Slowly Winding Down

The activities director at our current hotel, Efrain (he's  like a cruise director) keeps asking "what activity do you want to do next?  What can I schedule you for? Hiking?  Biking?  Horesback riding?  Fishing?" to which my response has been "I'll let you know."  It's true, part of vacation must be scheduled and planned, for example there is no way to see Machu Picchu if one does not have a plan in mind . . . but  here, in the Colca Valley?  A schedule of activities is not necessary . . . so today was spent on two very simple things.  1) a mini-hike to the next town and 2) SPA!!! 

First the hike . . . Joe and I decided that we didn't want to wait for a guide to take us the 2 miles down river to the closest town.  We were going to walk the trail, which is safe and marked, on our own . . . so that's what we did.  Initially, all seemed to be going splendidly, well except for the more than occasional cow patty or llama dropping, but we manuevered our way through.  Up and down hills on a dusty trail that often had a sheer drop to one side (and after probably ingesting more than a dozen gnats) , we made it about half way to our destination.  We had hiked up a hill, passed some burros and cows, to what appeared to be a flat, straight path that would lead us to the town which was now visible in the distance.  Proud of what we'd accomplished so far, we made our way passed some new construction but that construction was being guarded by a dog.  Now, there was a small stone wall separating the road from the dog and we felt confident that we could pass with ease, despite the barking and growling we could hear.  As we proceeded, Joe noticed that the wall wasn't entirely complete and the dog had popped out to do his job.  We tried our very best Cesar Milan tactics on the dog . . . we walked erect and made no eye contact, we made that little shish sound Cesar does, we spoke to it in Spanish . . . nothing worked and the dog advanced on us, baring his teeth and growling.  We slowly crept back because everyone knows you shouldn't run from a dog, and he followed us until he felt we were securely out of his area.  Joe and I tried once again to pass the dog, but to no avail.  We had to turn back and head to the hotel . . . thwarted.

To make ourselves feel better, on to activity two, the spa . . . after our harrowing morning adventure, Joe and I went to the spa.  It was quite luxiourious and I also spent some time in the steam room as the air here is so dry, my whole being is dehydrated.  We spent the rest of the afternoon just relaxing, reading, and winding down our trip.  It seems that more guests have arrived, we are no longer (literally) the only guests at the hotel so the end of our trip comes at a fortuitous time.  We had lovely dinner with the father/daughter pair of Bruce and Alannah again . . . we were the last people in the restaurant.

Tomorrow's activity . . . packing.

Buenas Noches . . .

Christine