High in Cusco

11,000 Feet High in the Sky

We flew from the Amazon to Cusco, so in reality we went up and landed. This was also the day that my weight loss regiment began, however there was just enough time for Krim and I to do a little shopping. We all left our 16th century beautiful hotel which used to be the home for the priests from one of the cathedrals in the city with the thought of going to the city center. Well, Krim and I spotted just about 100 yards from the hotel an Alpca store, the one that was recommended to us earlier. Jim and Clyde were pretty good sports for a while but because there was 40% off on some of the sweaters, we sent them to find a rain jacket for Jim, we would meet up with them later. Score, shopping and no guys with us...about as good as it gets, right? So, after cleaning out the store of about 8 sweaters (and a couple pair of socks for the guys) we met up with Clyde and Jim. Then....after about 2 minutes I spotted the jewelry store that I had found on the internet, right there in the city center. That was the most wonderful shopping night ever. True shopping "High in Cusco".

Then the two day weight loss program began. I've always said that I'm one E-Coli infection away from my goal weight...it's true. I've lived it. Jim was feeling the affects of the jungle as well. About 7 am I called the front desk and asked if a doctor could come to the hotel and look at us. We are a team, seems we do everything together...even this. The doctor arrived within 15 minutes, put a stethoscope on our tummies and shook his head...Parasites he said. I'm not sure I believe him....what did he hear? little guys saying "oh yummy, we are so glad to be here?? He prescribed about 3 items, charged us each $100 and left.

José, Our Guide....

Let me tell you a couple of things about José, he is at least 70% Inca. His first language was that of the Incas, Quechua. He has many brothers and sisters. One of his older brothers is a policeman and that is what he wanted when he grew up. He became our guide instead. Jose taught himself english. He has a wife who has a shop and sells t-shirts, sweatshirts and other items from places far away from Chile. One day he had on a LA Dodgers sweatshirt on and the next day he wore a t-shirt from Australia. His wife and 3 year old son, Sebastian live 5 hours away in the jungle.

As a guy, he is very charismatic and knowledgeable and takes a special interest in the people he is working with. Jose is a sweet, gentle man who any one of us would be proud to have as our son. He watched over the four of us like a hawk but often was protecting the Jim and Clyde by making sure Krim and I didn't have shopping opportunities that would blow our agenda all to heck. Once we pulled into a market place to pick up a book about Peru in German that Krim wanted to send to her brother but he went by himself to pick it up. He would not let Krim or I out of the car, telling us some strange reason why not, "It is not good for you to breath this night air". Krim and I still wonder, was it the time he was worried about or did Jim and Clyde pay him? We quickly learned that José's favorite saying when we are moving on is "Let's go to the beach"...so now our favorite saying is, "Let's go to the beach..."

 

Jose will be our Guide in Machu Pichu, nothing could be better...

As I devote the next day to weight loss, I'll turn this next day in Cusco entirely over to Clyde to write the blog, I'm pretty attached to my hotel room at this point.

 

Posted with Blogsy