Flying, Waiting, Surviving: Our Trip to Peru

The Trip to Peru - No, we don't want to sleep

There are trips, including a trip to Peru, that begin relaxed. And there are trips that start with an alarm clock at 3:30 a.m. This story belongs to the second category. In a world where normal people are still fast asleep, a brave family drags themselves out of bed, armed with suitcases, passports and a subconscious feeling that something important has been forgotten.

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The first step is always the hardest: getting out of the warm bed. The thought that the adventure will begin in a few hours only helps to a limited extent against the urge to simply roll back into the covers. While the parents scurry through the house looking for chargers, jackets and the mysteriously missing toothbrush, the youngest travel companion tries to steal a few more minutes of sleep - in vain.

4:30 a.m. - Mission: Bremen The silence of the night is destroyed by the loading of the suitcases. Door open, suitcase in, door closed. Wrong way round. So suitcase out again, sort correctly, door closed. Finally departure. The driver - let's call him "Dad" - also has a mission: to reach Bremen airport in record time. The passenger, however - "Mom" - is the controller who checks at least three times whether the passports are still there. In the back, also buckled up and still half asleep: a small person who wonders why the hell anyone would voluntarily be awake at this time of day.

The highway is almost empty, only a few trucks share the road with the brave traveling group. The first challenge has been mastered: everyone is in the car, everyone has their documents - at least according to mom. But the feeling remains that something is missing for the trip to Peru.

6:00 a.m. - Bremen to Amsterdam: a journey that's quicker than boarding Bremen Airport is so small that if you spend too long looking for the gate, you're already out the door. Security checks are quickly completed, boarding is quick, and they're off. The view from the window shows a sleeping Germany below them. Landing in Amsterdam follows shortly afterwards. Just enough time for a deep breath - and then the real challenge begins: waiting.

Amsterdam - Lots of time, little fun Four hours in an airport can drag on, especially if you're tired. Fortunately, there are enough distractions: escalators to test, huge shop windows to marvel at and of course the most important question: "What are we eating?" A critical choice, because it could be the last decent meal for a long time. The decision is made for a hearty wholemeal sandwich with avocado and fresh tomatoes, and freshly squeezed orange juice is also included. The quality of the food is acknowledged with a satisfied nod - a smart choice.

After the meal, the long hours of loitering begin. The order of the waiting phases looks something like this: First, everyone strolls through the airport, still motivated, then everyone looks for a comfortable seat, which turns out to be completely unsuitable after five minutes. Then comes the moment when you stare aimlessly at the gate display and hope that the time passes more quickly. The conclusion after hour three: Four hours is really much too long. For the trip to Peru.

KLM to Lima - or: How do you survive a 12-hour flight? The plane is big, the seats are small. The in-flight entertainment is a mixture of films, maps showing the plane's current position and desperate attempts to sleep comfortably. The food comes in plastic bowls that promise a lot but don't deliver much, but at least there's chocolate. Twelve hours feels like an eternity.

The first phase consists of curiously exploring the in-flight program. What films are there? What music? Is there anything exciting to discover on the flight menu? But after three hours, boredom sets in. Then comes tiredness - but at the same time the realization that the seats are not made for sleeping. Head to the side? Doesn't work. Lean back? Too uncomfortable. Use your arms as a pillow? Hands go numb after two minutes. The hours drag.

In the meantime, the first airplane meal is served. Rice, chicken, a tiny salad and a dessert that is either chocolate or cardboard. Hunger somehow makes it edible, though. The onboard lights go on, then off again, then on again. The only constant in this flying tin can: the monotonous hum of the engines.

At some point the whole plane falls into a kind of twilight state. The noises become more monotonous, many passengers are sleeping - or at least trying to. Some are tapping on their screens, others are just staring into space. Every hour seems to drag on forever. But eventually the moment comes when the crew brings breakfast. A sign that the destination is not far away.

Lima – finally here! After what feels like a trip around the world, the plane finally lands in Lima. The air is warm, the airport is full of people. But contrary to expectations, everything goes quickly: bags there, security checks through, out into the hustle and bustle. Outside, Peru's first challenge awaits: the traffic. Honking taxis, daring overtaking maneuvers, pedestrians crossing the street – welcome to a city that never stands still.

The first impression of Lima is overwhelming. The streets are lively, full of cars, street vendors and bright advertising signs. After so many hours in sterile airports and an air-conditioned plane, the city seems almost surreal. Everything is louder, more colorful, more hectic - but also fascinating.

The first stop: Ana and Jjohn. A real home for the start of the journey. A shower, a meal, a bed. And then? Sleep. Finally.

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Conclusion of the first day: The trip to Peru is an art. Airports are test laboratories for patience. Long-haul flights are not for the faint-hearted. You need patience, strong nerves and the ability to fold yourself into uncomfortable seats. But then? Then you wake up in Peru. And that makes up for everything.