Colca and more Arequipa

On firday, we learned about the method of Yachay Wasi and how it teaches.  I wish my primary education had been based on the same ideals, then maybe I wouldnt hate math and science so much.  She taught us about the multiple types of inteligences (ok stuff is easier to spell in spanish) inteligencias multiples, which everybody has.  Her system is truly great.  So this weekend we went on a 2 day hike through Colca Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world.  Honestly, it was one of the most hardcore things I have ever done.  We got up a 245 AM to catch the van, we drove to a little place called Chivay where we used the bathroom and had breakfast, and then we went to the Cruz de Condor (Condor Cross), where we went condor watching.  It was cool to finally see condors, I have always found them fascinating.  After the condor watching, we started the hike.  Adrian, the guide, and a British woman named Sarah finished the first part in about an hour and a half, and we waited by the bridge for the rest of the group and relaxed for a while.  We dipped our heads in the river and I bought an Inca Kola from the lady selling refreshments.  Then, we went uphill for about 40 minutes and had a lunch of soup and lomo saltado at a pueblito.  Then, we walked about an hour and a half more to the place where we were staying the night, an oasis resort without electricity.  That place was awesome, I wish we could have stayed for longer.  That first day of the hike was benign, but the next day was straight up gnarly.  We got up at 455 and walked up the entire canyon.  That part was the hardest physical thing I have ever done in my life.  My entire body hurts.  Good thing an hour long massage in Arequipa only costs about 12 dollars!  After we finished going up the hill, I took a 40 minute nap while I waited for the rest of our group to finish the hill.  During the nap, i kept on dreaming we were still climbing up the canyon, it was awful.  After the nap and when the group arrived, we went to breakfast.  Eggs and toast had NEVER tasted so good.  After breakfast, we drove to a resort of natural hot springs, which felt amazing on my aching body.  We stayed there for an hour, and then we had lunch.  The lunch was just what we needed: a buffet.  I took 4 trips to the buffet, it was much deserved.  After lunch, we took the 4 hour drive back to Arequipa.  On the way, we saw Alpacas and Vicuñas.  Sadly, we didnt get to see the other 2 cameloids of the andes, the llama and the guanaco.  When we arrived in Arequipa, we walked back to the house and had a lovely dinner of fruit and bread and cheese.  Then we went to bed.  This morning, we recycled paper.  It was actually quite a fun process, when we took our first break it was already time for lunch.  Lunch today was awesome, not just the food but the people.  2 of Juana´s children joined us, and they were very nice.  We had an awesome sobremesa(table conversation) about how cultures view other cultures.  We talked about all sorts of nice things, from killing Incans killing homosexuals to honor killings in the middle east.  In about 4 minutes, we are going to make frames for recycled paper art.