I’ve uploaded the last of my photos to flikr. They are from Copacabana, Bolivia; the trip to the Isla del Sol and the trek down the Colca Canyon in Peru. Some are good, some are crap - for some reason I took a photo of the toilet at Paradise, which is down the bottom of the Canyon. Don’t ask me why, I have these crazy moments!
I’ve created a new non-travel blog at Shine on you Crazy Diamond. If I ever get the opportunity to roam carelessly around the world again, I’ll start posting here once more. Until then, adios amigos!
When I finally booked my place on the Colca Canyon trek I was given a list of things to take - I filed and forgot about it immediately. I felt relieved that after a week of bumming around town that I’d finally decided to do something. Phew! Neither did I pay much attention to the itinerary that was being explained to me. “Blah blah blah”, I thought.
So when I found myself at the end of day 2 discussing a three-hour trek up the side of the canyon starting at 3 a.m., that is, in the dark! I wasn’t too happy! On the way down into the canyon I discovered that I wasn’t too great with heights, or large drops, as I prefer to call them. (Mostly I’m sat in front of a computer terminal or TV - walking along the edge of cliff-faces isn’t an activity that I normally include in my daily life). However, you’d have to be especially crazy to go trekking while you can’t even see where you’re going. During the discussion, I pointed out that I hadn’t brought a light (so going to the bathroom at night was tricky, as there’s no electricity in the canyon) and that I thought them all crazy just for thinking about doing this trek. I wasn’t making myself popular but I WAS SCARED!
After my little rant I remembered that I did have a light, of sorts. I sometimes use the back light on my mobile phone to get me to the bathroom and back. I rummaged around my rucksack and found it. Now I could get to the toilet without fear! Mountains - I’m not too sure about…
The following morning (sorry, the following middle of the night) a few ghost-like lights assembled in the middle of our camp, complained about the hour, then set off into the void. During the three hours on the way up, I counted 1..2..3 … 8..9..10, over and over. For this was about how long my mobile’s back light took before going out again. Also, every once in a while, I have a look at the battery indicator and try to estimate if I was going to make it all the way to the top with my dim light - it wasn’t much, but in the total blackness it did make a fair bit of difference. By my calculations it was going to be touch and go! Thankfully, at 5.30 p.m - with only half an hour to the top - the first twilight appeared over the mountains and with great satisfaction I could safely put my little baby back to bed.
Thanks to God, I’d survived another close one!
I decided to visit one of the local hospitals today. My preferred method of getting over an illness doesn’t seem to be working, i.e. just wait it out and hope for the best. I’m told this is a very male attitude. Instead of being pig-headed I went to get some medical help.
As someone who is well familiar with hospitals in the UK, I was surprised by the contrast between the UK and Peru. Firstly, as a tourist I obviously have to pay, but it’s very very cheap here. Then there’s the privacy issue - there doesn’t seem to be much of it in Peru. While I was being examined by the doctor and later by the nurse anyone around was able to listen in and in the case of one little girl - watch. Don’t worry very little nudity was involved.
One similarity and one contrast: just like in the UK you have to wait around for ages before anyone comes to examine you; but when you do get seen the results come pretty quick.
My distant hope is that they can sort things out here in South America so I don’t have to go home - that, I suspect, is a lot to hope for!
I just got back yesterday from doing a 3-day trek in the Colca Canyon. I would recommend it to anyone. Unfortunately, my health has taken a turn for the worse, so I’m resting up for a few days in Arequipa to see if I can continue or not. My next post may well be from the UK. Who knows?!
