Hola todos! The title says exactly what it is. I am currently in Cusco but all I have really done is sleep and do some limited exploring of the city itself and most likely will end up leaving here without having done the main attraction of Perú, Macchu Picchu, despite hyping it up in the last few blogs. I have been having a serious case of Tourist Trap burnout – real thing look it up, I’ve included the ai summary of it here.
What brought this one on? Well my best guess is the pace at which we had been going and the rather rigid route we were on from Lima to Cusco. For the last week or so it had more or less been back to back long travel days with packed itineraries at each place and almost all of them were also early starts. Fun as Paracas, Huacachina etc were they were still tourist traps, that said would still recommend them.
So Tuesday I made my way here with another 0430 AM start and this bus ride went on for probably 14-16 hours then once I got here I checked into a cheap hotel but couldn’t really take a proper shower there as it was both freezing but more concerningly had exposed wiring with a stray water jet pissing out near it when it was on so I only used it once over the 2 nights I was there. A real piss off after such a long day.
Wednesday I get up feeling rather fed up but decide to make enquiries about getting to Macchu Picchu, so up I get and visit a few agents, all was sold out accept the circuit 1 ticket which you cant even enter the site on, just hike up a hill take a photo and that’s it, Costing $50 USD for the privelage. Logistics were also a nightmare as to take the train you would need to pay $75 USD each way and then take a separate bus to the site itself which isn’t even covered. You also need to make your own way to the train station outside Cusco. So your looking at around $200 before you even start and that would either mean another stupid o clock start or an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, which looks like a massive tourist trap given just how dear even a dorm is there. I had also looked at bus routes there but taking 3 collectivos each about 2 hours long rides sounds like a logistical nightmare as well. After a lot of agonising over this I decided to chin it off.
So Thursday I moved to a new gaff which actually had hot water which was good and made me reconsider. I actually ended up extending my stay here until Monday however doing some more digging on Macchu Picchu I still decided it was a no go. So what then? Looked to book a tour of the Sacred Valley but also would be another 5am start with another packed day. I really should force myself but I just cannot. I’ve just hit another complete slump in the trip.
Friday was a better day when I did some exploring round the city and met some decent people, one of which showed me some very interesting spiritual stuff but I will cover that on a separate blog.
It is now Saturday and while I’m still a bit short on sleep I feel I am coming out of that slump now, however have no appetite to stay in Cusco further than Monday.
Burnout sucks but you can only push through it so far. You have to listen to your mind and body and give it the time and space it needs when this hits or you set yourself up for a bigger crash further down the line. Just sods law it had to hit right where your at the point which should be the best part of the Peru Adventure. Alas you cannot control these things. It sneaks up on you then hits you like a ton of bricks. This one had been coming for a while though I think as has had been getting more and more irritable as the Peru hop took us closer to here in general.
As for the next moves now I am just going to rest up then Monday push on to Puno and use the Peru hop one last time to get across into Copacabana, Bolivia 🇧🇴 and then on to La Paz. From there move south and try to get into Argentina some time in April.
In spite of everything I still intend to finish my Journey to Patagonia how I intend to finish it. Short of some catastrophic event it would be a huge mistake quitting now I’m this close. I am keeping my chin up and coming out of this slump. I didnt come this far to only come this far! I intend to see this through to the end be it bitter or sweet!
For now I say peace ✌️ and thank you again for your support.
Will be catching up on the blog over the next day or so.
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