Mrs. T's Southern Adventure
As most of you know we are currently in residence at our Mexican home. We will return north in time for Rebecca to see her flowers begin to bloom and to file our taxes. But while here Rebecca decided to make a trek to Peru to scratch an item off her bucket list.
The genesis of this trip is a bit convoluted. Mrs.T's sister Ruth - she has not appeared in our newsletter often - has a son-in-law who works for the U.S. State Department and is currently posted in Peru. Rita, the third sister, was already visiting here and the three sisters decided they would gather in Peru for a get together. (Your editor decided the stress would be too much and stayed at home. -dt) The trip was greatly aided by Charlie and Alana who did a splendid job and much of the heavy lifting to coordinate things. Many thanks.
Here is the story:
The Three R's (Readin' Ruth, 'Ritin' Rita and little 'Rithmetic Sue - that's me - ride again. My sisters and I journeyed to and around Peru visiting family, seeing the sights, and enjoying the different culture. The people were very friendly and seemed to enjoy us also.
Ruth and I climbed the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu. (Rita was unable to make that part of the trip. -dt) First you ride this small train. Then you come to a village that exists solely to prey upon the tourists. Note the picture of Ruth and I wearing Inca crowns. You may imagine that with age comes a sense of dignity. Wrong! Adam who is Ruth's son and a fireman came along. He was really sweet about carrying our bags, took lots of pictures of us, and helped us up and down steep places. (He is the tall bald guy in several photos. -dt)
There were lots of steep places around Machu Picchu which is in the Andes Mountains. Ruth and I were worried about altitude sickness. So we took altitude pills, and oxygen pills which our niece gave us. We also drank vile tasting coca tea which was supposed to give us more energy. And finally whenever we felt a little tired or out of breath we sucked coca candies. The coca tea and candy are made from the same plant as cocaine. I know nothing about cocaine, but if it tastes as bad as the tea I don't see how anyone could become addicted. Something in all of our pharmacopeia must have worked because Ruth and I climbed up and down approximately two million, seven hundred eighty-two thousand, three hundred and nine very tall steps. Here is a question. If the Inca were a short people - and we know they were because they made short doors in their buildings - why did they make such tall steps?
Ruth and I, after a light breakfast and several cups of coca tea rode the bus up the mountain. Adam had risen at some ridiculous hour and skipped up the mountain to view the sunrise from the top! We, however, wended our stately way, propped up by two canes apiece. Ruth carried a small backpack with two bottles of water. I had my pockets stuffed with coca candies and soles, Peruvian money. (R might be in the hoosegow if she brought those coca leaves and candies back with her. -dt)
As we approached the gate we were accosted by several guides. "I am the perfect guide for you ladies," one claimed. We viewed him suspiciously. He looked very young and fit; perhaps we needed someone older and slower. "I know lots of shortcuts so you can go to the important temples without climbing so many steps," he claimed. "I know lots of flat stones you can sit on if you get tired." "I will go very slowly and stop so you can rest and take pictures," he promised. This was the guide for us! After some brief dickering as to the price we took off.
The air was thin and cool. The tall mountains touched the sky. The great stone wings of the Condor sky god pointed from his temple to his lofty realms. People of many tribes and races come to Machu Picchu. What do they seek: a new experience, a different sight? Ruth and I slowly made our way across the terraces, stopping now and then to rest on flat stones. We climbed the tall steps to to see the temples. The stone walls remained with empty windows facing down over the terraces to the valley. Llamas grazed contentedly as the passing of centuries did not concern them. We breathed the clear cool air. Then we went down.
Rebecca did not take any pictures but other members of the party did - 1500+ in all. I culled through them and picked a representative handful:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/9151458@N07/C687H5
And yes the local folks know tourists when they see them; the three R's dropped a few soles during their visit.
See some of you in the spring.
Dan and Rebecca
www.casa-de-terrible.blogspot.com
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