Thursday 9th April.

We fare not much better in the morning. Malcolm tries to rest and I go and inform our family we are I'll and cannot have breakfast. They give me some munya tea. Which is a sort of fresh mint tea. They tell me to go back to our room. I feel very bad as we are supposed to have special food. But we feel just too ill. After awhile I go out even though I feel awful and follow the family as they move and stake their sheep in the hillside for the day. Their rock pen is like a sty and I'm sure they are glad to be out. The little girl takes my hand and wants to show me how to do everything. They pick things up so quick. Once back it's milking time. They start the cow off with the calf and then take him away. He is only 2 months and already strong. The lady gets about 4L of milk. When the cow slows she puts the calf back in and then continues. After finishing the calf is allowed the rest. They make cheese, use in cooking and for the little girl. I wonder about the hygiene. The lady gets me peeling potatoes with a knife. They are small, but I'm very slow. About 1 to her 3. She leaves me to it and Malcolm ventures out and helps me then goes back to bed. It's about 10am and I tell then we won't be able to have lunch. I hate to disappoint. I stay sitting out in the sun. An older man comes and it appears he is maybe grandfather? He seems to be after water from the tap which runs very slowly and nothing at first. He gives a few sweets to the little girl. The man is a tour boat driver some of the time. He washes some clothes by hand. The little girl has a small white baby doll and she spends ages wrapping and re wrapping. I feel bad I didn't know what age she was going to be. Marbles are probably out for a while! I wish she had a doll that looked like her and not a white blonde baby.
I slip back into bed for a short nap. They bring us some more mint tea and we gave some and then put the rest in our empty bottles to take. Between 11.30-12 our hostess leads us back down to the water where we await the rest of the group. On the way she shows us quinoa plants. We also see lots of little frogs. We have a big goodbye and a small sharing time. Then we are off back to Puno. I try and sleep. When we get back we have a bus to the hotel. We are to meet at 7 for briefing and dinner. I rest for an hour and we go for a walk to a giant inca statue on a hill. We feel pretty awful. We stop at the supermarket on the way back and get bread, chips, bananas and rehydration fluid. The lines are so slow and we want to be back at the hotel. At the hotel Malcolm showers and I write the blog. He says the water isn't very hot so I put off having a shower. After briefing we go out for dinner. Malcolm decides not to go in the end. As it turns out lots had already eaten and some go to a cheaper place so there is only about 9 of us. Dinner is very expensive, considering and my portion is small. The show is very good. Talented local dancers to traditional dances and music. It sounds way to loud to me in my unwell state and I'm
Pleased to return back to the hotel. I can't get any hot water so I just have to go to bed. Early start in the morning. Pretty much our last day with the main group! Feeling a bit sad.