First of all, getting here from Lima -- easier said than done. It involves either a 21-hour bus ride over rough roads, or a 36-hour bus ride over smooth roads. We opted for the cheaper, shorter, and rougher option. This, in Nic´s case, was a rather poor choice, as you shall see.
Picture the curviest, narrowest, most switchback-filled road you´ve ever been on. Put a huge Greyhound-style bus on that road, with crazed bus driver at the wheel who passes cars at every opportunity. Have you ever been on that Runaway Train ride at Disneyland? Around 15 of our 21 bus hours were just like it. Sleep was next to impossible. Unless you could wedge yourself firmly in place, you found yourself alternately crushing your travel companion, or being bashed into the window (or falling into the aisle, as the case may be).
Second problem... traveling from Lima to Cusco involves moving from sea level to 12,000 feet (two and a half miles high) in roughly 20 hours. Altitude sickness can strike at the best of us, as Nic has discovered.
Last, and biggest problem... some syrupy dough-ball things that Nic had in Lima did not agreed with him. Combined with the rapid altitude change and the rollercoaster bus, Nic was soon experiencing severe gastrointestinal distress... at both ends. When he wasn´t puking, snotting (his allergies were acting up too), or running for the bathroom, he was hacking, moaning, and generally expressing his discomfort. He eventually discovered that he felt best when slouched way down in the bus seat, with his legs and feet positioned well above his head. A roll of TP and several plastic bags full of puke later, we arrived in Cusco.
Ahh, the Andes. How beautiful, high, steep, and curvy you are.
The last few days we´ve been traipsing across the Peruvian countryside, treading on Incan ruins to our hearts´ content.
Incan ruins, the Andes, and us with content hearts.
Our favorite thus far is Tipòn...
...with its intact Incan waterpark.
Nic is duly impressed, not only by boobies (see previous post), but by intact Incan waterparks. (Incidentally, the scarf-poncho-thing he´s sporting is neither a scarf, nor a poncho, nor any other article of clothing. It is, in fact, a hammock. He assures me it functions quite well as a scarf-poncho-thing. I´m dubious.)
We´ve enjoyed Incan water...
...climbed Incan stairs...
...surveyed Incan walls...
...explored Incan caves...
...tamed the fearsome IGB (Incan Guard Beast)...
...and performed Incan sacrificial ceremonies on Incan alters with sacred Incan bananas.
We´ve also dined in the solitude of Andean mountainsides on the finest 5-cent bread Cusco has to offer...
...with only llamas for company. Oh yes. There´s llamas. If you´re surprised by that fact, you really need to see Emperor´s New Groove. 
4 comments:
The last pic's my favorite. Ha ha. Classic. This is a friend of Nic's. Could you tell him Jael says hi, and that I've had my own "other country, extended bus experience," and I feel his pain, (except for the barfing part:) Thanks.
oh travis... you do have a way with words, don't you?
Yeah guys, I would have to agree that the only thing truly worse than a 21-hour-bus-ride (swollen feet!)is a 21-hour-bus-ride with syrupy doughballs in your system.
I had a similar experience that I won't go into (yet) that included a wild taxi ride and a Balianese soyburger. I'll keep you on the edge of your llamas for that one. :)
Glad you made it out ok, Nic. Kind of feels like the world is going to (or should) end when you're going through it, eh?
me
I laughed but I felt really bad for Nic. I'm glad that ride is over, but at least the ruins were worth it. Looks awesome. Love the photos. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers as you trek.
Post a Comment