Day three

Many of us didn’t sleep well but we gained consolation from the fact that this was our late start of the trek at 6.30 am up for a 7.30am bus start. The altitude sufferers seemed to have recovered and were buoyant tucking into sugar puffs. Today we were taken to a farming community outside Cusco for the day to join and sample rural life in Peru. This was further time spent becoming acclimatised to the altitude with the community living in the mountains more than 400 metres higher than Cusco. The community is in a province called Chincero.

The bus ascended the mountains and we saw some stunning views. The landscape is very green and lush even though we’re very high up and it should be snow and ice. This is partly because we’re close to the equator. We arrived at the village and many women in traditional Peruvian costume were there to greet us with garlands of flowers.

After shaking hands and dancing to the village centre accompanied by music from drums and a flute. Speeches were made and we were taken to a field, again to music and dancing, where we were invited to offer coca leaves to the mountains as a gift before digging up huge amounts of potatoes, the main crop produced in these parts. We all got stuck in and were given coca leaves to chew as a way of keeping the altitude sickness at bay. After hard work we were given some faba beans.

Back to the village and we witnessed the meal being “cooked”. The cooks heated a pile of stones, and threw some potatoes and lamb in the stones and placed some plants and earth on top to let in cook for an hour.

We were taken to discover how they dye the wools to make garments, the removal of wool from the sheep, and the making of clothing. Then the meal came to us. A wonderful feast followed and we then gave gifts to the children and women in the village for their hospitality. After that we were told that a disco would occur. Disco Dave thought his moment had come and stepped forward to take the floor but noticed that other things were unfolding. The women from the village crossed the floor and chose dance partners from our group. Disco Dave stood waiting to be selected, but was bypassed and head down moved gracefully to the back to watch the dancing. Peter Evans was approached to dance with calls of “Papa” from a woman who was clearly older than him. Disco had a partner for the second dance. After this we said our goodbyes and returned to Cusco. The bus was quiet with people exhausted, and some different group members suffering a bit from the altitude. Back to the hotel and a meal and early to bed at 9.30pm because we have to be ready for the bus at 5.30am.

David A (Fluffy Towels with editing from other quarters)