Viva El Cusco!

Tonight I leave Cusco, bound to Arequipa on an overnight bus. This is probably a good thing, for while I've been killing time waiting for the Cotauhasi Rafting expedition to commence, you've probably noticed I've had one or two late nights more than I should have!

It's a sad day for I've had a great time in Cusco and got to know some good people well. I head over to Mandela's Lounge for the last time and say goodbye.

I pick up my things from the Hospedaje and turn to leave. Carlos the owner looks sad. He hands me a large beer. I check the time - I have just enough! We chink bottles, cheer and drink. I finish it. Carlos breaks out another beer. Well, if I drink it fast enough, why not!? Cheers! But then he gives me a 3rd! I tell him he's crazy and that I have a bus to catch. He insists on the beer. he knows the buses and their schedule and claims I have plenty of time. Damn him!

Finishing the 3rd beer I insist on leaving, Carlos reluctantly agrees but says he'll walk me to the taxi, helping me with my bags. Half way there he man handles me into a shop, breaks into the fridge, opens up a bottle of beer and hands it over! I tap my watch, "Time, Carlos, time!"

"No problem! We walk, we drink!" And with that buys several more rounds of beer! All I can do is sigh and roll my eyes - I really want to catch this bus! But I'm also a bit touched by it all. I mean, I'm supposed to be his tenant but I've obviously ventured into friend territory. I also feel a little guilty for we're drinking all the profit I've made him!

Anyhow I joke about how I really hope the bus has a toilet on board, for if not, with all the beer I've just downed, I'm really in trouble! Carlos laughs - I'm actually deadly serious! True to his word Carlos gets me a taxi and I arrive at the bus terminal in plenty of time before it departs and I make good use of the station toilets before we leave!

Posted by Steve Eynon