The Trek and Onward

I was picked up at my place of accomodation at 6 am on Wednesday, then put on a local bus for the 6 hour journey through the Andes to Cabaconde (on roads largely unpaved). I slept through much of it, as did Chris, an Englishman also on the trek who was sitting next to me. We arrived in Cabacaconde, had lunch, and headed down into the canyon. There were 2 more travelers on the trek, an American woman named Sarah and a German girl called Anya. We were led by Maria, a fearless five-foot nothing Peruvian guide with limited English skills. I noticed the altitude immediately, and have to say that downhill hiking shouldn´t be so grueling.



After stopping at the Colca river after the three hour decent, we climbed back up the other side of the canyon for a spell until we reached our village where we were to spend the night. After dinner and a game of @sshole with some other trekkers (that game has more rule nuances than one can imagine), we were in bed ready for another day in (and back out of the canyon). The second day hiking through the world´s second-deepest canyon, we passed through several more mountain villages, one with a seventeenth century church built by the Spanish conquistadors and still in operation. We eventually setteled at a place known as the Oasis, a group of huts with a grassy knoll and a swimming hole. I took a siesta after lunch, and we spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with other backpackers poolside, and later by the fire. Early to bed were we, however, for our trek out of the Colca Canyon began at 2:30 am. A grueling, 3 1/2 hour assent of switchbacks, we learned that our trip wasn´t nearly as difficult as some of the other travelers: two of the guides got drunk at the Oasis, and one passed out (after throwing up) half-way up the hill. Fortunately, Maria was in bed at 9 like the rest of our group. We arrived back at Cabaconde, then took a bus to a pass overlooking the canyon, where we watched condors and eagles soar overhead. Another short bus ride led us to small resort outside of Chivay, where we soaked our tired bodies in a hot spring. We then had a snack in the train station (alpaca turnover), and rode the bumpy Peruvian roads back to Arequipa.

I had a few pints with Chris after collecting my belongings, and got on an 8 pm overnight coach to Cusco (sitting next to a Peruvian woman and her 2 year old on her lap, not fun). Cusco is breathtaking - both from its scenery and thin air. I am trying to arrange another trek in the Andes, and a trip to Machu Picchu, so I have my work cut out for my today.

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If I hear "My Humps" or "Hips Don´t Lie" one more time I am going to cry.