Vagabonding Life

It occurs to me now that I have always underestimated the value of toilet paper. It is unheard of in the public bathrooms and restaurants that I visit. I have learned to keep a stash readily available in my daypack and I´m finding that I use it more than anything else I have brought with me. And with a frequency that almost scares me.

To be caught without toilet paper can cause quite an emergency here. At a local market a man charged me .50 soles (.33 U.S.) to use the toilet. When I entered the tiny room I found it to be little more than a hole in the ground. No flushing required right? Looking around I found that there was no toilet paper. I left to find the kind man who had taken my money and inquire about my situation only to find him gone. Missing in action just like my toilet paper!

Moving on....what about mosquitos? We all hate them. They are tiny, fast and have an addicts taste for gringo blood. See my leg in this picture! That happened in about 30 seconds after changing into shorts at a patio cafe in Aguas Caliente, Peru. I ran my hand innocently down my leg to find it covered in blood. Twelve hours later my leg looked like this! Deet 100% is the common cologne for all smart travellers. Linda brought along a full body mosquito suit but I have yet to see her wear it.