The Journey to Machu Picchu Begins...

After having been allocated a 'travel companion' slot on the Seven Wonders in Seven Days' competition, follow me here to find out about my preparations, the charities, how you can donate and the journey to Machu Picchu itself.

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Hi Tumblr Warmest Alissa

[alissajuvan7w7d]

A Christmas Story...no, not that one

I have been a bit remiss about blogging for a number of reasons, really:  first, the postponement of our trip and then just being really, really busy over the last couple of months.  Busy is good, but a bit of a breather is good, too, and I'm looking forward to that this Christmas break.

Having just come back from our work Christmas lunch, I read that the Seven Wonders team is asking for our Christmas stories, and I had to post something.

I was just telling a friend the other day how my parents made Christmas so special for us when we were growing up.  Christmas really felt magical to me, and even though we don't celebrate Christmas in that same way (we're all a bit older now!), there's still that element of magic in celebrating Christmas in the house that I grew up in.  I'm not going to be there this year, which will only be the second time that I'll be celebrating Christmas in the UK, so I do have some mixed feelings about Christmas this year, but by sharing my Christmas memories, it will put a smile on my face and also maybe inspire you to think of ways to make your Christmas more magical.

For me, Christmas Eve is always more special than Christmas Day.  We always opened presents on Christmas Eve and never Christmas morning, which, when I was growing up, was pretty exciting, because I got my presents sooner than most!  However, when I started to want to try and fit in with other kids, I really wanted to do Christmas morning instead, but never ended up wanting to wait to open my gifts!  So, it has always been Christmas Eve for me.

When we were younger, we used to hold little plays downstairs in our basement.  I remember doing little performances with my sister and our Cabbage Patch Kid dolls.  But we would do our performances downstairs while waiting for Santa to come and leave presents under the Christmas tree in our living room, upstairs.  We had a bell at the top of the basement stairs which would ring when Santa had come and left our presents.  That might not sound like much, but no one would ring that bell.  That bell would seemingly ring on its own, as if by magic. 

But we would perform and my father would go upstairs periodically during the evening to see if Santa had been.  Nothing.  We'd continue to wait downstairs, perform, etc and wait for that bell to ring.  Now, when that bell finally did ring, we were ALL still sitting downstairs, so no one was next to that bell to ring it.  Santa had, of course, rung that bell!

So, we'd all run upstairs, and there, under the now lit tree, were all of our gifts from Santa.  Talk about magic!

Of course, I have been let into some secrets since I was young, but I still have such amazing special memories of Christmas, and I had to share that.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[inothernews]

[sotheresthat]

messily:

inothernews:

WADDLERS, TO THE LEFT  Penguins go for a (controlled) stroll through the Basel Zoo in Switzerland.  (Photo: Georgios Kefalas / AP via the San Francisco Chronicle)

♥♥♥

Oh my god. Look at the penguins!

Penguins are at the top of the list of ridiculous things that I have a huge amounts of love for, and if I were to see a pack of them waddling through the zoo I’m fairly certain I would be sobbing with joy.

[alissajuvan7w7d]

That is absolutely amazing! I first wondered if it was something to do with them making Mr Popper's Penguins, but it's stupendous in any case!

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Wonder-ful meeting places...Peru, part I (#7w7d)

Phew...it's hard to believe the first week of November is nearly over, my major project is complete, but I still feel like it's so difficult trying to get my head around 'regular' life.  I'm getting there, though, and getting back into the swing of things. 

I have been continuing my Peru meet-up research, although no one seems to respond to me on Twitter.  Am I being Twitter-snubbed (or is there a proper word for it:  twitsnub, twitdiss...twitdiss seems pretty good)? 

I've been referring to my Lonely Planet book, as I can at least get answers on there.  Trying to look up information on Cusco airport and its facilities hasn't proved particularly fruitful, although finding a website called sleepinginairports.net is pretty amazing.  Thankfully, I have yet to ever fall prey to that--when our flight got ridiculously delayed in the States this summer and then eventually cancelled, we did get put up in a hotel for the night (barring a very sketchy one), so that was something.  I know many people who haven't been so lucky, and I know my time will come for sleeping in an airport--I think that website could come quite in handy.

