Panic Attack

I rise late. Surprise, surprise and meet Sean &Monika at the Plaza. They're not in a mood to do anything and in my hungover state, nor am I. So we watch a film in one of the clubs. We pick, "Thank You for Smoking" at X-trem. We were the only ones there and sat on sofas in front of the projector. It was like having your own personal cinema - which I guess it was! The film is great by the way, and well worth watching. One can learn a lot from it.

Later we have dinner at Cafe Ritual. I'm waiting for an invitation to dancing from Rudeba but as the evening progresses I resign myself to the idea that I'm being ignored. She's had a change of heart. Ack, oh well. Later we meet Isabelle at her Charity restaurant, drink giant Pisco Sours and play Jenga. I lost once during a freak incident at the start of a game. Chris and I join Isabelle and her mates as they head out. First to Up Town for a quick drink and then to Mythology. I'm not in the mood for dancing or drinking - I think I'm coming down with a cold. Though when the beat turns more techno I do manage a little jiggle on the dance floor.

It's Chris' last night in Cusco and he's dying to see his stripper. So once again I'm persuaded to discard my morals and take him to Casanovas. Only it's closed so instead we head to the local clubs on Calle Belen, where I was last night. We pick the "American Disco" which definitely isn't! It's very similar to the place I was at last night, a small dingy basement club with an over sized sound system and strobes going like the clappers. The place is dead and largely empty - even if you count the various comatose individuals passed out on tables. We resign ourselves that being Sunday night, every where's going to be similar. Using his deft skills in Espanol Chris gets chatting to a waitress. Not possessing any skills in Espanol I drink beer. Until that is, I become part of the conversation.

"What's your name?" \

"Steve." \

"How old are you?" \

"27(!)" \

"Are you married?" \

"No." \

"Do you have a girlfriend?" \

"No" \

"Why not? What's wrong with you?" \

"Um..."

That last question sure stumped me for I didn't really know the answer myself. Several responses came to mind including comments about lying, deceitful, cheating, slutty ex-girlfriends but I plumbed for, "Because I'm stupid and ugly!" instead. Chris kindly translated that into, "Because he hasn't met the right woman yet."

Chris then motions to another waitress, "Do you like her?" "Yes!" I reply. She was slender, very attractive and I'd been watching her perform several amazing dances on the floor in between serving people. A few words were said between several people and in the next moment she's stood in front of me. "You can dance with her if you want." She was really pretty and obviously didn't speak any English. Any conversation was out of the question as my Spanish still sucks. To dance was the only option but I'd just seen her do amazing jives and ballroom dances, my funky chicken just didn't compare! And then a new song started playing, it was that crappy local Andean music. How can anyone dance to that? I stood there like a startled rabbit stuck in headlights. My heart pounded, I breathed heavily, I went light headed. I think they call it a panic attack. Then an irrational thought flashed through my mind, "It's all futile." I backed down, gave in and stammered, "Lo sento pero no gracias." (Sorry, but no thank you.) She walked away.

We soon left to visit the club I was at last night. It was also dead and Chris started to fall asleep on the table until an off duty Police officer advised us to leave for our own safety!? We called it a night, although I went to Mamma Africas for last orders at 04:30.

Posted by Steve Eynon