Huancavelica, Andes Peru
Wow, what an incredible two days and we are now in Huancavelica at 12000 ft, a small town in the Peruvian Andes. We left Nazca early yesterday and travelled north again up to the coastal town of Pisco. Pisco is a mess having suffered from an earth quake in August last year that destroyed 50% of the houses and buildings and has only just started rebuilding. We travelled out of town on a guided tour to the National Reserve of Paracas that appears to be like a view into the Sahara Desert. However, the cliffs and islands are a mass of roosting and nesting sea birds a few with spectacular colouring, and at least two species of oyster catchers. We still need to study up a bit on some of the species names. The afternoon in Pisco was to wait for our overnight bus inland and up into the Andes and to the town of Huavancelica. The whole bus trip was just a nightmare and we managed little sleep. It was overcrowded, the mountain roads were horrific, and we were both very relieved to get to Huancavelica safely. The day has ended though on a brighter note with a terrific parade in town, with musicians, bands, and lots of brightly coloured local costumes on display. The town has a picturesque location surrounded by steep mountain peaks, and in the distance some snow covered peaks.
Wow, what an incredible two days and we are now in Huancavelica at 12000 ft, a small town in the Peruvian Andes. We left Nazca early yesterday and travelled north again up to the coastal town of Pisco. Pisco is a mess having suffered from an earth quake in August last year that destroyed 50% of the houses and buildings and has only just started rebuilding. We travelled out of town on a guided tour to the National Reserve of Paracas that appears to be like a view into the Sahara Desert. However, the cliffs and islands are a mass of roosting and nesting sea birds a few with spectacular colouring, and at least two species of oyster catchers. We still need to study up a bit on some of the species names. The afternoon in Pisco was to wait for our overnight bus inland and up into the Andes and to the town of Huavancelica. The whole bus trip was just a nightmare and we managed little sleep. It was overcrowded, the mountain roads were horrific, and we were both very relieved to get to Huancavelica safely. The day has ended though on a brighter note with a terrific parade in town, with musicians, bands, and lots of brightly coloured local costumes on display. The town has a picturesque location surrounded by steep mountain peaks, and in the distance some snow covered peaks.