Ciudad Perida

So we are finally back from the 5 day trek to the lost city, covered in blisters and 128 mosquito bites but wow it was worth it.

Joel did this trek 2 years ago so before we left I asked him a little about it seeing as I haven´t done any hiking before. He said it was very enjoyable, you walk for maybe 4 hours a day, have a few pineapples along the way, and jump in the rivers for a swim with your treking buddies in the group. Well, I soon found out this wasn´t exactly the case. Either he had forgotten a lot of it,or he was worried the truth might put me off.

It had been raining a lot the week before we left and the tour operator informed us that there had been an avalanche at one of the camps, and so seeing as that was not there anymore, we would camp actually at the lost city instead. We questioned this and they said it was still very safe...eek. The trek was not exactly what I would call safe but definitely exciting!

The first 2 days were the hardest. We set off in the pouring rain climbing, crawling in the knee deep mud. I kept sliding back down the cliff face all the time and the guides would grab me and drag me back up. We crossed waist high rivers flowing must faster than normal due to all the rain. We had ropes or the guides to hold on to so not to get swept away.We slept in hammocks surrounded by mosquito nets outside under the stars, watching the fireflies. We played cards and were fed very well. I was exhausted after the second day and was worried how hard I was finding it not only physically but it was terrifying everytime we had to shimmy around a cliff face with a sheer drop into a waterfall. The cliffs edge had broken away from all the rain and the guides kept shouting at me tranquillo tranquillo and would give me their hands so I didn't fall.

They said on the third morning that the rain had been so bad that they next river was too fast and furious to cross and even they would be in danger if they tried. So when we reached it and saw the water gushing through, they pointed 60 feet up to a very rickety looking open cage for one person consiting of 4 metal poles and a wooden bottom. They said we had to climb in carefully off the cliff one by one and hold on and not move while they pulled us to the next ledge with rope... Probably the scariest thing I have ever done!

So over the course of the 5 days we climbed, crawled, swam, got very very muddy ands very wet. It turns out that. No matter how hot the jungle is, nothing ever dries there so we atYed in the same wet, muddy, sweaty clothes for 5 days...

Yu
mo! Everything was so worth it after the climb of 1800 steps to the lost city. The view of the jungle from up there was unbelieveable and the history is pretty spectacular too. We did however have a few too many encounters with a particar species of snake which coincidentally was the only one the people here have not yet found an anti venom for. They seemed to like it up there but thankfully our guide was very good at getting to them first and killing them, phew!

The way back was pretty similar to the way there although thankfuly a little less wet. The only major hurdle was comming across a bull blocking the mountain path. Joel and I were at the head ofthe group. He said he didn't want to pass first so I thought I would.. Surely it will just carrying on eating grass right??? Wrooong!!! It prompty stars to charge at the two of us with it's head down, waving it's horns around a in a very agressive way. Joel then hides behind me and grabs my shoulders using ME as a human sheild. Yup that's right, joely pushed my into Charging bull!! Not having a choice I ran past as fast as I could just scraping it's horns. So in this ridiculous game of bulldog with an angry bull, the rest of the group still had to get past and the bull definitely was not happy about it but the bull kept walking toward them so another girl tried to follow what I had done but wasn't quite so sucessful. The bull pushed her up against the bank with it's horns and kept pushing until luckily our guide saw what was happening and threw a massive rock in between it's eyes.

It was a scary, thrilling, exciting week. I have never done anything I have loved and hated so much at the same time and I am so pleased with myself for completing it. It wasn't the relaxing stroll through the jungle I had imagined but certainly an amazing experience.

This blog was a nightmare to write on Joel's ipod. I could only see 3 lines at a time and It keeps deleting so I apologize for all the mistakes. XXX