We just finished a candlelight dinner in Curahuasi. You are probably
thinking "Oh how romantic" but it was candlelight because the power
went out. While eating by candlelight we learned that this region is
known for its anis tea. They grow anis everywhere and right outside
our hostel smells of black licorice. This city is nestled in the Ande
mountains at about 2,200 meters surrounded by walls of forest and
rock. The city sounds are missing, replaced by chickens, the
occasional pig and kids playing soccer in the streets (or attacking us
with water guns, we will get them back) A helicopter flys overhead and
the city stops to whitness its, chop chop chop chop interrupting the
flow of the city, kids yelling Ciao (bye) as it passes.
Oh...some people might be asking "Why are you in Curahuasi, I do not
remember this city in your travel plans?" Well funny you should ask.
This story starts at a Civa bus station in Lima at 2pm on January 24.
(HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARGARET!)
The cost for this adventure was 100 soles. We leave Lima at 5pm folling the panamerican highway along the ocean then turn off and wind our way through the Andes. All is going well and they pass out dinner and darkness surrounds us as we twist and turn around the mountain roads. We hear several plastic bags rustling. Now you might be thinking "What does rustling plastic bags mean?" Well the sound of plasic bags is the music of 10 or so people vomiting. This occurs only 5 hours into what will become a 20 hour bus ride. Darkness continues and Sara needs to use the restroom. Turns out it was overflowing and as the bus made sharp mountain turns the fluid of the toilet tempted to spill over. Sara fled. Luckily we stopped in the middle of nowhere and were able to use the facilities of the great outdoors.
Lots of boring darkness continues (though both Sara and I are feeling sick). We come to a traffic jam in no mans land because a river has overflown and blocks the road. We cross it safely but later find a bus that has rolled off the road. A Civa bus we later learn with 4 dead in the wreck. We then pull into this small town, Curahuasi, and learn that Cusco is in a state of emergency with flooding, mudslides and little to no drinking water. We must spend the night on the bus which we did.
Our bus then chose to Continue to Cusco and we chose to stay in Curahuasi. Cusco is in a terrible state and Oropesa is cut off from travel due to mudslides. We have altered our plans and are working our way to Arequipa.
I am now very thankful for the bus strike, because if not for the bus strike we would have been in Cusco for the flood.
Matthew
Picture to be posted in the future.
Glad you guys are safe and sound!
ReplyDeleteOK, some details I do not need to know. But glad you are safe and off that stinkey bus. Can't wait to see pictures!
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Mom
P.S. And again, I will say, God works in mysterious ways...there was a reason for the bus strike!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are safe, but sorry that you had to go through that experience. God definitely had His arms around you on that bus (although it might not have felt like it at the time)! I'll pray for continued safety...have fun!
ReplyDeleteDiane
Mary Lou thinks you are Wild Things enjoying Where the Wild Things Are. I trust all will soon follow a plan or a plot and we'll rejoice in a few months knowing all's well that ends well!
ReplyDeleteBe cautious, explore, and enjoy. Prepare! Time Magazine, National Geographic, and Matt Lauer will be finding you any day now.
Americans dos,
ReplyDeleteWhoa, what a culture shock! So glad you two are easing your way into this adventure! It sounds like the mud slides and flooding were really scary. From my perspective here and listening to the news, it's horrible! Keep skidding your way around those dangerous situations. Machu Picchu will be there for you at a later time. It does look incredible. And Matthew, I love your art. I hope this trip inspires you on in ways that only first hand experience can! The colors, the history, the people of South America . . . amazing. Love, Aunt Desty
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! i had a similar experience on my birthday when i was in bolivia a couple years ago. we had to push a bus through a small river because it got stuck from the flooding. I will one day tell you the rest. anyways, i miss you both and i wish that i was a fly on the wall to witness everything that you are. i am sooooooooooo jealous! can't wait to read more! anyway, have a blast in machu picchu (watch your footing on the stairs, they are kinda steep). It is one of the wonders of the world and also one of my favorite places that i have seen in my life. if you can, go on a hike to one of the gates (i've only been on the easier one, my prof. did not let us go on the big hike up to the viewpoint because we would have had to sign a form that says that if we fall and die, it is not peru's fault, :-) just an fyi). anyways, the viewpoint, gives you an awesome view of the ruins and the whole experience is amazing. have fun! (ps: you might have to use bug spray up there, the mosquitos can be nasty)
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