April 12th - Majes Valley

On April 12th we visited the Majes Valley about 3 hours outside of Arequipa. Majes Valley has many different kinds of farms and we had the opportunity to see a couple different types. The drive to the valley and the valley itself were both gorgeous. It was very green and had a very beautiful river running through it.

After meeting the Majes Valley Rotary Club members we ventured out into various places throughout the valley. First we saw a historic site that has evidence of dinosaur footprints of where they cross the valley. We did not see the actual footprints but it was nice to here the history about the dinosaurs. Our next stop was a place where a family that distilled a sugar cane liquor and was also a Pisco manufacturer.

While driving through the valley we saw a wooden bridge that stretched across the valley. This bridge looks very old, but local people still use it to cross the river. Our next stop was at a local museum where we learned some of the history of the valley. Then we tried some Mejas Valley ice cream in the plaza. We then drove more around the valley where we had the opportunity to see some different types of farms, including a rice field. We got to see farmers out in the field harvesting the rice.

Next we headed to a rustic restaurant where we got to each lunch almost literally in the middle of a field. It was nice to see such a local type restaurant. This restaurant was very rustic and they used a fire pit to cook our meals. The shrimp that some of us ate came right out of the river that ran behind the restaurant, and the chicken that we ate we could hear outside the restaurant when we arrived. The bathroom was a small shack located in the middle of a field next to the river, but was very clean and well maintained. This restaurant gets moved according to the height of the river.

Our last stop was at one of the Rotarians family farm. We got to see some of their farms animals and a classic Chevrolet truck. After we headed back to Arequipa for an informal dinner with the Arequipa Este (East) club. This club hosted us in Bridgett’s host family home. Marita is a member of the Arequipa Este club. Arequipa Este club is unique for the area because all of their members are women. We got to talk to the women and meet a foreign exchange student from the states. It was nice to meet and talk to them.