It´s true. As healthy and robust as I have been feeling, altitude and all, when I stayed with a family on the island of Amantani the other night, the matron of the family, Innocensia, led me and my two friends on a hike ´Arriba,´which ended up being to the top of the island, which trust me, was realllly far up. This tiny little woman, dressed in a bright green skirt, her long braids swinging beneath a black shawl, made tracks up the steep stairs while the three of us, all in our 20´s, were heaving and grunting trying to keep pace.
We did finally make it to the top, to astounding views of Lake Titicaca all around us and an island that was tranquil and quiet, at least, until the celebrations started that night in the square, complete with bonfires, beer and dancing.
Tomorrow we are off to the Amazon!!! I am tired from all the traveling, but other than that, feeling pretty good, no shots and all. I am now on ´real´malaria meds (malarone) since the dosage of plaquenil I take is apparently too wimpy for malaria these days.
I´ll fill in about Maccu Picchu and everything in between once I´m back stateside (another two weeks, almost!!!!)
Buenos Noches!
What a wonderful travelogue! You are making unforgettable memories!
Posted by: millicent | August 13, 2008 at 09:19 AM