Days 61, 62, and 63: Mula Mula Mula! Farewell Margaux and Hello Cuzco!

Day 61: Saturday, December 1st

Stayed at Cozy Hostel in Arequipa, Peru

 

Dear Obiwan,

Hello lamb! Well the next two days were a whirlwind of emotions. Saturday began with me and France hobbling with our injuries onto our mules. Margaux’s and France’s friend had left about an hour before us. There were 4 mules, one for me, one for France, one mule for the mule guide, and one mule carrying a bunch of stuff. Initially the lone mule carrying only stuff was first, then France was second, I was third, and our guide was last. It was very intentional this order because France’s mule was the laziest or most stubborn, whatever you want to call it, he did not like hiking, he was fed up! He would just stop all the time and walk quite slow. While my guy was the young bull, he was fast and feisty! He constantly was trying to surpass France’s mule and this and only this was what motivated her mule to start moving.

OH OBI. Did I mention we were in Colca Canyon? So it is just walking up a cliff side and my mule CONSTANTLY trying to pass France’s mule ON THE OUTSIDE so I was covering my eyes with my hands half of the time hoping me and my mule weren’t falling off the canyon and plummeting to our deaths.
Lastly, sometimes my mule would give up too, he was just fed up of this miserable hike he had to do every day, I understand, man! So whenever either mule was not moving, our guide would whip them ( 😦 ) and/or yell “MULA MULA MULA MUL!” Or “MULA HULA MULA HULA MULA HULA!” After about 20 minutes of this France and I started to do it too, I really did not want my guy getting whipped and I wanted to feel like I was somehow participating, so there we were, kicking (well, due to my feet injuries kicking wasn’t really possible) and yelling “MULA MULA MULA HULA MULA HULA MULA” for another hour.
Here is a little video:
After an hour and a half, we were at the top! And Margaux who left 2 hours before me had just arrived! She looked so miserable. She said that I did the right thing in taking a mule, she said the hike up was AWFUL and that she was so hurt. BUT SHE DID IT. After re-uniting with Margaux we had to walk 20 minutes to town. The road was mostly flat and I was still in so much pain, my feet were just, gone.

After getting back to town we took the 915am bus back to Arequipa. It was about 6.5 hours and as usual I couldn’t sleep at all. Once we were back in Arequipa we ate at the same restaurant we went to a few days ago and then I finally slept my first goodnight sleep in days!

Day 62: Sunday, December 2nd
Stayed at Cozy Hostel in Arequipa, Peru
Obi today marks 2 months of my trip! I can’t believe it has been 2 months!
Well today was a slightly sad day, me and Margaux were parting. She was heading back to Lima and I was heading to Cuzco! We had a nice breakfast at our cozy ( 😉 ) hostel. I then met some nice guys from England who just returned from Cuzco, there names were Matt and Steve. They told me all about Jungle Trek (which is the Machu Picchu trek I was planning to do) and recommended the cheapest and best travel agency. They were only there for 10 minutes but were extremely helpful! Later today we bought some incredibly comfortable and beautiful alpaca sweaters and gloves!

Some first aid for my feet!

Oh, OBI, at lunch I held a lamb!!!:

Day 63: Monday, December 3rd

Left Arequipa to go to Cuzco!
Stayed at Ecopackers in Cuzco – night 1
Well the day has come to say goodbye to Margaux. We had flights around the same time, but…Obi get ready for ANOTHER issue. Somehow I bought my ticket for NEXT MONDAY. I don’t understand what happened. I might have been delirious when I bought the ticket? Well it was fine, I could buy a ticket for a plane that just left a few hours later than the one I thought I had. Sadly the ticket was more expensive than the one I found, but it’s fine, at least I didn’t need to wait another day or something. I also started to get rapidly ill as I was waiting for 4 hours for my next plane. I don’t know if it was the sketchy breakfast food or what but my body and stomach were deteriorating.
Anywho, finally we had to say our goodbyes. I am so grateful for meeting Margaux and my time with her. We got along so well and her Spanish speaking skills were so helpful. I can’t imagine my passport fiasco without her and hope our paths cross one day again soon!
My flight was a connecting flight to Lima then to Cuzco. I somehow left my REI raincoat on the first plane, I think I have just become delirious and out of it and need rest. Colca Canyon just killed me. Don’t worry Obi! Your mamma is fine. I told security and 10 minutes later someone was running over to me with my coat!
My last flight felt like a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode but unlike Larry David I just said NOTHING. I had the middle seat (which I never ever choose, but welcome to cheap flights :/). I was in between two men who BOTH WERE BLASTING THEIR cellphones without headphones. I’m sorry, but is it just me Obi? Or does everyone in the universe think it is NOT OKAY TO BLAST PHONES ON A PLANE. Have you heard of headphones? It’s an airplane, if you TALK too loudly it is disturbing to others. But there I was, feeling sicker and sicker by the second, wanting to sleep more than anything, with someone watching The Soporano’s in Espanol (which was actually quite interesting to watch) on my left and the guy on my right blasting YouTube videos.
Finally, hours later, I was in Cuzco, Peru! My stomach was killing, my feet were bleeding, my ankles, calves and thighs were imploding, but I was finally in a hostel. I met the 2 people in my new dorm room, Peter and Natasha and quickly took a menagerie of meds and finally slept!

Here is a meme my Dad sent to our family chat it cheered me up!:

Goodnight my Jedi,
Love tu Madre,
Carly

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