Chauchilla cemetery

After a nice breakfast and some lazing around we wandered around town, which didn't take long as it's small and not all that interesting.

I went to sunbake by the pool - even managed a quick dip in the cold pool which was full of flies - while Anna went tour shopping (35S).

At 3:30pm we walked 5 mins to the tour place, were put in a car and were driven to the minibus, which was parked outside our hotel! Odd.

We were driven half an hour to the necropolis of Chauchilla, which is a pre-Incan cemetery. Dead people were put into the foetal position before rigor mortis set in, then dried out, then wrapped in cloth and buried in walled pits with their treasures to take with them to their next life. (Pets were sometimes killed and buried too!) Due to the arid location, the mummies are well-preserved.

Sadly, grave robbers looted the site and protection from the government came too late. The site has been rearranged to show 13 tombs as examples for tourists.

I wasn't overly keen on going and though it was interesting, I find gawping at dead people quite intrusive / disturbing. Still the extra 8S entrance fee helps to protect the site from further damage.

After a quick stop off to a pottery place to see how they made ceramics, we were home by 6pm.

For dinner I had Tatu Tatu, a veggie dish of cheesy beans and rice plus veg whilst Anna had spag bol but with chunks of steak. Neither of us could finish the portions. Anna is back on the beers though - it appears she has finally recovered from her altitude sickness now we are down at 500m.

Peru was playing for third place in the footy and won so there was a lively atmosphere everywhere. A TV show celebrated by making (unknown?) people jump off increasingly high diving platforms!!Les mer