Our tour guide gave us several instructions for the first couple of days acclimating to Cusco's elevation. Avoid physical exertion. No alcohol. Stay with safe foods. She recommended the chicken soup and no seafood or red meat.
After five hours on the ground without eating, we sat down at Los Portales, a restaurant facing the Plaza Kusipata, and started breaking the rules.
Julia ordered trout soup, and I ordered seco de cordero (lamb in cilantro sauce). To drink, I ordered a Cusquena Dorada, which was a malty pilsner that came in a 620 ml bottle. The entire meal, including tip, was $25. Everything was delicious. The fruits and vegetables in Peru are more flavorful than the genetically-engineered stuff in the U.S., designed for maximum shelf life. Our stomachs survived the adventurous meal.
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| Naughty rule-breakers |
On the next morning, we would break the remaining rule and go for a rigorous hike.
