The Trailess Inca

The river is swollen. It has grown to such excessive proportions that it has devistated villages and bridges, it has swamped every route in and out of the Machu Picchu area. Many houses are knocked for six. People left homeless, cropless and in the worst cases lifeless.

Anything I might say about not being able to do the Inca Trail seems pretty small in comparason. I was looking forward to it. It was a highlight of my S. America tour. But so what right? When we got to the river earlier today we waited for some time for the guides to decide what to do. They decided to prepare lunch for us all whilst we waited. I decided that was a good idea. It took some time to make and then a coo was decided. The plan was to get out of the area and back to Cusco before we possibly got trapped in the area as the river had looked dangerously close to the road earlier. We all got up and left the small tent they had erected to serve as our canteen.

Then they called that lunch was ready. Now tyhose of you that know me well, know about my stomach and its needs.

I decided that I really did not mind about the coo, I was just going with the group. My stomach quickly took over and I sat down. A traitor. But a full traitor, full of food and satisfaction that my $400 had at least bought me lunch.

Three of us ate out of the ten in the group. Funny how different people respond differently to bad news. I find that food helps me a lot. Helps me think. Helps me relax. It could have been all the coca leaves I bought earlier in the day, but we quible with semantics.

The curious thing is, is that I am not too bothered. Sure I have probably lost my $400 and 2 days of precious travelling time. But so what? I could let this ruin the holiday. I will not do that. Instead I will see the possiblities that could arrise out of this. Who knows what adventures will come my way in the 4 extra days I have now.

I have shunted my Ayavasca Retreat to this Wednesday (http://www.etnikas.com). In preparation (and for 7 days after the retreat) I am not allowed any drink, drugs, smoking, sex and spicy food. Its funny, I did not want any of these things too much until I was advised against having them (in order to fully cleanse the body on the retreat.) Now I really want them. I shall abstain however as I intend to do this retreat the way it is meant to be done. Oh funnily enough coca leaves do not count as drugs. They are a medicine. It is their naughty daughter cocaine that is the drug. So I am told.