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Back Walking on Sunshine Save as PDF
Chapters (46)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. By the same author
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. Three Months Later
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. Epilogue – Five Years Later
  44. Acknowledgements
  45. An extra note from me …
  46. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Not wanting to be rude, and because I know thousands of people have done it before me, possibly even millions, I take a piece – thankful that it’s already been cut and hasn’t come whole and looking like a past pet. I shove it straight into my mouth and chew.

‘It’s all right,’ I say to the girls who are watching my reactions like two keen hawks, ready for the faintest gag or flare of the nostrils to betray my response and put them off trying some. When none comes they both pick up a piece and take a bite.

‘See? Guinea pig isn’t that bad,’ says Scott. ‘It’s something you have to try when you’re here.’

‘Can’t believe I’m eating guinea pig,’ says Vicky. ‘I feel so guilty.’

‘Can you stop saying what it is, please?’ asks Zaza, a panicked look on her face. ‘I’m fine if I don’t think about it.’

Just then the owner pulls out a fresh tray from the oven, containing four freshly cooked guinea pigs – all whole and looking exactly as you’d expect.

‘Well, we tried it,’ says Vicky, putting her meatless bone on the plate in front of her, unsurprisingly not going in for seconds.

*

After a tasty meal with our whole Lares Trek team (which thankfully didn’t include any more guinea pig, but a barbecue and salad instead), it’s time to say goodbye as only Scott will be joining us for the final part of the trip, back to where we started the trek in Ollytaytambo by bus and then on to a town just below Machu Picchu by train. It feels bizarre that the end is here. In many ways the beginning of the trip, when we were dropped off in that sports cage, feels like a million years ago; in other ways it feels like no time at all.

There’s no denying things would’ve been a lot tougher without these guys to help us out. To them we might just be the latest group of trekkers to take on the challenge of the Lares Trek, a route they might even walk daily without any thought, but to us they will forever be part of our team. When we think of this place they will spring to mind. It feels weird knowing it’s unlikely we’ll ever see them again when we’ve grown such a good bond this week, even if it has been mostly over UNO.

After lots of grinning, back slaps, and a generous tip from us, we’re on our way.

Penguin walking logo

31

Zaza