1st March 2015 – Cuzco to Abancay – 2015-03-08 01:40

This morning we left the hotel at 7:45 to drive up to the main square with Goldie to have a better look around and also have some breakfast. The 7:30 mass is in full swing in the Cathedral and there is singing coming from inside. We walk across the square to the Norton bar where we had drinks last night and we sit on the verandah watching people going about their Sunday morning while we wait for our breakfast. It’s a lovely morning although a bit crisp but a very pleasant way to start the day. We only have about 185 kilometers to drive today however it will be a slow trip as we climb and wind our way through the mountains. Once we get out if town it is a very pretty drive with all the different crops making a pretty patchwork on the surrounding hills. We find a very picturesque morning tea spot looking down into a valley. The road is in pretty good condition but it’s slow going as there are buses and trucks to pass. We stop part way up a mountain to let the traffic clear, the cars cool down and to have some lunch, overlooking the magnificent Andean countryside. We climb to around 3,800 Meters before we start our steep descent into Abancay driving through the clouds. The trip took us 5 hours with our 2 breaks. We are having our usual 6:30pm meeting and we hear drums and music playing from the street out the front. We all rush out to see a procession going past with dancers and musicians. We are told it is to celebrate the start of Lent. It’s a very colourful and lively procession through town.After the parade is finished one of the girls rushes up to Michael & gives him a big cuddle.ÿ