Hats off to you
One of the things I’ll be doing in Peru is a 5 day, 62km hike to a set of Inca ruins called Choquequirao. When I emailed one of the guys who offers guided trips to Choquequirao, he passed along a number of tips about doing the hike. One of those tips was “bring the widest brim sun hat you can.” The guide wrote that, “it is ferociously hot during the day if the sun is out. Stress ferociously!”
So that’s how I ended up at REI in downtown Portland shopping for sun hats. Now let me tell you, wearing a hat in the blistering sun of the Andean Mountains is one thing. But trying on sun hats in an urban Amercian city is another thing altogether. More to the point, it’s impossible to wear a hat like this at REI(or your dining room) and not feel like a jackass:
The purchasing process inevitably comes to that moment where you ask the person next to you, “how do I look in this?” And in this case, there is no good answer to that question. You simply press on, comforted by the fact that you will be shielded from the sun and reassured by your knowledge that the photo above is already how Peruvians view Americans. You’re just part of the status quo.
Tags: 1, peru, preparation
theoriginalmatt
I think you look kind of cute….sort of an urban/traveling Crocodile Dundee (without the crocodiles or the BIG knife).
What ever works to keep the tropical sun off your face.
I also hope you’re bringing #500 sunscreen , and that you apply it very frequently. I just read a new study about the sun damage done to arms and legs….stay well protected please.
Rich and I hope that you have a fantastic adventure, and see some amazing sights. Get lots of pics to share with us couch potatoes when you return.
Safe journey,
Lynda