Changes in Cusco

We both awoke in the morning feeling far worse than we had for the previous two days.  We were clearly not acclimatizing quickly to the rarefied atmosphere in the mountains.  We had spent most of two days in bed, drinking fluids, taking oxygen and using analgesics.  We decided that we were wasting our precious time in this interesting place, so we decided to leave Cusco for the Sacred Valley, some 800 meters lower, in the hope that we might be able to cope better at a lower altitude.  It was unfortunate as we had not explored Quito, but we decided to cut our losses.
 

We made our way to the travel agency and they quickly understood and made new plans for us.  By 1:30 we were saying goodbye to Cusco and were on our way to Urubamba and to a moderately priced hotel where we planned to stay for the next three days.

 

The drive to the hotel was breathtaking, through a valley with towering mountain tops to either side, with Incan ruins in evidence everywhere.  We saw llamas in the mountains and traditionally dressed native people walking through, or working in, terraced fields. 

 

 

 

We checked into a nice little hotel and by supper time we were feeling much better.  We were still short of breath from time to time but all of the other symptoms (headache, nausea, dizziness, lethargy...etc...) have disappeared.  We took advantage of our return to health and went into the small town and had a spectacular meal.

We made plans to visit some local sites the following day.