It took three days in Huancavelica before we felt we wanted to move on. There was a lot of eating to be done and in between times, things to see and do.
Today was a good example: Wake up. quinoa muesli, fruit and yog, big sandwich of avocado, tomato, cucumber and olives. Go for a walk up to Sanctuary del Señor de Orepesa for a great view over town. Second breakfast at cafe in the plaza, jo – hamburger, juice, Alan – desajuno Americano. Catch taxi up to historic mercury mine, walk back to town. Jo – apply pastry, tea and passion fruit pie, Alan – hamburger & juice. Hang out in room at Hostel Postada. Anticipate dinner…
Huancavelica is one of the poorer provincial capitals, and not often visited by gringos. It is a city of 40,000 and is rough around the edges but we have enjoyed our stay. What we have found all the way through these “off the tourist track” places is that people don’t treat you as a source of money as is what happens in the likes of Cusco, and you pay locals prices. As visitors we are still a novelty and as such, treated well.
Tomorrow we head off again, bikes are clean, as are we…
![La Postada hostel, beside one of the 8 Spanish churches and plazas](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/La_Postada_hostel_beside_one_of_the_8_Spanish_churches_and_plazas.jpg)
![The Plaza de Armas (principal plaza)](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/The_Plaza_de_Armas_principal_plaza.jpg)
![The church door](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/The_church_door.jpg)
![At lunch time every day the military college runs around central Huancavelica, in time, chanting, and with a few calisthenics in the plaza](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/At_lunch_time_every_day_the_military_college_runs_around_central_Huancavelica_in_time_chanting_and_with_a_few_calisthenics_in_the_plaza.jpg)
![And today these littlies had a procession around the plaza](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/And_today_these_littlies_had_a_procession_around_the_plaza.jpg)
![One of the three Aguas Thermales around town -just a shame the water isn't warmer](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/One_of_the_three_Aguas_Thermales_around_town_just_a_shame_the_water_isnt_warmer.jpg)
![But the run off from the pools is a great place to do the laundry](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/But_the_run_off_from_the_pools_is_a_great_place_to_do_the_laundry.jpg)
![A breakfast stall](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/A_breakfast_stall.jpg)
![The view over the town from the Sanctuario](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/The_view_over_the_town_from_the_Sanctuario.jpg)
![We wouldn't have fitted our tent into this one..](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/We_wouldnt_have_fitted_our_tent_into_this_one.jpg)
![One of the towns characters](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/One_of_the_towns_characters2.jpg)
![The old mercury mine that put the town on the map. It was one of the most important mines for the Spaniards, as the mercury was needed for the extraction of siver. Not operational now, and we didn't see any two headed llama up there!](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/The_old_mercury_mine_that_put_the_town_on_the_map_It_was_one_of_the_most_important_mines_for_the_Spaniards_as_the_mercury_was_needed_for_the_extraction_of_siver_Not_operational_now_and_we_didnt_see_any_two_headed_llama_up_there.jpg)
![Historic colonial bridge in the nearby village](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Historic_colonial_bridge_in_the_nearby_village.jpg)
![All the women knit in these parts - the street vendors, women walk around knitting, sit in doorways knitting. These women were a community knitting group making items to sell](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/All_the_women_knit_in_these_parts__the_street_vendors_women_walk_around_knitting_sit_in_doorways_knitting_These_women_were_a_community_knitting_group_making_items_to_sell.jpg)
![And this was the fastest knitter of the group, and we got a smile out of her](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/And_this_was_the_fastest_knitter_of_the_group_and_we_got_a_smile_out_of_her.jpg)
![Alleyway on our return to town](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Alleyway_on_our_return_to_town.jpg)
![Our most visited shop...tea and a pastry for 80c](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Our_most_visited_shoptea_and_a_pastry_for_80c.jpg)
![In need of a birthday cake?](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/In_need_of_a_birthday_cake.jpg)
![Limon pie for Jo](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Limon_pie_for_Jo.jpg)
![Hamburger for Alan](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Hamburger_for_Alan.jpg)
![Alcohol puro - just what we want](http://www.alberttown.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Alcohol_puro__just_what_we_want.jpg)