In which our intrepid traveler, Bearshapedsphere, admits that it is not all rainbows and butterflies while on the road.
This is where my mother and I spent a couple of hours this morning. Well, not specifically in this ambulance, as we were able to make it there by taxi, but at this clinic, the Clinica Arequipa. We had hoped that our specific brands of illness (respiratory and gastrointestinal for one, pure gastrointestinal for the other) could be solved by a black-bag carrying house-call making doctor. Turns out there are no housecalls in Arequipa on Sundays.
So off we went to the “Emergencia” at the clinic. They led us down a hallway:
And led us into a little room, where the less ill of us took a moment to take a (blurry) self-portrait.
The other of us had X rays, and other non-photographable treatments (but we got to keep the nebulizing mask!)
In the end, there were medications prescribed (not all of them available at the clinic, strangely), treatments given, X rays taken, and several people who came in to poke, prod, ask, tell and otherwise attend to us. All very nice, save one woman who tried to kick us out after the nebulizer but before we got any of the other care we’d come for.
Greater travelers have had worse experiences, and have laid them all out for us in detail. We know our experience is not tragic, it is a small inconvenience, but are, of course, disappointed at the rest of our trip not going as we’d planned. We’re hunkered down, in pleasant enough surroundings, thanking the gods for the existence of Cipro, potable water, good clinics in Peru, and that old standby, saltines.
Life on the road is so glamourous, people. At least this time I didn’t have to throw up into a 2-liter bottle. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Clinica Arequipa, just over the Puente Grau, before the street turns into Ejercito. Note the beautiful views over the bridge on your way there, if you’re not too woozy.
oh, Eileen, I’m so sorry you got sick! I’ve been sick there too … sometimes arriving to that altitude from sea level is harder than the next bump up, to Lake Titicaca or whatever … coca tea w lots of sugar does help; stay hydrated! I hope you are well enough to go to the Sta Catalina monastery. La Casa de la Abuela is my favorite place to stay — has a book exchange AND a swimming pool… Feel better!
Oh, believe me, I took it in the teeth on Isla de Sol in lake titicaca. I was mentioning to one of my buds on skype last night that I have had this particular illness some 6 times (2x guate, 1x ecuador 1x bolivia 1x chile 1x peru) and always in the mid-high, dry (did not get sick on volcan antesania in Ecuador or on the salar crossing). I believe his exact words were “take a hint.” And yes, we’re happy to have more time in Arequipa, and the people at Casa de mi abuela are super! Thanks for commiserating!
Feel better!! At least you got to see what a clinic in Arequipa was like…and could blog about it!
live to tell is my motto. Plus I’m thinking of starting a medical tourism company, where I take people on tours of clinics. You’d sign up, right? Or have you seen enough, already?
Ugh, getting sick on the road is the worst! I’m glad you got decent care, and I hope you and your mama both feel better soon.
thanks. worse than sick on the road is definitely sick parent on the road. Kept my wits about me, but there was a moment where I thought “egads, what have I done?” Luckily things are looking up at the moment. Thanks for the support!
I know you’ll be fine, but really hope your mom is feeling better! 🙂
yeah, way to take the aged on a tour of the developing world’s clinics. Your mom would kill you, right? Are you convinced to come to Peru, yet?
It took me a minute to figure out what kind of hotel Grandma Sandy or Grandma Pauline would have in Peru….
Please everyone get better!
believe me, this place looks nothing like anything either one of our grandmothers (qepd, as they say here) would have dreamed up.