The Valley of Longevity is a Sordid Place

....whoa Vilcabamba, set at 1500 metres, lush green in a deathly quiet valley, wall like mountains keeping the wind at bay, people sleepily going about their lives in a tranquil bliss. Or so it would seem. The beauty of this place is only matched by the strangeness and in some cases down right evilness of its inhabitants. There is a price for serenity.......
..."ok so lets go get these things." Yes it was an innocent response to the question of whether or not I would like a snake juice from the bar. I consider myself a veteran of reptilian shorts since my days in 'Nam drinking snake whiskey. Eight shots where ordered for the group. Too many names to put down here. The local cowboy brought them out, a horriffic smell tickled at my stomach, inviting my hamburgeusa back up. I held it at bay. The glasses were big for a shot. About one and a half the norm. For show we sat on the novelty saddle seats. "Uno, dos, tres." The violent taste rushed up my nose and down to my stomach. It stayed there. And five minutes later I am reliably informed I was pissed. So to was Hugo, a Canadian cohort but not his wife Gen, who prodded us into stupidity for the night. I don´t remember much after that, except waking up, still pissed and finding Hugo asleep in a hammock, with contented gaze.......
MEET THE RESIDENTS OF VILCABAMBA
Gavin, rough as sand paper Kiwi owner of a local horse riding operation. Annoyed about recent killing of a neighbour who was 5 months pregnant by a policemans son. The police will not prosecute, and son has disappeared into the jungle. Writing a book on the town.
Pieter, dreadlocked German owner of hostel in the woods. Mostly stoned. Has to help the police to hunt down robbers in the mountains because the police don´t want to. Fountain of knowledge regarding the area and its people.
***(For legal reasons) owner of Las Ruinas Quineras, recently released from jail after one year. Different sources say he either assulted, raped, beat up or murdered someone. Nothing sure. Hostel is very odd, atmosphere really bad.
Drunken Irishman, me.
Goodnight and Good luck