Chapter 6
They
got back to the hotel, went upstairs, then gathered in the lobby about an hour later. While they were waiting for the bus to take them to dinner, Lynn was called to the Front Desk for a phone call.
“Dad?
Has something happened?”
“Everything is fine.
I just wanted you to know that I’m home with your mother now, full time. She had another…episode. She decided to go to lunch today and ended up in Albuquerque. She had no idea where she was or how she’d gotten there.”
“How did you find her?”
“She wandered into a restaurant, then tried to leave without paying for her meal. She told them her husband was supposed to meet her and he’d pay for lunch, and that she had a migraine that was blinding her. The owner called the police. They found my contact information in her purse and called me. Sam went with me to get her. She was quiet all the way home. By then, the migraine had eased off, and she’d realized what had happened.”
“Is she on
any medication that could’ve caused this?”
“
Not that I know of. We’ll see the doctor tomorrow. I talked to my boss and told him I had to take my accumulated vacation and sick leave time immediately. I have about three months’ worth. At that point, I’ll retire. So I’m home now, full time. If this should happen again, I’ll be here.”
“I’m so sorry
you had to give up your job.”
“It’s okay.
It’s a relief not to have to leave her each morning, wondering what she’ll do during the day. Our doctor is looking for other explanations for her confusion and memory loss. We’ll get through this. I’ll help your mother get through it.”
“The bus is leaving, so I have to go.
I’m getting e-mail on Sharon’s laptop. That’s probably better than calling, unless it’s an emergency. I love you!”
Lynn hurried out to the bus
and explained everything to Sharon. She was shaken by her father’s call, but she also felt relief that he’d be with her mother every day.
A fairly short drive took them to the restaurant. There were long tables with chairs pushed close together, to get the maximum number of people seated. Musicians playing guitars and other instruments sat near an oval-shaped stage area near the side wall. The excessive volume made conversation difficult. Tables for the buffet were at the end of the room, with salads on the left and entrees on the right.
She
spooned small portions of the various salads onto her plate, then moved to the entrees. A woman standing behind the table told her, in Spanish, that she was allowed only one plate. She realized she’d spread the salads over half the plate, so she used her fork to push them together, leaving room for the entrees.
S
he went to the table where Alex sat flanked by Cathi and Barb, with Dorothy and the others across the table. Lynn sat down next to Cathi. Alex was in full “guide mode.” Lynn had gotten used to having him sit next to her, to translate and provide information and explanations. Her feelings, seeing him completely engrossed in conversation with the others, surprised her. She felt neglect—almost jealousy, even though she’d never been a jealous person. So, she took a deep breath and tried to dismiss what she considered an utterly inappropriate response to their guide paying equal attention to the others. He wasn’t only her guide on this tour. He was everyone’s guide. Still, with the chairs so close together, if they’d sat next to each other, their knees might’ve touched. She realized suddenly that the restaurant was rather warm.
She focused on the food, which was quite
good and different from what she’d expected. In temperature, everything was about the same—neither hot nor cold. The flavors blended so well, she often couldn’t tell the difference between something new and what she’d tasted before. She’d have to admit that she’d expected unique flavors, but almost everything had a sauce. Some of the meats had no sauce, but they weren’t plain, either. Some looked like they’d been barbecued, while others were roasted. Nothing seemed to be fried, but could’ve been beneath the sauces. She enjoyed getting to make comparisons between Peruvian food and what she was used to eating in Virginia.
She had a
Pisco Sour with her meal, while a couple of the ladies had opted for Inka Cola, which was yellow instead of brown, like colas at home. Sharon offered her a taste. It was exceptionally sweet, almost syrupy. She noticed that Alex was drinking Inka Cola, too.
While she was looking at him, he turned
and winked at her! Instead of blushing and turning away, which seemed silly for a woman her age, she raised her glass to him in a toast. He did the same, and they sipped their drinks still looking at each other. Then he turned away to answer another question from Dorothy and Barb.
Lynn’s feelings
of jealousy evaporated completely. She’d have to remember that she was one of the group from now on. The next time he smiled at her, she nodded to let him know she understood.
Sharon nudged her. “Look at those dancers!”
Entertainment provided by musicians and dancers from the coast, then from the highlands, included vigorous music. Shouting from the dancers and diners continued to drown all attempts at conversation. The dance that drew the most laughter and shouting came at the end of the performance. The women attached a cloth “tail” to the backs of their short skirts that stood out over crinolines, then did a Peruvian version of the hula, circling their hips while the men, with lighted candles, tried to set the tails on fire. Only a couple of the men succeeded. The dancers pulled diners onto the stage to participate—women and men—which produced even more laugher from on that side of the large room.
One of the men stepped down from the stage and took Lynn’s hand, leading her back on stage where one of the women attached her “tail.”
Alex immediately followed her and accepted a lighted candle from one of the other men. At first, they had different partners. By the time they were paired, Lynn was laughing and doing her best not to let her “tail” be burned. Alex tried to hold the candle under the end of the cloth, but Lynn always managed to maneuver it away. When the song ended, all the women stood still and allowed their “tails” to be burned, including Lynn. Hugs followed, along with shouting and laughter and happy tears.
Alex helped Lynn down from the stage, then picked her up and twirled her around.
Cheers erupted all over the restaurant. Almost everyone in their group had another Pisco Sour, which Lynn loved, since it gave her a light feeling that helped to banish any thoughts other than enjoying the evening.
