Day two

Liz, our leader required us to be out of bed, packed, filled with breakfast and ready for the bus by 6.30am. Up at 5.30am then. We all complied and even at this time in the morning and suffering from jet lag we were jokey and ready for action. Then it was announced the flight was delayed. No worry. We’d take advantage of the relaxing gardens in the hotel described in the itinerary. No such facility.

On the bus and back to the airport for the internal flight to Cusco. Then the Peter Evans moment going through security. Four rejections for him, first with his boots being the offenders, then his watch, coins and mobile having to be removed separately. Humiliation and, of course, a smiling face! While waiting for the plane Jenny, one of the Aberdeen social workers on the trip, noticed my Droitwich Veterans FC polo shirt. Picking up on the veterans bit she asked if I’d been in the war. Priceless.

The flight was uneventful other than sitting next to Disco Dave who offered reassurance by reading 'Hostage'. Searching for the bus at the other end we were kindly accosted by people selling hats and coca leaves. We had the delights of another tour guide giving us the history of Cusco. All the guides have anglicised names such as Edwin, Henry, and Jimmy. Probably to make us feel at home. We disembarked at Amaru Hostal 2 and given Coca tea to help to acclimatise to the 11,000 feet altitude.

The Evans boys and I have been allocated room 101. The locals didn’t understand the hysterical laughter as we searched for our Orwellian encounter. The Hostal is very pretty with a garden in the middle and I was given a copy of the North Shields Directory with an article about Dicso Dave going to Peru. Phrases such as “Indiana Dave” “intrepid”, and “Phileas Fogg” littered an altogether fictitious piece and Disco got it in the neck. He loved it.

Briefing on the Inca Trail that produced a batch of excited but worried looks got us attuned to what is to come. Following that we were off to a guided city tour and then visited to some Inca sites outside the city. This is designed to get us used to the altitude. This is the big issue with most of us feeling light headed and some having headaches.

The Inca sites tours were incredible but marred by four of the party suffering severely from altitude sickness already. This will take time to adjust but we’re all keeping our spirits up and with some raw humour. Back to a restaurant for food and then most of us in bed by 9.00pm for a 6.00am rise the following morning.

The quality of the fluffy towels is not of the usual standard and I’ve put in a formal complaint to Liz.

David A (Fluffy Towels)