- A day trip to Salinas to see the scenery and salt flats
- A mountain biking ride down one of the local mountains
- A weekend trek through Colca Canyon (2nd only to the Grand Canyon in size)
We are planning other weekend trips with other volunteers too, hopefully including Lake Titicacca and the Nazca Lines. And at the end of our program, we are visiting Macchu Picchu and the Amazon for a few days before returning home.
Yesterday was the first of our trips, to Salinas.
To be honest, we weren't sure what to expect, and our host family didn't seem too thrilled about our trip. Fortunately, this trip surpassed all our expectations. It wasn't one thing in paricular, in fact it was a combination of 3 things:
1. Great company
The other volunteers are all really good people, and always up for a laugh. At times, the breathtaking scenery seemed lost on us, as we were busily posing for silly photos and forming human pyramids.
2. Beautiful scenery
It took us around 3 hours in a 4WD to reach the salt flats, but there was heaps more than that. We weaved through mountains and volcanoes, and through endless terraced fields, all under the watchful eye of Misty (a snow-capped mountain that has become an icon of Arequipa).
3. Passion for photography
Photography is an intriguing hobby. Amidst spectacular surrounds, it might be a simple rock that takes your attention. And while Lizelle and I don't claim to be experts, we have a growing appreciation for the art of photography. This trip gave us heaps of source material, and was a photographer's playground.
This trip has us really excited about the remainder of our travels. We'll be sure to tell you all about them. Next stop: Lake Titicacca.
Chris
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