Altitude

One day to look round Cusco. Museums, churches, squares with monuments. It is starting to feel a bit familiar. But then all built by the Spanish so not surprising.

But there were some interesting finds. An enterprising brit has set up a real ale bar. Three times the cost of the local beer though.

And I got an Idea for player of the match for the girls, might need a bit of working up...

A pile of disgusting pickled raw fish later (not at all like Rick's) and it was back to the hotel. I went to spread out the pillows and realised that you could fit four across the bed! I had to check underneath to check that it wasn't two beds pushed together. This is the biggest bed I have ever slept in. Dosed off but it was a bit like Chicago in the night, that will be the pickled fish. It as really noisy outside, then I realised it was Halloween, durr.

The taxi came next morning and I set off to the airport bright and early. After checking in for my flight I sat on a bench and ate breakfast. The brown paper bag the hotel had provided contained a sandwich, some biscuits, and a drink, all of which was very welcome. Unfortunately it contained a banana which I don't like. Rather than waste it I spotted a girl cleaning the floor and banana in hand I beckoned her over. She gave me quite a strange Peruvian look and scurried off. There is just no pleasing some people, so I gave it to a security guard instead who was very grateful.

I went up to the departure lounge and there was the German guy that I had sat next to on the train. He had trecked up rainbow mountain and had some beautiful photos showing the bands of colour across the hills. But he said he had found the altitude really difficut and had suffered sickness. I took heed.

A short flight later and we landed in La Paz El Alto, the highest airport in the world to start the Bolivian stage of my adventure.