Strike on the road - Paracas to Cuzco

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We spent couple days in a village of Paracas. There was a nice seafront full of sidewalk restaurants and vendors. Most of the days we were chilling on a beach...
One day we made a trip to Reserva Nacional de Paracas. It's a desert-filled national reserve where you can visit some very nice beaches. The nicest was Playa de Roja - red sand on the beach was incredible and made cool impression next to blue water.
Following day we visited Islas Balletas. We spent some time cruising around the island's arches watching noisy sea lions sprawl on the rocks. Smell was unbearable but still so worth to see it! There was a small beach where only baby sea lions were playing. So cute!

We took hostels owner advice and before heading to Cuzco we went first to Huacachina - lagoon surrounded by mountains and sand dunes. Place not really worth to visit, in my opinion. Lagoon is overrated and the whole place is overpriced!
After one hour we decided to go to a travel agent and book tickets to Cuzco. We thought that everything will go smoothly but from that moment for next 30 hours, we experienced some scary moments!

Travel agent told us that they can't book tickets as there is a road strike or something and it is impossible. We started questioning it and ask how long strike will take and is other companies going? She was certain: " No, if there is the strike no company will go. It's too dangerous! It can take a day or two. I don't know".
Well after not very helpful conversation we went to look for a room as we didn't know what else could we do. So little we knew back then 😊
We found cheapest hostel and booked beds and then we met a girl from our previous hostel. She was certain that other companies are going. "There is always another road" - she said.
We thought " yeah let's give a go!" and we took taxi to bus station in Ica. Indeed there were buses going to Cuzco. So we took the first cheapest available and then we learnt that booking buses on websites, it is not a cheapest way. Of course cheap doesn't mean comfortable!
After one hour of travelling in the bus, we stopped on the road and weren't not moving for quite a long time. Stewardess became very nervous and with a frightened voice ordered us to close the window curtains. We started moving slowly. I looked through a window and there were a lot of people on the streets. We stopped again... And then we heard gun shots! Everyone got scared as we didn't know what's was going on! I looked again through the window and saw even more people, burnt tyres and a lot of big stones and woods on the road. Some of the people started throwing stones into a bus. Stewardess took his tie off and zipped his coat so you could not see his nice white shirt and looked more nervous than any of the passengers.
I tried to ask a girl who sat next to us, what's going on? She replied that people are not happy how government manages transportation and that poor people can't afford to travel. Other lady said that young miners are not happy with a wage and changes. Not sure which reason was a right one but anyway situation didn't look promising.
We were stuck in a small village with really unhappy locals and no sign of police. There was no way we could go through that stones and wood on the road. There several buses behind us.
After about one hour, police came with a really serious equipment! Some guy came to the bus and shouted: "All the men outside to help move stones!"
Then the situation freaked me out even more! There were men arguing outside, people running with covered faces, gun shots, stones throw into bus.... I didn't know where Alex was!!
Then bus started moving slowly. After about one hour of going really slow all the men came back to the bus and it looked like the road was cleared! We could continue our journey to Cuzco...

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[D MJ Binkley]

Peru
We've done a lot of traveling and Peru is still one of our favorites. Go with the flow. Always a way to see the things you want to see.