Fischers in Peru

After getting through a rotten bout of gastro (probably 'norovirus', if you're keen you can look it up), we'd had to cancel a trip to Puno, which was a bit of a let-down.  So yesterday we thought we'd take a trip up to Laguna Salinas, about 2.5 hours' drive from home on the other side of the mountains, just so we could have a picnic and take a break.  Mike has already been there a couple of times (see blog entries below on earlier ETE trips), but this was Kerry and Megan's first chance to see the amazing scenery and the wildlife too.

It was a super-clear day, and as we drove up the slopes between Picchu Picchu and the volcano Misti, we had a superb view of the city behind us.  You always know when you're getting above 3-3500 meters because the Hilux starts running out of puff... so just keep the RPM up so that the turbo can pack enough air into the motor.

Once up at the lake, we made our way around the western shore until we came to the town of Salinas Huito.  We had pit stop and Kerry got chatting to a couple of the locals.

Then we headed back south to the other town on the lake shore, Salinas Moche.  On the way we stopped at an old chapel, 'Santuario Virgen de la Asunta'.  According to the lintel over the main doorway, it was built in the 1860s (couldn't quite make out the last number, either an 8 or a 9).  It certainly is in an amazing location.

In the background you can see the active volcano Ubinas.  On the way around to Salinas Moche, Kerry tried a spot of flamingo photography, but they are cautious birds so unless you have a camera with a good telephoto lens it's not exactly a slam dunk.

We got to Salinas Moche a bit after midday, and to our delight realised we'd jagged the one Saturday of the year that they have their community parade!  Everyone was out in their finest garb, and every community group was respresented in the parade: the school teachers, classes of students, the local health clinic staff, the artesan group... even a bunch of welders carrying their welding gear went marching past, which really warmed Mike's heart.  Every community group got honoured, the band was going full tilt and it was heaps of fun.  

And the final group in the parade were none other than the local IEP (Iglesia Evangelica del Perú) congregation.  Good on them for not hiding under a rock!  Video here.

As the afternoon chill started to descend, we pointed the Hilux back towards Arequipa and enjoyed seeing Misti from angles we're not accustomed to.  It really is a huge mountain, and lots of snow and ice on it this time of year.