With the depression of another month of quarantine still lingering, I decided to do a short hike up into the mountains above where I live just to get a little exercise since we are under a complete lockdown at home every Sunday.
I packed a little food, some water, and only my little GoPro camera. The farther I went, the better I felt — especially after already hiking up there the previous three days. I ended up hiking over 8 miles (13 km) climbing to over 13,000′ (nearly 4000m).
(In case anyone is wondering, I hiked alone, wearing a mask, and keeping a good distance from anyone I happened to pass. However, once I got up into the highlands I was alone.)
I was looking for evidence of pre-Inca settlements which have been found in the mountains surrounding the Cusco valley. (People have been living here for nearly 12,000 years.)
I’m pretty certain I found faint traces of at least two ancient settlements along with some walls, roads, and one very interesting water channel that likely are of Inca construction.
This little video really isn’t what I wish I’d done, but I’ll be back up there soon to do a more professional film considering all that I discovered along the way. I simply wasn’t prepared for all that I found.
The beautiful Andean scenery alone is a reason to watch it!
Monthly Archives: August 2020
State of Emergency and Quarantines Extended
Peru’s government has extended the state of national emergency and the quarantine focused on some regions of the country until September 30 as a result of COVID-19.
The announcement was made through the publication of Supreme Decree N°146-2020-PCM.
A total of 4 regions and 46 provinces will become quarantined areas:
Regions
-Cusco region
-Moquegua region
-Puno region
-Tacna region
Provinces
-Bagua, Chachapoyas, Condorcanqui and Utcubamba (Amazonas)
-Santa, Casma, Huaraz and Huarmey (Áncash)
-Abancay (Apurímac)
-Camaná, Islay, Cailloma and Castilla (Arequipa)
-Huamanga, Huanta, Lucanas and Parinacochas (Ayacucho)
-Cajamarca and Jaén (Cajamarca)
-Huancavelica, Angaraes and Tayacaja (Huancavelica)
-Huánuco, Leoncio Prado, Puerto Inca and Humalíes (Huánuco).
-Ica, Pisco, Nazca and Palpa (Ica)
-Huancayo, Satipo and Chanchamayo (Junín)
-Trujillo, Pacasmayo, Chepén, Ascope, Sánchez Carrión and Virú (La Libertad)
-Barranca, Cañete, Huaura and Huaral (Lima)
-Tambopata (Madre de Dios)
-Pasco and Oxapampa (Pasco)
During the national state of emergency, mandatory social immobilization (curfew) is provided from 10:00 p.m. to 04:00 a.m. the next day, Mondays thru Saturdays.
However, in the regions of Cusco, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna, and the aforementioned 46 provinces curfew is in force from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. the next day.
Also, on Sundays, nationwide compulsory social immobilization (lockdown) will be in force all day long until 4:00 am on Monday.
It must be noted that —during the mandatory social immobilization— strictly necessary personnel, who participate in the provision of essential goods and services, will be exempted from the measure.
Social gatherings —including those held at homes and family visits— are prohibited for health reasons and in order to avoid the increase in COVID-19 infections.
A Little Walk Through San Blas with My Camera
I was getting a little bored and I really wanted to do some filming with my good camera, so I grabbed it and headed off into San Blas hoping to find a few interesting scenes during the pandemic.
I hate shooting handheld, but I think setting up a tripod and going all-out was a little too much during the quarantine. I still don’t like it, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.
The edit was really quick and simple so don’t expect Steven Spielberg, but at least it’s short!
Saturday Morning Walk Through Cusco Under Quarantine
I shot this little video yesterday morning. It was only the second time I’ve done anything with my little GoPro despite having it for two years! It’s really not a bad little camera — especially if you want to keep your filming discreet when you’re really not supposed to be out filming at all while under quarantine!
Please let me know if you want me to do more with this little camera. It’s a lot easier to edit than any of my big video cameras so maybe I can do some more stuff around town in the future.