Following our Jungle Fever, knackered as we were we plodded up to a beautiful craft town and market named Otavalo. Checked into a lovely cheap hostel on the main square, with swell view of the market. Locals craftspeople abundant, selling their homemade wares.
Amoungst other things, we purchased some Groucho (our name for Gringo travellers) goodies, including some hippy style necklaces from a Red Indian. We are good at haggling.
"Estoy Estudente!"
Our Llama jumpers a joy to behold. Our favourite phrase when talking to local merchants was “Necessito Llama” (“I need Llama”). They are soft and lush. In the evening went to a street food market. Hannah ate a skewer of dubious meats and Amy ate lots of sweetcorn. It is lucky that this is one of her favourites of all the corns.
We had a breakdown the next day, owing partly to THIS BLOG. IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT. When writing our Jungle entry, computer crashed and we lost the lot. Considering it takes 5 mins to upload a photo (and much longer to conjour our tales) this was our least favourite moment.
Got bus back to Quito and stayed with Lesly at Hostel Lesly. Lesly smells of drains and did not help add to our mood. Three low moments followed… Hannah was in the shower when to her joy, head full of shampoo, the water ceased. Itchy scalp, Madam? The event occurred following her biggest downfall to date. Literally. When running downstairs to return keys to Lesly, a smug rug took the ground from under her feet. The thump could be heard up and down Lesly´s rancid passages. Sprainage?
Several moments after these events, Amy discovered that she had left her i-pod on the crummy bus from Otavalo. There were some tears, we are not going to lie to you. HOWEVER, it was revealed to be in Hannah´s bag. God bless Hannah.
We decided to put these events behind us and enjoy our travel to next destination… Peru! Up at 4.30 am to catch flight (Please note- Amy had her first full conversation in Spanish with someone this morning and it made her proud. He worked at Hostel Lesly and may have been called Lesly).
At the airport... Here´s how it went…
A&H- Hola, we would like to check in please.
Claudia Sourpuss – All of your flights are cancelled. All of them. (nb. We have 6 more flights booked with this airline)
A&H – Perdon? How? What? Que?
Claudia Smackedarse – You have to buy new flights.
A&H - …..&%/·$!? *pause* Can we call London office to sort this out?
Claudia Lemonsucker – No. It´s the system.
This conversation continued, heatedly, eventually metamorphasising into a verbal bashing for 20 minutes. Amy and Hannah were going to cry or kill someone.
Eventually they found our flights (apology? Nah! Who wants one?) and we were on our way… or were we? *suspicious look to Camera B*
Arrived in Lima for our connecting flight to Cusco. Checked in, all fine so far. Except… our flight does not seem to be on the departures board. For 3 hours. And all TACA staff mysteriously vanished. Mass bamboozlement of angry travellers. After several hours of silent treatment from TACA, informed that our flight was infact cancellado, owing to rain (funny that, as every other airline was getting there ok, YOU MORONS).
Then Hannah lost her passport. Dark. Much darkness. Help us find the light.
And light there was. Passport found. Complimentary 4* hotel in Lima, 3 course lunch, 3 course dinner, massive breakfast, re-booked flights for next morning and a HOTEL ROOOOOOOM. Clean and sweet as the sweetest of nuts.
Here it is. It made us so happy…
There was dancing on the landing and much watching of cable TV (namely Phantom of the Opera, with Spanish subtitles. Every day is a school day). Tears of joy. Cheers TACA, you MAY have escaped a malicious e-mail. Claudia, you MAY be going down. Only time will tell.
Arrived in Cusco this morning. Stunning vista.
We are very high up here and altitude is a challenge. Mainly because we are short of Oxygen which makes us want to sleep or laugh like loons. Slept like a dog on Nytol this afternoon before meeting our Inka Trail guide. Got all info for trail tomorrow. Excited and nervous. Amy is going to text the Shaman about her knee, to see if he can prescribe any more painful and ineffective treatments. Perhaps rubbing poison Ivy into the area? Or the bite of a large jungle cat?
We await his response.
Meanwhile, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SPONSORED US ON OUR TREK.
If you have not done so, fear not! There is still time…
That´s all for now, folks. Catch ya after the challenge.
A & H xxx
Muchos bummos re. some of your recent experiences, Gals, but I’m extremely glad to learn that passport and I-pod were restored to you, eventually, and that, liberally spread among those few miseries, there were lots of jollifications.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to dwell a certain head-scratching obscurity in the realms of computer translation from the Spanish. I looked up the phrase, "Estoy Estudente!", and it popped up, variously, as, “I’m not up to it, any more”, “I’m only just passing through”, “I am embarrassed/ashamed”, “I’m flying high” or “I’m going out of my mind”...so tick whichever appropriately fits: and all, if necessary.
