Colca Canyon

A 6am start for a journey along windy bumpy narrow roads in the mountains through picturesque valleys of patchwork terraces overlooked by snow capped mountains to Colca Canyon. We passed a little village with cows, donkeys, pigs, alpakas and thesurrounding dry stone walls were laidened with cacti along the tops which I thought was quite a good alternative to pallicade fencing. Do you think it could catch on in London and Herts? The snow capped mountains overlooked the neat patchwork terraces ascending the steep slopes. On arrival at the canyon it was cold as we stood at the tourist spot awaiting the condors which fly on the thermals through the canyon early in the morning. By 9am tourists had arrived in great numbers and the sun was reaching us warming us all up but the condors, although in flight were lower down in the canyon. We watched the clouds rise out of the valley for clearer vision then more clouds rose until the canyon was layered in thick cloud once again.
As we drove back down the windy road and through the steep slopes ladened with alpine plants we passed a farming women carrying a baby on her back wrapped in the traditional cloth used for carrying any kinds of loads. At the same time she was sheparding cattle and sheep with a baby lama in her arms, a real beautiful picture and a very resourceful women. Women all over the world are clearly good at multi tasking!
Back at Chivay as we ate lunch the rain started and it fell cats dogs and elephants. Realising we had to be back at the truck but unsure where the truck was, we ran out in the rain and scattered in all directions! Lets just say that all the locals who were sensibly taking shelter in shops whilst we screamed and scattered in various directions thought this the free Gringo entertainment was hilarious! We however were less entertained and soaking wet! On arrival at the truck we scrabbled around for some dry clothes for the next leg of our journey, the long drive up and over the Andes again. To assist with the long journey and the cold, we played cards and drank cheep spirits we had bought previously in Ecuador and obviously saved for this moment!
As we drove through the snow at over 4000m the then beautiful scenery became shrouded in snow. Ok now it was really cold and it was getting late. We were looking for somewhere suitable to camp for the night but we had to atleast wait until we had driven below the snow line. Eventually we found somewhere suitable and after dinner we retired to our tents. Admittedly it was chilly.....
In the morning whilst eating our camp breakfast we suddenly noticed a bull and cows nearby, the bull making his way over to us looking a little too interested. After initial concern we realised a middle aged women herding them. We were apparently on her land and although we gave her bread and milk she told our driver Mike that she would like some money to help her out with an operation she needed. This is quite a common sory but what do you say.....we were a truck load of gringo´s apparently on her land!