The Treasury

Back home; end of another month, another summer. Sitting on a picnic table as the light rain falls on the blackberry, the soft waves of the Atlantic rippling on the shore line 15 m in front, the horizon calm and wondrous and beckoning ahead. Othello just begun indoors, where you were too late to make the seating cut. So left to think here for awhile, before heading off to plan the rest of another quiet night.

An amazing first foray into South America just concluded, thoughts turn to the next ridiculous global sight-seeing excursion. After turning it over and over, I think the genesis of the plan has come alive. Excellently, the way now leads through the 2nd, and arguably most inaccessible, new Wonders at Petra.

But really, the trip and brief aftermath really demonstrate the need to leave Halifax more permanently. The rain has opened up (such that I am typing inside a sweater, basically) but even with more time, there's not much else to elaborate. You must go. 6 months from now seems the right timeframe, and the will and means are there.

I love the inevitable. Happy Labour Day.

Grayish White Granite Wonders

Here you are-were again. Random internet cafe, 3 soles an hour, just a few minutes by bus to the imposing, legendary, and beautiful Inca city of Macchu Picchu. What a past few days on the Trail from km 82. Looking forward to distilling the photos into a reasonably sized montage. But more, it sets the stage nicely both for that "other" camino in Spain and for 2009 as a whole. As John so succinctly stated - "if you've got boxes, you've got to tick 'em, yeah?" Oh, absolutely.

The left calf remains ever so sore and tight (remember that) and there were clouds at Intipunku. But no matter. Like Halleakala, all the more reason to use it as an excuse to go back. Not in the near term, but some time in the next 20 to 30 years, I imagine. The only question, as ever, is with who.

Pictures to come on the train ride back into Cuzco. As we close down further on the future trips ahead. Remember the Inca kola you bought after finishing up this post? Remember the book (title not yet selected) you purchased prior to jumping on the train? Remember the breath-taking views of Macchu Picchu from up high today at noon? How could one not... So many little moments that make up a life, and this trip has provided many to remember. Keep up the sweet work, comrade. Grander works are in store. I have a stone in my pocket that needs to get to Giza.