The captain informed the guests that there had been a small
earthquake in Peru, near Pisco during the visit of Silver Spirit. TSH and Diva
are unharmed.
Whales have been spotted swimming alongside the ship. The
water is flat calm and the temperatures are still in the mid to high 20s. It is
difficult to believe that the warm clothes and thermals stored carefully in the
suite will ever be needed. The food is still agreeable but TSH and Diva have
eaten very few desserts so far. Nothing is out of control yet and all clothes
still fit nicely.
Matarana is probably the smallest port so far. It could not
accommodate a ship much larger than Silver Spirit because of the improbably
small gap in the harbour wall which needs to be navigated. One side of the port
has the rocky desert landscape which is typical of the Peruvian coast. The
other side has some industry and port activities but there is nothing like a
cruise terminal. The locals provided an extremely welcome with lively music and
dancing from about 7:45.
TSH went on an excursion to the Mejia National Sanctuary,
which is an area of salt lakes, making it quite different from all of the surrounding
desert. The journey there in a mini-van was quite interesting, as it involved
driving along the cliff edge at what felt like high speed, For the first time in
Peru, cows, sheep and goats were seen although in small numbers in isolated
plots of green land.
An unusual sighting was an old steam train which was on
display opposite the railway station at Mollendo. There were also some modern diesel
locomotives but these were of less interest. It is possible to take the train
from this station to Machu Picchu but it is a very long uncomfortable journey,
climbing to great altitude and then down again.
The voyage is about one quarter complete. So much that is
completely new has been experienced already.
Peru surpassed expectations.
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