Day 3: Soroche

Soroche is the local name for the phenomenon of altitude sickness that visitors to this region can experience. It is caused by the lack of oxygen in the blood stream and the body's attempt to compensate by over-producing red blood cells. This can become a very unpleasant adjustment, which can be made much gentler by chewing or brewing the leaves of the Coca plant, or taking prescribed Diamox pills. The symptoms include dizziness, nausea, disorientation, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, and irritability.

What does it look like, you wonder? Observe:

On the left, Professor Aristedes Millas and his lovely wife Carole. On the right, the recently deceased corpse of a soroche victim who thought he would be just fine working 12 hours a day without any more of his Diamox pills at 8,000 feet above sea level.