The best laid plans of mice...and me....
Trip Start
Aug 15, 2006
1
6
155
Trip End
May 27, 2008
Lake Churrup,
Peru
Monday, August 21, 2006
He gave me an english speaking girl (Milla) whoc was really nice and I could practice my Spanish with her. She was studying at the university here to be a tour guide. We got on a local minibus although it wouldnīt leave until it was full so we had quite a wait. It got packed full of univerity students, all studying to be a tour guide. One of the guys put his hand on his heart and apparently said I was very pretty which was flatterring but probably because I donīt look like local girls! The minibus went up a dodgy narrow rocky road that clinged to the edge of a drop (Michael, pretty much like the road up to paragliding but not in a nice jeep!) and took us to Pitec, approx 3800m where I saw an amusing sign for the trek up to the lake
Lake Churrup and mt Churrup 1
. Then we hiked up a rocky path with a tough scramble up steep rocks up to the lake at 4400m, where you could see mount Churrup which I think is 5000m or so. I felt so slow but we only took 1.5 hours up there instead of the usual 2.5 hours so that was nice to know especially as I didnīt get any headaches with the altitude althogh I guess we werenīt there for long. Weather wasnīt great so pictures not good - in sunlight the lake has many colours and is beautiful I am told. I was suprised to see poeple on mobile phones up there as Huaraz is miles from any other big town and in the North York moors I couldnīt get a signal when my bike broke down! Back in Putec we got a taxi back with some Israeli guys - now I know why all the cars are old - thye donīt have 4 x 4s and the road was shocking - huge potholes, lots of rocks. The petrol gague was well below empty which I hoped was broken as we had a long way to go! I had a good chat with my guide Milla, sheīs never even been to Cusco in Peru, let alone another country. She wants me to download some english music from my MP3 for her.Back in Huaraz I went to the California Cafe and had a brownie and cup of tea. 2 hours later in the hostel I felt quite sick then had projectile vomit - all over my clothes and made quite a mess as I hadnīt quite made the toilet bowl! All I could taste was the brownie and I remembered theyīd been sat on the counter and when I was eating it I noticed flies in the cafe
Lake Churrup and mt Churrup 2
. It had been recommended by other backpackers to me and looked quite nice so I was unlucky. I then got diarhhoea and one of the staff offered to call a doctor. I didnīt think Iīd need one but my roommate pointed out that it was Sunday tomorrow and Iīd have to wait till Monday if I got worse. My roommates were off out for the night so theyt offered to go and tell the tour comapny that I wouldīt be rock climbing tomorrow. So, the dr came out and spoke no english so I had fun learning more Spanish to explain my problem. He said I have a intestinal infection from the food and gave me an injetion in my butt which really hurt and some tablets for the diarrohea. I managed to understand his intstructiosn regarding the medication I needed and the hostel staff went and got it for me - some lovely strawberry high kcal electrolyte drink and the tablets. The injection made my backside ache and I lookked really stupid hobbling around as I couldnīt walk! Went to bed but still throwing up so sat up with the staff and they jmade me coca tea which was gross (I had said I didnīt want any as obviously itīs made from coca leaves!) but I have heard itīs tradional for stomach upsets here. Only managed a couple of mouthfuls! As crap as I felt I kept reminding myself that I chose to come and it was bound to happen sooner or later! 
Comments
Mental note for future reference...
...must not read Amanda's travel note while eating my breakfast!
Sorry to hear that you are poorly! Hope it passes soon!
Ciao
Leanne