Kim's New Page: Adventure #9 Peru Day 1

Adventure #9 is definitely the biggest adventure yet. I knew I had a week off, and I knew I wanted to do something big. I had started out thinking I would go to a yoga retreat in Costa Rica or Mexico (still on my "to do" list). The other alternative I was considering was a Galapagos Island Cruise (now on next year's "to do" list I think!). At the last minute I decided on a very reasonably priced 8 day Peruvian trip which included a 4 day "trek" to Machu Picchu. It turned out to absolutely be the best decision I could have made. It was definitely the most challenging choice - mentally, emotionally and definitely physically; and in the end, the most rewarding and empowering thing I have ever done.

The view from the plane flying into Cusco

Dad took me to the airport in Boston on Monday night. My flight left at 7:30pm, went to JFK (for some reason I could not reserve the same flight by driving to JFK or I would have). Then from JFK, straight to Lima, then a flight to Cusco and I was scheduled to get in at about 9:30am the next day. I got a little lost in JFK, and rode the Airtram for a while until I found my terminal, LOL.
I was really excited to see that I got two meals on the overnight flight to Lima. Not because I like airplane food, but because I can't remember the last time I flew anywhere that was a long enough flight to get anything more than a bag of peanuts. We got served dinner at 11pm (my vegetarian option was not bad -- pasta, steamed veggies, a salad). Breakfast was at 5am. I have no idea what it was and did not eat it. It looked like a half of a sandwich on wheat toast that contained some white stuff that looked like a cross between cream cheese and feta, and a sliced green vegetable -- maybe a pickle? Toto we are not in Kansas anymore!
My next adventure was in Lima. I got off the plane, went through immigration, exchanged some dollars for Soles, rescued a lady from almost leaving her passport at the money exchange counter, and made it through customs all by myself. Their customs gate is pretty funny. It's like being on a game show -- you get to push a button. If the light comes up green you get to pass "Go" without getting your bags checked. If the light shines red, you head over to the customs table. Mine was green!! At this point I am feeling very proud of myself -- a solo world traveller! So I head out of customs and start to try to find my way around. I find the booth at which to pay my airport tax, and then find myself in the security check line. Only then do I realize that I still have my big suitcase with me. I forgot to recheck my luggage!! So one of the security guys was nice enough to escort me to the ticket counter for staff so that I didn't have to wait in line, but I still missed my flight. Luckily there was another flight leaving to Cusco only a half an hour later.
So I get into Cusco and there is a man waiting for me with a sign with my name on it! Yay! He waited for me even though I missed my flight!
We get in a taxi, and I arrive at my hotel. From the street that the hotel is on, you would have no idea that there was such a pretty hotel behind the door. The first thing they did was serve me some Coca leaf tea. (Yes, that's Coca, as in cocaine, not Cocoa as in chocolate). The Coca leaf is supposed to help with altitude sickness, and many of our hiking porters just chewed on the leaves.

The front courtyard in the Hotel Marquese

My Coca Leaf tea

Then I was shown to my room. Very nice except for the 2 inch carpeted step inside that I tripped over EVERY time I walked into my room! LOL!

My lovely room

A room with a view -- the back courtayard

So once I got settled I realized that I had a little headache and was sleepy -- just tired from the overnight flight I thought. So I figured that I would lay down for a while and take a nap. Then a full migraine hit. I found out later that taking a nap at altitude is not what you should do when you first get there, because you breathe less deeply while sleeping, and thus get even less oxygen. I was supposed to go on a city tour at 1:40. It was optional, so I was going to just skip it, but they came and knocked on my door to remind me. So I made my way down to the SAS (my tour company) office which is the next door over from the hotel. Just walking down there though, I realized I was really sick, so I got in there and told them I was going to opt out of the tour. However, I still had a lot of paperwork to do for the rest of the trip. As I sat there I felt worse and worse -- started looking for the nearest trash can. Then I went back to the hotel. I tried to use the computer room to email my dad and tell him I made it, but I couldn't even focus on the keyboard. This was like a combination of a hangover and a migraine at the same time. Made it up to my room just in time to vomit into the toilet. And that's about all I did for the rest of the day. I tried to sip on some of the coke from the fridge because I could also tell I was getting dehydrated. I was soooo miserable, and afraid my whole trip was ruined. I kep thinking -- "yoga on the Mexican Beach = sea level", Galapagos cruise ... boat = sea level". What have I done?? It was a little scary too, because altitude sickness can progress to something more serious - and it seems to be a crap shoot as far as who that happens to. So, being that sick, all alone in a hotel room in a foreign country - not knowing if and when it would get any better was a little disconcerting. Finally at about 7:30pm, after another bout of throwing up, I went down to the front desk and asked for some oxygen. "Victor" brought it up to my room and was so nice -- he hooked me up and sat with me while I inhaled and exhaled deeply for 12 minutes. Then I went back to sleep and slep through most of the night. He promised I would feel better the next day. I could not imagine actually maiking it to my whitewater rafting trip!

A well stocked fridge

Here is a funny little story about the well stocked fridge above. In that plastic bag was an ear of corn still in the husk. Still not sure if that was some Peruvian custom, but I'm figuring it was more likely something the previous guests left. Also, that yellow bottle of soda is "Inca Cola". Tastes like Bazooka bubblegum!