Corapuna Drive By

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Our bus leaves at 4 p.m. Route takes us up by Coropuna, the massive volcano on the west side of the valley. It's at over 23,000 feet, and the bus labors up the sinuous onelane road toward the 15,000 foot pass. The mountain is backlit, and other worldly and white with snow beyond the barren plateau from which it rises. Edison says he can guide me and a group of other locos to the summit some time. That requires some thought.

My wet feet are pickling in my boots. No room to remove them.

We go through the village of Viraco, about half way down the valley of the same name. Dark by now. There's a sidewalk vendor, a woman selling tripe. I pass. Tom Hanks and Castaway entertains us on the way down.

The nine hours passes quickly. I must be resigned and weary, in the moment. Here I am in Arequipa, Asturia Hotel at 2:00 a.m.

"In dwelling, live close to the ground." Tao Te Ching, #8

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Photos

Above Andagua
A winding road on the way to Coropuna pass.

Coropuna
You can start the climb from here. Another day.