Before we left Arequipa for the 180KM drive to see the condors in the Colca Canyon...deeper than the grand canyon...I was off loaded from my bus to another....not nice i thought....but I really I did not feel too good there...so off I went without regrets.
On our way we saw the 3 of 4 the camel family animals...1 other species lives in different climatic conditions
first the graceful vicunas, these are wild and are protected by the government from hunting..they have the finest fur/wool of all animals...it's finer than human hair...
The alpaca and llamas are owned by individuals who graze them in the vast terrains...these are reared for wool and the alpaca for meat too...just like goats and sheep; don't know about their milk
they are very domesticated
The paysage is fascinating....
During the ride, I met a German guy who had not only visited Kenya, but stayed in Kakamega for 2 weeks...now how much closer can it get?!
We arrived at the town of Chivay for the night and the hot water baths...I seriously did question if these were authentic, stink of sulphur, taste salty, but...i mean it's near boiling water at one point...I think it's just a thing they put there to get the tourists there...the moon rise over the rocks
as we bathed with freezing temperatures sipping pico sour all made the the "scam" worth it after such a long ride and being back of beyond..one does not question too much...just happy for a relaxing diversion.
Next day off to the canyon....oh I had lost my key the night before...the joint where I stayed had no duplicate...they tried opening the room from 10.00pm to 2.00am....Mercifully I was moved...to a better room...
Next morning they started trying again from 5.30am...and just as it was 6.30...bus time...voila...I had my had left my stuff in there earlier...I got surcharged....
Anyway...after a brief wait, the condors would emerge from time to time cruise above their nests...
they are so silent that easily unnoticed..
and then other times, i guess they just chill out...and watch us
Somehow, i doubt i will ever return to this far flung town
On the way back, someone from the other group...which I was bumped off from...told me their bus had broken down 30 mins after departure and they had lost the whole day....they waited 4 hours for a rescue...
Qui sera sera...I thanked God for my luck....
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