At 3500m, our hotel was much like a Swiss lodge, with blazing fireplace and all. It´s resident llama, Manchas (too cute!) is allowed to wander in and out as he pleased, and we were told that - if he decided to bunk with us for the night - we were to welcome him. He didn´t, and just as well, as he was a little smelly.
We spent some time at the local hot springs, but not before hiking (i.e. huffing and puffing) to a little over 3600m. Both Warren and I feel the altitude quite keenly, and find slopes with even the slightest gradient challenging. It was good to have a taste of what we´ll experience when we hike the Inca Trail (in two days!) as it varies from 2430m to 4200m. Warren has been asking in an Eeyore-like voice whether he could take the train to Machu Picchu instead.
We´ve been advised to chew coca leaves (from the cocaine plant) which allow oxygen to be absorbed more easily by red blood cells, and so help users combat fatigue, hunger and combat altitude sickness. You´re supposed stack 15 - 20 leaves, wrap them around a bit of ash (which acts as a catalyst), then shove them in your mouth against your gum through which the juices produced by frantic chewing and your saliva will be absorbed if your lips don´t go totally numb and allow these to dribble out. Oh, and you can spit the leaves out after if you don´t accidentally swallow them in this complicated process.
We spent some time at the local hot springs, but not before hiking (i.e. huffing and puffing) to a little over 3600m. Both Warren and I feel the altitude quite keenly, and find slopes with even the slightest gradient challenging. It was good to have a taste of what we´ll experience when we hike the Inca Trail (in two days!) as it varies from 2430m to 4200m. Warren has been asking in an Eeyore-like voice whether he could take the train to Machu Picchu instead.
We´ve been advised to chew coca leaves (from the cocaine plant) which allow oxygen to be absorbed more easily by red blood cells, and so help users combat fatigue, hunger and combat altitude sickness. You´re supposed stack 15 - 20 leaves, wrap them around a bit of ash (which acts as a catalyst), then shove them in your mouth against your gum through which the juices produced by frantic chewing and your saliva will be absorbed if your lips don´t go totally numb and allow these to dribble out. Oh, and you can spit the leaves out after if you don´t accidentally swallow them in this complicated process.
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