Salt extraction takes place once per month and is accomplished in layers: every three days the flats are filled with water that is allowed to evaporate. There was plenty of water on the day we visited. So much so, that the sparkly white flats turned brown! But it was still cool to see them. This was one of my favorite activities during the trip. The destination wasn’t that far from where we stayed, somewhere near Cusco, and afterwards, we dined at a Peru chic restaurant with alpaca fur covered seats, rustic charm, great food (I think), and lots of Llamas or alpacas. I always get them confused.
Follow my hooves…
You can peek at the bags of salt here.
After we toured the flats, we crossed paths with many vendors selling salt and other products.
That’s me on the right. It was so cold inside our hotel that I wore that puffy vest and underjacket most of the time, even indoors.
My friend Moira ordered ceviche and it looked beautiful. I had soup that was bland and ironically needed salt. Even when the food in Peru was good it stressed me out because I wasted so much of it. Wasting food weighs heavy on my soul. I don’t waste anything at home. Even leftover vegetables are frozen and thrown in soup. Ditto every scrap of meat. But I’m a light eater due to stomach problems. Thank goodness this usually isn’t a problem when I travel because me and my husband rent a place with a kitchen and split restaurant meals. But solo travel is always going to be a problem for me.
Do you want to play dress up?
Yes, the alpacas came into the restaurant!
Now, this was damn good. It was a custardy caramel cheesecake with chocolate and a sprinkling of roasted corn! I loved it. Alas, I couldn’t finish is, but I did my best.
“A slow burn, supernatural delight that seeps into your soul and sinks its claws in.” ~ Desiree Horton author of Midnight Mother
