Peru - Arequipa, Colca Canyon

Our tour group on Jose's birthday in a traditional Peruvian restaurant.



Vegetarians look away now......




Sorry guys - this a traditional Peruvian specialty - guinea pig. We tried it... bit like chicken wings - but I couldn't disassociate the pet from my mind and gave up quickly. The ant's head in the jungle was nicer!!





Vicunas.

Sheep, Alpacas and Llamas - grazing together. We were nearly at 5,000 metres here.

This alpaca just came in and out as it pleased - ha ha!

The hot springs near the Colca Canyon - they were gorgeous. Drinking pisco sour and looking at the stars - mmmmm.....

Then the luxury stopped and they made us get up at 4.30 am to go in search of condors at the Colca Canyon. As you can see - Martin was well up for it!

We finally saw a condor - this is my best picture. I love it!

The colca canyon - not what I was expecting at all, but still pretty spectacular.

Martin wasn't so impressed by the views however!

The National Peruvian flower.

All the members of the group that went for the short hike next to the Colca Canyon.

A night out with the tour guides. It was very funny. I was ill for a whole 5 days after it however - think it was more than just the Moquitos!!

The cathedral at Arequipa.

Peru - Nazca and Lima

These are in fact massive sand dunes in Nazca.



Aqeducts that are still used.




The spiral system of the aqeduct with pure water just below where Martin is standing.

The Nazca lines - very difficult to get a photo. In this one you can see a condor if you look very carefully.

We survived the plane journey and none of us were sick (even with my dodgy tummy). Bonus!

The traditional Pachamanka way of cooking. They put the meat (chicken, pork, beef), sweet potatoes and potatoes and vegetables under the ground and cook it for hours. It was gorgous. They then serve it with a drink made from purple corn and salad (that you can't eat because of the water).

Martin's 26th birthday. We went dune buggying and sand boarding. It was a fun day.

In the middle of the desert there was a gorgeous oasis with a lagoon.

A traditional Peruvian cake for Martin's birthday - I had to put normal candles on it as I couldn't find proper birthday ones. We also had pisco and sprite in plastic beakers on the bus.

The birthday boy! This was one of the only hot days we had during our time in South America and it was so nice. This place was another oasis and they had a restaurant and pool - it was all surrounded by sand dunes.

Barbara, Jose and Sephia drinking pisco. Martin later threw Jose in the pool in his shirt as Barbara and Jose celebrated Martin's birthday by putting 4 eggs on his head!

The pisco factory.

Our tasting session.

The drinks that we tried at the Pisco factory. Pisco sour is Peru's cocktail and very nice it is too.

Lima coast from a posh restaurant. Again we did well with the weather. I think I was also made ill by the Ceviche (raw fish) I tried. Ah well....

Sucre

Sucre from the roof tops.



Another door way that's too small for Martin!




An indigenous women weaving. It was unbelievable watching how they do it. They dye all the wool with natural ingredients too. This piece so far had taken her 2 months.




This was supposed to be a gentle hike......

Before the hike we had a scenic horse ride where the horses were trying to fight and mine nearly went for a donkey. We had to go through the areas of town that were very poor and there were pigs, dogs, people, chickens, sheep, goats and donkeys all living together. The dogs were barking at the horses and then there was a massive dog fight with about 10 dogs. Rather scary. It was only Martin's second time on a horse too!



More hiking!! It was wicked though. At about this point - the guide told us that if we fell in this pool would suck us under! Fantastic!




Getting round this rock was a nightmare. Our shoes wouldn't grip. The guide managed with sandals however. When we got round the rock Jose literally just had to pull us over! Think he saved mine and Martin's life that day!!

This was us contemplating how to get back down! I opted for climbing (as I didn't have my swim suit on), and Martin chose to jump.

Martin in preperation for jumping. The pool was only deep in one place. Health and safety.....

Carlos our guide and the scenery we walked through. It was very bizarre - suddenly an aeroplane would fly over - it just didn't quite fit!

We survived!! This was the barbeque they have us later. Gorgeous! We had to ask for chicken, as we had to avoid red meat and rich foods before heading into major altitude.

A nice view on the way to Potosi. Shortly before Martin got very ill with altitude sickness.

Potosi

Unfortunately Martin was very ill with altitude sickness when we got to Potosi. Potosi is the highest city in the world. He was sick on the bus, shaking and had a massice fever. He couldn't eat for 2 days and was really not well. So I went to the silver mines alone.


The gifts that we had to take for the miners - dynamite, coca leaves, pure alcohol and food.

The devil that they worship in the mines. They are giving him lit cigarettes and if he smokes them all it is good luck. They also give him alcohol in the hope that he will get kinky with Mother Earth and make her happy so she will bring goodness to them.

Me looking ultra sexy on 'Rich mountain.'

They gave us a demo of the dynamite explosions - yes - this bit of dynamite was lit. He stayed sitted for a while, then had a drink, and then casually walked to where he was putting it. Rather scary!

The young miners. It was friday, so they were drinking as they had finished work. The youngest was 17 and started working with his Dad at the age of 8. Working in the mines obviously has severe health consequences and the the life expectancy is 40years after beginning work in the mines, and 10-20 if they work deep in the mines.

I didn't get very far. They have to do this for hours and hours. Very hard work.

The minerals that were mined - fool's gold and silver.

The roads that we drove on to get from Potosi to Uyuni. Perfect for Martin with altitude sickness. The buses even drove through streams.