Acclimitization in 48 hours

At 6:30 am we went to the airport. We boarded the cargo flight to Lukla. If some of you have been to Lukla you will remember how the airstrip suddenly appears out of the clouds and you land on a short runway going uphill. To the amazement of all the trekkers we walked over to our private helicopter. We want to thank whoever ordered it because we were able to hitchhike a ride up to Namche instead of a two day walk. Pemba's company was able to arrange for us, his wife and daughter, sister in law and nephew to ride the empty helicopter up to the village. We got a wonderful scenic tour over Namche , Khuni and Kumjung. People in their fields were waving to us as we swooped low over the ground. Rebecca was in the front seat with her eyes wide open. The two children in the back with their moms took it all in like it happens every day. We arrived like celebrities but the only person to meet us was the National Park Officer who wanted to make sure we paid our entrance fee. We walked to the nearest hotel and had some milk tea while Tenzing called her mother in village who was already sending porters to meet us. After a steep, rocky decent we arrived in the Sherpa village known as Namche in 30 minutes. No uphill for these divas.
The scenery is spectacular, our hotel faces a huge waterfall across a deep river valley. No exaggeration the waterfall is 2000' long and that's the part we can see. We were given the Sir Edmund Hillary room with two windows filled with scenery beyond compare and a view of the happenings in town. Then the tea drinking and food consumption began in earnest. I feel like I have returned to my mother's house. The mother of the house Nandu is so happy to have her daughter Tenzing home again. Tenzing has happily resumed her post helping with the trekkers and in the kitchen. Daughter Utten has already declared she likes this place more than Kathmandu. Big hugs for everyone.
We went to bed with the singing of the Irish team who were celebrating their return from base camp. I slept about 11 hours. Long enough that Tenzing was worried that the crooning of the Irish had kept us awake. Not so, we slept well at our first high altitude stop.
Pemba took us visiting around the village today. Everyone laughed when they heard that Captain Pemba was going trekking. Tomorrow we set out with one porter and the three of us to Kala Pater (above base camp) and Goyko famous for its glacial lakes. This will be our last post for about 10 or 12 days. Don't worry, we are in good hands and will even have cell phone reception for another 2 days.