By the time they left the restaurant, Lynn’s ears were ringing
. Lively conversation on the way back to the hotel was the perfect end to the day. By the time they got off the bus, Lynn was about to collapse. She begged off sitting in the lobby to talk and went straight to their room. She had to get some sleep! They had to be up early in the morning, again, for another day of touring, beginning with the pyramids of Caral, where Alex promised there was sunshine to lift her spirits and make the day truly special. So far, her mental image of Peru hadn’t matched what they’d seen in Lima, and she was ready for that image to come to life.
Sharon stayed in the lobby with the others, still full of energy and thrilled to have time to ask Alex all the questions she wanted to ask.
Have you always lived in Cusco? How old are you? And the biggie. Are you married? Surely you have a girlfriend? If not, then why not? Would you like to have a girlfriend?
Lynn would undoubtedly hear all the answers in the morning.
She planned on being in bed before Sharon returned to the room and had made her promise to come in quietly.
She hardly had time to recount the day before she
fell asleep.
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Alex patiently answered all of Sharon’s questions, which he’d answered many times before on previous tours. Then, he excused himself. “It’s been a long day. I have to have my beauty rest so I’ll be able to regale you with fun and interesting facts tomorrow about Caral, where you will see pyramids older than the ones on the Giza Plateau in Egypt. Good night to all of you. It’s been a pleasure. I promise you will enjoy our trip to Caral in the morning. There will be sunshine!”
T
he ladies wished him a good night’s sleep. When he got to the elevator, he wondered if Lynn might still be awake. He’d have to make sure they sat together tomorrow at lunch in Barranca.
Peru’s national
day of celebration was approaching. In one more day, he and his group would be in Cusco, where they would enjoy fireworks and dancing at the festivities honoring the Peruvian Day of Independence from Spanish rule. That day, they’d have lunch at the
Incanto
Restaurant, overlooking the Plaza de Armas where the festivities would be centered. He definitely looked forward to that time.
When
Alex got back to his room that night, he realized he was more tired than he thought. He looked forward to tomorrow morning, when they’d drive out of the fog of Lima, into the sunshine of Caral. More than anything, he hoped sunshine would lift Lynn’s spirits. Whatever she’d heard on the phone had not been good news. He could tell by her expression. He couldn’t wait to see her smile again.
<><><><>
Lynn woke up the next morning feeling better than the previous morning, but still not completely rested, thanks to lying awake for an hour after she’d turned out her light last night, leaving the bathroom light on for Sharon. Barb had planned their itinerary to include some time off in Cusco, so they could wander through the plazas and the market on their own. She couldn’t wait to get there.
This morning’s destination excited
her, too. If anything could distract her from what was going on at home, it was Caral. She’d taught her students about the wonders of Caral with its eight ancient pyramids and three sunken plazas. Alex was correct. They were older than the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure on the Giza Plateau. Only, the pyramids at Caral weren’t built of limestone. They were built from mud, grass, and stones. Some of the pyramids, according to what she’d read and the photographs she’d seen, had almost worn away, but the Great Pyramid—
El Pyrámide Mayor
—was still standing. Seeing the place she’d taught students to marvel about would truly be a treat—and the perfect distraction.
The altitude at Caral was
about 1,100 feet. For the first time since they’d left Virginia, Lynn felt excited and eager for the day’s tour!
Sharon was still asleep, s
o their order in the bathroom was reversed this morning. By the time Lynn emerged, Sharon was sitting on the side of the bed making groaning noises, rubbing her face and tousling her hair.
“I never should’ve had that
third Pisco Sour.” She made her way into the bathroom.
“Don’t take too long!” Lynn told her.
“I’ll be downstairs having breakfast.”
“Stick a bagel in your purse for me.”
Lynn headed for the elevator and was pleasantly surprised to see Alex there, waiting for the next car.
“
Buenos días
,
Señorita
. I hope you slept well.”
“
Buenos días, Señor
. I did, thank you. I’m excited about going to Caral this morning.”
“Sunshine
!”
“Yes.
I can’t wait!”
The elevator doors opened
, and he motioned for her to precede him into the car. It moved slowly, compared with elevators she was used to using in Virginia.
“I hope all is well at your home in Virginia.”
“That was my father on the phone last night. He and Mom live in New Mexico—a very long way from Virginia. But yes. Everything is fine.”
He went on to the highlight of the day’s tour.
“Are you familiar with Caral?”
“Yes.
I teach World History. I’ve taught my students about Caral and shown them photos, but actually being there and taking photos of my own will make that study even more meaningful when I get home. It’s hard to imagine pyramids in Peru being older than those at Giza.”
“Have you been to Egypt?”
“No, but I’ve read about them and I’ve seen television programs about them that bring them to life. I hope to see them in person someday. But I’m not going inside the Great Pyramid.”
“Why not?”
“I’m sometimes claustrophobic. It’s hot in the narrow tunnels leading to Khufu’s burial chamber, and people go in and out through that same tunnel. A friend of mine told me I’d never make it. He isn’t claustrophobic at all, but by the time he emerged from that tunnel, he was gasping for breath and vowed he’d never do it again. I’m content to watch others make that expedition on television!”
“We won’t be going inside the pyramids at Caral.”
“That’s a relief! I’d have to wait outside!”
The car opened on the ground floor.
The restaurant was just to the left. They found the others at two tables pulled together. Alex suggested sitting at a third table so there would be a chair for Sharon when she came down. Lynn started to protest, knowing Sharon wouldn’t be down until the last possible minute, but with her new goal of learning everything she could from this guide, she agreed with a smile and was pleased when Alex pulled out a chair for her.