We have now travelled up to an altitude of 3442m. That is high. Really high. Unfortunately my body doesn't like it very much... a week later, two trips to the hospital, one ride in an ambulance, and a lot of Argentinian television and we are just about ready to cross the border.
It has not been the best week we've had on our journey so far. We left Tilcara and made it to La Quiaca where we were due to have one night in a hostel and cross over to Bolivia the next morning. By the evening I had become so ill that the staff suggested that a trip to the hospital would make me feel a lot better. A little lost in translations but I managed to tell the doctor that I had been really sick and dizzy all day and my head had been extremely sore. They gave me oxygen, put my thumb in a beepy thing, prodded and poked me for a bit and then to my surprise gave me a rather painful injection in my bottom! I'm still not entirely sure what it was for ;-) Anyway, it turned out I had altitude sickness.
It can take up to a week to adjust to the lack of oxygen of the high altitude and it effects people in different ways. Luckily Jim has not been badly effected. It's been so amazing having him here, I really don't know what I would do without him... he has even been out shopping on his own to some quite intimidating, spanish speaking markets for fresh veg just to make me soup!I'm a lucky girl.
It has taken me the full week to adapt and I've been to the hospital a couple of times, got better then got worse but I am definitely getting there now. As for La Quiaca, I've no idea what it is like but our hostel is lovely, the couple that run it have been really kind but it feels like we have been here forever. Can't wait for Bolivia.
It has not been the best week we've had on our journey so far. We left Tilcara and made it to La Quiaca where we were due to have one night in a hostel and cross over to Bolivia the next morning. By the evening I had become so ill that the staff suggested that a trip to the hospital would make me feel a lot better. A little lost in translations but I managed to tell the doctor that I had been really sick and dizzy all day and my head had been extremely sore. They gave me oxygen, put my thumb in a beepy thing, prodded and poked me for a bit and then to my surprise gave me a rather painful injection in my bottom! I'm still not entirely sure what it was for ;-) Anyway, it turned out I had altitude sickness.
It can take up to a week to adjust to the lack of oxygen of the high altitude and it effects people in different ways. Luckily Jim has not been badly effected. It's been so amazing having him here, I really don't know what I would do without him... he has even been out shopping on his own to some quite intimidating, spanish speaking markets for fresh veg just to make me soup!I'm a lucky girl.
It has taken me the full week to adapt and I've been to the hospital a couple of times, got better then got worse but I am definitely getting there now. As for La Quiaca, I've no idea what it is like but our hostel is lovely, the couple that run it have been really kind but it feels like we have been here forever. Can't wait for Bolivia.
Keeping everything crossed that you're back on your feet in time for today's train journey xxxxxxx
ReplyDelete