Since I'm thinking we won't have much time to meet up in Cusco (unless at the airport or potentially the train station), I think Aguas Calientes is looking to be the best bet.  If nothing else, we'll be able to see Machu Picchu (I think), and we'll have gotten within a short distance of the ruins, so I think that, if Chi-chi can't get up to the ruins herself, at least she comes pretty darn close.

From my book and looking online, I would say that the Tree House (http://www.rupawasitreehouse.com/index01.html) sounds like a good place to meet.  On the edge of Machu Picchu Pueblo and the cloud forest, it's a cafe/restaurant (also part of a hotel) which serves traditional local Peruvian produce but with an international twist.  They also serve cuy and alpaca, so I'd be game (ha ha, excuse the pun) for meeting there.  I haven't been able to find opening times yet, but my book does say that they open for lunch and dinner.  While it's a bit further from the train station, being near the cloud forest sounds quite nice.

Additionally, there's another cafe, Inkaterra, that's part of another hotel and is right behind the train station, but according to my book, it sounds quite quiet and also quite tasty. 

While I want to make sure I try Peruvian fare while I'm in situ, I'm not sure if spending time trying the local cuisine makes the most sense while at Aguas Calientes (with the fleeting itinerary there anyway), but it's what I've found so far.  I'm going to keep looking to see if I can find anywhere where we could get a quick coffee and then continue on our sightseeing adventures...I think this would be more suitable, but mmm...alpaca and bacon does sound good.

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Desperately seeking a meeting spot in Peru...

With the crazed week I've had and the organised chaos of the weekend to come (for everyone who is asking what I'm going as for Halloween, the answer is a stressed organiser of a massive film challenge!), I have frantically done what I could via the Twittersphere and social media this week, but I admit it has been a bit of a last minute rush job with everything else going on.

There were some promising leads, but I have come up emptyhanded...so far.  I've got my Lonely Planet Peru book and plan on reviewing @turnoffrase's leads after this weekend and also chasing up some other Twitter users in Peru, so your help is still needed! 

With the transportation research that I had done before the original date (I like to be prepared when I travel), I know that, depending on Chi-chi's itinerary, we'll either have to meet at Cusco Airport or at Aguas Calientes (of course, ideally, at Machu Picchu itself), so there are a number of options to plan for.  Ideally, I'd like to get a good meeting place (and, particularly, if it's the 4:40 am flight from Lima to Cusco), and a good place to get a coffee, in both Cusco and Aguas Calientes, so that when we get closer to itineraries, we can then choose which city to meet at.  But yes, a strong coffee would be needed at that time of the morning.  Actually, I'm hearing more and more about Peruvian coffee, so I am looking forward to trying it when I'm there.

Can you send any hints, tips and suggestions my way for a good meeting place (coffee optional, but appreciated!) in either Cusco---probably around 6 am--or at Aguas Calientes around 11:00 am?  Please send via twitter @alissajuvan and I will be most grateful.

[alissajuvan7w7d]

I need your help on my Seven Wonders in Seven Days' task

Okay, so the Seven Wonders in Seven Days organisers have set the travel companion a challenge for the week, which will be the first of many to help organise our July trips.  What I need to do this week is to get help from all of you out there to find a good place to meet for a coffee where Chi-chi and I can do our video blog from Peru. 

With any luck, Chi-chi and I will be meeting at Machu Picchu itself, but since she has so little time, racing between all of the Wonders in seven days, we may have to meet in Cusco, in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) or potentially just at Cusco Airport.  Since neither of us know Peru, I'm looking for ideas from you as to a good place to meet for a coffee (particularly as it will probably be early morning, and we'll both be jetlagged!) and a quick chat before we both rush off in different directions. 

So, I need your help!  Any suggestions, please reply via Twitter (@alissajuvan), Facebook or post on the 7 Wonders in 7 Days Twitterfeeds or Facebook groups.  It has been such a busy week for me so I'm getting started on this late (answers to be received by Friday!), so I need your help, please...as soon as possible!

