We both had a dreadful nights sleep. I think it was a mixture of the heat, the altitude and wondering whether the alarm app would work. It did and we awoke very bleary eyed at 6am.
Our first trip was to the Valle del Arcoiris or the rainbow Valley. We had expected a small transit and found a 4 x 4 waiting for us which was a surprise. There were two other people from the hotel going, Christine and Mike, and Chris had a few problems walking and they sent the 4 x 4. We were the lucky ones.
The first stop was Yerbas Buena's, where the found a lot of rock art, about 1000 years old. It was a fascinating place with extraordinary rocks. We clambered up and over rocks to see the carvings.
Chris and Mike were hilarious. He was a retired professor of chemistry from Berkeley, a real renaissance man, who had spent many years trying to devise how to teach young people science in a way that inspired them, and on meeting him thinks he probably achieved it. Chris was an ex librarian/teacher and putter up with Mike. More about them later.
After the rock carvings we headed to rainbow valley... Well absolutely beautiful. It felt like all the different minerals in the world had been accumulated in one place.
We drove to the end and then walked back down, to find Pablo our guide had set up breakfast for us.
After a few walks, we then set of for home' stopping off at a small pueblo Rio Grande, a little oasis in the dry rocks. Llamas everywhere on our way to the village.
On retiring Chris and Mike decided they did not want too. So they became farmers. What Mike is particularly interested in, amongst many things, is food production to feed the world. So he grows beans, dries and sells them. But what he is doing is using the farm to discover old types of beans and what grows best in the US.
He is also researching the origins of food and has discovered that they mainly all come from Peru. So on there trip in Chile he has been collecting beans. A true eccentric who really cares about the world.
Anyway we got back to the hotel they said they were going on a cookery evening around the corner and would we like to join them. Beans of course were on the menu, in fact he had been in email contact with the chef for many months, who it seems has the same passion.
So off we went. We learned how to make a Pisco Sour, lemon juice and grappa type wine shaken with ice. Or the other name is falling down water, they drink it here before a meal. Then a salsa starter, followed by empandas, we made our own whilst drinking the pisco sours. Mike and the chef then got going with the bean dishes, which were served up wit local bread followed by home made leche ice cream. All this accompanied by a glass or two of Chilean wine. You know I said about not drinking too much at this altitude!
Fabulous evening.
Yes, it certainly looks like bandit country!! Love your pics J. Food seems to be a feature of this trip along with the landscape and people you are meeting! The two of you in your aprons look like candidates for My Kitchen Rules - don't know what the UK version is called. Looking forward to your next instalment.
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