Field Trips - Blogabond

CHUPACA
I remember if I already mentioned Chupaca. Guillermo´s sister Patricia took us (Harry, the Yankee couple and me) to the neighbouring town of Chupaca. On our way we didn´t notice a separation of Huancayo and Chupaca. Just randomly a plot of land was empty with livestock tied to a stake.
In Chupaca we visited a slaughter market. That was quite the cultural experience. The whole time there we were followed by a sketchy dude in a red sweater. We´d stop, he´d stop. So I wore my backpack like I was preggo. Every so often you look over in the market and see sheep twitching. Then you notice it´s head is on the table near by. Not quite the same as Superstore - although there is a new Walmart type store in Huancayo. I suppose that´s the beginning of the Western cultural invasion. For the most part though Huancayo has been able to resist a full onslaught of America.
Anywho, after the market we went to see a Pre-Inca wall. I remember typing this earlier, so I won´t say more.

CONCEPCION (the town of baby making)
This time Angela tooks us (Harry, Gringo Jim - a sheep shearer from Australia - and two more Aussies) on our field trip to the neighbouring town of Concepcion. They have a giant statue of Mother Mary on top of a giant hill. Almost like the Rio de Janero. Under Mary is a the towns name in giant white letters. Just like Hollywood. We hiked up there and even climbed up Mary via the stairs inside her. She offered quite the view.
Back in Concepcion I got my picture with a 15 piece band playing infront of the local cathedral before we headed out to a trout farm. Weird, I know.
I´m not sure how or why the fish farm became a tourist attraction because it´s a 20 min drive outta town. The scenary though was beautiful. It was what I was expecting to see of Peru. Huancayo is fairly dusty and in the middle of a flat valley. It´s not the mountainous town you may expect. After the fish farm we had a meal at a near by restaurant. Oddly, Harry and I were the only ones who ordered trout. Gringo Jim and the Aussie Dave had cuy (guinne pig - a Peruvian treat that tastes like turkey with 100 times more bones). On the way back I chatted with a civil lawyer and his daughter in a jam packed bus (not really a bus, just a van). His daughter asked for a picture with us and my email address. She never emailed though. A shame cause a lawyer would be a great connection down here. Ya know, just in case.

TORRE TORRE
The first time I encountered water baloons was 3 weeks in and on our way to Torre Torre (literally Tower Tower). We (Harry, Gringo Jim, two other Aussies, Guillermo, Cecilia, a random kid who wanted to come with us and I) were walking up a street at the base of the surrounding mountains when we found what looked like an ambush. There boys and girls were grouped on top of two buildings on either side of the street. Each group was armed with butt loads of water baloons for each other. We just walked under with only a few thrown at us. Thankfully baseball isn´t the national sport here. I dunno what is, but it´s definately not baseball.
Down another street a girl eyed us while tossing water balloon up and down. It broke in her hands and spilled all over her. That was a good laugh. Its odd though, before these encounters we never saw water balloons. Now kids are tossing them from buildings everywhere. Maybe we just opened our eyes.
Anywho, Torre Torre is tucked in the corner of the surrounding mountains and is some geological phenominon. A tiny creek has cut through the mountain to create bluffs that are much better explained in pictures. After going here I caught a craving to camp out on the mountains. Maybe Guillermo will take us.

This weekend though, we´re heading into the jungle.

written by

ryanmyers on February 5, 2009 from Huancayo, Peru

from the travel blog: Ryan's First Sabbatical

tagged Chupaca, Concepcion and TorreTorre

Send a Compliment

You should tell us about your typical weekday. What do you eat? What time do you go to the orphanage? Is there a specific schedule everyday? I'm curious.

written by Tara Graham on February 9, 2009

Guinea Pig like the pet? Who am I to judge, I like the sushi with whole baby octopus... mostly for the shock value... nothing too special about the taste.

written by Charity on February 10, 2009

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