I saw two condors flying close to me!

Monday, February 23, 2015
Cabanaconde, Arequipa, Peru
I decided to do the walk again to the Cruz del Condor. Sunny day, so, hat and sunscreen. But I know the mountains here, so also rain poncho and a warm sweater in the backpack. 
I took the same way up, except a little shortcut that the people here had showed me: shorter but steeper . Good training for my Inca Trail in ten days! This time I did not meet any mice family, I just enjoyed the views! Last time most of it was in the mist or even clouds, now, I could see the terraces along the mountain slopes where people made grow corn. The dark one, almost black. Funny to see it hanging, the leaves are black too.
I met a young dog, shared a piece of bread and finally gave him the whole piece, he looked so skinny! 
Cruz del Condor! Ah, with this clear weather, so beautiful! The place is visited by tourist buses in the morning, but when I arrived, around noon, I was just all alone there. I sat close to the border and saw the canyon below, and the huge mountains on the opposite side. It was silent, just a light wind. I just sat there, feeling the beauty, and then…. yes! below me, a condor gliding close to “my" mountain! He passed, I did well see the white feathers on top of his wings and his white collar. I feel so happy, sit again, and see, a second one! And a third, very far away, close to the mountains on the other side! Three condors! Oh I felt so lucky! I did not have the time to take pictures so you just will have to believe me!
Then I sat again, ate what is left of my bread, took my sketch book and made a little drawing, heared some noise: in the little bush at 2 meters from me a humming bird, hovering, with his long beak in the flowers!! Really this was a day full of wonders!
I resumed my drawing, and was getting concentrated, until suddenly I thought, “I feel cold”, and in the same time, “did I hear thunder?”
I looked up, and saw clouds and yes, there was thunder far away. Hum, hat in the back pack and hop, woollen pullover on and little rain jacket, you never know, and back to the hostel. 3 hours to walk, best start before it rains!
Too late, there was the rain. So I tried my new flashy green poncho, and I have to say, 10/10! It rained for half an hour, the poncho did a wonderful job (I just pulled it over my backpack). After the rain I kept the poncho to let it dry, folded it up just on time to go steep down using the shortcut. 
Back at the hostel just on time to enjoy the pizza oven, and I decided to take a pisco sour to celebrate this perfect day! 
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