Peru Day 6: Escape from the jungle

A slightly chilly night by jungle standards and another early start of 5:30am for our boat ride back. Our flight was at 12:50pm and the boat ride would take 90 minutes, quicker as it was downstream...thank god. Kind of glad really and looking forward to more kinder climates and less early starts. Last nature spots were two humming birds.

A quick transfer from the boat to bus (running down local stray cows and dodging dogs refusing to move out of the middle of the road) then a hasty re-pack at the office. We got to the airport about 10:15am and increased our salt intake by 300% with crisps and Ritz biscuits. Peurto Maldonado airport is small with lattice walls to let the air flow through and jetplane noise.

The flight to Cusco was a very short 35 minutes and the temperature difference was appreciated. Kerry was the firs (and worst) to suffer from the altitude feeling sick from the sensation of the floor moving. I was just taking it easy with shallow beathing. Cusco itself was alot less developed as Lima though it was refreshing to see some traditional Peruvian fashions still being worn. Lots of Inca statues around the city and the flanking hills had huge murals with Inca iconography. The guide gave us some good advice to take the day very easy with light meals and coca leaf tea. The news of a more reasonable 8:30am pick up for our next Cusco tour was welcomed.

Our Cusco hotel, the Sant Augustine feels like a 1970's chalet hotel with cave like walls. We rested a bit, watched a bit of telly then found an English run cafe called Moni which served Marmite toast for 5 Sols. The cafe was full of Swindon and Wiltshire images, Stonehenge and football teams etc. We could only manage soup and garlic bread with the altitude affecting our appetite. It also stopped us from walking too far as every footstep was shortened to an 80 year old's pace. Another rest at the hotel, a tepid warm bath and a small snooze to recover.

The hotel's restaurant price was ridiculously high so ventured out to the nearby Inca House which had mixed traditional and pizza/pasta menu. After ordering, an Inca pipe band turned up to play some Beatles and Paul Simon covers as well as some traditional tuneage. They were quite good so bought a CD as a present. Pizza came out cold but even when it was reheated neither of us could even eat half of it because of the altitude. The complimentary pisco sour (Peru's national drink) was served tasted fowl at first then had an interesting after taste.