Inca Trail Part 1: The Suspects

Note - this blog is automatically imported into facebook, but unfortunately it loses some formatting in the process. Click here to visit the real thing.

Last time, I mentioned that I was late for my night-before mandatory meeting with the 16 other travelers and 2 guides I would be spending the next 4 days with on the Inca Trail, and I was worried they would judge me based on my lateness and the fact that I was carrying a tiny guitar. So, you're asking yourself, what happened, Dave? Were you completely ostracized from the group?

Well, no. But what followed was much more sinister than I feared or could even have imagined. Over the next few days I will take you through the mystifying events of my time on the Inca Trail, and it is my sincere hope that after all the facts are collected, we will get to the bottom of.... The Mystery of the Inca Trail!

(Also, I should note that it is almost definitely a coincidence that I read a Sherlock Holmes book during this journey.)

Anyway, the first step that must be taken by any detective worth his salt is to introduce the suspects, and this is what follows in today's entry.

Names: Oscar and Virgilio (Bill)

Age: early 30s

Relationship: co-workers

Nationality: Peruvian

Occupations: Inca Trail tour guides

Reason for travel: job

Names: Christy and Paul

Age: early 30s

Relationship: couple, unmarried

Nationality: Australian (Melbourne)

Occupations:

travel industry,

environmental scientist

Reason for travel: 12-month paid vacation due to economy

Names: Andrea and Mike

Age: late 20s

Relationship: couple, unmarried

Nationality: Canadian (Edmonton)

Occupations: event planner, Spanish teacher

Reason for travel: Christmas vacation

Names: Amelia and Lee

Age: Late 20s

Relationship: Couple, unmarried

Nationality: Australian (Sydney)

Occupations: Interior designer and plumber

Reason for travel: Extended vacation

Names: Jenny and Gino

Age: early 30s

Relationship: married

Nationality: American (New York)

Occupations: Financial stuff

Reason for travel: Christmas vacation

Names: Ronny and Bart

Age: early 30s

Relationship: buds

Nationality: Dutch

Occupations: Construction and re-selling

Reason for travel: Christmas vacation

Names: Jessica, Eli and Sequoia

Age: 40ish, 11, 14

Relationship: Mother, offspring

Nationality: American (Hawaii)

Occupations: Owner of natural food store, kid, kid

Reason for travel: Christmas vacation

Names: Richard, James, Geoffrey

Age: early 20s, late 20s, old

Relationship: Father, sons

Nationality: English

Occupations: English teacher, soldier, retired engineer

Reason for travel: Christmas vacation

Well, there you have it. 18 suspects, 16 travelers, 2 tour guides, and as of this writing, 0 motives. This is going to be a tough one to untangle - I can feel it in my bones. I think I'll have to sign off for the night - burning the midnight oil is never a good way to keep your head clear. Tomorrow we'll try to make some sense of all this.

Signing off,

Xerlock Xolmes