Hi everyone!
So. I finally got it. I have Traveller's Diarrhea. I have a slight fever and well, the other thing. I think it could also be a combination of the altitude as well. Whatever it is, I am not feeling too solid (hehehe, get it?). Luckily, I have a small pharmacy on me so I'm going to rest and take some meds tonight. And stick to my emergency supply of Cliff Bars, cheese crackers, and a really yummy trail mix from Target and lots of bottled water. If I don't feel better by Saturday, I'm gonna hit up a recommended pharmacy and get some meds from there. Even still, I am so glad I tried all the foods that I have so far!! So overall, its not toooo bad. I have gotten it before in Jamaica and it can be way worse.
So enough about diarrhea!! Cuzco is awesome. There is sooo much to see and do here and its loaded with tourists!! Picture a really old town with cobblestone streets and alleyways, huge squares with cathedrals, all built on the hillsides of the Andes mountains - its just awesome looking. And the people here actually look...Peruvian. Most of your gifts will probably be from here. Let me know if any of you want anything made from alpaca wool; sweater, purse, hat, underwear, etc - they got it. So I started my day here by checking in at SAE which was located on a really pretty, picturesque alleyway, but I had to walk up about 200 feet of looong steps to get there. I literally had to stop every 10 steps to catch my breath. I then found my hostel around the corner in only the best neighborhood in Cuzco called San Blas. Its loaded with super cute trendy shops and restaurants, and is centered around a small cathedral. (I plan on hitting up the cathedrals and museums in Lima and Cuzco on the final leg my trip.). I purchased some coca leaves at a recommended shop by my guidebook and chewed on some of that to relieve some of my altitude-dizziness as I wandered around down town. I passed through the main square that had a whole bunch of super nice churches and gardens and all that other fun stuff and had my lunch right off this square. I had a pretty traditional Peruvian dish called lomo saltado - small strips of beef, sauteed onions, and french fries mixed in with rice, topped with this really popular green spicy sauce called aji. And another jugo de papayo!! I now am kinda leery of getting too excited over food bc one of these awesome meals has given me Traveller's D. Small grrr.
I headed back to my hostel pretty early, but took a bunch pictures and shopped a little on the way. Tomorrow I plan on heading down to the main bus terminal to get my 6-hour bus ticket to Puno, which stops at ruins along the way. Supposedly a really pretty scenic ride. And then possibly booking a 6-dayish tour from Puno to Arequipa that will include kayaking, hiking, and all the sites that I wanna see. All depending on price and availability! And then probably meeting up with a super nice Canadian named Brad Davies that I met in Lima, for dinner.
So I am staying in room 206 at Pirwa Hostels located at Carmen Alto 283 in San Blas. The number here is 0051 84 232311.
I love you and good night.
Aileen :)
PS
Pic attached is of a green bug. I refuse to send a low quality phone picture of the town bc it just wouldn't do its justice. But for some reason, there are a TON of old VW bugs here in Peru. Here is one of them.
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