Colca Canyon

The colca canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world. So we thought it would be a good idea to walk into it and then out of it. Normally I would be very happy to do that sort of thing but on the first day, i was not a happy camper. The night before had been a long one due to some stomach lurchings. We began with a bus ride, to the Condor lookout. These giant majestic birds are known to soar very close to the cliffs, looking for food as they get looked at. But there wasn´t much food about so we only saw one. But climbing down the 1000 or so metres into the canyon wasn´t fun for me, but Tash was going great guns. I was getting altitude sickness as well. But our guide, Roy, came to my aide with a chemical smelling liquid that made me throw up, which made everything better. A few Colca remedies when we got down to the little village\hostel also did the trick. The views of this place were amazing. The different colours of the rock, the shear walls, and as we looked up at the path we had come down, you realize how steep it is. There are native people who live down there all their lives and they climb out regularly, with mules and horses. Those beasts are very sure footed but smell appallingly bad. The next day was easier and we made our way along the base of the canyon to a place called the Oasis. The pool here and the fire that kept us warm overnight was great, which however the bed was not. The walk out was hard but good and we both got to the top in good time and good spirits. The bus took us to the hottest hot spring our bodies could handle. What a brilliant way to lose all the muscle pains that we had picked and have a good chat to the group of people we were with. It was a diverse bunch with American newlyweds, an Irish couple moving to Australia, a German couple, an English Lady taking a year off work and us. Straight away its onto an overnight bus to Cuzco and all the Inka sites it holds.