Hiking The Peruvian Andes

Backpacking the Peruvian Andes from Arequipa to Puno, I was out of breath at 15,000 feet. I had only a short distance to go to my lodging, but I decided to rest. I leaned against a stunted tree, opened my backpack, and took out my water and my last sandwich.

An emaciated man wearing faded pants, ragged sandals, and a traditional chullo, approached me. In Spanish, he said that he had not eaten in two days. I told him I did not have far to go, and handed him my sandwich.

He tore it in half and said, “Podemos compartir.”

From Guest Contributor Mel Goldberg