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Published: June 20th 2010
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Day 7 - Saturday
Estoy Enferma…meaning I am sick. Guess I get a little too worried about Matt’s hydration levels that I sort of forgot about myself. I woke up this morning around 5:30am with the worst headache I’ve ever had and the most dehydrated I’ve ever been. I downed some aspirin, drank an entire bottle of water, and went back to sleep. But to no avail….My headache didn’t go away, I was sure I had a fever as I’ve been freezing all day, even in the blaring sun. I literally feel like the life has been sucked out of me, I have zero energy, zero appetite, and I am achy all over. I put my best foot forward to make the hike up to some local ruins called Sacsayhuman (or “sexy woman” as people like to say). Now this was a straight uphill climb…..more uneven stairs, terrain, etc.. Honestly, it was a hell of a climb. To put it in perspective if you can remember the “Viva la Peru” pictures in the hillside above the city? Well we climbed to the same altitude straight across. I had to stop a ton as I literally thought I might die. A
nice dog made the whole hike with us as our guide and sat with me each and every time I couldn’t go anymore. Even when we got to the ruins, I just didn’t have the energy and my head was killing me so I mostly just sat with my dog friend while Matt explored. By the time we left the ruins, Matt had forced 2 more bottles of water and more Aleve down me…but I didn’t feel any better. We decided to take a taxi back down, because although I know it was straight “down” on the way back I still knew it would be slow going for me.
Matt found me some Gatorade, which was my next thing I was forced to gulp down. I headed back to the hotel for a nap and Matt decided to stay out and explore. The owner was here when I returned and wanted to know my symptoms….he said “altitude.” It doesn’t matter that we’ve been here for a week….over exertion, lack of hydration, etc…will bring it on. He suggested about 3 times that I drink some Coca tea. I had like 4 cups after my nap and I have to say
it did help the headache. It’s now 7pm and I think I finally got the fever to break and I am feeling better…not 100% but better after another nap trying to keep warm.
Matt went back to the market to get more peas for the trip home tomorrow and actually found another market across the street that felt way more local and authentic. No tourists there (only one Gringo)…and it offered some more photo ops for him. So as you can guess we are hanging in this evening and are going to watch a movie. I am hoping a good night’s sleep and more liquids has me back on my feet for tomorrow’s trip home.
As we like to do at the end of every overseas adventure….recap some observations….some are funny to us, some are annoying, some are just plain facts that we find interesting:
Peru:
• They cut up their paper napkins here into quarters sometimes eighths in all of the restaurants (those really thin paper ones!)
• You cannot flush “TP or Others” here down the toilet….all has to be disposed of in a waste can (God Bless the USA)
• The smell of urine
seems to be everywhere here…they need a good rain!
• For Erin, this has been a pleasant experience as I wasn’t gawked at like I normally am for the blond hair or burrated by young boys wanting a photo.
• Garbage bins are all labeled “Organico” and “Glass/Bottles.” Sooooo what do we do with all of the other garbage? We refuse to throw it on the ground like the locals do.
• Their salt is completely flavorless….it’s the weirdest thing
• Outside of the urine smell, it does smell like good fires here a lot which is nice.
• They make great cappuccinos here! Who knew?
• Worst breakfasts of any international country so far. It’s the same everywhere (fruit salad, eggs scrambled, and toast that was toasted several hours prior). The only win was the fruit salad but by day 4 we were sick of eggs!
• The streets are literally like polished stone here from the cars driving on them, meaning that any moisture at all and they are SLIPPERY. There were a number of times walking down hills we almost bit it.
• They peel every fruit and vegetable before eating it….every one!
• The security “cops”
here whistle at everything….we think they whistle just to whistle, as you will be on a street with 2 other people and they are whistling at something? Annoying….
In closing, we are always touched on these travels by just how blessed we are back home to have the things and the opportunities we have. Most of these people will never see outside of their town/village. What is truly amazing is that despite their most times impoverished living conditions we always find the people to be so friendly, wanting to help in any way they can, and most of all, proud of their country and culture….and very eager to show it off. Muchas Gracias Peru for a wonderful trip we will never forget!
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Tom Lyle
non-member comment
altitude
didn't you have altitude sickness pills to take that the dr. had given you.......you two have seen more of the world that most even dream of.......and many live your experiences...bravo! We came home from Kona today....good trip, good flights, and tan bodies again...mom leaves Tuesday for her reunion in Spokane...driving and picking people up along the way....no alpaca or guinea pig dinners though...