a bus in the Andes

Thursday 7th November 1985

erratic sleep, stiff neck and headache. Still only half way to Cusco. It has been raining all night and the unsurfaced road is treacherous. The mud has formed a brown emulsion over the whole bus so we can no longer see out of the windows. Stop for lunch and a pee in a beautiful windswept valley. Grubby locals buried under great loads of fodder move about the fields. Expansive multilayered knee length colourful skirts, no knickers so one can have a wee without exposing ones bottom, embroidered blankets and bowler hats.

Arrive in Cusco mid afternoon, warm and sunny. Inca masonry visible getting off the bus. Hotel Suiza dorm 18,000 hot water and lovely glazed central patio. Bliss.