[alissajuvan7w7d]

20.10 2010

It's 20.10 2010, and if things had transpired differently, I would have been going to Peru tomorrow. Can I just say that, while it was disappointing when I found out the news about the trip being postponed, I am so thankful that I'm not going to Peru tomorrow because I am so busy! I have a major project coming up next weekend, Halloween weekend, which is the Bradford City of Film 48 Hour Film Challenge.

While I'm on top of it and I know it all will go well, it's something I feel like I want to see through to the end since I'm the director of the project. While I know my colleagues could have taken things on while I was away, I'm actually really glad I am here to get my head around everything and that I have the time to make it as fantastic an event as it can be.

And I know that, on the 7 Wonders in 7 Days side of things, it allows for more time, more donations, more raising awareness and raising money for the seven charities, so it's win win all around. Happy 20.10!

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Machu Picchu...by way of Los Angeles?

Well, we have just been informed that this year's charity adventure will have to be put on hold until July 2011.  Of course, I have mixed feelings, but it certainly sounds like it is all for the best.  Obviously, yes, I was looking forward to the trip, and I hope I'll still get to Peru (I know that, in any case, it has gone way to the top of places I want to travel to...and soon!), but July is slightly uncertain for me (more on this in a moment).

I feel worse for all of the hard work Chi-chi, Kyle and Fraser have put in, particularly over the last week or so, because I know that everyone was determined to make it work this month.  Chi-chi, in particular, because it has to take so much personal investment of time and energy to get this far.  But, it's not for nothing.  I know it will happen, and I hope to be one of the travel companions when we get to 2011.  July is slightly difficult for me, however, just because I have been planning to make my big move to Los Angeles next June.  Any chance I can go from LA instead?

Whatever happens, I want to keep supporting the project, supporting the other travel companions and tweeting and retweeting all of the latest news.  It's an amazing project, and I want to be involved however I can--whether or not I get to travel, too.

Thank you for everyone's support, interest and excitement at my own personal journey on this one.  I'll continue to blog--probably less about Peru at the moment, but, if nothing else, my preparations for LA now.  It's kind of amazing because once the shock of Peru and the project hit, I've been so immersed in that one that I've barely thought about all of the things I need to do for my move next year. 

It has certainly been a rollercoaster already, and I look forward to more twists and turns to come.  I hope you'll stick along for the ride.

[imremembering]

[sotheresthat]

imremembering:

Square One 

I LOVED Square One, which is funny, because I hate math.

[alissajuvan7w7d]

I still sing songs from this show. "nine, nine, nine, fantastic number nine. Times any number, you will find, it all comes back to nine"

Now, my sister and I have even gotten my niece into it!

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Rolling with the punches...

Tuesday night, we found out that our massive expedition was going to be delayed for a week. Thankfully, I can still get to Peru with the new timescale, but I will unfortunately no longer be able to go to Mexico.  I have some major work projects coming up at the end of the month, so I know I can't be away for so long.  I am grateful to my boss for being flexible with the change of travel plans, so thank you, @gideonseymour. A big thank you as well to my friends, Natasha and Jerimie, and my parents for their donations. It's nice to feel the support from across the pond.  I hope you've read the organisers' latest update-they say thank you, too. In some respects, the extra time makes me feel a bit more relaxed about things. I'll have more time to get the last of my doctors' appointments out of the way, more time to make sure I've covered what I need to for work, perhaps an actual weekend where I can relax at home and not work and just get my head around what is to come. It will also give us all more time to ask for donations and to promote the charities the project is supporting. Yesterday, I met Daryl (@heathenstorm) to do an interview on BCB Radio in Bradford.  Since Daryl is also based in West Yorkshire, I thought it might be good to try and spread the word around the region. I'm not sure if anyone heard the show, barring my husband, Andy, and those working at BCB, but I got some good feedback. At least we got the main points across--namely, the seven charities the project is supporting and how people can support the project.  So, with the expedition being pushed back a week, you've still got time to support the project, too.  How can you support this fantastic project?  By visiting the 7 Wonders in 7 Days website (www.7wondersin7days.com).  7 Wonders in 7 Days is raising money for Alzheimer's Research Trust, Open Doors, Young Minds, Feed the Minds, Sport Relief, Victory Outreach Manchester, and, my chosen charity, Diabetes UK.  You can also keep up to date on all of the project updates, our individual trials and tribulations (visas, vaccinations and more!) via the website, too, by following them on Twitter (@7wondersin7days) or by Liking 7 Wonders in 7 Days on Facebook.  I've also recently just found out (via a connection on Facebook) that Haworth in Bradford District is twinned with Machu Picchu (well, the town at the base of Machu Picchu)!  I'm trying to see if I can arrange for me to bring something small over from Haworth, although since it's looking quite possible that I'll be there on a Saturday now, this might be for nothing.  It's worth a try, though, as I find it kind of amusing with me being an American, coming to Peru to represent a British town and British charities.  Hmm...

