Southward Bound
Posted
by
Mark
on 07 Jul 2009
Well a long way have we come since that crossing into Peru, in fact we're 2 countries behind!
Our second community project in Huanchaco, near the city of Trujillo, was just as challenging as our first, at least by this time we were expert cement mixers. The Peruvian method of wall plastering did take a little practice however - mix, place a little on your float, trowel to the right size....and hurl at the wall. Wait. Watch while your blob fell to the floor. Repeat. (we got better. Eventually!). The initial result looked like...well a load of ventures had chucked cement at the wall to be honest, but with a deft touch our resident 'maestro', Miguel soon had it smoothed out and gradually we progressed, even managing to lay some of the floor by the end of the project.
We sadly left Huanchaco to continue our journey and travelled with our guide Wilson to his home town of Huaraz, high up in the Cordillera Blanca. A quick warm up to see the lovely alpine lake at Churup and we were ready to take on the Santa Cruz trek. It was hard going up to the pass of Punta Union at 4750m but the whole team made it and were rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Then it was all downhill!
Time to head to the capital, Lima and meet new members of the team who all arrived safely. Unfortunately not the case for some of their luggage. (excuse the pun). All was good again the next day and the team carried on past Pisco, Nazca and onto the white city of Arequipa with its beautiful colonial architecture and fascinating monastery. And with some reluctance we had to leave and say goodbye to Peru, heading for the northern tip of Chile, but only after some serious bus travel. It was with great relief that we arrived in San Pedro de Atacama and finally put our bags down. The activities were amazing....but thats another story!