"On the Trail"
Monday, November 13, 2000: Feverish Day for Tad - Piura, Peru
Francisco here...
Tad developed a fever late last night and felt only a bit better upon waking. So, as he searched for a doctor I searched for a bank to withdraw some funds. After a bit of tenacity, I was able to successfully withdraw some Soles for the ride ahead.
I gave some change to a beggar and her daughter. I feel that walking through a city with beggars gives me a sad memory. However, the feeling becomes more accentuated when getting to know Peruvians better. I made a friend yesterday who said that if she does not sell glasses at her optical shop then she will probably not eat that day. Also, we took a cab last night. The driver had to stop for gas and asked us for our fare before reaching our destination in order for him to put in some gas.
I heard people in Canada say that they live paycheque by paycheque. Here, many people are living day by day and even hour by hour.
It appears that my rash (or one million mosquito bites) that spread over a lot of my body last week has finally mostly dissappeared. It´s funny that so many people had so many reasons for my problem. The two farmacias (pharmacies) that I visited were sure that I had an alergy. Carlos in Machala was sure that I had a reaction to the change in elevation. And the skin doctor that happened to be right beside a spot that we stopped for freshly squeezed juice said that I should use mosquito repellant. Well, to this day I don´t know what I had. I think they were bug bites. I am glad that I have been diligantly taking my anti-malaria pills.
The morning here, like yesterday, began overcast with a very comfortable temperature at 9:00 am of about 18 degress C. Walking down the street on this Monday morning was full of mototaxis and sidewalk vendors selling bags of fried banana chips, biscuits and water. 500 millilitres of agua sin gas (non carbonated water) goes for 1 soles (one US dollar is roughly 3.50 soles). They often first try to sell it for 1.5 soles. At some places I hear the yelling of men trying to fill up their buses going to Tumbes and other destinations in the near vicinity. Crossing the rodondos (round-abouts) are still an exciting pursuit.
After catching up on some internet work, I went for a Peru map search with Gaby and her two kids, Kathy (7 years) and Jesse (4 years). They were a big help and I treated everyone to ice-cream from the very nice ice cream man that we met yesterday. Gaby gave me a Peruvian flag for my flag pole collection. Gracias Gaby.
After a couple of doctor visits, Tad only felt slightly better. He also has an awesome contact via email for medical advice from a doctor friend back in the USA that is sharing advice with him.
Since we knew that the next 160 km will be very dry, head-windy, and very remote desert, we decided to take another day´s rest tomorrow here in Piura in order for Tad to regain some strength.
I prepared dinner in our ¨room¨ that was actually an emptied optical shop. It serves us very well especially since it is only 15 soles(about 4.25 US dollars). It is also in a great location near the town centre.
The night ended quietly as Tad slept again. He probably slept at least six hours today.
-If you wonder a lot, does that make you a wonderful person?
-Frank Pollari
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