From Arequipa to Colca

Another quick update, as it´s late and it takes FOREVER to upload pictures in these internet cafes. I´ll try to go back and upload pictures when I find an internet cafe with a fast connection (perhaps when I return to Lima).

So I woke up this morning, had breakfast in the garden of my hotel in Arequipa, and was picked up by the tour bus for my 2 day trip to the Colca Canyon - deepest canyon in the world. There are 10 people in total on this trip - 4 Germans, 1 Scottish man, 3 French, and one Mexican girl. The tourguide, Cecillia, is excellent! I spent a good amount of time chatting with Jeff - the Scottish man. Very interesting and lots of good stories! He used to race motorcycles illegally when he was 11 years old and is also a liensed pilot who has flown from Scottland to France in one of those small open air planes... old skool.

We spent most of the day driving and stopping to take pictures. The landscape is beautiful. It started off like Arizona - dry and arid with low vegetation, but not as flat as Arizona. Then we went into a more mountainous area where there were llamas roaming around (I got some good pics!). It really is neat to see animals and plants I´ve never seen before. Very interesting.

When we arrived in Chivay (where my hotel is) at 3:30PM, we had some free time before our trip to the hot springs close by. Chimay isn´t that nice, so I took a combis (shared van) for $0.30 to a small village called Yanque 4 miles away. In the middle of the village plaza there was a fountain and a beautiful white stone church.

I sat in the plaza for a while writing in my journal, then made my way over to an art gallery off the plaza. There, I met the artist - Eduardo, a 58 year old Peruvian who has also lived and worked in France. He invited me to stay for tea, and we chatted for about an hour in his studio. He gave me recommendations for my travels around Peru and I also learned a bit about his life - truly an artist´s life. He also said I´m the first American that has visited since January. And when I think about it, I haven´t come across many Americans on my travels - mostly Europeans.

Then I took a taxi back to Chivay and met my tour group at the hot springs. Then we went to dinner and a show at a tourist restaurant. Honestly - the only bad meal I´ve had in Peru - very bland. Lesson learned - avoid (most) touristy things. I´ve learned that I like to experience a more local flavor while traveling - I can get Micky D´s, etc. in the US (but even that I hardly ever eat).

Tomorrow morning we wake up early (5:30AM) and head to the canyon to watch the condors fly. Then we take our sweet time traveling back to Arequipa, stopping for more photo ops.

When I return to Arequipa around 5PM, I plan on meeting a friend of a friend for dinner at a Chinese restaurant recommended by Eduardo. Then I´ll catch an overnight bus (with seats that recline to a bed) to Ica - Peru´s wine region.

Life is good.