My room at the Hostal Colomba
Wednesday 02 July 2014 - Day 03 - Huaraz (3,052m)
Acclimatisation day 1..... but first the a long awaited return to the Hotel Colomba's breakfast room... YUM.
Minibus via Melky's to collect a guide for Jono and Clare, over the Río Santa and then up, up, up into the foothills of the Cordillera Negra, passing the municipal rubbish dump at the aptly named Pongo Alto en route.
From our starting point near Shecta we had fantastic views over towards the Cordillera Blanca, but the clouds were covering them fast. A lovely walk, downhill all the way, through fields and farmland, until we reached the ever expanding urban sprawl of Huaraz.
Early lunch at the Cafe Andino, then off to shop with Val and Mike for supplies to take to the LED health post in Quishuar. Purchases included a chest of drawers and kitchenware for the volunteer medics' bedroom. Afternoon tea in the gardens of the Colomba, then back out again to purchase school supplies.
Our pre dinner trip briefing took place on the veranda, by which time Christine, the final member of the initial trek team, had arrived. At 6.30pm it was out for dinner at my favourite, El Rinconcito Minero or as I prefer to call it, El Minero Rincón. I don't know why. Between ordering and eating (Chaufa vegetariano again), Val took Mike and me to get money - this year, thankfully, the BCP bank provided 500 soles cash no problem (300/S for tips, 200/S spends; ~GBP110).
Another early night - I was in bed about 9pm for another good night's sleep.
Read more about my Cordillera Blanca trek with Val Pitkethly.
DSC05253
My room at the Hostal Colomba
Wednesday 02 July 2014 - Day 03 - Huaraz (3,052m)
Acclimatisation day 1..... but first the a long awaited return to the Hotel Colomba's breakfast room... YUM.
Minibus via Melky's to collect a guide for Jono and Clare, over the Río Santa and then up, up, up into the foothills of the Cordillera Negra, passing the municipal rubbish dump at the aptly named Pongo Alto en route.
From our starting point near Shecta we had fantastic views over towards the Cordillera Blanca, but the clouds were covering them fast. A lovely walk, downhill all the way, through fields and farmland, until we reached the ever expanding urban sprawl of Huaraz.
Early lunch at the Cafe Andino, then off to shop with Val and Mike for supplies to take to the LED health post in Quishuar. Purchases included a chest of drawers and kitchenware for the volunteer medics' bedroom. Afternoon tea in the gardens of the Colomba, then back out again to purchase school supplies.
Our pre dinner trip briefing took place on the veranda, by which time Christine, the final member of the initial trek team, had arrived. At 6.30pm it was out for dinner at my favourite, El Rinconcito Minero or as I prefer to call it, El Minero Rincón. I don't know why. Between ordering and eating (Chaufa vegetariano again), Val took Mike and me to get money - this year, thankfully, the BCP bank provided 500 soles cash no problem (300/S for tips, 200/S spends; ~GBP110).
Another early night - I was in bed about 9pm for another good night's sleep.
Read more about my Cordillera Blanca trek with Val Pitkethly.
DSC05253