I am an Inka Trail Survivor

So much has happened since we were in Ollantaytambo that I almost can´t believe that our time in this magical place called Peru is over. We leave fro Brazil on Saturday and I think it will be a welcome change from the below freezing temps we have endured on the Inka Trail and in Puno not to mention the Soroche or Altitude sickness that struck us on the trail and struck Arlene especially. Yuck. Not to worry we took Soroche pills and are feeling better. So, last time I wrote I mentioned political upheaval in the title but did not mention what that meant in the blog. Well, while we visited the Sacred Valley and Pisaq on the 3rd day in Cusco we came upon a porter strike. What you all need to understand is that Cusco is a tourist town. Their economy runs on tourism 95% and they even have a 5 year major at the college called tourism. You can only work as a guide, etc if you have that. Otherwise you can be a merchant, farmer or a porter. A porter helps carry the food, camping equipment and other such things for the 500 people that enter the Inka Trail each day. They were not getting paid fairly and they had a strike by closing off roads that lead into the Trail. I MEAN closing them... with rocks, boulders, burning hay stacks and sometimes even by threatening to throw rock at the tourist buses. So much drama that day since we had to turn around and not go to Ollanta and Chincheros but rather go to the Pisaq ruins so as to avoid anything happening to us. I know. But I was glad to see that things on the revolutionary upheaval side are still strong in Peru. Si se puede.

OH. Then we finally got to the Inka Trail a day later because of the strike and started our pilgramage up the Sacred Apos (mountains) with our very "sporty spice" guide called Marisol. We ate three meals a day and walked 12 hours a day and were exhausted every night of the 4day hike. It does tell you a lot about yourself. We were fortunate to have a private hike so Arlene, Aline and I hike just with our guide and 3 porters that had decided to opt out of the strike.

I was reborn on the Inka Trail. I thought I was going to die on the 2nd and 3rd nights. Sheer will and my guide gave me the aliento to go on. It was a difficult climb. We went up to 4000 meters and crossed dead woman´s pass and as if that weren´t enough we carried our packs on the first and fourth days. Our porters helped us carry the packs on the 2nd and 3rd days or else I wouldn´t have made it at all. It was magnificent. Exhilirating. Excruciating. Painful. Emotional. Fun. Sacred. Holy and it is by my parent´s prayers, God, and the Spirit of the moon and the Apos that I live to tell the tale. I loved it. it is the adventure of your lifetime. And Maccu Picchu was magnificent and even more awe inspiring in person. So, for anyone thinking about doing the Inka Trail... I say do it but prepare to be reborn and cherish the Pachamama for all she gives us.

We rested in Cusco for a day after the Inka Trail then we hopped on a bus to Puno to see Lake Titicaca and the floating Uros or reed islands. Very impressive. We leave for Arequipa tomorrow (our last stop in Peru) and then take a flight out to Brazil.

Things are so different in Peru. This world humbles you and reminds you that God, the Apo or who ever it is you believe in put you on this earth for a purpose that is beyond YOU and the things that YOU have.