Peru: Friday, July 5

Today was our last day up in Las Lomas for our games. We headed up a little earlier to try and get in as much time as possible with the kids. Another great lunch and up the hill we went! 
Being greeted with smiles & hugs is going to hard to leave, that's for sure!! There were more kids than normal, whether that was due to the fact that it's our last day or that Srta finally showed up, or that there were no classes today as its Teacher's Day, but I would guess we had 50 kids and a whole bunch of moms today. 
We started with some basic soccer fun & music while kids slowly filtered in. Did some dancing....Macarena, YMCA, Hokey Pokey, etc.... We had a couple crazy games of Sharks & Minnows followed by Dodgeball, which they call Matagente (People Killer), and finished with some Tug of War. Phew!! Exhausted but hearts full of love and smiles all around!
We said lots of good byes and headed to soccer practice.  Dinner was a fan fave....Spaghetti.... lots of members in that clean Plate club! Back to soccer for the end of Girls practice and to finally watch the 1st Division.
What a day! Hard to believe tomorrow is the last day up the hill....

Peru #9: June 2019

Peru trip #9 is off and running!  As my Europe trip was pushed back due to Polar Vortex fun, the Peru & Europe trips ended up overlapping.  So, I had 2 amazing ladies, Dinah & Bonnie, offer to fly down with the students as they were doing a tour of Peru/Machu Picchu/Cuzco.
So, on Sunday, June 30, at 3am, they packed up the ACT II shuttle and headed to Chicago for their 9am flight.  Flying on Copa, they connected via Panama City, and arrived into Lima around 730pm.  Daniel and the clan from Voices4Peru met the girls at the airport and whisked them away to the townhouse to get settled in.
Monday, they headed the hour plus north to Ventanilla, and did a tour of the area as well as Mi Peru, a beach stop, and some lunch.  After lunch they headed up the Hill for a tour of the area where Daniel and V4P work.  A very marginalized, ignored area with no running water or sewer, Las Lomas is where V4P has their private pre-school for 3,4,5 yr olds.  After meeting some of the kids, and getting a lay of the land, the girls headed down for dinner and soccer practice.  V4P has a variety of soccer teams to try and involve more kids to keep them off the streets and out of trouble.

Tuesday started games.  After lunch, the girls played some games with the kids who showed up.  As it's "winter" in Peru, it's pretty dreary weather - very gray and cloudy, a bit misty.  But they got some good tug-of-war.and a fan-favorite of Bubbles!  What kid doesn't love bubbles!

Wednesday was basically the same - camp & soccer.  Today they played a huge fan-fave of "Dress like a gringo."  They divide the kids into 4 teams, and they have to put on our donation clothes, which are too big for the little kids who come out to play.  They have to put on a shirt, shorts, and shoes and had to try and run - one of the funniest games we've every played!!
As I'm not there to document it all, the girls and the V4P team are good about sending me pics and keeping me updated!
Here are some pics I have received - enjoy!!!

Day 17:: Time to fly! FCO-ATL-MLI

Luckily we didn't have to leave SUPER early today like Mr Hulting & Erin (445am).  We didn't depart the hotel until 9 for our 12:50pm flight to Atlanta.  Easy peasy at the airport - no problems - sadly said good-bye to Fran...and his many faces.....but not really a good-bye as he's coming to Iowa in November!!!  So, we'll get to show him around our world!
Our flights today are Rome to Atlanta to Moline.  Our Rome to Atlanta flight was 10+ hours....ugh....  3 hours in Atlanta - time to get some American food!!  Then a quick flight to Moline to land before the storm hit!
We were greeted by a mob of happy parents!!  How sweet!!  Thankfully all our luggage arrived safe & sound!.....
Said our good-byes and off we went!  Most thoroughly excited to sleep in our own beds with real pillows, enjoy our US air conditioning, and not be on a moving vehicle!
All in all, #28 was a huge success!  The kids were amazing!  One of the better groups i have every had!  They rarely complained about anything. I was constantly complimented on how attentive they were and how polite and prompt they were.  They soldiered through the crazy, HOT day in Rome, without complaining.  They watched out for each other - took care of each other - shared snacks (which is important), and just really seemed to enjoy the trip!
Thank you, parents, for letting your kid come on this amazing journey!  They grew in so many ways and have become better travelers, and not just tourists!!  Hopefully they feel they learned more than their brain can absorb, but have increased their curiosity to go out and explore the world more! So, if your child was bit by the travel bug, sadly parents, I'm not sorry - it's a good thing, i promise!  Thank you for sharing #28 with me - too many memories to count.... 2,4,6,8.....2,4,6...2...2....2....  :)  :)
Enjoy the rest of your summer! Guys...guys....guys....wait til November!!!
Hugs!
Señorita :)

Day 16: Capri.....and our Last Supper

We left our lovely abode in Sorrento and headed to the ferry port to catch our boat out to the beautiful island of Capri.  We got lucky and got on the 'fast' ferry, so it only took us 20 min to get out to the island.  We immediately hopped on a private boat that took us on an island tour for the next hour.  The water was a bit choppy in the port due to all the other boats coming in and out. But once we made the turn, it was much better. Such a beautiful island with turquoise waters.... sigh....  We went almost all the way around, checking out the coral grotto and seeing the beautiful rock formations and the natural 'elephants.'  Was a beautiful day to be on a boat!!
Once back at the port, we headed up the funicular to the top of the island, and went on a stroll to the beautiful Augustus gardens.  Beautiful flowers, beautiful overlook of the whole island....wow!!!
After lunch, we had some free time prior to our return ferry.  Most of the kids hit the beach, some went shopping, and some others just chillaxed.  It was a beautiful day for all those activities!
We took the ferry back to Naples, so that took about 40 min, found our bus (eventually), and headed to Rome.  A quick drop off of our bags in the hotel, and off to dinner we went... our Last Supper!
And of course, it was pizza!!!
Over the last few weeks, we have been shopping for gifts for Fran, and at dinner tonight, the kids presented them to him.  Only rules were they should be $5 or less, and should be something that reminds them of Fran.  We had such fun & thoughtful gifts - many many laughs!  Needless to say, Fran was surprised!
Back to the hotel to get ourselves packed up for departure day tomorrow!