Today we eventually made it back to Chivay, which is the capital of the Colca area. We drove in to town, passing many farmers with various animals on the road. Mad dogs which want to chase your car seem to the rule of the day.
We asked by the municipal satdium and walked in to town. We wanted to buy insect repellant as one of the places we are going seemingly has lots of mosquitos. We found a pharmacy and were served by a girl who could only have been ten or so. Unlike UK you can buy a whole load of medicines over the counter, without a prescription. There was no apparent adult about.
In the market square there were a number of distinctive taxis - a bit like motorised rickshaws, that hared about the place. The ATM on the Plaza de Armas was out of order but the security guards pointed us in the direction of another. To our relief, we could withdraw money.
We walked around the town as we needed to buy lunch supplies for tomorrow as we will be travelling all day. There seemed to be many shops selling bags of cement, and DIY stuff - quite apprpriate as most of the buildings seemed to be "work in progress." We bumped into Guillermo who is the ownwe of the hotel we are staying in, and he seemed surprised that we were just mooching around.
As always, there is a church on the Plaza de Armas. Inside, for a poor town, it was very elaboate. All the statues were robed in real clothes. There was a huge nativity scene, complete with running water and lorry! (We hadn´t the disrespect to take a photo.)
Eventually we found the market - just a street where people laid out their wares on the floor. The advocadoes were three times the sixe of home. There was also a market hall, but it was all a bit gruesome with too obviously dead animals! Eventually we found the bread and cheese section, and bought some. Very homemade.
On the way back we passed by a modernist looking building - partially finished which looked like a new bullring. Alongside it was another older bull ring, made of stone.
After that we headed to Peru´s most famous hot springs at La calera about 5 km out of town. It was a scorching hot day, with the sun high in the sky. Unlike previous hot springs, there were a series of five pools, all at different temperatures - some covered, some not. Initially we went in an uncovered pool and were the first there, until a bus load of rather too beautiful Australians showed up. Afraid of sun burn we sought out an inside pool. This we found, and it was filled with locals who are obviously wiser about their skin. It was round and we thought we were pariahs as all the local sat at the opposite side to us. This we discovered was because there were hidden steps to sit on at that side and it was also cooler.
We stayed as long as we could bear it and then headed out for lunch in a snack bar there. Along with a sandwich Kevin drank a cactus fruit drink that was very refreshing.
Heading back to our hotel earlier than planned we decided to explore the village we are staying in more fully. This took about ten minutes. There is another ornate church on the Plaza de Armas, a couple of cave like grocery shops and an artesanal shop where a lady embroiders hats made in Korea. The main square was deserted, apart from a few roaming dogs.
Back at the hotel, we read books before dinner - a meal of omelette and chips. Joan asked for a Pisco Sour which the owner gave her free as he was training one of his staff to make them. We stayed for three night. Usually people only stay for one or two nights so he declared we were like family. (Did not get family rates though)
We asked by the municipal satdium and walked in to town. We wanted to buy insect repellant as one of the places we are going seemingly has lots of mosquitos. We found a pharmacy and were served by a girl who could only have been ten or so. Unlike UK you can buy a whole load of medicines over the counter, without a prescription. There was no apparent adult about.
In the market square there were a number of distinctive taxis - a bit like motorised rickshaws, that hared about the place. The ATM on the Plaza de Armas was out of order but the security guards pointed us in the direction of another. To our relief, we could withdraw money.
We walked around the town as we needed to buy lunch supplies for tomorrow as we will be travelling all day. There seemed to be many shops selling bags of cement, and DIY stuff - quite apprpriate as most of the buildings seemed to be "work in progress." We bumped into Guillermo who is the ownwe of the hotel we are staying in, and he seemed surprised that we were just mooching around.
As always, there is a church on the Plaza de Armas. Inside, for a poor town, it was very elaboate. All the statues were robed in real clothes. There was a huge nativity scene, complete with running water and lorry! (We hadn´t the disrespect to take a photo.)
Eventually we found the market - just a street where people laid out their wares on the floor. The advocadoes were three times the sixe of home. There was also a market hall, but it was all a bit gruesome with too obviously dead animals! Eventually we found the bread and cheese section, and bought some. Very homemade.
On the way back we passed by a modernist looking building - partially finished which looked like a new bullring. Alongside it was another older bull ring, made of stone.
After that we headed to Peru´s most famous hot springs at La calera about 5 km out of town. It was a scorching hot day, with the sun high in the sky. Unlike previous hot springs, there were a series of five pools, all at different temperatures - some covered, some not. Initially we went in an uncovered pool and were the first there, until a bus load of rather too beautiful Australians showed up. Afraid of sun burn we sought out an inside pool. This we found, and it was filled with locals who are obviously wiser about their skin. It was round and we thought we were pariahs as all the local sat at the opposite side to us. This we discovered was because there were hidden steps to sit on at that side and it was also cooler.
We stayed as long as we could bear it and then headed out for lunch in a snack bar there. Along with a sandwich Kevin drank a cactus fruit drink that was very refreshing.
Heading back to our hotel earlier than planned we decided to explore the village we are staying in more fully. This took about ten minutes. There is another ornate church on the Plaza de Armas, a couple of cave like grocery shops and an artesanal shop where a lady embroiders hats made in Korea. The main square was deserted, apart from a few roaming dogs.
Back at the hotel, we read books before dinner - a meal of omelette and chips. Joan asked for a Pisco Sour which the owner gave her free as he was training one of his staff to make them. We stayed for three night. Usually people only stay for one or two nights so he declared we were like family. (Did not get family rates though)
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