I did mention in a previous blog our Peruvian Holiday and talked about the Nasca LInes. Well today I will mention the Andes and altitude! Our trip was well designed so we could gradually acclimatise to the altitude. I remember arriving in the city of Arequipa at over 9,000 feet and finding myself breathless as I walked up the stairs to our hotel room. People chew coca leaves in the Andes to help with altitude sickness of course coca is what cocaine is made from. It was openly on sale in of all places including the cathedral! I did manage to buy a few leaves as we were due to go much higher.

Our next elevated stop was Lake Titicaca at 12,500 feet where I encountered a really stonking headache that was altitude related. I was given a cup of steaming herb infused liquid. Miraculously my head cleared quickly, to this day I’m not sure what was in that mug! There is are a couple of pictures from Lake Titicaca below and one of me with the mountains behind. Later I will write about the Inca Trail where I confess I chewed one or two leaves!