Well, we woke up early to go to the Canyon.  We got picked up in a little bus thingy, but that just transported us to a bigger bus, which I preferred.  We started our trip by heading out of Arequipa, and on the way out we stopped to see El Misti and the other surrounding mountains. Quite impressive, but obscured by what I´m pretty sure is smog.  Well, we kept heading out farther, into what is pretty much just a huge desert. Very, very dry.  We stopped along the way to see Vicunas, which are cousins of alpacas and llamas. However, they have very short, incredibly expensive hair/fur. Something like 500 dollars or so for a scarf.  Needless to say, I bought each of you one.  Well, we continued on and went through more desert, but going higher and higher. Ultimately, we got to about 4800m (16000 and some change).  I built one of those rock piles that are offerings to the gods, and while I was doing so I saw some little chinchilla things, which turns out are the South American cousins of the said animals.  We eventually got to Chivay, where Mike pretty much immediately passed out on the bed.  He was pretty sick, and very tired.  I, however, went to the hot spring baths withe the rest of the group.  It is relatively cold outside, maybe 55 or so, but the baths were very hot (like a hot tub)  I met some English and Irish people, and talked with them for a while while we swam around.  It was very nice.  After our time was up, I bought a beer (arequpena) since I had yet to try it. It was great since I was still hot from the pools.  We went back to the hotel, and I fell asleep pretty fast.  We woke up at about 5 or so and immediately went to the highest/deepest part of the canon, where we were supposed to wait for the condors.  We waited for like an hour and a half, and nothing.  Then Mike spots one of them on the other side of the canyon, we can barely see it. We wait a bit more, and then we see one come really close.  Then more come, and we all get really excited.  Eventually, a bunch are flying around, which is cool cause its the bad season for them.  One even lands right in front of us on this rock, where I got some good pictures.  We eventually leave, only to stop a couple more times cause we keep seeing them again. Eventually, we start our way back home.  We stop at one village where I pay a sol to let this big ass eagle sit on my head. I have a good picture of that.  We continue on, and stop at some little restaurant in the middle of nowhere, where there is this little falcon that I see some kid pick up.  I eventually decide I should pick it up (stupidly), but it actually works perfectly, sitting very lightly on my finger. Very cute.  We figure out how to make it change hands, and I give it to some other people to hold. Another cool picture.  Ultimately, we get back to Arequipa, where we go to our hotel.