Sunday, December 2, 2007

The Trek begins...

We are picked up in our Cuzco hotel at 730a. Since we are returning here (we assume we'll make it back) in a week we’re leaving a suitcase full of stuff. I am not quite sure how the contents of our duffles have expanded so much. Anyway, the pick up van goes from hotel to hotel getting us all – Larry and I, Eduardo (Peru, but originally from Argentina) a travel writer / tourism marketer; Judy (Washington DC) a cardiologist (yahoo!); Susan (upstate NY) an architect; and Peter (Watertown MA!) who I know from work because he is our operator in Peru. There are also two Peruvians who are joining us just for the first two nights in the first lodge – then they are getting a ride back to Cusco.. Javier and Jose are our guides.
I am making an excellent first impression by wearing an orange-ish pink shirt with my yellow-ish green pants. My legs are already sore from all of the walking we have done the last few days. I'm sure I look *really* professional.

We drive about 3.5 hours, making one stop in a cool little town for water. The last part of the drive is on winding dirt road – in the States it would not even be called road I don’t think. Then the van stops and we pile out. This is the beginning of the ‘optional’ hike to the first lodge. Javier says it is great for getting ready for the trek. It’s pretty clear this is not very optional. Well the views are beautiful, I am out of breath in no time, the path is steep and my greatest fear has come to be – I am last in the pack. Oh well, it is what it is. This is what it looks like:

2.5 hours hiking hiking hiking. Up hills, down hills. Beautiful breathtaking views. Break for our box lunch which is delicious once you catch your breath enough to swallow. Then hike hike hike up and down and up and down some more – after another two hours we are at the lodge. There is quite a large staff (local Quechua women) waiting for us, greeting us with hugs and steaming mugs of hot coca tea. And the hot tub! Ah it never felt so good, with heavy white terry robes to wrap up in afterwards. The lodge is lovely though still working out some kinks. And chilly – propane heaters abound. But the beds are fantastic. Dinner is cream of potato soup. local trout, snow peas and peppers, carrot puree, and passion fruit mousse for dessert. The food is excellent. And then we go to bed!

1 comment:

nerb said...

Moo - Ben is back, sans cell phone and Blackberey. He left them at his hotel in Cuzco (can't remember the name) and they were gone when he got back. Other than that he had a stupendous time. I can't wait to read more and see your pix.