Day 8 began with us leaving our bags outside the door and breakfast in the hotel restaurant prior to our flight back to Lima. For both days at the Hotel Libertador we had the breakfast buffet. The buffet has a good selection. This was the first buffet that had oatmeal, but it looked like dirty water, so I didn’t have any. They must have a different kind of oatmeal in Peru. There were plenty of other choices and most were pretty good. After breakfast, we boarded the bus and headed for the airport. Once again, the guides checked us in and handed out our boarding passes. Couldn’t be easier. We got to the gate and our flight was delayed again – this time for just a little over an hour. We had another uneventful flight and arrived safely back in Lima. We were picked up by a very large motorcoach that looked nice, but had an unpleasant smell and when we sat down there were empty food containers on the floor and stuffed into the pouch on the back of the seat. I guess nobody checked to see if the previous riders had left a mess. Dirty bus – not up to Disney standards. After a short drive, we arrived in the neighborhood where the Peruvian Presidential Palace is located. There are many lovely buildings in this area. The bus dropped us off a short distance from the Casa Aliaga, where we would be having our farewell lunch. I tried to take a few photos, but the guides were leading us so quickly through the streets that I was afraid if I paused I would lose them in the crowd. We walked quickly through this arcade (I think the building is a post office) and I took this photo. It was pretty, but something in this area smelled really bad.
We arrived at the Casa Aliaga, where we paused near the entrance for Harvey to tell us about the history of the home. This is the view from where we were standing (obviously, I don’t have any interesting photos, but it's better than nothing, I suppose).
We climbed these stairs up to the main part of the house. We didn’t tour the house, but passed through several rooms and were served drinks and appetizers along the way. We reached the area where we would be having lunch. A band was there to entertain us , as well as another group of young men and women who drummed on wooden boxes (Cajons, I think) and danced. Sorry about the quality of the photo. There was something on the lens of my camera. No doubt there will be some better photos on the CD when it comes.
I began to fear that there might be some dancing in our future so I put a little distance between myself and the musician. About that time costumed dancers appeared from somewhere. After their performance, they taught a dance to the kids.
After the entertainment was over, we sat down to lunch. The room was not large enough for our group. There were three long tables in the room. The chairs were heavy and bulky and so close together that they touched. It was hard to move without elbowing your neighbor and also difficult get up from your chair, and we had to move around during the meal, since it was a buffet. This room would be fine for a smaller group, but we were packed in like sardines.
There was a very good vegetarian ravioli on the buffet (artichoke, if I remember correctly) and chicken cordon bleu. There was also a burger of some sort which all the kids around me agreed was kind of weird. Maybe it was alpaca. There was also a dessert that wasn’t too popular with the kids. It was a pudding – caramel or butterscotch maybe – drizzled with chocolate sauce. It tasted okay and it was interesting to have something different.
Once lunch was over we moved into a drawing room where the guides had set up a screen to watch the farewell video. For all of you who have been on an
ABD vacation, you know this is always fun, but a little bittersweet. Once the video ended we headed back to the bus for the ride back to the Casa Andina in Miraflores. There was plenty of time for somebody to pick up the trash off the bus while we were having lunch, but it was still there.
Back at the hotel we were given rooms and everybody went their separate ways for a time. Our room was much larger and nicer than the one we had at Casa Andina at the beginning of the trip. We were there for 4 or 5 hours maybe. Time enough to rest a bit, have dinner and take a shower before heading off to the airport again. There were 18 guests and one Adventure Guide departing that evening. We met in the hotel lobby and several of our fellow travelers came down to say goodbye. Then it was off to the airport for the second time that day and we were all headed home.
This trip is billed as a 9 day trip, but it’s really 7 days. For 2 out of the 7 days, half of the day is spent flying to/from Cusco. One of the guides mentioned that there are plans for international flights into the Cusco airport. That would be fantastic because IMO this trip would be better if it began in Cusco. The official first day of the trip in Lima, there are no activities and no meals included. It’s just a place to stay while all the guests arrive. Day 8 it’s back to Lima just to be near the airport. We don’t do anything there except have lunch. It’s a nice setting for lunch, but I’m sure they could find something just as nice in Cusco. Day 9 is nothing but a travel day for anybody who didn’t already leave the previous night. Maybe ABD will redo the itinerary when international flight are available to Cusco and use the time that is spent on internal flights to do something fun instead.
When we arrived at our home airport, the driver ABD had arranged for us was waiting by the escalator near baggage claim. He helped us with our bags and took us home. Once again, very good, professional service. I hope ABD offers this perk again next year.
That's just sad. But I guess gates & ticket takers don't make for good TV!
This trip is still on my radar for some day. We shall see!
What were the white elephant gifts you bought, and what did you end up with after the exchange???? 
