We arrived in Cuzco about a week ago, expecting a contrast
from the Iquitos area. And wow, the areas are so different that it's stunning. The
amount of cultural and geographic diversity in a country as small as Peru is
simply amazing.
When you arrive in Cuzco, the first thing that hits you is
the altitude. The city is at around 12,000 feet, and at first the simple act of
walking around takes your breath away. It's completely bizarre to walk up a
very slight incline and find yourself panting like you've just sprinted that
distance instead. The locals have traditionally drunk mate de coca (tea made
from coca leaves) or chewed the coca leaves to alleviate altitude sickness, and
this remedy is definitely encouraged for visitors. It's a bit like caffeine in
its effect when you drink the tea, though chewing the leaves will leave the
side of your mouth feeling a little numb. Whether it actually helps with the
altitude or not, I can't say. I drank a lot of it and Doug didn't, and I'm not
sure if our experience was any different!
