Arequipa, Peru and Colca Canyon
After the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, we headed to Arequipa with Diedrick and Dane. Since I hadn´t had enough hiking from before, we decided to hike nearby Colca Canyon for two days. Our English speaking guide was a aprox 17 year old kid who introduced himself in English in front of his parents (who fed us breakfast) and then didn´t speak English to our group again the next two days.
After hiking down into the canyon and crossing the river twice, we spent the night at the Oasis where we could swim and play soccer, and ate our spegetti dinner outside in the light rain. We woke up at 3am the next morning and hiked up out of the canyon and back to where we started for breakfast again. From there we took a bus to the place where we watched the condors take flight in the morning. Afterward we took the bus back to Arequipa. Diedrick left for Lima, and Dane, Mark, and my plans to spend to night out partying were dented by finding out that because the nationwide elections in Peru on Sunday, the town was going dry. We preserved and found places willing to serve, but it was a quieter night than we expected.
posted by David at 11/23/2006 12:55:00 PM
2 Comments:
Mark and Dave,
I am just now catching up on your incredible journey while waiting for the turkey and fixins' to finish cooking. Wonderful trip and very interesting log/blog you have created. The photos fantastic! Thank you.
Wanted to give a stop off if you are interested, over the hill from Chili to Mendoza.
1st check out the hike at the border between the two countries. Hike to where the plane crash site is. There is a cool little curio shop and it is colder than heck but they have hot cocoa.
Then, of course, Aconcagua. We just hiked to base and checked out the snow covered peak. You will undoubtedly hike to the top!
But...down the hill on road to Mendoza is a stop off at Uspisata (spelling is questionable). There is a hotel there that the Peron's use to go during the 50's which is way cool. Has a bowling alley which the bartender/porter/probably cook goes behind to retrieve the balls (which are wooden). Rather a nice stop off before you hit Mendoza. If you rent a car, there is a dirt road (rather than the highway) where you can see some incredible animals, perhaps. The road was great (dirt) in our rental car. Takes you down to another cool location (Bob just said Darwin stayed there). It is a source of agua minerale...and is just another way to get from here to there. Enjoy! Wish we could hook up somewhere along your journeys to hear of all your adventures and encounters. Heck of a life vs. Charlotte, NC. Go for it! Love to both, Amy & Bob
PS: Happy Thanksgiving!
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