Sudamérica - First Impressions

After a grueling 26-hour journey, Brianna, Tom, and I finally arrived in Cusco, Peru this morning. Our 1980s era British Aerospace jetliner sliced through the clouds and negotiated a steep, lush valley before landing smoothly on the tarmac at 11,000 feet. Shortly after stepping out of the airplane, we began to feel a bit light-headed and woozy, causing us all to move a little bit slower and talk a few decibels lower.

As we drove into the city, I was reminded of many similar mountainous villages in Asia and Europe, but what struck me most keenly was the tempo here. Perhaps my altitude sickness was contributing, but it seemed that everyone -- not just us gringos -- was walking, gesturing, and eating with the speed as if a highway patrolman was watching. Talking to the muy amable local people, whether the receptionist or waiter, only confirmed these feelings.

While this pace of life is a shock to me, I am sure I will adjust to it just as my body gets used to the altitude. I only hope that we will keep our eyes open and bring the perspective we gain here back to sea level.

3 Cups of mate de coca (coca tea)-made from the leaves of the coca plant, which is used to make cocaine in large quantities but is a local cure for altitude sickness in these amounts