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Published: February 17th 2008
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After a lovely trip with a cheap bus, where not only the price gave it away; a nice scent around people, a flat tire and people spitting in the aisle. I did arrive in
Arequipa. This city also known as the white city. The buildings are made from sillar(whitish volcanic stone) The volcanos are prettily snow capped around this desert city. I woke up the first morning through a light earthquake, this was a first timer for me and a strange experience. Eventually because of the rain, I booked a tour. The roads are bad because of it thus the buses are not frequent nor safe. Besides all by yourself will cost almost the same price as a 2 day tour.
So there I was in a bus, out the bus taking pics, in the bus, out the bus taking pics; like a real one. My goal was seeing the humongous condors. On the way I used the highest toilet, at least in my history, at 4910m! We visited some villages in de famous Cañon del Colca, which still is in the race for being the deepest cañon (3191m) in the world. Very deeply impressed. I visited some tombs; the
people got here a nice after death treatment by being put in a foetal position by cutting their tendons in knees and elbows. The tombs do have windows; so condors could pick them up more easily and bring them to the sky. I hold my breath in a tunnel of half a kilometre, to be able to make a wish, I've seen some poor animals like huge eagles and baby lamas for the tourist to take pictures with. Some poor children also dancing the whole day for tourist, for e.g 'wititi' which is the dance of love. You should give it a try on this altitude 3000m+, it's more difficult than expected. Along the road there were vizcachas; which are 'mountain rabbits with squirrel like tail' and vicuñas; which are the smallest of lamas. I ate a lot and visited very welcome hot springs. We have seen different dances, with the absolute and hilarious winner the 'malaria dance'.
The second day we also went the Cruz del Condor. Here we waited and waited for these huge birds and their time to lift off, using thermal winds. We saw them first far far down and finally 3 of them rose
above us. I stood, of course again, in the wrong spot. But I did see them cruising by, impresionante.
One extra piece of nauseating information; there are moments condors come to the beach to eat the afterbirth of the sea lions.
The ride back was a sleepy ride. I visited the museum with Juanita, the frozen child found on Ampata, a volcano near Arequipa. Excited as I was for this, bad timing was again on my side; she has her beauty sleep for 4 months. So I've seen briefly another child, thanks to my speedy guide.
The Nazca lines, was my next halt. As they are still trying to figure out if it were aliens or just smart people long long time ago, I just enjoyed the amazing, and bumpy, view from above. Bumpy because the pilot manoeuvres this tiny aircraft from right to left and from left to right. Everyone wants to see, everyone did see! No sickness on my behalf afterwards. I stayed in boring warm Nazca an extra night because Sebastián was passing through here for another good bye.
Huacachina is a whole other story, this is an oasis. So weird, just sand dunes all around and then a tiny lake with palm trees and some houses. I´ve heard already from so many,
that the sand boarding cannot be missed. And because I am also a little sheep which follows the cattle I find myself here. Here I had some fun diarrhea storytelling with an Ozzie, this is by the way pretty normal, before getting a name you know al about the others bowel movements. After these romantic stories I bumped into a Dutchie(Wieke), while having dinner-for-two we found out she is a good friend of the sister of my good friend. Besides that she bumped into Juud on her trip (my new years fellow celebrator). With her I had some drinks, some food, some sunbathing and
sand boarding! I found myself a new hobby. First you go with a buggy of 9 people in the dunes; feels like a roller coaster. You pull over and go the first time only you belly down a sandy hill, without screaming obviously. The next time I was still a chicken but because Wieke stood up, I had to try the same the next time. And all in between there are thrilling buggy rides btw. And you know what, I did pretty well; I didn´t sit down all the way down,which I expected. On the contrary,
I stood up for long stretches, how great is that. We also had some picture taking fun, not posed at all, outcome was oddly like for a commercial. The only shitty thing what happened, is our last night. I went out of bed for a midnight pee, tripped over someone's bag in our dorm on my way back. I couldn´t sleep that well and I woke up when a guy crawled in the bed in front of me. I sat straight up, sleepy and confused as that bed wasn't occupied. The guy got out of the bed and hung some stuff over one of the bunk beds. I thought it was the Japanese guy; being drunk and had troubles finding his bed; just acting weird. I woke again up (I think)shortly after when a metal cup fell. I was irritated; what is everyone doing in the middle of the night? The next day I found out; everything of 2 of my roommates was stolen, as in everything except for what they were wearing. I felt silly and guilty.
Leaving my new hobby behind me and Wieke went to
Lima. Here we spent 1,5 day together, because she has to
work again in Ecuador. We had a very intelligent move; because she packed up already I carried her stuff in my bag. And the obvious happened; we forgot all about it. She headed to the border(14 hours up north!) and I had her camera and
passport! Fools. After a few attempts we got this sorted, as in send to her with the next bus. Luckily I asked how she can pick it up; with her passport, yes you are funny as that's
inside. I changed hostels; went to lovely Barranco, the historic part in the south of Lima. I loved it! Beautiful place, with friendly staff, a few beach trips were you are served and see dolphins, drinks, some salsa, bbq's, eating fish, everything together in one place. With cute brown lab Bingo to add. From here I also visited the impressive fountain show near the centre of Lima, amazing with 12 fountains. Some to run in and play, some just being pretty, an other one really high and at the end a music/laser/photo/colour-water show in the biggest one, sweet!
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