31st October 2015, Saturday

Happy Halloween from Peru!!!!  All the kids, even the adults were getting dressed to go trick or treating or to go to a party.  We woke up late.  I got a fried egg for 2 soles and my tea.  Though I was still not 100%.   The lady from Holland said she could take me to her jungle expert.  We went there and he said I don't have to worry- no poisonous bugs bit me just an allergic reaction.  I thanked them and we parted ways.

I changed $20.  We left our luggage in a locked closet at our hostel.  We decided to take it easy and Sandy suggested that we try to find the martial art schools.  I had to cancel going to the BJJ school 3 year anniversary because I was just not feeling well.  We  tried to find the TKD school and it was like it didn't want to be found.  Everyone referred us to Ave Culturalle.  Everyone said that this Ave was too far to walk, but we had time.  It wasn't that bad.  There were two Karate schools. One was closed the other open.  I met the instructor and asked if I could just see his school.  He didn't mind.  I don't know what it is but when I'm on the mats, I find myself to be the most centered.  I am at peace.  The instructor and I had the mutual respect of a bow. 

Afterwards, We found a small place to eat.  I did have a small appetite.  We waited at the hostel until it was time to go.  We were in the air!  No problems to get the ticket nor go through security.

When we arrived in Lima, we were trying to figure out how to use the pay phones to call Juan. He didn't get my texts.   Well obviously it was not working because the ones we tried were not broken.  We asked a lady who helped us with the third.  We called Juan who said he would arrive in 15 minutes.

We got to Stacy's home.  Drank some water and tea.  We decided to go to her favorite restaurant, her 

treat.   Stacy knows everyone.  Everyone loves her and treats her right.  It is so great to see the respect and kindness and that if it is given it is received.  They were so considerate about making sure my food was ok!  I finally got cooked vegetables.  He brought 3 Pisco Sours on the house.  I told him I don't drink.  He said he could bring lemonade.  I agreed.  He instead brought me purple corn juice, very sweet.  I forgot the name.  We just sat and relaxed and discussed different adventures traveling and at Macon.  

We returned around midnight, took showers and hit the bed.  Oh and Stacy thinks wounds are from a spider; I looked it up and she is right.

30th October 2015, Friday

Today, I woke up around 6.  I felt very unwell- same symptoms as last night but worse.  I made sure I had enough water for our tour today.  As I was getting ready, Sandy was talking to a lady from Holland who has been living in the jungle for the las 2 months.  She was in Cusco because of bug bites.  One bug left eggs in her body and it had to be removed.  She looked at mine and thought I had the same thing.  I used a needle, dont't worry it was mine and sanatized to take it out.  I think I got something out, but there were still two small dots.  Again, no time for breakfast.  I got my big bills changed to little ones such that i could get my corn snack.  It was SPICY!!!!!!   Yes :)  That was breakfast and lunch.  We had to wait an hour before we finally left.  I asked one of the guides (who was not our guide for the trip sadly, but was helping to organize everything) to look at my bites.  He said  I had nothing to worry about.  I just had an allergy attack and that the two black dots will disappear.  I just should not scratch it.

So off we went on our tour.  We are in the Chinchero area.  We stop at a local place where these ladies still use the ancestor traditions of creating dye, weaving, healing, etc....They gave us some tea, though, I could not finish it.  It was so amusing to see how our nature can produce so much.  We don't need to use chemicals or medications, nature hs everything for us.

After this I thought we were going to see the Chinchero ruins, nope.  We went to Moray.  I figured maybe we will see the ruins on the way back.

Moray is amazing.  Moray was used for scientific agricultural research.  The Inkas used this area to determine how to develop new crops.  Because, there is still salt in the land, the Inkas brought grass from other areas to help the agricultural process.  Sadly, we could not see how the irrigation works because of the homes and bathrooms at the top of the hill that use the water.  We had 30 minutes to tour this area.   My leg was hurting a lot.  I showed our guide.  He said that the red circle is not normal and I would have to show a specialist.  I sent an update to my emergency contacts.  We ask our guide how the Incas wiped out and why there is no trace.

He explained

1. When the Spaniards came to the country, small pox was also brought which killed many individuals.

2.  Wars

Why no trace?  Because the Spaniards burnt everything when they killed.

