The next morning, we are are going to have our river raft float. Now, doesn't that sound nice? So we bus to the place where the rafts will be inflated and put into the river for our little ride. Gee, look at this.. jackets, life vests, helmets... you would think we were going white water rafting! Oh dear.. here come all the safety instructions.. we ARE going white water rafting!
Here the Urubamba river has rapids up to Class Three. These would be in the same category as those we did in Costa Rica.. so this will be a piece of cake. We take off down the river having a wonderful time bobbing around, but before long we hit a wild Class Three place where the water dives between two huge boulders... but we don't really have time to think about how much fun we are going to have.
As we plunge through the rapid, the raft flips way up on one corner and tosses Cuz into the raging river! Damn! Where did she go? Our tour guide made a grab as she went over and he also was tossed, head first, into the water... I don't know what happened to him.. I was too concerned about Cuz! Finally, she popped up and struggled to the raft and grabbed the attached safety line... I am sure we have never exchanged such surprised looks in all our lives!
Our boatman safely hauled her back into the raft.. and we saw that our tour guide had floated away and was picked up by another raft. Good ole Cuz got back into her spot and started paddling again... and we made a mid-river transfer and brought our guide back to his paddle spot on our raft. The water soon became calm, and we just drifted along watching the passing scene... and the remainder of Cuz's raft ride was quite uneventful.
After we put to shore, we found that our staff was preparing a lovely picnic lunch on the riverbank. We gals headed for the bus... closed the curtains... and changed into dry clothes. I don't know what the guys did about their wet clothes. I don't think I need to know. I wish I had a picture of Cuz flying into the river to show you.. you would really have to see this to believe it. Cuz said she was just glad that she didn't scream like a wimpess... but we were all too stunned to make a sound, I think, and Cuz was way too busy chug-a-lugging brown river water to find time to scream.
Then to Ollantaytambo where there were more terraces.. and ruins of a fortress... and another sun temple. And low and behold a zillion more steps to climb. Well.. today is better than yesterday as far as the oxygen problem goes.. but that really isn't saying much. I straggle along far behind the group.
When we returned from the heights to the town of Ollantaytambo.. we walked to see a local house. We thought the vendors in Egypt were aggressive.. but here in Peru they are even worse, I think. Here they stand right in front of you to prevent you from walking. I suppose the theory being that you will buy something to get rid of them and be on your way again.
While we were walking along, though, I must tell you that there is a vendor name Marilyn who has some really great silver jewelry made by her old father... yeah.. right! I managed a heated bargaining session and made a lovely purchase while chasing along after our group, managing the uneven cobblestones, examining all the stuff on Marilyn's tray, and climbing over about a dozen children who were determined to make me stop and by woven water bottle holders! You have to be fast and agile... and a dedicated shopper.. to make it in Peru!
The local home.. which was a thatched roofed, one room hut, with stone walls and a dirt floor. Inside several men were celebrating one of their "birthdays" (or so we were told) and one had celebrated himself into a stupor and right into the only bed in the house! It was very dark inside and we could barely make out the skulls and "things" in the niches of the house. Maybe they were ancestors (let us say "parts" of ancestors) who were protecting the home. I really don't know for sure.
Runing around on the floor were a bunch (a herd? A flock?) of guinea pigs... meat on the hoof... or on the "paw" to be more exact. They were so cute and tasty looking. Lots with prettier colored coats than I have even seen in a pet store. Just about every kitchen in Peru has a bunch of guinea pigs in the kitchen, I understand. They are enjoyed on special occasions or feast days.
We all tried a sip of the birthday drink the men were having... Chicha, which is made from corn. and we all managed to leave the house without sleeping it off first.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a potter's workshop. I thought the tour was very interesting, as was the shop, although I didn't buy anything. I guess Cuz didn't share my interest, as I never saw here again after the first couple minutes of the lecture on pottery techniques of the Incas. I don't know where she disappeared to.. she must have Attention Deficit Disorder.
After we returned to the hotel we took all our wet river clothes and hung them around in the trees.. then took a walk through the gardens before dinner. What a day!
