When I book my flights in South America, I am doing it using the multi-city option in the TAM Brazil website. I don’t know the reason why I cannot choose the flights that I want and the system picks the fight for me. So I don’t have any choice but to fly with the first scheduled flight to Cuzco. My Cusco arrival is early in the morning.
A week before coming to Cuzco, I am always monitoring the weather in my iPhone. I already have an idea on how cold it is in Cuzco, its winter. I am not that prepared for this weather, I only have a jacket and a windbreaker.
We arrive Cuzco at 6 o’clock in the morning. When I walk out of the plane, it is literally colder outside than in the inside of the airplane. The baggage claim as well has a huge open door and I starting to feel how cold the place is.
Upon getting my bags, I immediately look for my airport pick-up for me to immediately get inside the car. The very good thing, they are just outside the baggage claim waiting. When seeing them, I introduce myself and off we walk towards the shuttle. I am the only guest that time so my welcome service drives me to my hotel immediately.
It is raining in Cuzco, and my guide tells me that it’s strange to have rain on those days. During winter season, it’s also dry season. He further explain to me more about Cuzco and its altitude. He frequently asks me what I feel that time. I honestly answers him I am excited. What he means is if I don’t have any altitude sickness because most of the tourists when coming to Cuzco really feels the altitude sickness.
Honestly, that time, I don’t feel any. When we arrive at my hotel, he helps me in the check-in process and makes me a cup of coca tea for me. As per my advance reading, one way to get relief from altitude sickness in Cuzco is to drink coca tea, chew coca leaves or eat some coca candy and drink lots of water. I am a tea drinker so it is not a problem for me. I drink the tea that my guide prepares for me and it is delicious and refreshing. He completes the introduction and briefing on my tours. He also asks me if I want to avail on the dinner with a Peruvian show and it excites me upon knowing that so I ask him to book me a reservation.
My tour will start in the afternoon so I go to my room and decides to rest and sleep. I only have two hours of sleep because of my early flight.
I doze off and when I wake up, I feel dizzy. To describe, I feel weak and no energy at all. I feel like I just want to lie down and sleep all day. I am thinking maybe because I don’t have any breakfast and I lack enough sleep, the reason of my dizziness. So immediately, I got up and decides to look for food.
Even with that dizzy feeling, I walk to the nearby souvenir shop to scout for souvenirs and food. When I arrive there, I saw the food court and checks for food and water. They have alpaca dishes so I decided to taste the alpaca burger. It is delicious yet my dizziness is still there. I also buy energy drink in case it will help. Then I go on shopping.
I enjoy shopping; they give me a good bargain. I literally finish my money in my pocket. I bought my scarf, gloves and bonnet for protection from the cold weather. It’s a good schedule that I have ample time to shop for some souvenirs. And guess what, my dizziness is gone!
I go back to my hotel and start arranging my things. I will be bringing one backpack for my Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu adventure in the next three days. As I have arranged my things, I also prepare for my afternoon City Tour and Sacsayhuaman. I am excited!
Been here: August 12, 2015
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