Afterwards, we see Moras from the bus en route o Salineras.  We had to pay for Salineras.  This is a natural salt farm.  However, since it is somewhat dry we couldn't see how the salt develops.   I tried some salt water, it was so yummy!!! Delicious, salty ehhhhh!!!!!  But, because my leg was so itchy I figured that I could put some natural salt water on the wound to either prevent the itch or kill some of the bacteria.

So, on this trip we had some people of the Americas descent, French, and then Chinese!  It was pretty cool.  A lot of these folks are on 2-4 month vacations.  I wish!

Back on the bus, and I'm thinking to Chinchero.  I was wrong they are taking us back.  Sandy talked with the tour group manager who explained that the Chinchero ruins are under construction and that it is not part of the tour.  I had no energy, I just wanted to rest.  I had not cell phone service so all my texts aand missed calls were received closer to town.  Sandy tried to fight it, but it never works ver the phone.  Sandy was upset.  I had no energy to have an emotion.  Our guide said he could leave us near the ruins and we could take a public bus back, but Sandy didn't want to do it.  She didn't feel comfortable.  I just wanted to go to the pharmacy.  

We got to the plaza and went to the pharmacy.  The doctor was asked to do a consult.  He said I had an allergy attack to the bite and needed to go to a clinic so that they can inject me to make the reaction disappear faster.  Or, I could take something like Benedryl.  Since I have Benedryl, I decided to  use that.  I bought an anti-itch cream.  I was instructed to use it twice a day.  

We then went to fight for a refund because we were incorrectly informed-actually we were not informed at all of the situation.  They only gave us back 10 soles.  Again I had no energy to argue the point further.  We went to the market for food and I barely had an appetite.  I left.  Sandy wanted to stay and shop.  I went back to our hostel and took Benedryl and just relaxed/rested.  

Around 20:00 we went to the allergy friendly place.  I initially asked for soy vanilla ice cream mixed with mango.  Then I said no mango.  They still brought it with mango.  I also had tea.  Then I went back and rested.

29th October 2015, Thursday

Today I was able to eat the best breakfast ever.  Bacon, rice, and fried egg.   I skipped the beans b/c I didnt't know how it was made.  Today I took pictures of the temple and fort from afar.  We then took a bus to Urubamba, transferred and went to Cusco.  All hotels in Cusco are $100+ a night.  Nope, nope, nope!  But we did find allergy friendly and vegan restaraunts.  We found a hostel facing the cathedral for 80 soles.    A lady, who helped us find our hostel, waited for us. She was trying to sell us Sacred Valley tickets.  She said that we would be able to go to Chinchero, Salineras, Moray, Maras, and Pisac.  She said it would include the entrance and the tour  and transportation for 30 soles.  I gave Sandy 30 Soles to buy the ticket.  She later came back ino the room saying that the 30 Soles was just for the tour guide and transportation.  So we had to pay another 70 Soles for the entry pass.  We were toldl to go to Pisac today and hike and buy our entrance ticket there.We took a bus to Pisac.  There we ate lunch and walked up to the entrance.  Sandy said she would wait for me at the bottom.  She didn't feel like she could hike it.    

I got my ticket-good for only 2 days.  I started my hike, but before I went up a dog came running by me, barking like crazy at something I couldn't see.  I continued to walk and he followed me.  Then he started to lead the way and look down waiting for me.  Other peple tried to get him to walk with them, when he was ahead.  He would just sit and wait until I came.  I named him Amigo.  I was alone most of the way up.  Amigo kept me company.  Everytime I talked with him, he just turned his head and perked up his ears.  I really miss Amigo.  When we were near the top, there were some French folks who spoke to me in Spanish and I spoke to them in French, they were taken aback.  They asked if the dog was mine.  I told them that this dog just started to follow me.  I asked if I could join them on their assent down.  They said sure.  Initially, they took some odd path, so I followed Amigo and then the French followed me.  We came to an overlook and tried to find a way down.  There were two ways.  I decided to take the easier route because the other one was verticle and only had mud.  Mind you the lady at the ticket booth said I had to start coming down at 17:00 and I started to come down around 17:15.  It was hard but one of the French girls assisted me.  That is another reason I asked to go down with them.  I wanted to make sure I could get help if needed and since we were all lost because of the crazy arrows, I wanted to make sure I wasn't alone.  It was getting dark and cold up on this hill.  Though, Amigo would have stayed with me.  One time Amigo jumped into my face to lick me to see if I was okay because I was having a bit of a hard time.  He would crawl between the legs too.  We finally reached the bottom.  I was exhausted and my legs were sore which was odd; they were in pain.

