Chivay is probably the main village at the head of the valley. It was our overnight base.

We wandered around the town which is one of the remotest places in the Andes I have visited. And there at 3600m, in a valley which only got a paved road to the outside world in the last 20 years, we found an Irish pub! I think they are more widespread than even McDonalds!

It was market day in the town as well. I love markets, as when they are not geared for tourists they are a great way to get an eye on what it is like to live in a place. Its funny as well how they seem to be so similar all over the world, from Ireland to Peru and further afield.

Around Chivay (as well as other Peruvian towns and village) there were the signs of the recent election. Large wall murals were popular. This one for Fujimori had out lasted his presidency. Having pottered around we went to the local hot springs that night. It was great to de-stress in piping hot water up to your neck, while downing a cool beer. No pictures though. Bryan lost a camera to teh water and I wasn't going to risk it!

As we travelled up the valley you would occasionally you would see things like this hawk/eagle? It was offered to tourists for photos for a small fee. I have mixed feelings about this sort of thing.

Most of the valley was terraced like this in pre-Columbian times. And the terraces are largely still in use.

The terraces were built by the Cabana and Collagua peoples. The boulder in the center of this picture was a model of part of the terraces. Using the model with trickles of water they could manage irrigation of the complex terrace system.

Unusually when they died these people were 'buried' in tombs located high in the cliff faces behind the brick walls here.