Life on the road is full of adventure, and the roads of South America are full with stray dogs. I’m already a bit scared of dogs, but it’s especially frightening when the dogs come to you, get in front of your motorcycle and keep barking. It’s difficult to avoid, and you can’t run them over either, as I will topple over myself.
On the mountain pass to Lares I came across another group of aggressive stray dogs. As I tried to steer clear from them, one followed me and bit me in my leg. By now, I pull the gas handle even further to get away.
Here I am at a lonely mountain pass, I’m afraid of getting rabies, but also for every other dog I come across. I continue my journey to Lares, a small mountain village. In the village, the host of my hostel brings me to the local medical post. This is by far from any medical clinic we’re used to in Western Europe. The doctor says the wound is only superficial and gives me antibiotics.
The day after I’m back in Cusco and I’m not too sure about this outcome. I definitely don’t want to mess with a disease like rabies, as it’s lethal the moment you develop symptoms.
I visit a private clinic and they immediately tell me to get the rabies vaccine. The vaccination consists of 5 shots: on day 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28. This sure adds a whole lot of hassle to my travel plans. At the same time I’m in contact with my travel insurance in the Netherlands. It’s reassuring having a point of contact from home who thinks along. She gives me the good news that I only need to have the 2 shots here in Cusco, as I already had the preventative rabies vaccine 10 years ago, and it’s lifelong valid.
Because I already had the vaccine, I also didn’t need to take the immunoglobulin, which gives your body antibodies. A medical treatment which is almost unavailable in Latin America, which would have meant I directly had to fly home to get this treatment.
Luckily, it turned out alright. But never a dull moment.
Not dogs, but cute and innocent alpacas who are also on the road
