Doc in Peru

11-18 August, 2006 - Cuzco and Machu Picchu

Crazy Cuzco. After playing 'cop it' in transit for about 66 hours between Panama City and Cuzco via San Jose, Miami and Lima, I should have been ready for a bit of sleep. But it was a beautiful day in Cuzco, it was my first day in South America, I had just met up with Marie, so I went exploring. To cap off a sensational day I met with some random Aussies who were also having a go at the UK working holiday experience, listened to a live Peruvian band and had some local brews in a pub with an Aussie flag draped outside.

Cuzco was all about trying out the amazing and cheap local cuisine, including alpaca, llama, mate de coca (tea of the coca plant) and cuy, or in english, guinea pig! The alpaca and llama were delicious. The guinea pig was ok - chewy skin, not a lot of meat, and I couldn't bring myself to eat the head.

Cuzco was also about how many free drinks you could score on a night out. If you were up for a big one, realistically you could get away with only reaching for the wallet once or twice. There are hords of locals trying to usher you into their night spots with offers of free drinks. After doing a lap or two of the circuit and picking up two or three cards from each establishment you were set. When the cards run out for one place, you head to the next one on the list and on your way you pick up a few more drink cards. You just have to watch out for those dangerous urinating locals and pudgy dutchies!

Cuzco is also about ruins. Sacsayhuamán was great but Machu Picchu definitely lived up to all expectations. I trekked up to Aguas Calientes on my own and met a nice American girl on the way who I shared a hostel with. We got up at 4.30am and beat the crowds to the top of Machu Picchu. The one thing I missed was having someone to share this amazing experience with. For the first half hour all I could think of was what it would be like to have Fi sitting next to me being awestruck by the sights. But then I met Pete and Tom, two random Aussie blokes, not quite a substitution for Fi, but at least I had someone to have a bit of fun with and share the experience with. All I can say is you should go and see it for yourself. Everyone says it's amazing - and it is.