10-21-2007
Peru
Hello, we flew from Iquitos to the capital of Peru, Lima. Here we stayed in a lovely area called Miraflores (thanks to Mrs Goodall´s advice!). After the heat of the jungle, Lima was freezing so we didn´t stay long.
We took a really posh bus (by accident) to Nasca. It had blankets and pillows, food and films. Although it was an unexpected treat, we´ve decided that we prefer travelling by the local buses. The trip to Nasca was quite sad. We passed through many of the towns, cities and villages that had been affected by the earthquake that happened a few months ago. We saw hundreds of families living in tents, working hard to clear up the mess. Most of the buildings have been ruined and there was piles of rubble everywhere. It was awful to see so many people without homes. However, a lot of help for the affected areas is being provided and life seems to be slowly getting back to normal.
We stopped in Nasca to fly over the Nasca lines. These are strange patterns and pictures drawn in the sand by the Inca people around 600BC. There is a lot of mystery surrounding them as they can only be seen from the air. When they were made, air travel hadn´t been invented so they are still one of the world´s many mysteries. The plane was tiny and I felt quite sick but it was worth it. We went to the Inca graves too and saw scary skeletons and mummies from the Inca time too. It was a bit spooky!
From Nasca, we travelled to Arequipa which is a lovely city with lots of beautiful white buildings (and a great market for buying fruit and vegetables).
We took a three day trek down into the Colca Canyon which is the second deepest canyon in the world. It was hard work as it was so hot but the canyon was beautiful. The people who live there don´t have jobs, they just farm the land and provide little clay huts for tourists to sleep in. There are no roads, just very steep paths so the locals travel on foot or by donkey. A journey to the nearest town takes over a day!
It was great fun learning about all the interesting plants and animals along the way. On our second day, we arrived at a lovely ´oasis´ with a freshwater pool. It was good to relax after 5 long hours of trekking.
Our final day began at 2.30am when we had to climb up 1,600m in three hours. It was cold and dark and my torch was rubbish so I didn´t really enjoy it until it started to get light. The Canyon looked utterly magnificent and it felt really good to finally reach the top.
We then travelled (by bus thankfully) to Condor Cross where we sat for two hours waiting for Condors to fly up out of the canyon. We saw about 8. Condors are endangered vultures, thier wingspan reaching 3 metres. The vultures on the Jungle Book are Condors. It was amazing to see them although I wished I´d had binoculars! After a brief visit to some thermal baths (to soothe our aching muscles) we returned to Arequipa.
We are now in Puno. The bus ride here was beautiful. We saw dozens of Vicuñas (almost extinct relatives of the Llama) and pink flamingos. We have been unable to do anything today as it is the Peru Census 2007. This means that they are counting everyone who is in the country and everyone has to stay inside until 7pm. Nothing is open so we´ve not really had a lot to do.
Tomorrow, we´re going to Lake Titicaca which borders Bolivia too. We´re staying on the Peruvian side for the moment and are hoping to spend a few days island hopping. Because we are high above sea level, it´s quite difficult to breathe here and I´ve had a bit of a headache. I’m slowly getting used to it.
Hope everyone has enjoyed half term (has it finished yet?) I look forward to hearing about it. Will be in touch soon, Miss Black xx
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hi Miss Black
On Friday I went to the seabird centre and I found some seals on the camera they were on the Bass Rock.A helper found a peregrine Falcon on a rock.On Saturday I went to the fireworks in Pencaitland they were very pretty
LOL
Caitlin xxxxxxx
Dear Louise,
Your adventures sound amazing, I’m not sure if I could cope with the bugs, especially the one that lived in your hair for 4 days!
Also just to let you know that I leave HIS on 23rd Nov. I have got a deputes job at St. Margarets in Edinburgh, I will miss HIS but don’t worry I have told the new MT that you are coming back!
You may have also heard that Liz has resigned, Kirsty and I went out for tea with her this week and she seems fine and looking forward to new things.
Kirsty has got her new flat and is busy scraping and decorating!
Anyway carry on having fun, I’m very jealous as I sit here on a grey Dunbar day!!
Lots of love
Eileen X
Hi Miss Black, I hope you traveled all right. Mrs Paton has been made our full time teacher, she shouts a lot. I would like you back now. Bye for now. Love Ellie F xxxxxx
P.S. Mum says are those things youv’e been eating veggie and did you eat the one from your hair?
hi Miss black
On Tuesday night my Auntie Seonaid had her baby it was a boy called Oscar he is very cute.We have an ill chicken in are garden she is called Chips.When is it your birthday?Yesterday I went to the book fair at the school I got stretchy sharks.
LOL
Kitty (Caitlin) xxxxxxxx
Hi guys!
Nice to read about your experience travelling via Rio Napo.
We are going to do similar trip in the end of January 2008. We will try to catch a cargo boat from Pantoja to Iquitos.
We were wondering if you know the “schedule” of this cargo boat? We know it leaves once a month. Do you know the approximate days? Is it in the end of the month or so0me other time.
We would appreciate your help.
Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Augustas and Katja