We have made our journey to Colca! As you could probably tell by the quick update yesterday we are doing some relaxing!!
I really enjoyed Arequipa. It was a nice city, other than it is within about two miles as the crow flys from an active volcano. According to our guide the evacuation plan is weak, the early warning system sounds like it will give you enough time to panic.
The emergency services here are also lacking to some degree. They have them and you see ambulances but outside the city you can be on your own. They don’t have good cell coverage and they don’t use helicopters to fly accident patients. It could be hours before you would get an ambulance. If people drive safely for the roads they wouldn’t be going very fast but I would guess there is always that one guy that is in a hurry.
The local convent was an interesting tour and insightful to what could be expected for females back in the day for the Spanish people here. First daughter married off at 12, second join the convent at 12 for the family’s saving, and the last daughter to be caretaker for the parents. Any of the daughters may get sent to the convent at 3 to learn all the things need to be a good wife, nun or caretaker.
We stopped off in a national park to look at some of the local animals and the wetlands. The wetlands were neat to see. It’s a good place for raising alpaca and llamas.
We also stopped in Chivay and looked around a market. There were several verity of potatoes of the 3000 available here in Peru. Some were dried, sounds like freeze dried. Those potatoes the guide said would be good for years stored. They were like rocks, good for soups. This could be a good place a pioneer woman could come and learn some helpful things! It wouldn’t surprise me if they have a soup with potatoes and sparrow of some sort.
The lodge is very nice, rustic, beautiful and they have hot springs! We have been fortunate enough to have our own spring twice already. They are very relaxing!! I spent some time out enjoying the fresh air on a lounger after a morning soak and Emily has wondered down to play with alpaca and llamas.
We are going to look into maybe horseback riding or another activity this afternoon.
Traveling with Emily! 