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Peru...and Mexico?

Just over 48 hours ago, I was asked if I might be able to follow my Peru adventure with an additional trip to Mexico, as, unfortunately, another of our travel companions has had to pull out.  So, I figured, why not?  I'm pretty much there already.  It can't take more than a couple of hours between Peru and Mexico.  Au contraire, my friends...looking at flights online, I can do a direct flight between Lima and Cancun (based on my previous visit to Chichen Itza a few years ago, Cancun should be the nearest airport), but it takes 10 HOURS TO GET THERE!  Now, I know Mexico is further than I think it is from Peru, but ten hours?  Ten hours?  Is Aeromexico using gliders to get there?  I could make a connection via New York City, and it would only add an additional five hours.  How is this possible?

So, here I am thinking it will just be a quick, relaxing jaunt over to Mexico--ooh, maybe even relax on the beach a bit somewhere--but actually, it would probably take just as much time to fly from England to Mexico in the first place.  Plus, I might be on an airline that I know of and probably trust a bit more. 

Twelve hour flights, ten hour flights, fifteen hour flights...it's getting a little bit hairy now.  I haven't flown by myself for nearly seven years now, so just that flight to Peru was going to be a test.  Now, it's a long flight to Peru, a long flight to Mexico, and then another long flight back home.  Not as relaxing as I thought it might be.

And I still have to ask for the extra time off...but it's for seven great causes.  Who could say no?

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Seven Wonders in Seven Days...and I'm off to 'darkest' Peru

So, two weeks from today, I am off on a charity trip to Peru!  It will literally be a flying visit (I leave the UK on the 13th and leave Peru again on the 15th), but I'll get to visit one of the new seven wonders of the world-Machu Picchu! 

If you haven't already read my blog or seen my many tweets/statii and more, I'm taking part in a project called 7 Wonders in 7 Days, and the organizer of the project, Chi-chi Ekweozor, will be visiting all seven wonders in a week with seven 'travel companions' were selected via Twitter competitions to join her on her travels.  I was selected to go to Machu Picchu, which I'm so excited about!  The aim of the project is to raise money for seven charities:  Diabetes UK, Open Doors, Feed the Minds, Alzheimer's Research Trust, Victory Outreach Manchester and Sport Relief, and also to raise the profile of the Jessie Ekweozor Foundation, founded by Chi-chi, which she has set up in memory of her grandmother.  It's an amazing and ambitious project, and I'm thrilled to be part of it!

This is where I hope you can come in.  The project aims to raise £777,777 for the seven charities, so the project is looking for donations.  If you are able to donate anything, the money is split evenly between the seven charities.  You can donate from outside the UK (I checked), and the minimum donation is £5 (approximately $8), so less than a dinner out, a movie and so many other things.  Plus, it's supporting not just one charity, but seven!  If £5 is too much, you could also join up with several others (as one of the other 'companions' has suggested) to each donate £1.

If you can donate, great!  The way to donate is to go through Virgin Money Giving

http://virginmoneygiving.com/7wondersin7days

If not, not to worry--you can still keep an eye on my travel blog, as well as the other travel companions via the 7 Wonders in 7 Days website (www.7wondersin7days.com).

My travel blog is alissajuvan7w7d.tumblr.com and I'm writing regularly in the preparations for the trip, and I'll be tweeting, blogging and taking pictures and videos while I'm away, so no one will miss out!  You can also follow me on Twitter (@alissajuvan).

Thanks for your support!

