Condors in Flight

Yesterday, we woke up at 1:30 to head out to Colca Canyon to see the condors take flight. They need the updrafts in the canyon to soar. We probably saw 25 condors taking off, circling above us.

To get back, our driver decided to skip the road problems and took our bus over the dirt roads in a nature sanctuary. There were lots of fun switchbacks and many interestingly placed rocks to avoid, but no angry crowds.

Yesterday, the farmers went off their strike, but the teachers are continuing their strike. We finally found information we can understand. It seems they are striking for more pay (the lament of teachers everywhere) and because the government passed a new law calling for all teachers to have to pass a standardized teaching test (within 3 tries) or be fired. The standardized teaching test would help ensure a quality of education in the teachers before they teach the students. One test was given in February and quite a few of the teachers failed. From the article we read, it seems that the test is fairly basic math and reading comprehension, not the higher subjects of chemistry, physics, calculus. They seem more organized in the square today. Each region or school seems to have its own banner and the teachers are marching behind that banner. From the colors the teachers are wearing, it actually looks like the teachers we passed going to and from Puno that were throwing rocks in the road.

We do have our room for one more night. That part, I don´t mind.