The trip to Peru - Machu Picchu

Wow, what a journey this is going to be....?

So first of all, yes, I am on the plane to Athens!! It is really happening.

Let's start the story.

When I was a little boy, there was an animated TV show called Children of the Sun in French, enfants du soleil.

The plot focused on the Inca tribe in Peru, and they had technology that even today we cannot quite explain.

By TaboolaSponsored LinksMaybe you might also be interestedFor owners of 249K: Private land at the highest certainty point in Afularound-table MagazineFrom 249 thousand NIS to more than a million: the land in Afula that attracts investors after approval of the master planround-table MagazineNaim Kassam: Hezbollah rejects negotiations with Israel under fire and is ready for continued fighting. The Secretary-General of Hezbollah published a written statement addressing the current campaign and claimed that Lebanon is facing only two options: surrendering and giving up the land, honor, sovereignty, and future, or an inevitable confrontation and resistance to the occupation. Epoch Magazine - News

Since that series, my imagination was ignited, but as a small child from a low-income neighborhood in Netanya, I never even dreamed of reaching Peru??? Reaching Machu Picchu?? That dream didn't even enter any of my dream lists because, come on - no way.

The years passed, I left the neighborhood, met my beloved wife, and we had three children.

Over the years, my dream lists really evolved, and dreams I never dared to dream suddenly became possible and even came true. But Machu Picchu?? Peru?? Not really.

Shachar, my eldest son, served at an air force base far from home, and as soon as he arrived at that base, he talked about a trip to South America after his release. The truth is, I thought that was a privilege only for combat soldiers - it seems my Shachar is a warrior at heart and certainly contributes to the air war.

The release came, and his plan to travel in South America not only was not forgotten but gained momentum, and he was really serious. He and the program are planning a trip to South America.

Argentina

Chile

Brazil

Bolivia

And... Peru

Peru? Seriously, Peru? I asked. You are planning to go to Machu Picchu?

Absolutely was the answer.

I don’t think I really controlled what came out of my mouth at that moment - 'I would love to come meet you in Peru and do Machu Picchu with you.'

When I heard what I said, I was sure they would throw me out, but they were excited, especially Shachar.

Suddenly, the dream I never dared to let be a dream overtook all the other dreams and jumped to the front of the line.

I waited for them to fly, it seemed they were managing, and then I bought a ticket. Unbelievable, really unbelievable, I am on my way to Peru!

Yes, but then...... Trump and Bibi decided (rightly) to open a war against Iran.

The airspace of Israel was closed. We spent more time in a bomb shelter than outside, and the dream??? seemed to drift away and become unattainable.

If there is one saying that stayed with me from my previous life, it is - there is no despair in the world. As long as my flight is not canceled, I will do everything I can to make this happen.

Of course, there were those who told me or hinted at me to give up. There are no flights from Israel, how will you get out? Taba? Amman? Aqaba? Ben Gurion is closed for outgoing flights anyway.

Give up??? Not in my lexicon.

First, I changed my flight to Peru to leave from Athens instead of Tel Aviv. Athens!!! That's where I need to get to now.

Okay, I started searching. Fortunately, I have a travel agent friend named Simon, who took on the project and made efforts to get me a ticket to Athens.

Simply, it wasn’t easy. At first, Simon found me a ticket on Israir, but by the time we reached the point of booking, the ticket was taken.

Give up?? Absolutely not

Then Simon found a ticket on Arkia from Ben Gurion, but for the date of March 27. What am I supposed to do in Athens from March 27 to the 30? When my flight from Athens to Madrid is then to Lima, and from Lima to Cusco. I understand this is the best option. If they cancel this flight, it leaves me a little more time to find a ticket in Taba, Aqaba, Amman.

The flight of Arkia kept moving. Although within the date of March 27, at first it was at 18:00, then it was moved to 10:00, then to 20:00, then to 14:00, and finally settled at 17:00.

In the last nights, I couldn't sleep due to the pressure; yes, there were also sirens, but I was tense, not knowing if they would cancel the flight or not. Then came the announcement from the minister - the crown of our head, Miri Regev, who decided to further reduce the activity at Ben Gurion.

I admit I couldn’t handle the pressure and drove Simon crazy, and she, like a concrete wall, said, “Relax, it will be okay.” So I calmed down - as if I had a choice.

The rumors about Ben Gurion just kept increasing, and with them my pressure rose. It’s not just that childhood dream; my Shachar is also waiting for me, and we will have the Seder night in Cusco together, and of course, Machu Picchu - insane.

At work, I insisted on continuing with my plans as if I was flying, even though everyone understood, including me, that the chance was slim, but we said there’s no despair in the world.

So, I did a handover to the team and cleaned my desk, so that if I manage to fly, at least things will be okay there.

March 27 is coming out on a Friday. Yes, there’s the thought that I’m leaving Michal and the kids for another Sabbath alone in the war; there’s also Passover. But Michal not only gave her blessing but also encouraged me not to give up in my moments of crisis.

The last week was a convergence in preparation for the flight on one side, trying to lower expectations on the other, and thinking about a Plan B if we need it.

Sunday, Monday passed, then comes Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, the stress peaks; there’s only one more day left, and they can’t cancel now, let’s go. I decided to go play music at the hostel to relieve some of the stress. When I returned, Michal and I started packing, and all the time the tune played that there was a chance I wouldn’t be flying.

Friday, March 27, 2026

Friday, surprisingly, I slept well, woke up in the morning to Friday tasks, Michal let me off a bit. We ate lunch, a final check to make sure there were no text messages or cancellation emails, and we left for the airport.

