Breadcrumbs Guide

Peru Packing List

February 20, 2015 By Sonja Riemenschneider 11 Comments

If you haven't noticed, I am a textbook overplanner. I kept a running Peru packing list on my phone that I added to almost daily for months before my trip. I prepared for every scenario. What if it rains? What if I get food poisoning? What if a spider bites me and I swell up like a balloon? I'm the person that brings a full-on med kit with all the possible over-the-counter treatments to whatever ailments you might encounter abroad. I even packed toilet paper (and used it)! If you are one of those packers who wants to be prepared for every scenario, look no further. This is the Peru packing list to end all packing lists. Unless you're looking for an Inca Trail Packing List, then stay tuned … [keep reading...]

10 Day Peru Itinerary

February 13, 2015 By Sonja Riemenschneider 40 Comments

Having traveled to over a dozen countries, Peru remains one of my favorites. It is full of kind, hardworking people, rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. It was my first foray into South America and I am already aching to go back. This 10 day Peru itinerary includes 1 travel day, 4 days in Cusco, a 4 day trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and an extra day at Machu Picchu. … [keep reading...]

Machu Picchu Mountains: Getting Up and Away

February 6, 2015 By Sonja Riemenschneider 24 Comments

A quick announcement: Breadcrumbs Guide was featured in Annie Anywhere's list of 15 New Travel Blogs to Follow! A big THANK YOU to Annie and her awesome blog! There are some really great new bloggers on the list and I highly recommend you check them out. I'm liking a lot of their Instagram feeds these days, and it's always fun to see where people are traveling to! Everyone wants to climb Huayna Picchu, the small mountain behind Machu Picchu. It's a rite of passage for those visiting the ruins. Having to reserve your spot months in advance, waking up before dawn, and scaling the impossibly steep trail in the dark are all part of the experience, and help fuel the hype that surrounds … [keep reading...]

How to Train for the Inca Trail

January 19, 2015 By Sonja Riemenschneider 4 Comments

Hey everyone, it's a short and sweet post this week, as I've been busy preparing for my trip to London and India! Follow along on Instagram to see where I go long before I post my travels on the blog. I'll finally be instagramming more than just cute pictures of my golden retriever, Lily. Although, she is pretty cute, isn't she? No worries, Lily pics will resume on Instagram when I get back. … [keep reading...]

Inca Trail: Day 4 – Machu Picchu

January 11, 2015 By Sonja Riemenschneider 12 Comments

If you're new, you can find my previous posts on the Inca Trail Day 1 here, Day 2 here, and Day 3 here. I struggled for a long time wondering how I should start this story. The story of my last day on the Inca Trail. The day I would wake up before dawn, hike to the Sun Gate, and watch the sunrise reveal the ancient citadel, Machu Picchu. I finally settled on starting the story, not with my usual snuggly wake-up in the tent, but with the truth. … [keep reading...]

Inca Trail: Day 3 – The Gringo Killer

January 4, 2015 By Sonja Riemenschneider 3 Comments

Train for the Inca Trail - Sayaqmarka Ruins on the Inca Trail

If you're new, you can find my previous posts on the Inca Trail Day 1 here and Day 2 here. I awoke to the sound of kettles and metal cups clinking in the cook tent. We were at the highest and coldest campsite on the trail, but I was warm and cozy in my sleeping bag with my warm and lightweight thermoball jacket and llama-wool hat. After making it past Dead Woman's Pass the day before, all of my nerves had evaporated. Today I was eager and confident, ready to tackle the 15 km of Inca Trail ahead. It was the longest day of the trek, but it would also be the day that made me repeatedly gasp in awe at the sights that unfolded before me. … [keep reading...]

City Museum – St. Louis – and Where I’ve Been the Past 3 Weeks

December 24, 2014 By Sonja Riemenschneider 6 Comments

It's been a few weeks since my previous post and I am so glad to finally be back on the blog. Since my last post, I took a trip to St. Louis to visit my sister and then another trip to Washington D.C. to present my research at a tissue engineering conference. For those that didn't see my update on the Facebook page, I also had my laptop, wallet, messenger bag, and camera stolen from me a few weeks ago. It happened when Garren and I were in St. Louis with my sister, Andrea and her boyfriend, Sid. We were exploring the St. Louis City Museum (an awesome place, by the way) when someone smashed the back window of Andrea's car and broke into the trunk. They took all of our things including … [keep reading...]

Inca Trail: Day 2 – Surviving Dead Woman’s Pass

December 1, 2014 By Sonja Riemenschneider 15 Comments

Inca Trail Day 2 Dead Womans Pass Porter

This is the story of how I survived Dead Woman's Pass. I was afraid. I had been telling myself for months that I could do this, that I would make it, but I was still afraid. It was the second day of the Inca Trail and I had 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) to climb to reach the top of Dead Woman's Pass, an altitude of 4,215m (13,776 feet). I was afraid of being the last person to the top. I was afraid of not making it there at all. … [keep reading...]