The planning:

We have wanted to do a big trip for a long time, obviously, we needed to save hard to pay for it, but decided on using "our big birthdays " as a good enough excuse to blow our savings on having some fun. Covid travel restrictions got in the way - but actually helped us save ( we hardly spent any money as couldn't go anywhere to spend it). 

Graeme wanted to return to Cuba for the May Day celebrations for his trip- I have always wanted to go to Galapagos. When we started looking into potential travel, we had to fly to Quito in Ecuador to then travel on to the Galapagos Islands. That was when Graeme had a great idea...

Graeme has done voluntary work oversees before, in fact, the night we met he told me all about his plans to teach English in Northern India through a local charity IiSpice. This was organised through www.volunteeringabroad.com  He asked me that night if I would go with him. I said I would and asked him to email me the information.  He asked for my phone number, but I absolutely would not give him it, as we had only just met. I gave him my work email! 🤣 that was 10 years ago and the trip became our honeymoon! 

So, when looking at Ecuador this time, we figured there might be a good volunteering opportunity there, seeing as we had to fly in anyway. Neither of us has been to Ecuador before, so were really excited at the prospect of seeing a bit of the country. Volunteering is a great way of seeing the country in a different way from the usual tourist view. However, you can't just rock up and "do some volunteering "- you have to find the right project and they have to want you. We applied, sent over proof of who we are, told them a bit about ourselves and experience, then there's a video call "interview" before we paid our fees . Volunteering abroad isn't free- but rest assured, any money you pay is well spent on maintaining the projects or doing good work within the community it serves. Money well spent, I'd say. 

We couldn't organise a flight from Quito to Havana....and the dates didn't fit with us being there for May Day....this time, I had a cunning plan to extend the trip. The idea to go to Peru as part of our adventure was born! 

When planning the trip we had to spend a lot of time looking at different travel organisations, timings, value for money;  we don't have any to waste, so can't pay more than we need to, but also wanted to make sure we didn't miss out on any experiences we wanted to have. 

It took a lot of searching online - and old school travel brochures to look at ( who doesn't love the feel of the pages when flicking through possible itineries)? But, I am confident we made the right choices for us. We had to figure in my health- we've paid for extra nights in some locations, simply to allow me to get enough rest between travelling, activities and sightseeing. I am pretty stubborn and determined, but if my body decides it has done enough, it will crash. I can never be sure quite how hard it will crash or how long it will take to get back on my feet. I am fully expecting a prolonged time of ill health when we return, but it is the price I will have to pay for the trip of a lifetime. I won't get any younger either, so the desire to do it now & do it on a big scale is very strong. Anyway, tomorrow is never promised for any of us. You have to grab life by the ....well, I am sure you get the idea! 

All that planning makes me thirsty & it would be rude to not celebrate with a decent margarita! Cheers.