Five minutes to upload a photograph...? Blimmin` `ell: enough to unhinge the impatient mind! I admire your persistence, Girls; especially after the computer unhelpfully crashed. Many thanks indeed for taking the trouble, though, because we all greatly enjoy reading your blogs and seeing those stunning pics.
How come there is a Claudia Lemonsucker in almost every airport in the world? They must be rented out by the dozen. In my unhumble opinion, they should all be made to work, alone, down a treacle-mine, or as bookends in Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Pleased you discovered yourself under clean sheets in a complimentary hotel when the flight was cancelled, though. Luxuriosos.
Sorry to learn about poor Hannah’s rampant, smug rug, and hope no sprainage occurred (that’ll teach you not to keep assignations with drained-drenched people and places called “Lesley”: with or without the final “e”), as I’d hate to think of BOTH of you limping up the mountain. Very worried about Amy’s poor knee.
Llama jumpers are O.K., but please do not allow that obsession to blossom into a passion for the actual animals. Llamas are lovely, no doubt, but our livestock-tending days are over.
By the time you read this (assuming you actually peruse these comments from your family and friends), you will have completed the trial of the trail, no doubt, so, I trust, as I write this, that all is going well, and that you are happily successful in your efforts as you clamber into the unknown. Whatever happens, I am sure you will have plenty of giggles, guffaws, chuckles and chortles, as you puff ever-upwards; with a touch of hysteria thrown in, as the air becomes even thinner (keep taking those altitude tablets; but you can lay off the attitude tables, now, thanks very much). As you probably know, Freud reckoned that humour was an excuse to liberate the Id in order to combat the Super-Ego, and flout the Taboo. Personally, I find everything beginning with “W” funny, but to each his own.
Give my love to Groucho, but don’t let him sell you too much old tat. We’ve a conservatory, a bedroom and a barn chock-a-block with it, already, Amsie, as you know. (Thank goodness that the servants’ hall, housekeeper’s room, butler’s pantry and maids’ bedrooms remain remarkably clear.) The home-made wares may look good, but, when the locals touch you for a tenner, remember that these fascinating artefacts were probably knocked-out in the local Homebase.
I now wave you a fond farewell, blow extremely slurpy kisses, and quote dear old Groucho (or should that be “Grouchos”?): “Hello...I must be going...”
Glad to hear that you are having such a great time. I think that the trials and tribulations are part of everyday life wherever you are but probably much worse where you are. I seem to spend most of my time having rows with incompetent idiots these days.
ReplyDeleteIt is great to get these posts so I hope you will feel able to keep them going. Very frustrating to lose things after doing much work on them on the computer. Hope that the knee is holding out and that Hannah did not sprain anything. I suppose you are well up the Inca trail by now so if you can when wou have got through it let us know. The newsletters are a great hit also the photos.
Love Dad
XXXX
PS May be getting a new car now. We are in to deep negotiations but the best news is that the insurers have not accepted the fictional account of the accident put up by our Hatchingtan friends. Apparantly they are well know for making up stories and never but never admit that they are wrong. Luckily the insurance Co know this and do not believe them.
Traumas galore! Sounds rather stressful but I guess the hotel luxury makes up for it!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you missed the baby shower Aim. It was great fun and I love the little zebra for Dot! Curse that Swine Flu for the fact it had to be postponed so you couldn't come.
All is well here. I know you are back from your trek now so looking forward to seeing your report on that soon.
Lots of love
Louise xxxx
Hello!
ReplyDeleteWell I have in fact just returned from a wee adventure of my own in Australia. I do however use the term 'adventure' quite loosely as the last two weeks have consisted of eating, drinking and beaching.... not exactly the soul nourishing adventure you girls are on, but I can sympathise with all the traveling! I landed at Heathrow Airport this morning looking like the Goddess of Sleep Deprivation after 30 hours of traveling. And my body thinks it 2 am tomorrow morning... its WACK!
Anyways, I was sitting at my desk, attempting to sort through my 169 emails, when I was distracted by facebook and I stumbled upon a message from Hannah with a link to your blog.... my goodness, what a fantastic read!!! It has cheered me up no end! (I've forwarded it onto my mum, who often asks after you hannah!)
I cant believe how much you guys have crammed in already and it just sounds incredible! I'm so proud and delighted for you, and in all honesty a little jealous! I can't wait to see all the photos and I eagerly await the next blog installment!
SO much love and admiration... Lizzie Beeeee xxxxx