Alissa

[alissajuvan7w7d]

a sore face does not a pretty picture make...

so, my left arm is still sore from my vaccinations on friday (blaming the diptheria, polio and tetanus), and now my face is sore, too.  i was trying to get a picture of my swollen face, but it looked too awful to share.  actually, it probably doesn't even look that awful, but when you get your mouth numbed at the dentist, you feel like half your face is just sagging and puffy, and your imagined image is worse than it actually is.  i imagine that i look a bit like quasimodo and everyone can see my puffy jaw, but actually, it's just that i can't really open my mouth or speak particularly well.

the good news is that i got seen at the dentist a day after my tooth broke.  yes, part of my tooth broke!  i thought it had to be part of a filling, but no, they said it looked like my tooth broke.  how horrible is that?  that makes me feel so much older than my years--my teeth shouldn't be breaking!  actually, it makes me feel like something has seriously gone wrong with my dental hygiene if my teeth are breaking.  but yes, so i thankfully got into the dentist straight away, but now i just feel all sorry for myself and in pain.  two sore arms, three needles and one sore face in pretty much just a weekend.  let's just hope that my medical and dental procedures are over before the peru trip.  no, let me revise--let's hope that my medical and dental procedures are over (barring asthma review and flu jab) so that i don't have any further procedures while in peru.  what am i saying?  i won't have time to be sick while i'm away! 

so, can i get a nice big virtual 'awwww' for my woes?  it will make me feel so much better. cue virtual hugs and things...or something like that.

[alissajuvan7w7d]

...I'm amazed that the cost of insuring my phone for the trip is more expensive than insuring the rest of my baggage. Ah well. At least I'm all insured. Cross another item off the list.

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Two sore arms and insect repellent...all in a day's prep for Peru

I made the first of my doctor's visits yesterday to get my vaccinations for Peru.  Left arm:  diptheria, tetanus and polio.  Right arm:  Hepatitis A and typhoid.  Two sore arms resulted, although the DPT arm is definitely the most tender.  My regular flu jab to follow in October, although I've rescheduled so I'm not getting that one immediately before I leave the country--ha ha, that would have been miserable.

The nurse made me a bit paranoid about not getting malaria tablets.  On one hand, I'd rather be overprotected and get them, just to be on the safe side, even though all of my reading seems to suggest that I won't need them for Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu.  Plus, I've never gone anywhere where I needed to get malaria tablets, so it feels slightly exotic to get them!  On the other hand, with all of the vaccinations and potential tablets for altitude sickness (another worry), I don't want to just be all drugged up, either.  At Boots, their list suggested that the insect repellent I was buying would be sufficient...but do I just want sufficiency or do I want the most effective SWAT (pardon the pun) team against mosquitoes I can get? SWAT all the way, I'm thinking. 

Water purification tablets have now been added to my list.  Instead of my list getting shorter, it just seems to be getting longer as to the things I need and the things I just need to do before I go.  It does make me wonder if I need all of this stuff, or if I'm just getting needlessly worried, but when Lonely Planet tells me you can't drink the tap water, I figure I need to be prepared.

I have to say, though, that I'm finding the reactions to my flying visit to Peru quite amusing.  I love being able to say, yes, I just found out the other day that I'm going to Peru--for three (ish) days.  I know I will be exhausted and will be spending more time travelling than actually being in country, but it's so worth it for the experience and for the great causes we're supporting.

On that note, I've just joined Virgin Money Giving so that you can hopefully put some money forward for the seven great charities that the trip is supporting:  Diabetes UK, Open Doors, Young Minds, Alzheimer's Research Trust, Feed the Minds, Sport Relief and Victory Outreach Manchester.  I'll be added to the 7 Wonders in 7 Days donation page shortly, so if you are able to donate, you can do so via their page at the moment http://ow.ly/2IN3F

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Introducing...Yours Truly (#7w7d)

So, we travel companions have been asked to introduce ourselves, so here I am!  I’m Alissa Juvan.  I’m an actress, singer and writer from the Eastern US who has been living in the UK for nearly seven years with my husband and cat.  I’m also a creative development coach, and I organise and produce events for an arts organisation in Yorkshire.

