Cat Burglar

If I saw this feline in a lineup at a local precinct, I would recognize his tabby stripes, eyes and pointy ears. It was Felix, no doubt, the cat owned by the Alvaro and Javiar at the local bike shop. Well, I’m not sure if owned is the correct word, but Felix would hang out underneath an abandoned car while the twosome tinkered on flat tired and broken chains. I’d bring him pouches of cat foot, wet salmon flavored Friskies, hoping to put some fat on his bones. Felix loved a good rub, and every part of me wanted to give the little guy a bath, his fur filled with dust from the Barranco streets.

Well, one day, Felix disappeared! I brought my pouch of Friskies to the bike shop and his food bowl was gone. When I asked Alvaro what had happened, he made the universal signal for “getting fixed”, a snip-snip motion with the fingers. He went onto explain that Felix never returned from the veterinarian. Well, I could see why.

I was heartbroken yet hopeful, still carrying a pouch of cat food in my bag hoping to see the guy one day.

Well, months later, while walking to the local pharmacy for altitude sickness pills for an upcoming hike, I saw Felix!

He was plumper, cleaner, his eyes blinking when he saw me, hoping that I’d hand over a bag of wet Friskies. He didn’t jump off the roof into my arms and make a quick getaway. Maybe he was heavily sedated on catnip. Felix was a bit out of my reach to pet, perched on a tin roof, but I snapped the location with my phone to give to Alvaro and Javiar at the bike shop.

Two local ladies were curiously watching me as I talked to Felix. I tried to explain in broken Spanish that the cat belonged to the bike shop, but the women turned up their sculpted noses and waggled their fingers.
“No, the cat belongs here.”

Cat Burglars.

I showed the photo to Javiar and Alvaro along with Angie, who manages the local Lavandera next to the bike shop. All three confirmed it was Felix in the photo.

Felix did look happier, or fatter, or maybe that happiness was boredom, like when humans endlessly scroll our phones or the offerings on Netflix.

Even though I didn’t get Felix, I got my altitude pills, as vital to hiking in Peru as hiking boots and trekking poles as I was going to Marcahuasi the next day, about four hours outside of Lima.

Marcahuasi is like the Stone Shilin Forest near Kunming, China, minus the horsemeat stands or the hikers sporting four-inch heels.

Or instead of sculptures like Elephant Playing with Water, there is only the huge Toad.

The Marcahuasi Plateau is another example of Peruvian ruins where the mysterious history has yet to be unraveled. The park is popular with star gazers and folks who’d rather be outside than couch surfing. You may see a few Andean Geese along with an old school AirBnB.

You won’t see hikers in four-inch heels, which was a common sight at the Stone Forest and construction sitess.

I’d recommend Marcahuasi for anyone who wants to see blue skies and experience an adrenaline rush due to driving on washed out roads covered with potholes and cows.

Marcahuasi is located here.

Along with poles, shoes and water, remember your sunblock and a good hat.

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As much as I enjoyed the Marcahuasi hike and finding Felix, my thoughts were with a friend of mine who lost her brother suddenly, another hiker and adventurer seeker. I hope he is like Felix, in a higher better place, whether we can hug him or not.