Huaraz -Peru

Another reasonable truck day heading inland gradually climbing up a stunning fertile valley through incredible scenery, our destination Huaraz, a busy mountain town for either a chill out to acclimatise to the altitude or to engage in mountain activities. Having stopped at 4000 odd metres and being short of breath we decided to relax and acclimatise by taking a walk around this incredible town for about five hours. Steadily climbing through the mountains it was stunning to see how the locals actually farmed the steep slopes. They are a tough people and this became more apparent as we witnessed their everyday life. The majority of the women wether at work or otherwise wear brightly coloured skirts and amazingly coloured felt hats which look plain until close examination and you see the detail. The markets are incredible with the majority of stall holders, the butchers, the fruit and vegetable stalls, the cooks etc all women and tough with it, normally going about their everyday business with a child or heavy load strapped to their back. One of the big surprises walking around town was how many televisions were showing clips of the local women fighting. No holds barred bare knuckle fighting, grabbing, scratching, pulling, pushing, kicking, it was unbelievable. It appeared to be contests between villages with a referee who adjudicated the contest with the aid of a rope with a knot at the end which he used to keep the women apart once the fight ended. Easier said than done, these women were deceptively as tough as they come. We had a brilliant few hours amongst the hustle and bustle and a great couple of days before heading back down to the coast through yet again stunning scenery making our way towards Lima.

Onwards and upwards,

Tony x

1-4. Beautiful mountain scenery
5-19. Scenes of local life around Huaraz, not even the road dug up re sewage pipes stops them having a market.
20. Guinea pig for dinner