If you want to know more about my work, you can see my coaching blog via wordpress (alissajuvan.wordpress.com) or my acting website, which is www.alissajuvan.co.uk

I actually met Chi-chi a few years ago while on a media training scheme in Manchester, and we’ve remained in touch.  I remember her telling me at an event at least a year ago about the 7 Wonders in 7 Days project, and at the time, I seem to remember joking how it would be great to join her!  And now I actually have been lucky enough to be chosen to, which is absolutely surreal!  I had thought it sounded like an amazing project, and I’ve followed it since and have tried to promote it since then because I think it’s so worthwhile, ambitious, generous, and also, I know that if anyone can achieve the fundraising target and also achieve the seemingly impossible task of visiting the seven wonders in a week, it’s Chi-chi!  

I’m so excited to be going to Machu Picchu.  It seems like an absolutely fascinating site, and I’ve never been to South America, so I know it will be a fantastic experience.  I’m most looking forward to seeing Machu Picchu, trying cuy and hopefully seeing some alpacas (and bringing back lots of souvenirs for my friends and family).

 What do I bring to the project?  An excitement for travel, creativity, a laidback but organised personality, a tendency to worry and want to be in control, and also a firm belief in saying yes to opportunities—like this one! 

 Go, Team 7w7d!

[alissajuvan7w7d]

Training for Peru (including giving up coffee!)...and your help needed

I haven't thought much about Peru this weekend, mainly because I know we're supposed to hear about our travel dates this week.  I know once I know that, I'll feel more comfortable and more in control of the situation! 

I know I don't need a visa, which is great.  I've booked in to get my vaccinations at the end of the week, to be on the safe side.  Once I know dates and itinerary, I'll know whether or not I'd get any chance to go to the Amazon, and if so, then get a yellow fever vaccination.

I'm thinking I'll need to 'train' a bit before I go.  I'm not the most athletic of people (by any means), but I've definitely been avoiding the gym for a few months (and still paying for it--the gym, I mean), and if nothing else, with my lack of athleticism and my asthma, I figure it's best to work my cardiorespiratory system that extra bit harder, seeing as I'll be in the Andes and potentially hiking.  Hence, as I'm writing this, I've just finished my tae bo exercise DVD (Billy Blanks is great!) and am waiting to dry off a bit before I shower.

I probably need an asthma review before I go as well, just in case I need some backup.  I'm just hoping I won't need to go to the doctor every week before I go--vaccinations, asthma, altititude sickness tablets...anything else?

Yes, the packing.  One small backpack is my aim (hey, I've gotten around Japan twice with that backpack), but I have to make sure I have room for all of the gifts I plan on bringing back for friends and family. 

So, there are plenty of preparations to be had, including making sure I've got insect repellent, sunscreen, and, according to one of the websites, gear for cold weather.  It sounds like it's incredibly cold in Peru at the moment, so I might need to be prepared for winter.

In addition to the preparations I'm making, Chi-chi (who is the amazing woman behind this project), in addition to all of us seven 'travel companions', need your help.  The goal of 7 Wonders in 7 Days is to support seven charities by raising £777,777 to be split between the charities.  The charities are:  Open Doors, Young Minds, Victory Outreach Manchester, Sport Relief, Feed the Minds, Alzheimer's Research Trust and DiabetesUK, all of which need donations from the public to continue to do their work and research.  £777,777 is a large amount, but even with a donation of £5 (or about $8), you can help make a difference. 

Donations from outside the UK are accepted (I checked!!), so no matter where you are, do give what you can to support these seven charities and their work.  £5--that's about a large cappuccino/latte/americano and a muffin/croissant/pastry.  We blow that amount in one go without thinking about it (speaking as someone who spends close to £7 a week on coffee, I know what I'm talking about); so, why not put a bit of thought into that £5, just once this week, and help make a difference?  Writing this makes me think that I need to put my money where my mouth is, too, and do the same.  It may not be a big deal to some, but if I give up my daily double macchiatos for even three days, that's £5 savings.  And that IS a challenge for me.  But, I'll do it, and you'll know (if you're following me on Twitter) if I'm living up to my end of the bargain, because I have been checking in with foursquare, trying to get a mayorship at my regular cafe. 

It's Monday, though, so I will be getting my coffee as fortification to start off the week.  I'm up for the challenge, though...I hope you are, too.

Donate via:  www.7wondersin7days.com