It's a sneaky little bastard that shows up at first in the form of fatigue. "Why am I so tired? "Walking around Cusco with it's hills and stairs is bloody exhausting. I am an avid walker. I work out! I run! And still, I'm a weakling at 13, 400 feet. I'm not out of breath but I feel a straining in my throat. I am forced to go slowly because it feels as if I'm walking through a viscous air that pulls on me. And yet I'm doing better than I ever had at altitude before! That alone is keeping me cheerful and unconcerned.
The day starts with breakfast downstairs. Some cantaloupe-y type melon, along with the juiciest watermelon I've ever had, make their way to my plate. So do chocolate marble cake, some prunes, Brazil nuts and creamy slices of cheese. Oh that cheese! I dream of it still. Like eating pure butter! And seriously, cake for breakfast? I do like how folks eat around here! (although I do have a sneaking suspicion the average resident in not eating cake for breakfast)
Heading out into the crisp shiny day, I have no destination in mind, although my intentions are to stay near the main square. Ha! I should have known better. My wandering spirit soon takes over and I'm walking up streets and down alleys that take me deep into the city. In some places I'm the only tourist around. Nobody bothers me. Nobody pays me any mind at all. I find some cute shops and vow to come back as my soul just wants to keep moving. Eventually my head starts to pound and the urge to pee becomes too strong to ignore so I make my way back to my hotel. But not before buying myself the most gorgeous wrap and some provisions for the afternoon.
Having myself a lie down, I'm interrupted from journal writing by a gentleman who wants to clean my room. He wants me to go sit in another room but I take my notebook and lunch downstairs and select a table under an umbrella in the courtyard. It's a nice day and the winter sun shines on me with a gentle warmth. I turn my face to it like a cat. "Ahhhhh" Could a person be any more relaxed?
I'm guzzling water like a champ as the Tylenol migraine eases the pounding out of my head. It's lunch time! An Inca cola and potato chips are just enough to fill my tummy without overwhelming me too much. The chips are perfect! Thick slices with just enough salt. I am in love. And in retrospect should have brought home a case. They are a simple creation, packaged in a cellophane bag without the fancy marketing of the usual suspects. The Inca Kola tastes a bit like melon, a nice Mountain Dew if you will. I later learn Inca Kola is made with camomile and lemon-grass! Who knew?
Dragging myself out of the hotel for the second time I venture toward the other side of the city in the same meandering way. (but not until I've revisited a yarn shop I saw earlier. It's closed, dammit ! ) I peep and pop in and out of little shops, buying a few items-tunic sweater, some more water, more groceries at an even better mercado. I'm trying not to buy the place up. I'm travelling light and want to keep it that way. Of course I'd later come to regret that decision and wish I'd bought a pretty piece of jewellery and sweatshirt. Oh well, there is always the internet!
I can only manage about two hours of exploring before I have to come back and rest, again! I nap for a bit, think about going out for dinner but decide the fava beans, oranges, bananas, and pepperoni are a good enough dinner for me. I turn on the tube and watch all kinds of interesting programs, some in English, most of it in Spanish. All equally entertaining and relaxing. Pretty soon, I'm off in Zzz land. Surprise, surprise!
Don't worry, it's not for long because I wake up at one am in an epic coughing fit. Not only am I racked with coughing but my damn back hurts, so badly! I popped some more pills, drank some more water and watched a bit of TV until everything settled down. In retrospect, I can see I might have been more affected by the altitude than I thought! I get back to sleep eventually but my plans to rise early and take photos of the city have gone out the window. I've got to make sure I'm well rested for the start of my Inca trail adventure tomorrow!
No comments:
Post a Comment