Cusco… The Night Before the Inca Trail

Playing Chess with my Irish Buddy Martin overlooking the main square in Cusco

It was the night before the Inca Trail, and all through the hostel, people are partying it up and having a blast. Conversely, I think I either have Altitude sickness or another touch of food poisoning. I am really, really not happy about it.

Nonetheless, Don, Chris (both profiled below), and I have been having a blast this past week. (I just realized that I have not posted in a whole week). Sorry about that, but Cusco is crazy. It feels more like what you would expect traditional Peru to be like than Lima, except that the party NEVER stops. People are constantly coming and going to the Inca Trail. Plus, you have to climatize (we are at 4000 meters) for a few days before taking the trek. We are way high up in the Andes. The first couple of days we had trouble breathing after walking a few blocks. The natural remedy to altitude sickness is Coca Leaves. (Yes, its made of the same stuff they make Cocaine from, but its recommended by all of the tour companies and completely legal.) It actually helps quite a bit.

Tonight we had our briefing from the tour company. We get picked up tomorrow morning at 6:30 in the AM. We should be on the trek for four days and three night ending at Macchu Pichu. We are all really excited. The three of us can not really understand what the name of our guide, so we have decided to call him Salsa. Its pretty cool, we are only going with two other people. So, in total we will have 5 trekkers, 1 guide, 1 cook, and 9 porters (they carry the food, tents, cooking equipment, and other stuff we will need.

——————————————————————————

Yesterday we saw a great futbal match between Boca Juniors( Argentinas biggest and best team, I have seen them play twice so far in Mendoza and Mar Del Plata) play Cuscos local team(Cant remember their name). The game turned out to be awesome. We sat with the Cusco fans and they destroyed Boca three to nothing. I bought some local tea at the game that tasted like Bubble Gum, it was far from good and possibly the cause of my current stomach conditions. Nonetheless, the game was great. Boca Juniors is 0-3 when I have seen them play. Therefore, I have decided that I hate them and that they suck. The town was on fire after the game, Boca is a huge South American power in the soccer world and Cusco smoked them.

Not one rainbow….But Two Rainbows

This is what it looked like after the first goal scored.

———————————————————————————

Travelers Profile:

The Boys: Chris is the one with Nappy Beard

Chris and Don bought finger puppets from this dude. He has been hustling gringos since we got here. Chris bought a baby monkey and Don bought a Llama. We think this little guy is about 4 years old.

The boys with a lady and her baby llama…Chris and I had a full on argument about this picture. He didnt want to take a picture with a goat. I am pretty sure its a llama. The debate is still on.

Don Startt(28)- Scientist (he works in a lab, wears googles, and possibly blows things up…this is unconfirmed)

Don and I have known each other since we were about 7. We played little league baseball together (there is much debate to this day about who was better). Also, we went through High School and College (Fraternity Brothers) together and were roommates for a few years after school. In summary, hes one of my best friends. We all have a really good time talking about how one of our friends is a scientist. We have reason to believe that his current project involves building a matter transporter like in Star Trek.

Our hostel has sweet hammocks.

Chris Taliano(27)- Does a little bit of this, and a little bit of that

Chris and I went to college together (same Fraternity) and have been roommates right up until I left for my trip in January (about 4 years). He is incredible at laying around and watching TV. His other strong suits include napping, watching basketball, and wearing clothes that his dad stopped wearing in 1982. Chris is the biggest Magnum PI fan I have ever met. He has also been the biggest influence on me in terms of the music I listen to. Chris introduced me to classic rock in college (Afterwards I listened to Pink Floyd for two years straight). Again, he is one of my best friends. Next May, he is getting married to Katie, another one of my best friends. Chris bought her a sweet present you are supposed to give to women before marriage. Lets just say that its awesome and involves fertility.

sidenote: Chris really sucks at Ping Pong.

——————————————————————————-

The three of us have been taking this town by storm. Or maybe its the other way around, we all feel pretty run down after 3 days here. Our hostel is one of the top two in town, its called “the Point”. Its complete madness 24 hours a day. Nonetheless, the energy is really high, the people that work here are great, and its in close proximity to the main square. Two nights ago one of the bartenders (crazy Irish dude) stood on the bar and poured an entire bottle of Irish Whiskey down the throats of everyone at the bar until it was gone.

——————————————————————————–

Side Notes:

> Don and Chris are going to write a guest blog entry when we get off the trail.

> I have decided to hole myself up in Cusco until I can figure out how to get my video posted. Bolivia is next, and I am expecting internet access to be really spotty.

> We have been buying loads of crap in Cusco. When I say loads, I mean loads and loads… Today I bought a jacket made of Alpaca. Chris bought a flask that apparently already had whiskey in it. Everything is so cheap here.

> So, Im hoping to update next Wednesday when we get off of the trail. I am sure there will be some pretty good stories. We are crossing our fingers about the weather. Its the very end of the rainy season.
> Some blog updates…. I bought daveforddoesearth.com. So, no need for the blogspot anymore in the URL address. On the left hand side at the page you can sign up to have the blog emailed to you when I update. Its pretty easy… Just do it.

Just another update of what it looks like when my gigantic self tries to fit in various modes of transportation here in South America. I am thinking of turning this into a series.

Popularity: 6% [?]