Colca Canyon - Arequipa

Colca Canyon
We got a wake up call at about 5.30 – bleugh. We had about a two-hour bus journey to get to Colca Canyon. We stopped a few times along the way – which was a bit silly imo, as if the condors were flying in the morning – we would more than likely miss them.
Anywho, we stopped in a few villages along the way for more pictures. We also stopped at some hillside tombs – caves that the Colca Valley indigenous people had built on the side of the nearby mountains, in order for their dead to be nearer to their god – the Sun. I really wanted more trinkets but unfortunately we had no change – as per usual.*sigh*
So on to the area where the Condors usually hang aboot – Cruc del Condor. We were above some of the clouds and it was very beautiful, but alas there was no sign of any Condors. It is not the season to see them. It is the season for seal lion reproduction and the condors fly to the coast to eat gross alert Sea Lion placentas.
Then someone spotted one miles away and we all rushed over to try to get a glimpse, including this elderly Spanish woman. She was in such a rush that she tripped over a stone and fell and started to roll down the edge of the cliff! Us onlookers on the wall were like “EEK” and “Watch Yourself”. (Obviously in Spanish) There was a young French guy who was near where she was falling and he made a grab for her. I reckon if he hadn’t have been there, she would have been errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuu
SPLAT!!
So after this we spotted the Condor, who was a small white/black speck about 2km below us. I was disappointed as I had been expecting him to at least come over and tussle my hair, but the other lads were pleased to have seen one.. (Weirdos…).. )
Then it was back to Chivoy for some lunch. The guide brought us to a buffet, (SHOCK) but we escaped and went back to the other restaurant, where I had some spaghetti and tomato ketchup. Bleugh..he he
Then off back to Arequipa to Mawm’s place. We went to a pretty posh Italian place for some grub, where some guy soothed our ears with ANOTHER version of El Condor Pasa on the violin. He he. I had some seafood spaghetti, (more spaghetti) which was basically all squid – but the sauce and the spaghetti bit was delicious. 
We’re off to Puno tomorrow – just for a day I think, as we do not have much time. The others are coming with us so it’s all good.  Ciao Ciao

Leeeee

(Pics to come soon)