Pucllana with Friends (June 7, 2026)
For me, there’s no better way to spend a day than having deep and meaningful conversations with friends. This is the essence of “quality time” as I have come to understand it.
Michael Haberzetti and his wife Katia Barthélémy at Pucllana
Meet Michael Haberzetti and his wife Katia Barthélémy. Today, we explored the Museo de Sitio Pucllana together. This is the famous (local) ruins inside the heart of Lima, Peru.
It was only recently “discovered” in 1981. Before that, it was a private dirt track used for motocross (i.e. a high-intensity, off-road motorcycle racing sport where riders compete on enclosed dirt circuits featuring jumps, banked corners, and rough terrain.)
Pucllana is still being excavated (and may take another 20 years!)
I imagine that my wife, Elena, is reading this thinking, “Really? Another historical ancient ruin site!?!” In truth, this is HER thing. Yes, I’m interested in the history, culture and outdoor exploration of an ancient civilization. I had no idea I would be doing this today. In hindsight, if I had the ability to map out all the ancient ruins I would be seeing (especially in Peru), I know my wife would have arranged her time to be with me here to enjoy all of this and soak it in. That’s why I know I’ll be back in the not-so-distant future.
Official “Banana Hat” picture for Peru with my two coaching friends.
Some insights that our guide provided as part of our tour of this ancient ruins. First, they discovered about 25 skeletons (mostly women) who were likely sacrificed as part of the construction of this site. You know how we have a tradition of breaking a bottle of champaign to christen the completion of a new boat?
It’s like that, but instead, this ancient culture sacrificed a beautiful woman to their gods in order to protect this structure. Archeologists believe to be chosen for the sacrifice would have been considered a great honor and would raise the importance of the family whose daughter was sacrificed. I have no idea how this could possibly be known, but as this isn’t my field of expertise, I’m simply sharing what I heard as part of the tour.
Also, this structure was likely built pre-Incan and most likely by the Wari people. So far there have been 100 tombs unearthed. The structure is made of mud bricks. How can this have lasted hundreds of years? Lima only receives about 10 to 15 millimeters of rain per year (0.4 to 0.6 of an inch! PER YEAR!?!)
Incredible restaurant facing the Pucllana ruins (outside, no windows!)
So while this was fun, the really memorable part of our day was sitting together, sharing a meal and discussing, life, spirituality, careers, family, where to live in the coming decades and what retirement could look like for each of us. Ahhh. My favorite part of the day: connection.
Truly, this is what makes traveling around the world for an entire year not just sustainable, but truly enjoyable. As Michal said so eloquently, “I could imagine flying around the world to look at rocks would get tiresome rather quickly.” So true. If all I was doing was looking at ancient ruins, architecture and landscapes, there’s no way I would make it out here for an entire year.
Friends spending quality time together. That’s what matters to me!
And so this was my one perfect day in Lima, Peru (and yes, I dare to use the word “perfect”). Here’s the run down:
6am wake-up
45 minutes of meditation
45 minutes of an in-hotel gym work out
Breakfast at the the hotel
Walk to pick up my laundry (pet two cats living in a park)
Walk to my (English-speaking) AA meeting where I’m speaking on a topic of my choice sharing my experience, strength and hope
Walk back to my hotel (pet two friendly dogs)
Meet Michael and Katia and walk to a beautiful vegetarian lunch
Continue our deep and heart-felt conversation over coffee and key lime pie
Walk to Pucllana and discover the English tour starts in 2 minutes
Michael meets a long-time friend and colleague from Singapore who just happens to be here on the exact same tour we joined!
(I take this as a “God-wink” or interconnected Oneness whereby all of us are globally connected to everyone all the time)
Walk to have fresh pineapple juice and a new Peruvian fruit I’ve never had before: Lucuma
Skip dinner as none of us are hungry.
Long, meaningful hugs goodbye as we recount the incredible day we had together
Take one final walk to the nearby beach (0.3 miles from my hotel) and gaze at the moon, stars and wisps of clouds)
Thank God for my beautiful and incredible life, overflowing with love, friendship, and abundance in all things.
Go home, pre-book my Uber to the airport, check in for my flight and pack up so that I’m ready for my 4:30am wake up and 5:30am Uber to the airport to fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina
Go to bed by 9pm to be sure I get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep
What did you notice from that list? Inside are the key ingredients for an epic, joyful, happy and fulfilling life: MEDS-RX (see related post). Or, as the late Stephen Covey used to say, “To know and not to do is not to know.” To know a path, but not to live that path, means we don’t really know that path afterall.
When we live each day with meaning and purpose, we build a life beyond our wildest dreams. Ten short years ago, I wouldn’t have believed I could have the day I had today. Six years ago, I declared it without evidence. Last year, I began this journey despite the most devastating wild card I could ever imagine (see related post). Today, I am nothing but grateful for it all. I truly am “Loving What Is” as Byron Katie recommends, and experiencing deep and lasting “Unconditional Inner Peace.” (More on that topic in the future).
