I take it back...

[Cali vet]

...there are pretty girls in Peru but they´ve all emigrated to sunny Arequipa. Plan for an optional extra day or two in Aguas Calientes if you want to see Machu Pichu. We got skunked by the weather, rain and clouds all day so didn´t get a good overall sense of the place and had to take the train back to Cuzco in the afternoon. Ah Cusco...my wife´s food poisoning was so bad I had to call a doctor to the hotel. He gave her a shot that helped with the stomach pains but she then suffered a high fever all night long. The hotel staff told me someone two weeks before had spent five days in thier room with fever and diarrea. Needless to say she got well before we went to Aguas Calientes but amazingly as we waited in the airport in Cuzco for a flight to Arequipa two university students came around to all the travelers with an interview form asking for details of any gastro-intestinal problems you had while in the city. Aparently it´s such a problem it´s become the subject of a university study. Arequipa the second largest city is beautifull as Surfscum said and it´s safe to bring a calena here as it´s good and hot in the daytime. There´s tourism aplenty but its less invasive than in Cuzco. We can´t fit Iquitos and the jungle in on this trip but I hope to come back for just that.

[Red Clay]

... in response to I take it back..., posted by Cali vet on Aug 29, 2003

Glad you got to see some nice "scenery", and hope you continue to enjoy your trip. Sorry to hear about the food poisoning. I'm so careful about what I eat my wife and inlaws make fun of me. Never been sick there using my method, however.

[Landover]

... in response to Re: I take it back..., posted by Red Clay on Aug 29, 2003

please tell us your method.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: Re: I take it back..., posted by Landover on Aug 30, 2003

Crackers and bottled soft drinks or water. Not very adventurous, I know. Actually I'll eat a few locally-prepared dishes if they are hot. Basically just follow the usual travel advice when eating in countries where the local tap water is suspect. I always sacrifice eating "enjoyment" for safety.