Meeting Back Up and Hitting the Trail

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When last we spoke, Sara and I were bracing ourselves for running the gaunlet from Quito, Ecuador to Huaraz, Peru, hopefully spending as little time as possible in either city. With that mission accomplished, we are now free to relate the details.

Once we returned to our hostel and retrieved our bags out of storage, we had the staff call us a taxi. Normally we had carried our luggage down to the corner, but with an extra 30 lbs of gear, we didn´t really feel like it. So we´re lazy. Anyway, we got to the airport with plenty of time, had to push our way through the entrance as everyone that has family leaving wants to see them until the last possible second. This means they mill around the entrance, watching their loved ones check-in, pay their airport tax ($32 on top the $400 one way ticket!), and head toward immigration. That´s devotion. Anyway, we ran this gauntlet, when through a second gaunlet of shops, then a security checkpoint, and got to immigration only to find out that TACA, our airline, was supposed to give us the exit visa form and they did not have any at the immigration counter. Great. So we went back, went through it all again, and made it to our gate. We were glad that we arrived early. The flight was smooth except, as though to disappoint, the airline did not offer a meal unless you paid. At the price we paid for the ticket, I refused on principle. We made it safely to the Lima airport, smoothly through customs, politely refused the $24 taxi ride, and found one for $11. The ride though Lima was interesting, though I felt uncomfortable whenever we stopped due to the city´s reputation for crime. We made it safely to our hostel though due to our negligence, we were without a reserved room. Francis, the owner of Albergue Miraflores, was kind enough to find space for us, and after our day of travel we were ready for bed. No time for dinner, unfortunately, but perhaps tomorrow.

We began the day with an attempt to find a bus out of Lima to Huaraz. Our first attempts over the internet were unsuccess as Cruz del Sur, which has a website, reduced its schedule due to the Easter Holiday. Since we did not want to lose our acclimitization from Ecuador, the less time in Lima at sea level the better. Francis provided us with a friend of his from Colon Travel who found us a bus at Movil Tours for 1 pm arriving in Huaraz at 9 pm. Perfect! Unfortuately, they were unwilling to reserve the bus for us so the woman from Colon Travel escorting me there and even paid for the tickets. When we returned to the hostel, she told me how much I owed and it came out to the exact amount as the cab fare, which she also paid, and the bus tickets. I decided that her time was worth a bit more than zero. Sara and I decided to try and find our first real meal in 24 hours, but are immediately thwarted by the holilday. Every restaurant is closed until noon; that is, closed til when we need to leave for the bus station. A grocery store will stand in for now for Sara and the decidedly non-vegetarian Kentucky Fried Chicken, the only restaurant open, will work for me. We catch a cab to the station and get on the bus, only to be served dinner immediately. Once again, not vegetarian friendly. We were already fairly full, so we eat what we can and settle in for the long trip. The scenery begins to improve just as darkness falls, so the beautiful ride that Jill portrayed will be in the black for us. Fortunately, in Huaraz, things lighten up as Jill managed to find when and where we were coming in and she managed to meet us at the station. We are staying with her host family, which is most convenient since the town is filled with people for Good Friday. Now, to bed.

Jill had met up with someone I had email about trekking, Tim at the California Cafe, and every Friday they have a pickup game of ultimate frisbee. I didn´t know how to play, but I do know that at altitude it will make you very, very sore. We met a lot of nice people and we all had fun, while constantly short of breath. We had lunch at the the California Cafe and then went around to find a tour company for trekking. Once one of the recommended ones was open, but they indicated that we could do the Cordillera Huayhuash in 8 days, which was all the time we had available. After booking, it was time for a little internet (have you noticed all the new pictures!) and paying a deposit for the trek. By the time we finished will all our errands, I was beat and asleep before 9 pm, though Jill and Sara planned out the following day.

Today, we woke to take care of finalizing our trek, which went poorly, getting myself a haircut, which was quite successful, pick up laundry, ditto, and several other sundry tasks. When we reached our tour agency, we were informed that a landslide was blocking the road so the trek would take at least a day longer. No go. Not a big deal since we had planned on doing to Alpamayo Circuit anyway, so we merely returned to this plan, paid the remainder, and cut off two months worth of bushy hair. Much better, and just in time as long hair while backpacking acts as dirt and grime collector. We finished up a rather uneventful day with some more internet, with this entry as proof, and good, if overpriced, Thai meal. That´s all for now. Hopefully the pictures posted will satisfy those who enjoy those types of things; namely, everyone.

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Comments

[John Timberlake]

Love the pictures
Matt and Sara, Pictures make us want to go to the Galapogos Islands. Maybe in a couple of years. Good talking to you yesterday. Have fun on the trek. Love, Dad

[Mikhail (@VPE)]

I'm actually going to have to say LESS pictures. They really just get in the way. What a crappy camera you must have. jeez, stop wasting our time. :) You probably wont believe this, but I would rather be here trying to polish and etch 0.0006" Ti foil than trekking around in silly South America. heh ok sarcasm session over - this is my everyday vicarious escape. You lucky bums! and for symmetry, MORE PICTURES!