yesterday morning to take the train to Aguas Calientes. The ride along the Urubamba River was spectacular in its own right, but the bus at the end of the line on the dirt road up the windy switchbacks left much to be desired. In fact, I felt ill and the rest of the group went ahead of me. My dad and brother wanted to hike Wayna Picchu, the peak you see behind Machu Picchu in the pictures, but my constitution wouldn´t allow it. I barely staggered through the gate and took a nap on the grass near some llamas.
Luckily, my strength slowly returned. I began slowly seeing some of the ruins, stopping when I got tired. I eventually ran into my bro in law, which was nice, and we saw more sites together. The hike to Wayna Picchu wiped out dad and tired out M, so I probably saw as much or more of the ruins as they did. I got sick again just before I got on the train, but I made it back okay, and I feel somewhat better this morning. Dad and M, however, are quite sick and are in bed. G has felt fine this entire trip and has been flexible, which is nice.
Anyway, despite that, the ruins are almost beyond description. It is amazing how the Incas built such cities high in the mountains with stone age technology. It was worth the trip and is something I will always remember.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
In Peru
I´ve been writing mostly via email to family, but I thought others would like to hear about the trip. I´m several days into my trip with my dad, brother, and bro-in-law. Last night, we ate at the hotel where my dad was staying (my brother and I were around the corner in another place). It had a lovely little courtyard with flowering plants and hand-carved wooden tables. I ate trout, which I hadn´t eaten for many years. My memories of trout are of gutting and frying up the fish my brother and I caught as kids. It was always strongly flavored and often had a few bones. This trout was very good, though. It had a nice garlic sauce and a very mild flavor. It also came with delicious sided of mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes. The latter was nice because many restaurants here serve as sides primarily plain white rice (dry) and potatoes with no salt, butter, or other fat (though papas fritas--french fries--are also common).
This morning, we went to the Sunday market at the Plaza Constitucion in Pisac. There is a market there every day selling the typical tourist stuff we´ve been seeing all week (jewelry, alpaca clothes, handicrafts), so we wondered how this would be different. This time, the locals were out buying as well. They had closed the street in front of the plaza and they were selling real market stuff, i.e., foodstuffs. I ate crepe-like banana pancakes for breakfast and didn´t try the cooked food, but I bought a couple of mangos, and they were delicious.
After we ate, we rented a taxi, who took us to the ruins at Pisac. They consist of the remnants of an Incan city built into the hillside. The extent of the construction was impressive, and much of it remains. The terraces into the hillside were huge, and there were perhaps 15-20 terrace levels at some point. We ascended some narrow paths while our guide´s four year old daughter cantered ahead, dangerously close to steep dropoffs.
Eventually, we came to a low tunnel that was used as a defensive point to restrict the passage of enemy troops. On the other side was the temple of the sun, a small altar with a large stone and sundial. We could also see the terracing below cut into the shape of a partridge--the ¨pisaca¨
We left Pisac and continued in our taxi up the Sacred Valley. We followed a beautiful valley along the Urubamba river until we eventually reached the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will stay tonight. The balcony up the stairs from my room may be the best view I´ve ever had from a hotel where I´ve stayed. On one side, the near Andes tower seemingly to the sky. To the right, the distant, taller mountains are capped with snow. On the other side, the impressive ruins and agricultural terraces of Ollantaytambo loom just a couple of blocks from our hotel. It is magnificent. Our room is sparse but comfortable and nicely designed.
So far, this has been a wonderful trip. We´ve had ¨discussions,¨but no real arguments. Hopefully Dad doesn´t mind. Machu Picchu tomorrow, and then Dad can apparently die happy.
This morning, we went to the Sunday market at the Plaza Constitucion in Pisac. There is a market there every day selling the typical tourist stuff we´ve been seeing all week (jewelry, alpaca clothes, handicrafts), so we wondered how this would be different. This time, the locals were out buying as well. They had closed the street in front of the plaza and they were selling real market stuff, i.e., foodstuffs. I ate crepe-like banana pancakes for breakfast and didn´t try the cooked food, but I bought a couple of mangos, and they were delicious.
After we ate, we rented a taxi, who took us to the ruins at Pisac. They consist of the remnants of an Incan city built into the hillside. The extent of the construction was impressive, and much of it remains. The terraces into the hillside were huge, and there were perhaps 15-20 terrace levels at some point. We ascended some narrow paths while our guide´s four year old daughter cantered ahead, dangerously close to steep dropoffs.
