"Walked through 4 villages. People are building houses when everywhere. 2km south of Omacha. Good weather at day, rain at night."
Saturday and sunday after rain is housebuilding days. They can finally make their building stones. These guys gave us chicha (saliva fermented corn beer).
Eirik got sick at night, mainly due to dehydration and did not feel good at all. This is 15 min before taking the bus to Cuzco.
"Farmer brought us potatos&cheese for breakfast. Amazing canyons, but 1km straight is 3km real. Now heavy rain. Had lamb in tent."
Zorro, our loyal friend guarded our tent the whole night in exchange for 7 pieces of pasta. He also saved us the next day by eating all of the long bad tasting potatoes the neighbour farmer gave us. Please note that we really, really enjoyed the rest of the potatoes and cheese.
The landscape changed dramatically in a few days, and it took a long time to walk around all these valleys. We felt like Indiana Jones and Jane.
In the evening, a local family stopped by our tent, and their lamb did not want to leave us.
"In the land of riding Indians. No cars and few spanish speaking. Following the path to Omache. S14"14.677' W071"42.421' "
A local showed us a shortcut down to Livitaca, and also invited us to his home. These inca remains is a family treasure for them, and were really beautiful. They are for candles.
We were crossing the mountains based on directions from passing farmers. Some were riding, others walking. There were people sitting with a sole sewing machine in the middle of nowhere, but most were carrying something somewhere.
"We walked and we walked, and we walked and we walked. Passed mountain on path. No cars, many horses. 5km S of Livitaca."
The walk over the moutains was maybe the best walk we had had. The path was good, the people friendly and we had a good supply of food and water. Amazing!
"Passed a mountain pass sitting on bags of food with 14 other people on the back of a lorry. 16km SW of Livitaca. On top of mine"
We took a flatbed truck with 12 other passengers over the mountain, and were convinced to join the people to a place not on our gps. It proved to be a village for the gold mines nearby. We passed a security gate, and "Anthony", the very nice guy on the right side of the picture gave us a hand drawn sketch of how to cross the mountain towards Livitaca.
"5.15: Woken up to give an interview. 6.15: Breakfast. 6.45: Farmers bring us warm milk. 7.15: 8 people in front of the tent."
The three very nice farmers on the left brought us warm milk in the morning, which we repaid with our best chocholate. The guy on the right woke us up with a camera and tape recorder at 05:15, but later invited us for a second breakfast with potato soup
We donated a whistle to a school football team we passed. We thought it would be a good idea to give it to the teacher, but we now expect she will use it herself to discipline her children.
"Barefoot river crossing under a squadron of pink flamimgos. 13km NW of Yauri. Glad to be back in the tent. "
The picture can never be as amazing as the experience, but here is the proof!
This girl was inviting us to her home for dinner and a sleepover. We were both dreaming of our own tomato pasta and tent, and gently refused the offer (No entiendo, perdon)
And there are of course more pictures for you to see here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/eirik.sunde/EspinarCuscoSept2008
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