I looked for Sandy.  Nada.  I went back up the hill to the entrance/ticket booth and called out her name.  I sat down for a bit.  Amigo started barking and ame and sat with me.  I went to the entrance of the market and there was Sandy, waiting to give me a hug.  I only had a little bit of my trail mix going up, but I yet again finished 2 litres of water.  Dehydration and hunger.

We caught a bus to the main plaza.  I decided that I wanted to go to my Vegan Place.  They had cupcakes!  And, I had lemon ginger tea for my cough, though that needed some sugar.  That was all I wanted.  We went back to the hotel.... my arms have bug bites all over them, and my legs looked a little different they weren't mosquitos.  They hurt and I wasn't feeling well, no appetite and a lot of weakness in the legs....I got two bottles of water and used them as ice packs which helped.  Time for bed.

lunch

28th October 2015, Wednesday: the big day!!!

Today is the big day!!!  I went to bed at midnight and we woke up at 5:40.  We didn't get a chance to eat breakfast; I grabbed a hard boiled egg on the run because we had to get to Huaynapicchu at 7!!!!  We thought that there is a bus to Huaynapicchu (pronounced Winey Picchu), but actually it is only a 15 minute walk from the entrance of MP to the the foothills of HP.  We kept our luggage in the hostal storage.    The bus ride to MP is one of windy roads going up a hill.  We arrive- did you know that a bathroom costs 1 soles!!!  We rush to our mountain.  We met some people from New York who had a guide.  The guide was trying to hook us up with his taxi buddy for the Sacred Valley- nope to expensive.  There was an older gentleman who was nervous but we encouraged him.   Now there was an easy way around HP or the long-hard way.  Well we are here, might as well go all out.  We climbed and then Sandy told me to go ahead of her.  I made sure, and she said to go.  The hike up top is not one that I can express in words.  It was completely a mind over body exercise.  I saw people losing breath, one girl got altitude sickness and her guide gave her some drink which helped her feel better.  The view was amazing.  To see MP in an arial manner was just spetacular.  The only downside was being attacked by bugs.  Coming down was the hardest part for me, but I made it!  We had a few Yuka.  I met some French ladies who asked to sit down and just spoke with them in French about where they lived, what they do, ec...

It was difficult to follow the signs of MP because all the arrows also said exit.  We finally climb the last hill and I was en route to the Inca Bridge.  I went towards the Main Gate instead.  So I just continued there- Sandy decided to wait at the top of the hill.   After exploring this top, I had to come around.  I could not find Sandy.  I waited 15 minutes and then just decided to go towards the Sun Gate.  As I hit the MP mountain I saw two girls on their return and asked them how  long it  would take.  30 minutes. Given that I had been hiking since 7 and it was aroun 13:00.  I forgot about my trail mix in my bag, and didn't want fruits and had nearly no water.... let's just say I was hungry, thirsty, and tired.  I was sweaty with the scorching heat continuing to come right down on me.  So, I turned around to go back to the top of the hill where Sandy and I had parted ways.  She wasn't there.  I was going to go to the Inka Bridge which was very hard, given the cricumstances, but there were two guys who had returned and cheered me on.  Then the older couple we met at the Amazon saw me and told me they saw Sandy who said she was going to the main entrance.  I finished the hike as quickly as possible such that I could have people to go with on my return... safety.  I went to the exit after seeing the bridge and we took the windy bus back, only to be met by rain.  I wanted the rain; it felt great.  I got some water, mango juice and ate the fruit.  Our wait for the bus was an hour so it was good that we left early.  We had some time to relax.  We caught our train at 17:00.  We saw this train across of us that had live music, a chef, nice seats... $300 not ours.  We had a nice train too, but sadly it had mosquitos, that loved me too much.  We finally arrived at Ollantaytambo.  We walked to the main plaza and found a cheap motel, that I think had bed bugs and wouldnt't give us our room keys.  I hardly slept because 

1.  super cold

2.  they were partying outside.  Right now most of Peru has some fsestivity going on.

3.  Sometime in the middle of the night it sounded like we were being bombed... but it was the firecrackers landing on top of us.  

I think I eventually fell asleep.  But I was not feeling too well.