Eventually, we came to a low tunnel that was used as a defensive point to restrict the passage of enemy troops. On the other side was the temple of the sun, a small altar with a large stone and sundial. We could also see the terracing below cut into the shape of a partridge--the ¨pisaca¨
We left Pisac and continued in our taxi up the Sacred Valley. We followed a beautiful valley along the Urubamba river until we eventually reached the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will stay tonight. The balcony up the stairs from my room may be the best view I´ve ever had from a hotel where I´ve stayed. On one side, the near Andes tower seemingly to the sky. To the right, the distant, taller mountains are capped with snow. On the other side, the impressive ruins and agricultural terraces of Ollantaytambo loom just a couple of blocks from our hotel. It is magnificent. Our room is sparse but comfortable and nicely designed.
So far, this has been a wonderful trip. We´ve had ¨discussions,¨but no real arguments. Hopefully Dad doesn´t mind. Machu Picchu tomorrow, and then Dad can apparently die happy.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Layoff
Someone from my team just got laid off. He had been here for almost ten years, and while his work was spotty and he's probably the person I would have chosen had I been making the decision, it's always hard. I feel bad for anyone who has to find a job in this economy, and I wish him well.
I've been asked to pick up another sizable state and a major global strategic partner. It will be more work for me, but since I won't be here long, it doesn't matter too much. It's worse for my manager, who will have to reshuffle again very soon and worry about training a new person while everyone on the team is picking up the slack. Our team has now shrunk two people since I joined, so the stress level isn't going down. Also, everyone leaving, voluntarily or not, seems to be attorneys, so when I leave, there won't be much in-team legal support for the front-line negotiators. When I started, we had 5 of 11 attorneys on the team. When I leave, if I'm not replaced by an attorney, that number would drop to 1 of 9.
I've been asked to pick up another sizable state and a major global strategic partner. It will be more work for me, but since I won't be here long, it doesn't matter too much. It's worse for my manager, who will have to reshuffle again very soon and worry about training a new person while everyone on the team is picking up the slack. Our team has now shrunk two people since I joined, so the stress level isn't going down. Also, everyone leaving, voluntarily or not, seems to be attorneys, so when I leave, there won't be much in-team legal support for the front-line negotiators. When I started, we had 5 of 11 attorneys on the team. When I leave, if I'm not replaced by an attorney, that number would drop to 1 of 9.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Texas bound
As most people who read this blog probably know by now, yes, I am moving to Texas. I got the call last Friday with a verbal job offer, and the written offer followed in the mail. All I have to do is pass a background check (please, no identity theft) and a drug test, and I'll be headed to Houston. The job sounds very interesting, the company is on sound footing, and the salary is more than I expected--quite a bit more.
This will be a new chapter for our family. Between school, work, and internships, I've spent time in Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut--every region of the country except for the South. And Texas. Because I'm not sure whether to say Houston is in the South--they were part of the Confederacy and it's hotter and farther South than almost the entire South except for Florida. On the other hand, Texas has influences from the Southwest and Midwest. Houston is also very cosmopolitan, as there is a very international influence from the many global companies--especially oil companies--located there. In the end, maybe the old saw that Texas is a whole other country will prove to be correct.
I will very much miss the mountains and deserts of Utah, and I will especially miss my family members who live here, as well as some very good friends. But I feel like this opportunity is too good to pass up. More importantly, my wife and I have made it a matter of careful discussion, thought, and prayer, and we both feel like this is where we are supposed to be right now.
And, to my wife's family members in Kansas City, at least we're moving a little bit closer.
This will be a new chapter for our family. Between school, work, and internships, I've spent time in Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut--every region of the country except for the South. And Texas. Because I'm not sure whether to say Houston is in the South--they were part of the Confederacy and it's hotter and farther South than almost the entire South except for Florida. On the other hand, Texas has influences from the Southwest and Midwest. Houston is also very cosmopolitan, as there is a very international influence from the many global companies--especially oil companies--located there. In the end, maybe the old saw that Texas is a whole other country will prove to be correct.
I will very much miss the mountains and deserts of Utah, and I will especially miss my family members who live here, as well as some very good friends. But I feel like this opportunity is too good to pass up. More importantly, my wife and I have made it a matter of careful discussion, thought, and prayer, and we both feel like this is where we are supposed to be right now.
And, to my wife's family members in Kansas City, at least we're moving a little bit closer.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Not yet
Well, another week, and no call yet. I told myself it would likely be next week, but I was hopeful. In the meantime, my wife has a concert tonight, so I can go enjoy some good brass music with the older children and my parents. Plus, tomorrow is football day, including a big game for one of the schools I attended, so the weekend should be nice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)