09.10.10 Cusco auf 3.300m in den Anden

Netterweise wurde ich von dem Hostel „Samay Wasi" vom Busbahnhof abgeholt und nachdem ich eingecheckt hatte, musste ich erstmal ein bischen frische Luft schnappen und die Gegend auskundschaften. Allerdings machte mir der Höhenunterschied doch mehr zu schaffen als ich dachte und ich habe dann nachmittags eine „siesta" eingelegt. Cusco ist eine sehr schöne Stadt mit ca 350.000 Einwohnern, allerdings sehr touristisch da von hier aus alle Treks zur weltberühmten Inca Stadt Machu Pichu losgehen.

The hostel was nice enough to send a taxi to the bus terminal. After I had checked in at the nice hostel "Samay Wasi II" I went straight to the city centre exploring the town. Unfortunately I couldn't cope with the high altitude as I had a terrible headache, so I went back to the hostel where I had a nap. Cusco is a very nice but touristy town from where all the treks to Machu Pichu start.

Da ich wusste, dass meine Ex-Kollegin von Pfizer an dem gleichem Tag angereist war, haben wir uns per text message abends zu einem Drink im Irish Pub verabredet. War echt cool und wir haben uns gleich über alle Trips und Sehenswürdigkeiten die wir bisher erlebt und gesehen hatten ausgetauscht und so konnte mir Helena auch gleich wieder ein paar heisse Tips für meine nächste Station den Titicacasee geben.

As I knew that my ex-colleague Helen from Pfizer arrived on the same day, we managed to catch up for a drink at the Irish Pub later on. It was great to catch up with her and her two friends and they could give me loads of info's for my next destination "Lake Titicaca"!

Am Sonntag, den 10.10.10 habe ich mich erstmal ein wenig in Cusco umgeschaut und nachmittags um 2pm habe ich mich mit Chalex, einem netten Couchsurfer aus Cusco zum Mittagessen verabredet. Chalex kommt aus dem Norden von Peru und arbeitet hier in Cusco als Tourguide. Wir haben uns fast zwei Stunden super unterhalten und er hat mir gleich angeboten einen Tagestrek am anderen Tag mit ihm zu unternehmen. Da ich aber immer noch mit tierischen Kopfschmerzen zu kämpfen hatte, habe ich netterweise erst mal abgesagt.

On Sunday morning, 10.10.10 I went for a sightseeing tour through the city and at 2pm I caught up with a Peruvien guy Chalex.I met Chalex through the Couchsurfing website and he suggested meeting for lunch. So we had a lovely 4 course meal for 3.50 Euro! J Chalex is from the north of Peru and works as a mountain climbing guide in Cusco. He offered to go for a day trek the other day but as I still had to fight with a terrible headache I kindly rejected his offer.

At my hostel I met Kate and Catherine from York in England and they told me that they booked a few Spanish lessons for beginners over the next two days. As I was quite desperate to learn a few Spanish words I asked if I could join them. The next day we were sitting in front of a very nice Peruvian teacher and were able to speak a few words after the two hours. J

During the next two days I shopped around for treks to Machu Pichu but I was quite shocked as most of the treks cost in between 300 and 500 USD….only for a four or five day trek! Even my Peruvian friend Chalex told me that the treks are absolutely overcharged.

Two days later my ex-flatmate Siobhain from Dublin arrived in Cusco with her sister Sheila and a German friend Claudia. My plan was to book a trek with them but they decided to go by train to Aguas Calientes (population 2000) from where the hike to Machu Pichu starts. I then decided to book the 5 day Salkantay trek with the company QUECHUAS as they offered the best deal and the best equipment. Furthermore they told me that we would be only three people on the trek and our tour guide Antonio. Well, the smaller the group the better!

The day before the trek I had to do some shopping as they mentioned to expect rain and snow during the next 5 days….oh,oh!! The Salkantay trek is a 55 km trek in between the two snow-covered peaks of the glaciers Humantay and Salkantay. Mmmhh….I have never done such a long trek in my life and to be honest I was quite nervous when I packed my bag for the trek and said Good Bye to Siobain, Sheila and Claudia.