Im alive
Sorry peeps,i've just been kinda busy travelling to Cuzco, getting sick, and then going to Chile.
But all's good and im having a great time... i'll try be a good boy and post something more substancial-but that'll take work,and I jsut haven't been in a blogging vibe lately (also internet charges here a whole lot more expensive... like a dollar fifty an hour,instead of 40 cents... one of the many differences between Chile and Peru.
anyways, the money is ticking away, so I better go,
look after yourselves,
Nathan
Trip to Puquina with the church
I’ll start with a pat on the back *pat* for posting so soon… not… some things never change!
Anyways, the only big thing that’s happened lately was the churches trip to Puquina.
The subplot of this trip (for me) requires me to write about some (a lot of) stuff for context:
While pretending to be fit at the gym, I did some exercises on my calves, and got back home a little sore- but nothing out of the ordinary… then the next day I played football with early in the morning with some students and teachers from the language school. I felt a little tight before hand, but not that bad… it still felt normal.
In the afternoon I went shopping in central Arequipa, and was limping a little… and later at night my calves were all tight…
Anyways, when I got up early Sunday morning- and when I say early I mean Geneva Convention breaking, criminal bad (ok, just 4.30). My right calf was quite bad, but I thought it would go soon, or at least not get any worse…. Hahaha, how unaware of what was going to happen.
Anthony was quite crook, so Anthony, Roxanna and Melissa stayed home (it’s not worth risking things, esp. so far away from ‘civilisation’ (ok, a bit harsh to everyone who lives there… but it’s far away from good medical care, and at about 3,000 metres or something). Consequently, Ronny and Rocio picked me up at 5.15, on the way to pick up some of the Church from San Pedro.
Around this time of year it’s quite cold here at night/early morning, so things were a bit chilly… all the locals talk up the cold, and dress for it too. Funnily enough this time of year is the worse for sunburn, as the sky is really clear- and the sun more intense.
Anyways, back to the trip… we filled up the van with people from San Pedro, and I really mean filled… so I had to sit all scrunched up all the way to the church…and got mad pins and needles. So when I got out, it must’ve looked hilarious, as my leg was dead, and completely tensed up.
There must have been about 60 of us who went into total, every seat was filled, and the fun times commenced.
Everyone was in a surprisingly good mood for a bus trip at 6 in the morning on a really bad road (it’s only about 70 or something Km to Puquina, but it’s a really shocking road, and has quite a climb at the start). Ronny got us singing for a while some short choruses (most which I didn’t know very well), which we eventually stopped, then we chatted, played other games the rest of the way. The thing that made me laugh was this conversation I was having with those around me, to do with family characteristics etc. The subject was where I got my green eyes from, because some have seen the family pics… then Susannah blurts out a few rows away with this gem of a joke: “the neighbour”, which got me laughing so much that she didn’t know if I got her joke… anyways, I guess the mix of hair/eye colours in my family isn’t something that happens often here, so it actually becomes interesting (It’s funny as well how many times I’ve been asked what country my Dad is from…)
So, we eventually arrived- and the bus couldn’t navigate the narrow streets. Which meant that we all had to walk all the way down the hill, then back up to the church. So of we all went, and I’d have to be honest here- Maxamiliana, one of the old ladies from the church, with horrible knees, walked it… So I felt as if I had to tough it out, and not (excuse my language) ‘bitch’ about it as it were.
Pretty soon after we all arrived we started the service in the church building there.
The church building was put up after the earthquake when the church helped by building some 30 homes, and someone was selling the land for really cheap… so it made sense to put something up.
After the service, everyone went around and did whatever; some went for a look around town, others to a river nearby, but I was stuck pretty much- so I had an early lunch. I had quite a good chat about stuff with Alfredo- he’s the bomb, always a good laugh.
A bit later on the volleyball net came out, so I played on one foot for a bit, I guess I was hoping that maybe some movement would do me some good (ummm, no). But I tried to take some pics… and they all turned out pretty lame. By about this time I started to feel uncharacteristically cold (you know, that sick cold) which made things interesting… after sitting in the sun and watching some action for a bit we all went in for lunch (I got a few offers of some lunch- nice food too- but I was not feeling hungry at all). I don’t know how many times I had to explain what my problem was, and in how many ways (I think I figured out how in a clear manner by the end of the day) and how many opinions I heard on what was wrong, and what remedies would sort me out, some of the church members have an amazing knowledge of natural remedies etc… fascinating stuff.
So, after a lateish lunch, and a little bit more hanging out around the church, we set of back home at around 3ish. So we walked all the way back to the bus, and I was so feeling everything (sick, altitude, my leg) but I eventually made it- and I said to myself this classic quote of Sir Edmund Hillary, after he got back to base camp after climbing Mount Everest: “we knocked the bastard off” (I love classical quotes), it makes me laugh every time.
The trip back wasn’t the most fun time experience I’ve had- I was feeling like crap so I won’t bore you with the details. So, after over 3 hours in the bus, we got back. I was cold as and dieing to get home.
Once I eventually got back things didn’t look too good. I think the combination of my leg and feeling sick made the problem seem worse than it was. The Greens called up this ambulance/health care service that they’re subscribed to (it covers anyone in the house) that came around, and the doctor dude pretty much told me that It was only a muscular problem, and that I needed to rest it for two weeks, put a special cream on it, and take some tablets.
I’m writing this about a week and a half since then, and I’m feeling pretty good. My leg still isn’t 100% but I can walk (not jump, run) which is a relief I guess. I’m off to Cuzco tomorrow night which should be good times… unfortunately my mate hasn’t been able to make it, so I’m going alone. At this time of year it’s really busy up that way, with a few different festivals etc. and the best weather for visiting the sites (although it’s a bit chilly right now). I guess I just hoping that my leg will hold up, and that everything will work out just fine. I am expecting it to be pretty pricey, which is a shame… but I’ll be doing things on the cheap for sure. The leg of course rules out doing the Inca Trail, but I can live with that (it saves me having to buy/hire all the special gear etc… what a hassle)
It’s going to be weird though being in the majority, as there are so many gringos that make their way to Cuzco and the sites…
So, you can all look forward to the next blog, it should be good times up there, I hope nothing goes wrong (I don’t know how many times I’ve been told to watch out for stuff, I should be fine if I don’t do anything stupid (not like that’s ever happened haha)
Anyways, look after yourselves, and I’ll keep you all posted on what happens.
Nathan
