Yesterday could not have been any smoother. Despite being overly tired from lack of sleep the past few weeks, I experienced absolutely zero hiccups throughout the day – from leaving Detroit all the way through making it to bed that night. So, those few things I asked you to pray for yesterday (safe flights, no issues with luggage, easy entry into Peru)? Thank you.

Zero lines at the Delta International check-in counter and airport security made for a great start to the day. And if it couldn’t be better, my flight from Detroit to Mexico City was not full at all, so I didn’t have to sit next to anybody. Space on an airplane? Wonderful.

We arrived in Mexico City and navigated the immigration department (where I received a Mexican stamp in my passport – but it covers another one…), gathered my luggage and dropped it off at the AeroMexico baggage claim.

Three hours later, after a considerable amount of people watching, reading and just sitting around, I boarded the next flight, from Mexico City to Lima. Again, the plane was barely full and I didn’t have to sit directly next to anybody. And, where I was sitting the first 2 rows of the Coach cabin was called “AeroMexico Plus+”. Nobody directly next to me, slightly larger seat, nice headrest and lots of leg room? Perfect.

There were maybe 10 people sitting in front of me on the flight, so it made for an easy exit off the plane and a very quick stop in Immigration. My luggage came off the flight quickly and when I pushed the customs button, I got the green light.

For anybody that has been to Peru before, sometimes this last part of the trip – from when you land in Lima to getting in your transportation from the airport – can take a lot of time. You have to wait in line at Immigration, it takes a long time for your baggage to arrive, you get the red light at customs, and then you exit into the airport to a sea of people anxiously waiting for their loved ones, or taxi drivers constantly asking, “taxi? taxi?”.

I walked out from the restricted area into literally a sea of people all staring right at the door. My transportation from the airport to the apartment was a hired taxi driver that I had never met before. To find him, I was supposed to look for a sign with my name on it, among the dozens and dozens of other signs around the airport. Usually, this takes me a while. They are never standing near the front of the group, their sign is small with some creative spelling of my name, and I don’t know who I’m looking for. But not last night – Cesar was standing right in the front of the large group and unbelievably easy to find.

He helped me to his car and we were off into the streets of Lima.

And so the adventure begins.