Day 16: Cusco

At the end of our big night out in Cusco, Shan and Holly promised to wake me for breakfast. When the distant giggling calls came a few short hours later, in a groggy haze I answered the door, eyes barely open, hair a fine mesh of bed fuzz and a face that caused the two girls to burst out laughing. Nice way to start the day.
The plan for the day: do as little as possible. After the elation and celebration of Machu Picchu, we were all a bit delicate. After a morning spent faffing around the hotel lobby after breakfast (some opting to go back to bed) we agreed to head out a little after midday.

We shuffled out into the heat of the day, the activity of the citizens continuing with their seemingly endless celebrations in the town only serving to magnify our fragile state. Indecisive and sleepy we bumbled our way to the market for breakfast number two. Knowing I would just be watching as they gorged on all kinds of delicious bready goodness, I took a detour and picked up "pollo al brazo" - rotisserie chicken and chips. For a generous portion (1/8th of a chicken) and hapes of chips, I spent the ridiculous sum of S8, the equivalent of €2.16. Madness.

Rejoining the girls at the popular juice stands in the market, I got a carrot and aloe vera juice to wash down my lunch (trying to be kind to my sensitive tummy). Moving on to the breakfast stands, we sat around our food where, for a combination of reasons, emotions started to flow. The ridiculous mixture of egg sandwiches and teary eyes led to laughter - didn't know whether we were coming or going! (I guess you had to be there, but it was a funny moment...)

The group subdivided once more as some went wandering and others went searching for a massage. On the street, we were approached by two young women offering massages for S20. Sure, where would you be going?!

Shan, Holly and I followed the women through an alley between the shops, into a fairly ramshackle market place in a central courtyard. One eyed, beaten up mannequins adorned in dated, sunfaded clothes, greeted us as we were led to the windowless room with a metal door. Seemed promising! Inside the small room, bedsheets strung up with safety pins served to divide the different massage tables.

We were shown a well-worn plastic sheet of different massages, and selected a mixed massage with hot stones for S45 - a fraction of what you would spend at home. The blankets on the tables may have been covered in bobbles and likely never washed and the room may have smelled slightly of old socks, but the massage was amazing! Not afraid to use force, they popped our spines and worked out knots in our backs. And then came the hot stones. My God. Just heaven. A relaxing and therapeutic hour was spent and much tension was released.

Oily and dozy we left contented. Heading back to the hotel, we picked up an icrecream and sat out enjoying the sun for a short while. Back at the hotel, I made the most of the free time and called my family for some lovely catch up time. Whatsapp and wifi make for quality family time even if you're across the other side of the world.

After our merrymaking in the bus on the way back to Cusco the day previous, Gino was inspired to take us for karaoke.

After dinner, that involved a comical Pisco sour making lesson, we went onto a bar for beer pong and karaoke. Not a popular choice with the group, a few cringey hours were spent trying to give it a go, before eventually all had bailed and gone to different places. Back once more in Mama Afrika with Shan, Holly, and also Chino, the lovable, Inca Trail tour guide, I lasted all of a half an hour before I gave up and went to bed... foolishly though, as it turned into a scandalous night! But that's not for here...

Accommodation: Plaza Cusco II
Weather: Nice and hot all day; not too cold in the evening either - warmer than what we'd become accustomed to.