We began the morning in Arequipa, Peru's second largest city, that sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet and traveled to the Colca Valley 4 1/2 hours away reaching heights of 16,000 feet along the way. The journey took us through various ecological landscapes from the scrub brush of the lower highlands on which the threatened vicuna, the national treasure of the Andes which comes from the camelid family (think smaller and skinnier alpaca), thrive to the wetlands on which alpaca and the Peruvian Coot feed. It was an amazing landscape that can only be described as lunar -- vast sandy deserts with only large boulders that gave way to neon green covered rocks and marsh-like canals. We drove through the caldera of an extinct volcano and were at one point surrounded by some of the tallest mountains in Peru, including Ampata where archeologists discovered the intact Inca Mummy Girl, Juanita.
The highest point of our journey landed us at the Mirador De Los Andes, 16,000 feet above sea level. We were only allowed a short 10 minute stop as the air is so thin, one can easily get winded and begin to feel the effects of altitude sickness. Unfortunately, by this time in our travels I REALLY needed to use the bathroom . . . and the only one available was a stone hut a few hundered feet from the road . . . UP an embankment. It took everything I had not to run . . . or pee in my pants . . . and as I rushed into the makeshift bathroom which comprised primarily of a hole in the ground and which lacked a door, my disgust at the facilities gave way to relief. In addtion to peeing at the highest elevation I have ever been, we also took part in a local ritual of stacking rocks as a prayer and wish to the Sun god . . . here's hoping my wish comes true.
The Colca Valley lies at an elevation of about 11,000 feet and I have yet to aclimate to the altitude, though Joe believes it's psychological . . . let's just say hiking and bike riding are two activities I am putting off for awhile. However, the activity I most definitely took part in was feeding the baby alpacas and llamas!!!! We were able to bottle feed four babies, all about 2 months old and sooooo CUTE! Inti (Moon) is my favorite llama and Brownie is Joe's. I really like to take home and have my own llama . . . but I guess I'll have to be satisfied taking home a llama water bottle and an alpaca scarf.
Tomorrow, we're off to see the Andean Condors early in the morning, so buenas noches.
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