On the way, of course, we were caught by a siren. We stopped on the side of the road and waited, then continued.

We arrive at the airport, and the tune that I might not be flying continues to play. I tell Michal to wait a moment before she leaves to see that things are flowing correctly.

I arrive at the counter line and see more than 50 people - I get worried. It turns out that there are two flights, one to Larnaca and the other to Athens.

The lines split, and it seems better; I call Michal to tell her to go home.

They haven’t opened the check-in yet, and here comes a siren. We leave the suitcases and go down to the protected space. The event ends, we return to the queue at the check-in.

Alright, the check-in opened, and it looks like another step towards the coveted destination - flight!!! Yes, to Athens and from there... Peru Machu Picchu.

I get to duty-free; honestly, it's a very sad sight. Sparse crowds, all the shops are closed; yes, there is an open coffee cart. So coffee.

I go to sit next to the gate. I don’t take risks. The gate opens; I’m among the first, I’m on the plane. That's it, I can breathe; I'm in my seat on the plane taking me to Athens.

See you in Athens

Oh Athens, Athens, how much I love this city.

After I arrived at my apartment - Nina's home, I organized a bit, rested a little, and went out into the city. Around the apartment, there are many neighborhood pubs and places for pizza and places for crazy cakes - I didn’t touch a thing, I swear.

From the last time I was with Michal, I remembered Monastiraki Square and wanted to get there. The square is a 19-minute walk - totally fine, so I started walking. On the way to the square, I passed through amazing streets filled with pubs and crazy nightlife - what a fun city Athens is.

I arrive at Monastiraki Square, and it is exactly as I remember it. Full of people, lively, vibrant, and simply fun. People are eating, partying, enjoying.

From the square, I remembered the way to our hotel from the previous visit with the square adjacent to it and the wonderful Greek music playing there, so why not go visit? Of course, I went.

I arrived at the square, and as if time had not passed, it remained exactly as I remember it, the same colors, those restaurants, and that familiar and good Greek music. I recognized the restaurant where Michal and I had fish on our last evening, recognized the café where we had breakfast, and of course, I recognized the hotel. As much as I loved Athens then, today I love it even more.

I returned to Monastiraki and from there I remembered the way to the shopping street. All the shops were closed, of course, but I wanted to know if there is a Columbia store. I need to buy Shachar a coat. - There is no Columbia on this street.

Okay, now I just need to eat something and return to the apartment to prepare for sleep.

Saturday, March 28, 2026

I woke up in the morning at 9 am!!! To be honest, great bed and great mattress. Today's goals are to buy Shachar a coat and book a taxi to the airport for Monday at 3:00 AM.

I checked where the nearest Columbia store to my apartment is. There is a store 10 minutes from me, and I decide to walk there. Along the way, I stopped for coffee; I still haven’t found the coffee I love here, but I’ll find it.... After the coffee, I continue to the Columbia store. When I arrive at the address, there are no bears and no Columbia. It took me a moment to think, and then I called the store. It turns out that the Columbia store is actually on the 3rd floor inside the NOTE mall.

I entered the mall, went up to the 3rd floor, and found Columbia. I found the coat, paid and exited.

I decided to go back to Monastiraki Square because that’s where the shopping streets are, a street I love that I wanted to reach. On the way to the square, I passed through the local market, a market like in Netanya with fruits and meat and fish - a market. I got to Monastiraki, and there was a duo - a guitarist and an amazing singer, of course, I stood to listen for a bit, then went to wander around the beautiful streets around the square. Of course, from every place, you can see the Acropolis as if it watches over us from above. The streets are beautiful and cheerful just as I remembered, with all the vendors trying to make you buy. I remembered the bouzouki store from the previous trip, and of course, I went in, I remembered the pink café and of course, I remembered the way to the Acropolis.

Around noon, I was already hungry and went back to the square. The musicians were still there, so I sat to listen and entered into a conversation with an interesting guy named Marco - a civil engineer who worked on river conservation in almost all of Europe.

I decided to buy a gyro in pita and return to eat in the square. I’m in love with Monastiraki Square.

After the musicians left, I decided to return to the apartment to rest a bit before heading out in the evening and also to take an Uber to check on the ride to the airport. It turns out that most Uber drivers are actually taxis, which is good. I arranged with the driver to pick me up on Monday at 3:00 AM to the airport.

Now I’m back in the apartment recharging my batteries for the evening; maybe I’ll drop by Hard Rock Café to meet Marco.

In the evening, I went out; I didn’t have the energy to walk to Monastiraki, so I took an Uber. I really wanted coffee and an orange cake just like we had the last time I was with Michal. The Uber stopped me at a coffee place just before Monastiraki, and I sat down to eat that amazing cake. Sweet orangey taste, delicious; the coffee was good too. After that, I went down to the square, where there was a guy playing the saxophone beautifully, but the evening was still young, so I went to stroll a bit through the beautiful streets around the square to see them in the dark. I reached Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Garden.

Athens is amazing; it is always full of people coming to have fun and mainly to be happy; what a city, let’s go.

After wandering a bit, I returned to the square, where many people had already gathered around our saxophonist, and it turned into a real celebration. People started dancing, and there was a group of young people who came to have fun.

There were two girls who seemed to be from England dancing beautifully and even got really close to me at some point. I swayed happily to the atmosphere and the good music; I stood there for at least an hour. After that, I returned to the room; it was 23:00, a long and enjoyable day, see you on the other side of the night with daylight savings (they also change to daylight savings here today).