Another birthday in another continent; fifteen in North America (Memphis, Tennessee), sixteen in Asia (Beijing/Long Fong, China), and this year, my seventeenth in South America (Ollantaytambo, Peru). This years birthday, although, is the most special so far because it was spent on the top of Machu Picchu looking over the Peruvian rainforest and mountains. The day started at about five in the morning when Chris told us to be outside the hotel at five till six because our train left at six thirty. The train ride was cold, long, and awesome. The ride was about two hours long. When we got to the train station in Machu Picchu we went to the bathroom, boarded a bus and drove twenty-five minutes to the top. Some of us were not feeling so well but we all overcame our headaches and our tiredness and enjoyed the beauty of our surroundings. We spent many hours there, a few receiving a tour and then we made our way back down the mountain by bus again. We shopped around a little and I bought an awesome alpaca sweater. After the shopping I came into contact with technology for the first time in over a week because Mrs. Smithwick was talking to Brannon who wanted to say happy birthday to me. It felt weird but it was great to finally have communication from the other Americans. Once that short call was over we boarded the train and headed back to Ollanta and shopped some more. Dinner was at six thirty tonight and we ate at a great pizza place for the second time. The rest of the night will be filled with playing cards and doing ANCHOR and hopefully sleeping well. We only have two more night of sleeping left and hope to enjoy every bit of the rest of the trip and cannot wait to get home and see everyone!!

Clay

P.S. Happy Birthday Clay!!!!