Bigote

I enter week three of my training in the same way I entered the first day-with a slew of unknowns. I just finished doing a set of pushups in my room cell block C style. No cushy gyms, hot tubs etc. here. Just the floor and my fastly shrinking body...well related to muscle shrinking...I am pretty sure I have consumed enough rice and beans to secure the next pant size will soon be in my grasp. I can eat a heaping mountainous plate of the stuff and be hungry one hour later....rinse and repeat style......so I just eat. Perhaps it is because I am home sick and perhaps it is because it is a comfort.....if they had bon bons here I would be chowing down omega moo style I am sure.
Last weekend we ventured to Marasca (spelling-forgive me to all the genuine Peruvians that may glance at this-none-I in fact could not spell or tell you the place if a large weapon was placed to my dome at the moment.). However I can tell you it was quite an experience-travel 30 minutes on the paved highway and double left and proceed on for another three hours up a very unpaved and steep road. You quickly realize that this is not in fact a scene out of a movie or the backdrop to a travel channel episode but life here in Peru. The further you go the more real it gets-no guard rails, no room for forgiveness...just a cloud of dust...the occasional donkey, pack of cows, or home scattered amongst the hillside. After two hours or so you enter into the first city in miles which entails 6 or so stands selling fruit and warm beverages to the passer byes....30 centimos for the rest room....50 centimos with papel. Leaving ascending slowly the air begins to thin and the altitude medication is popped. Pulling into base camp you quickly realize that walking up the town street to get a better view of the mountains leaves you gasping for air.
After a short walk around town we were assigned our horses and mounted up for a two hour ride up the remainder of the mountain. The paths like the roads are unpaved, narrow, and not without constant stress--although worse because you are in fact on a horse that is wheezing and sitting upon a saddle three times too small for your body. I cannot say that riding that horse was anywhere as enjoyable as I thought it was. However I was amazed at the power and stamina....185 pounds on your back in 13000 feet air and going directly vertical at times.....what amazing-disgusting animals. I felt bad for my horse on occasion but was more concerned with my manhood getting trounced about.
We arrive at dusk and begin the traditional campfire with the untraditional banter.....you think there would be some feel good beatniks floating about the fire speaking about the meaning of life-on the contrary it is a group of mostly 22-25 year olds discussing the most absurd and offensive topics you could imagine...and for a while I join right in.
The night was an eternal one with temperatures dropping well below what I was prepared for....laying in my paper thin roll I wonder how hard I have to click my heels to wake up in my own bed with my own surroundings. Not more than 30 minutes of sleep and I arise a pale faced zombie.....it is different than the usual me.....I am always pale minus the zombie portion. Climb fifteen minutes to the look out and see what the trip was all for. The mountain looking down at the clouds and those clouds appearing like a vast ocean before. Walk the other hill and see the Inca ruins from over 500 years ago--sitting out in the open...now fences around them...no ropes blocking them off......this is no national museum it is Peru.