Peter's Trip to Central America, Part 4

Arequipa and Colca Canyon:

Altiplano
Slept on the bus overnight. Woke up with the sun streaming in my face. We're now at about 2000 metres.
Altiplano
More Green
It's pretty obvious where there's some irrigation happening.
More Green
Arequipa
We arrive in Arequipa, Peru's second-largest city. It's also the home town of our guide, Paola.
Arequipa
Church
All cities in Peru (and Latin America generally) are built around a central plaza which has the main church on one side, and the government buildings on another.
Church
Arequipa Street
Arequipa is our first venture at altitude. It's only at 2300 metres, but enough to have us not carry our bags up stairs just yet.
Arequipa Street
Arequipa Central Plaza
This is one of the nicer central plazas I saw — plenty of greenery.
Arequipa Central Plaza
Plaza 2
and I was really hanging out for greenery after Paracas and Nazca.
Plaza 2
Plaza 3
.
Plaza 3
Plaza 4
Well, it's only a month before Xmas, so Santa is busy.
Plaza 4
On to Colca
Next day, we're on the bus to Colca Canyon.
On to Colca
Vicuña
In the distance; grazing (?) over the altiplano.
Vicuña
Vicuña 2
Pickings are pretty slim.
Vicuña 2
Vicuña 3
As we drive, we get higher and higher. No trees would grow here, even if it did rain.
Vicuña 3
Altitude Sickness
Oh, what joy to get gastro and altitude sickness at the same time. They had to stop the bus so I could throw up; while that was happening, one of the guides stepped on my glasses and crushed them; and then my fingernails went blue and they had to put me on oxygen. It was a good day.
Altitude Sickness
Herds of Vicuña
...sweeping majestically across the plains.
Herds of Vicuña
The same herd
.
The same herd
Alpacas
And gaily decorated ones at that.
Alpacas
Younger Alpacas
These babies only aspire to be gaily decorated.
Younger Alpacas
Alpaca Dreams
Lords and masters of all they survey.
Alpaca Dreams
Stop the Bus
Everyone stops here to breathe the thinnest air thye'll breathe on the trip.
Stop the Bus
High Point
This was the high point of the trip: literally. The bus stopped at this slight rise which was 4800 metres above sea level.
High Point
Gay Decoration
.
Gay Decoration
Yanque
About to drop down into the town of Yanque, where we will stay the night. And considering my condition, about time we lost some height.
Yanque
Yanque 2
Roll on thicker air!
Yanque 2
Canyon View
Jean's taking these pictures now; I'm in my sick bed at Yanque. Unfortunately for my ego, the photography gets better at this point.
Canyon View
At the Canyon
Everyone except me, as I was in my sick bed back at Yanque. The gang is Matt, Wozza, Jo, Scott, Sherryn, Jelena and Jean in front.
At the Canyon
Deep!
Beautiful isn't it? At 3000m this is the deepest canyon in the world.
Deep!
Cañon del Colca
.
Cañon del Colca
Wildflowers and Mountains
.
Wildflowers and Mountains
Cross of the Condor
.
Cross of the Condor
El Condor Pasa
.
El Condor Pasa
And he pasa again
.
And he pasa again
Condor and Mountain
.
Condor and Mountain
Condor No Mountain
.
Condor No Mountain
Closer Condor
.
Closer Condor
Condor Trainer
Looks like Sherryn's being marked for death by the condor trainer.
Condor Trainer
Condor on a Stick
This stick isn't big enough for the two of us.
Condor on a Stick
Condor on a Stick 2
.
Condor on a Stick 2
Llamas at Yanque
OK, I'm back in the saddle camera-wise now. You'll notice and immediate dimunition in photo quality. What follows are some shots around the hotel at Yanque
Llamas at Yanque
Another Falcon
Just sitting on the ledge outside our hotel window.
Another Falcon
The Hotel
Cool little huts in the mountains.
The Hotel
Our Hotel
Cool little huts in a circle.
Our Hotel
Sherryn and the Llamas
.
Sherryn and the Llamas
Jean and Llama
Jean is the one in the T-shirt.
Jean and Llama
View from Hotel
This is a delightful area and the photos don't do it justice.
View from Hotel
Downtown Yanque
Wlaking to lunch. Carving marks on mountains is popular in Peru.
Downtown Yanque
Central Square
Topiary is popular in central plazas; there was some in Nazca as well.
Central Square
Off We Go
Leaving Yanque on the way back to Arequipa.
Off We Go
Near the High Point Again
I'm feeling much better now; thanks for asking. Antibiotics can be handy things.
Near the High Point Again
High Point
This time we didn't stop.
High Point
Edge of the Biosphere
At 4800 metres there's not many signs of life. It show you how thin the atmosphere really is.
Edge of the Biosphere

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