News and Views From my kids accomplishments, to my heretical perspective of the world

Early this morning we caught the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. It was only about 40 miles, but switch backs up the mountain and winding up canyons resulted in a 4 hour trip.

Machu Picchu is amazing. The closest thing I can compare it to is Stonehenge, in terms of a stone structure built with primitive tools, but I think MP far outshines Stonehenge. (I’ve never been to the Egyptian Pyramids, of course.)

We spent most of the day (after we got here) on a guided tour. The guide was an expert on almost everything related to the area. We are spending the night in a small town at the base of the mountain, then tomorrow a few of us are going back and climb 1000 feet above MP to one of their religious structures, while the lesser souls stay below and rest or shop.

Lots of pictures to show when we get back.

Everybody’s health is fine. We are getting used to the altitude, and anyway MP is quite a bit lower than Cusco; only about 8000 feet.

This is certainly the high point of the whole trip. I can’t imagine anything else we are going to see that can surpass this.

Last post I mentioned in a comment that Derek and Gisele had gone up the mountain and were feeling the altitude. It got worse.

They went through a 16,000 foot pass before they dropped back down to about 12,000 feet where their hotel was. Derek got sicker and sicker, terrible headache, vomiting, and they finally took him to the emergency room. Altitude sickness, of course. They gave him an injection and oxygen, and he was ready to go back to the hotel within an hour or so.

However, while Gisele was there with him, she mentioned that she didn’t feel well either, so they took her blood pressure — 170/something. So they gave her an injection too. She was well enough to go back to the hotel in an hour or so too. They had headaches for a while, but after getting back the next day to where Devon and I were at the low altitude of 8000 feet, they both felt fine.

Tonight we are in Cusco, in the heart of the Inca territory, at just under 12,000 feet elevation. So far everyone seems to feel fine. Those who might have had problems have become more aclimated, so hopefully all will be fine.

Tomorrow we catch a 6am train to Machu Pichu, about 3 hours away.

I’ve been drinking lots of coca tea — tea made from coca leaves. It sounds bad, but it’s really milder than the caffeine in regular tea. Everyone here says to drink it for altitude sickness.

Last night at dinner Devon complained that his stomach was a little uneasy. After dinner he had to hurry back to the hotel.

About 2 in the morning he called my room, saying he felt really bad. Diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills, aches. He couldn’t keep anything down.

I had the hotel desk call a doctor, who came and diagnosed him with some kind of intestinal infection. He gave him a shot and 4 prescriptions. The hotel desk sent someone for the medicine at an all-night pharmacy, and by the time they got back Devon was already feeling better, and able to keep a few sips of water down.

Doctor’s house call — $40.
Prescriptions — $10.
My Pervian friend, Oscar, says these are very expensive, but probably in line for a tourist hotel.

It’s now later afternoon, and Devon is still in bed, still a little uncomfortable, but keeping liquids down and feeling well enough to watch TV.

The rest of the group took a 5-hour bus ride up higher into the Andes, where they will be spending the night, but I stayed here with Devon. They will be back tomorrow; hopefully Devon will feel well enough to rejoin the tour then.

We are here.

Devon almost didn´t make it. Super shuttle didn`t show up, but got a friend to drive him. He checked in too late to make the flight, but fortunately they had another following 1/2 hour behind. I changed my flight too so he wouldn´t be alone.

Lima was cool and drizzling all the time. We are now up at 8000 feet in Arequipa. We have seen llamas and alpacas. Tomorrow we go higher into the Andes.

We are off to Peru on Wednesday morning. None of us have ever been to South America, so we’re excited about the trip.

We will arrive in Lima, and then travel to Cusco and spend a few days there and at nearby Machu Pichu. I’m not sure of all the other places we will go — they are just names on the itinerary right now, but I’m sure they will fill with meaning in the next few weeks.

We are friends with a family that was born there. They have helped arrange everything. There are 10 of us from three families traveling together in mostly private tours.

We will be gone almost 3 weeks; back on Monday the 24th.

Hasta la vista!