Daily Archives: June 29, 2013

Cold feet & Chicken Feet: Colca Canyon, Puno & Lake Titicaca

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Before we left Arequipa the next morning, our little sub group headed back to the main square to visit the cathedral which was free entry early in the morning. That was ok, but the real brucey was we witnessed the start of an annual event celebrating the old inca messengers that ran 650 km from Arequipa to Cusco. They had a school group, a cadet group and a group of genuine marathon runners who will run as a tag team the while distance. They now use the event to promote sports and partnerships over the regions.

We left Arequipa by 8 on a bus that would be ours for the next three days with a driver and another guide and headed up higher into the Colca Canyon region. After an hour we passed the runner of the event that had set off early in the morning, he was at least forty going at a decent pace! The scenery of the open plains and snow capped volcanos opened up, this was the South America I was waiting up get my teeth back into. Unfortunately the bus journey was broken up by our guide on the microphone delivering potentially interesting information in a listless un-engaging fashion and I know I wasn’t the only one who wished she’d shut up. We stopped to take photos of lamas, alpaca and the sweet doe eyed Vicuña. We passed the highest point of the crossing at 4800, just getting on and off the bus for a few photos left us all panting! Chewing on coca leaves, drinking coca tea and plenty of water are all things that should help with the altitude.
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Back pain, large groups, guinea pig (Lima, Pisco, Nazca & Arequipa)

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Arriving back in Lima for the second time, but this time in winter and a major temp difference. This was the start of another tour I’d booked over 11 months, which amongst other sights included the four day Inca trek, and was the main reason for booking the tour. June is one of the best times to do the Inca trail as its dry season, (though very cold when the sun sets). In high insight I regretted booking a three week tour, a) it’s a an expensive way to see a pretty cheap country, b) I’ve come to love the independence of travelling alone. That said I came into my previous tour back in December ( Santiago to La Paz) with a similar less than positive attitude, and ended up having an amazing time with a great little crew of six. That last tour was aimed at 18-36 age bracket, and the accommodation was a more basic and we ate at pretty cheap places.

This tour was the level above, and turning up at the nice modern hotel in Miraflores, Lima with my backpack I felt a little out of place. I checked in and had a bit if down time to catch up with family on Skype. Sadly my grandmother passed away whilst I was trekking in the jungle in Colombia and her funeral was the next day. It’s been strange to be away for something like this, and hard not being able to be there for Mum and give her a big hug, and help with arrangements. Honestly I’ve not missed being at home for many things, save the birth of a couple of friends new babies, but this was another one of those times I just wanted to be back with the family.
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