For the last few days I feel as though I have been on a tranquil retreat from the world. Vilcabamba is known as the valley of longevity and for all the good energies that circulate from the mountains and I have certainly felt that.
The hosteria is located 2 or 3 kilometres out of town and has the most beautiful views across the valley to the mountains on the other side. Many people book for a couple of nights and end up staying longer, myself included. Ex pats and hippies alike are drawn to the town so there is an abundance of dreadlocks and baggy trousers on display! There are also many places for yoga, meditation, massage and alternative therapies and healing.
The days have passed very quickly. There is yoga in the morning for anyone that wants to go which I did on the first day. However, I was a bit too achy before I even started so it turned into an hour of agony. After a couple of days of rest and relaxation, though, I tried again and this time enjoyed it.
Breakfast is held in a restaurant overlooking the mountains and Carmen, Angela and I usually met for this and then went our separate ways during the day, meeting up again for dinner, although on one occasion we met in town for a crepe lunch.
In the meantime, I have done a little walking in the countryside, had a massage and relaxed in the hammock. It is such a hard life!
The food in the hosteria has been good, the wine is cheap and reasonable and the rooms are very comfortable. It is easy to see why people want to stay.
However, I now have to gear myself up to travelling on my own again and heading off to Peru, the first stage of which will be tomorrow. It is going to be very strange for a little while until I get into the rhythm of being on the road again.
