Peru Day 17: Condors

Recurring theme warning: had a normal breakfast as feeling well enough but this wasn't the best idea as I'll explain later. The mini-bus left for Colca Canyon at 6:30am and stopped a number of times to appreciate the deep, wide valley views. Locals had got wind of tourists would be there and were out in force with souvenirs or had dressed up for the occasion and brought their pet llamas in case we wanted to pay for photos. Luckily the views were free and were good value. The driver played a trick on us turning off the van lights whilst going through a tunnel, and Jordie, our rep told a story about some very serious East Germans not appreciating his cheeky humour.

We arrived at the condor viewpoint and walked for about 20 minutes towards the canyon edge. The birds themselves had appeared on the far side and we almost thought we were too late for their flying show. However, we stood at a viewpoint for a few minutes and gradually one, two then three condors glided close to us. Some were brown indicating they were teenagers but still enormous like their parents in black plumage, white collars and shining blue wings. They were majestic and silent riding the thermals unlike us clicking away like paparazzi and cooing with delight. More condors turned up and favoured a particular thermal so we moved further towards the bulging tourist crowd. The condors didn't seem be bothered by the attention and even the flock multiplied to about 12 before we left. As we left we bumped into an English couple we'd met yesterday. Bit of a 'what, what, tally-ho' moment as he said 'see you back at the ranch'.

We were back on the road after about 150 photos and some good video footage, heading towards another buffet lunch in Chivay. Luckily not the same place as yesterday but it turned out to be below par in different ways (though I had at least an appetite and didn't mind the battered bananas and apples). Our newly joined couple to our Llama Travel group were suffering badly with altitude sickness which was interesting to watch now we were used to it. It was a long and boring 3 hour drive back to Arequipa with a couple of stops for Peruvian livestock photo moments though we were getting too used to them now.

Fergie loving Doc
Back at the Casa Andina, we managed to get almost the same room number by one, bagging its neighbour. My illness still hadn't improved so decided to use our free afternoon to see a doctor. The hotel had its own medic onsite so no hassles with organising a taxi. The stomach cramps came and went with the latest just as the doctor knocked at the room door. He was accompanied with someone who looked like a maintenance bloke, an assistant with toolbox. the first thing to make the situation difficult was he spoke less than perfect English and neither did his assistant. The second thing to complicate the situation was that he didn't understand my accent but explained he was more used to dealing with Americans! Alot of re-phrasing, writing down some words to help and some stomach probing he came up with his analysis of travel sickness. He dismissed the gudiebook's recommendation of full anti-biotics though I was still confused as to what he was going to prescribed or even advise to do. By then, Kerry had returned from the internet room and shared the incommunicado. He tried saying something about Arequipians were compared to some Spanish word we couldn't work out. El doctor then started writing a note whilst trying to ask us something not knowing whether he was still diagnosing me or making small talk. "You know vocalists?", er what? "You know, (sounded like) Bat-alls?", you mean Beatles? "Yes, John Lennon. What did he play?" Er, guitar? "No, he vocalist yes?" Yes, a singer...(where's this going exactly?) "Yes, like Madonna", yes, she's a singer too(??). "And Fergie, she is a singer". After confirming he meant Black Eyed Peas, still confused but yes. "She's English, yes?"Er, no she is American. "She is English, no?" Obviously not convinced...and had nothing to do with my illness.

We Googled the medication he prescribed as we were a bit worried he hadn't given me something like an anti-depression drug but it checked out ok. With a tasty but plain hotel meal we watched some bizarre comedy show sponsored by Brahma beer. Most of the presenters were dressed as members from Thunder Cats and ordering from a bar.