LLAMA LLAMA COCA

so.. we´re now at 3600m above sea level - but we came from Arequipa (2300) through the highest point of 4900 m asl.

We stocked up on the coca leaves (our guide took s all to a store with those before we set off). They came in the form of actual leaves or candy. The leaves were quite OK to chew... tasted like green tea leaves...

Antiplano + vicuñas:

Volcano El Misti:

Vicuñas (same family as the llamas, but these live in the wild and are not domesticated):

haha the altitude sickness took its toll. we´re feeling dizzy. Chris cannot breathe much and i stopped the bus on the way as i thought i was going to decorate it inside otherwise . which luckilly hasn´t happned (nor have i decorated anything else, the mountain air was enough to help me). we´re eating heaps of coca leaves. not sure if it helps as my head feels its gonna explode any minute but thats minor detail

[no mommy, in not taking any cocaine!]

but abut today
the trip is fabulous - the views (and tons of pictures) = of the mountains, volcanos, vicuñas (llama-like cameloids but smaller, thinner and with ´´the best quality wool i the world´´ - heard that in India already about the pashmina wool but whatever

Alpaca wool:

One alpaca tried to steal a Twix bar from me

Chris has tried to poison a nice alpaca today by sharing his Twix bar with it = which was receivedwith much appreciateion from the alpaca .

people build these little stone towers when they make a wish - if a tower breaks down, the wish won't come true

the highest point of the road - 4910m above sea level (yes, we were feeling dizzy by then):

market in Chivay:

this is OCHA - it tastes like a mix between a normal- and a sweet potato

Peru boasts over 3.000 types of potatoes!

we also went to the hot springs (38 degrees), pool was outside surrounded by beautiflu mountins niiiice

Peruvian folk dancing:

oh yes
its also Chrissie´s BIRTHDAY today, so if anyone forgot to mail their cards = you have still 2 weeks till we get back home

and yes, Chris had to dance as well, since it was his birthday

tomorrow off to see the condors. we need to get uop at 5.30 am (no, there seem to be ON days on our itinerary when we can actually sleep longer than to 7am :S). and we´re dead tired from the altitude
so
ttl