Posted 9:27 PM by MelanieandSteve
CALIFORNIA, THE STATES: 18-21 MAY

HOLA, AMOR DESDE EQUADOR: We just arrived in Ecuador after visiting a most exotic destination many travelers only dream of … home!

HOME QUICK BUT NOT HOME SICK: Our flight package deal to South America had a four month return limit that expired this week. Heaven can wait and so can home and we were not done with our trip. We were about to abandon our plane tickets until we got thinking. It may sound bazaar, but price-wise, the best place to buy our flight back to the U.S.A. was from L.A. So we flew home as scheduled just to buy a round trip ticket right back. We saved lots of money and racked up some miles plus we caused lots of smiles when we showed up at Mom and Dad’s door.

A VISIT IS WORTH A THOUSAND POST CARDS: The reunion was sweet. Without even a phone call, we walked up our folk’s driveway. We got a huge hug from Mom, and Dad was so surprised that he wondered it he needed to wake up. The pooches each lavished us with lap-your-face loving.

FROM AUTUMN TO AWESOME: With Winter approaching in the South, some of the spots where we have stayed have been a bit cold, so late spring in the States felt great. We had snacks and good chats in the warm sunny garden out back. Then we took Mom and Dad out to dinner before we took off for some other Southern California surprises.

STAR WARS SURPRISES: It was our nephew Colin’s birthday week and we hoped to take him to Star wars opening night. One minor detail got in the way… he was already going. So instead we showed up at the show and surprised him in line. Niece Sara, Sister Sandy, and Big Brother Nate were there too and we had a small family reunion.

OPENING ACTS: Half the fun of the Star Wars movie was the waiting in line tailgate style. It stretched around the building. People got comfy with picnic tables and chairs and munched on boxes and bottles of snacks. One group plugged in a TV and VCR to an extremely long extension cord and right there in the parking lot they played preshow prequels. People played board games including Star Wars Monopoly, and some fans came clad in character costumes. There were Storm Troopers and Skywalkers, and even Sara’s friend all done up as a light saber.

SLEEPLESS IN STARWARS: Thanks to the last night’s sleepless flight, Mel was out like a theater light as soon as the midnight show lights dimmed. But Steve stayed up and saw the show through and spent the next day trying hard not to tell Mel what happened.

PERFECT DAY FOR A STOP ON THE CONTINENT: After the super late night out, Nate and Sandy stayed in and we all had a fun day of hooky at home. We picnicked, played games, and had a small party with big birthday cake for Colin’s 13th. The slow relaxed day went by fast and by night we were back on the road. A midnight flight out and two layovers took us back to Peru by 2 p.m. It was all sort of surreal, and we don’t know if we believe it ourselves when we say ¨It’s been real.¨

PERU PACK UP AND GO: We had one last afternoon in Lima to stop, shop, stroll about, pack up, and prepare for Ecuador. We enjoyed a relaxed evening social scene in our hostel with several friends talking on the terrace until late. In the morning on our 5th flight in 4 days, counting layovers, we thought maybe the next morning we would go for 6 in 5. Till next time, from Ecuador.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to : Nathan C., Jin V., Jen F., and H.