Arrived in Peru!!!

(David excited about the bus ride while everyone sleeps)

After a long plane ride with a short stop in Bogota to switch planes, we arrived at Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima, Peru where we were greeted by our favorite dentists - Sandra and Erika - and our favorite doctor - Paula.

We met Clemente - our driver this year and highly recommended by Gustavo (our driver of our previous trips) and started the long process of loading our bags to the roof of the bus.

We are traveling tightly this year with all seats taken. There are 18 of us from the USA, our 2 dentists - Sandra and Erika, a translator - Adela (younger sister to Carla - our translator last year), and a five member band - Motif. The band will be doing a music workshop with the kids in pampas and its exciting to share music tastes with them. (Antonio - the lead singer - and I bonded over our love for Dispatch and I shared some live albums I have!).

(The sleeping students.)

After a long trip from 3 am to 11:30 am, we made it Huaraz! Checking in, lunch at a familiar restauarant, some opted to sleep, but most went for exploring. We checked in at Cafe Andino and enjoyed coffees and local Huaraz microbrews and followed our beverage break with a visit to the Regional Archaeology Museum of Ancash which has an impressive collection of ancient stone sculptures.

Right now, we are resting in the hotel and getting ready to head to dinner. We can feel the altitude here at 8000 feet so some acclimatization is already needed. We'll meet over dinner to finish prep on our projects and then break for the night. Tomorrow we face a 5 hour climb to Pampas Grande. The true distance is very short but the roads make the trip long.

We will post some pictures tonight!

Sid Dante
M4, VCU School of Medicine
Vice-Chair, Richmond Global Health Alliance