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This will probably be my last blog. I went from Iquitos to Arequipa, the city with reputedly the best climate in Peru. True during the day but the extremes of temperature were stark and the cloudless skies and warmth of daytime gave way to bitterly cold nights, made worse if you are staying in a hotel with no heating or hot water ! Trust the local Irish bar to capitalise on the situation by handing out leaflets advertising a heater as one of the reasons to pay a visit.
I joined a group from Arequipa on a two day tour of Colca Canyon with its spectacular scenery, snow-capped mountains and condors. I saw quite a few of the amazing birds but failed to get any photographs. The condors are an endangered species but now better protected. They have a life expectancy of over sixty years and are completely loyal to one partner throughout their life. When one of the partners dies the other spectacularly commits suicide in a kamikaze fashion by flying to a great height, pulling its vast wings into its body and dropping like a stone.
From Colca Canyon I moved on through the favourite tourist route to Puno which hugs the side of Lake Titicaca, covering 8400 sq km and the largest high altitude lake in the world. It has many claims to fame, not least the 60 floating islands inhabited by the now very commercially astute Uros tribe. The islands are made of reeds as are their houses and their boats. See the photographs.
It was then a long bus journey over the Bolivian Border and onto its de facto capital La Paz where I stayed in a fantastic small seven room hotel which is the former Venezuelan Consulate.
From Bolivia I have returned to Colombia and the city of Medellin which 20 years ago was extremely unsafe and the headquarters of Pablo Escobar, probably the world's most famous drug lord. At the time he was highly
popular in the city and was so wealthy he offered to pay off Colombia's entire national debt. He was shot dead by security forces 20 years ago and now the city is vibrant , successful and safe although I suspect much of the now obvious wealth has come from drug money. See BBC iPlayer for the current Dimbleby series on South America on BBC World which features Medellin.I plan to return to Cartagena in Colombia for five days of sunshine before returning home.
I am looking forward to seeing family and friends. I have missed them. My trip would not have been possible without support and encouragement from many people - you know who you are - but a special mention to Charlie Daikou of Crown Travel who managed to find flights to all of the strange cities I wanted to visit - and who answered urgent calls from airports at all hours of the night - and to my mate Peter Brennan of Holidayworld for some great hotel recommendations and prices. Yes even I have to admit that travel agents do occasionally add value.
- comments
Brett Well done Michael - party hard and see you soon.
chris Aye! see you soon ! you sure have had a great adventure !
Melina Hey impressive ,love your blog ,perhaps I should start one for my next trip. Welcome back Melina from Rincón