Stone Mountain, GA (USA)

[visited Stone Mountain Park for the day - (Katie and her family went with us ?) - (barn games ?) - due to holiday hours, preemptively picked up some great treats (including candy canes, snowmen and peanuts) at the "Candy Shop" (1300L) - ate a late lunch at Miss Katie's Sideboard, "Home of the Hand Tossed Rolls" (finished at 1435L) - (stayed until dark ?)]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[Christmas Light Show at Life University in Marietta]

Lima (Peru)

Woke up around 0745 and got some breakfast in the hotel/casino restaurant (0815).  At 0840, We checked out of the JW Marriott Hotel and Stellamaris Casino and then headed off to the airport. It took awhile to get there (more traffic chaos). After getting the aircraft ready, we got airborne (1200) and made good time back to Comalapa, El Salvador (fuel).  The scenery along the South American and Central American coasts was beautiful.  Our next leg took us to Gulfport (MS), so we could clear customs.  After this process was completed and we'd fueled up our jet, we flew back to NAS Atlanta (arrived at around 2200L).  What an interesting trip!

Lima (Peru)

[Mission to South America] Had the opportunity to visit Peru today - what a treat! Was flying with Mike B.. These trips apparently used to happen all the time but are now pretty rare. Enroute to South America, we stopped for fuel in El Salvador (Comalapa).  Once airborne again, we crossed the Isthmus and flew west of Colombia and Ecuador.  During this flight, I officially crossed the Equator for the first time.  No fanfare or ceremony (like there would have been onboard a ship) but it still felt like a big deal accomplishment.  We arrived in Lima at around 1700L. The streets were pure chaos - they don't stay in any lanes! Somehow, we safely made it from the airport to the Miraflores area of the city.  We got to stay in the JW Marriott Hotel and Stellamaris Casino (very swanky), which was located on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We were in our rooms by around 2115L and then walked around nearby.  We eventually found a nice mall complex and ate dinner at a place called La Vaca Loca (2235L).  The food was pretty good and I didn't make it back to my room until quite late...

Jacksonville, FL (USA)

[flew with MJ (Mike) from Atlanta to Jacksonville and back (afternoon) - Change of Command (self parking on the other side of the base) ?]

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 6

[Got up early and drove up into Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Colorado - we had enough time to do some sightseeing and purchase souvenirs (1055L) before driving back to the airport. Returned rental car (1455L) and made it to our gate with very few problems. Flew from Denver to Atlanta and made it in very late.]

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 5

[downtown Denver with Joy and Ken - stayed overnight in Residence Inn again]