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Thu, May. 15th, 2008, 01:00 pm
Off!

Tomorrow we go to Peru. I think I'm all ready. Our training has gone well, including our triumphant climb of Ben Nevis last Monday. I now have calves of steel! So hopefully I should manage the Inca Trail, though there is that pesky little problem of altitude sickness to worry about... apparently our hotel in Cuzco serves free hot beberages [sic], including coca tea - apparently the best thing for it. I told my mum that, and she asked if we would be getting some in advance to take with us. I had to explain that that's not really legal.

I'm a wee bit excited. Even though we have a night sleeping in Heathrow airport to look forward to (not terminal 5, I might add!). And the book I'm planning on taking with me to read possibly doesn't have the best title...
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 12:36 pm (UTC)
[info]johnnyrandom

Hope you guys have an awesome time!

Just out of curiosity, what is the book?
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 05:10 pm (UTC)
[info]tinypinkstar

It's called Death in the Andes by Mario Vargas Llosa. Apparently some tourists get stoned to death by Shining Path Guerillas in it...
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 12:58 pm (UTC)
[info]jujubh

Good luck and enjoy the tea!
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 01:06 pm (UTC)
[info]nik_strychnine

Please take lots of pictures of exciting Incan ruins! Have an excellent time!
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 05:11 pm (UTC)
[info]tinypinkstar

I'm sure we might manage one or two pictures...
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 01:25 pm (UTC)
[info]sakirmo

Have a great, great trip! I didn't do the Inca Trail myself (knee problems) but Machu Picchu was breath-taking nevertheless, and I did get to sip coca tea on a few occasions anyway :)
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 05:13 pm (UTC)
[info]tinypinkstar

Did you have any problems with altitude sickness? Everyone we've spoken too has said not to bother with Diamox, and that coca tea should be sufficient.
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Fri, May. 16th, 2008 04:32 am (UTC)
[info]sakirmo

Well I had a bit of the usual symptoms; headaches, fatigue, being out of breath, sleeplessness etc, but nothing major. It all settled in a couple of days. I don't think any medicine is necessary, it's probably best to let your body get used to it on its own. I hope you get to Cusco a few days before the trail, just to get more time to acclimatise?
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 01:47 pm (UTC)
[info]runesandmen

Have a great time! Will be thinking of you!
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 02:09 pm (UTC)
[info]impishredhead

Oh... is that tomorrow?
You should have said something.
;o)
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Thu, May. 15th, 2008 05:48 pm (UTC)
[info]electrastorm

Have a great time!

I bought some coca tea when I left the Lima airport and brought it back into Canada with no problem. Apparently because it's processed coca leaves and not raw coca leaves, it was okay for me to bring back home.
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