29th October

White water rafting!!!

Oh yes. Today, I went rafting into the sacred valley of the Incas. Up the rio Urubamba to the town of Ollantaytambo, I doubt I could think of a better place to go rafting in this spectacular country.

Jessica bailed on this one as it’s hard to convince her to do anything involving water. Luckily, my raft-mates were two Mancunian lasses who made excellent company. Celebrating their respective 30th birthdays, they were taking a three week holiday in Peru and Venezuela. Today was their second day so they were pretty excited about things.

The rafting itself started quite a distance from Cusco, a three hour bus ride before we got to the river. Once there and starting to prepare, the horror of what awaited then dawned upon me. The prospect of shooting some wild rapids? Oh no. It was the “leaves nothing to the imagination” wet suit that gave me palpitations. This suit was tight, and I mean tight. I think it might have been meant for someone a little smaller than I, but apparently not. I don’t think I’ve ever felt quite so publicly naked in all my life. Putting the helmet on, well, finally put the tin lid on things. I felt proper stupid it has to be said. But still, I soon got used to it and then forgot I was wearing this stuff at all, for the rafting had begun.

This was so similar to the tubing that I did back in Ecuador that I may as well describe it in similar terms. The constantly changing landscape, the birds flitting about at the river’s edge, the feeling of being at one with nature. The only real difference was the landscape itself with the towering mountainsides beside us, that and the fact that I now had a paddle. And using that paddle was pretty hard work at times, but more than good fun. Getting soaked as we crashed into the white water was a real laugh too.

As we all worked together to get the raft to do what it was supposed to do, a sense of camaraderie pervaded as we swept down the Urubamba. I don’t know these girls from Manchester very well, but it would be right to say that we were all good friends by the time we got to the end at Ollantaytambo. Being dressed in those suits together as we were tends to break down barriers I think, and we all felt like we’d had a great day together.

Trying to get back to Cusco turned out to be a little difficult though. This day happened to be their annual day of celebration for the town, a bit like carnival day back in England, if indeed they have that any more. As you might imagine, the streets were crammed with locals all joining in with the festivities, leaving any traffic just stranded until the streets cleared. No real problem though, no rush to get back, and a nice chance to see the locals enjoying themselves in their traditional dress.

I have to say, after the hubbub of Cusco, this was a really pleasant day. Out in the countryside, good company, mixing with locals not trying to sell you anything, it could hardly have been more different. For my last day staying in Cusco, this was a really nice way to end my time here. It has been a good home for a few days, one which in some ways I’m glad to leave behind me, but in others I’m quite reluctant to let go. So much to see still in this city, but time is against us, and we now need to head south to Puno and the sacred Lago Titicaca.

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Part of trip: South America 2009 - Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia

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