How Your Spare Wheel...

...can seriously limit your view out of the windshield. 

Or...

...why the one of the blue truck sits on the roof. 

Moving Mountains

Mining is the booming industry in Peru. Whether low down in the desert or high, high up in the Andes as high as 16'000 feet there are rescources being digged out. 

Gold, Silver, Iron Ore, Zinc, Lead, Tin, Cooper, Coal, Petrol, Natural Gas...

...and the list is even longer. Up in the Andes the multinational companies do literally move...

...entire mountains.

Most of the ore is being driven down to Lima by trucks from where it is sold and shipped out into the world.

Like no other industry mining is creating jobs at fast pace in Peru, jobs with social security, high risk allowances, health insurance, pension funds, international safety standards, further education and possibilities to advance. Additionall there is a whole support industry booming, from construction machinery to food, power, bus services and maintenance. But... 

...there are also questions about that booming and more than needed job creating industry.

Mother nature is greatly impacted. A peruvian co-owner of a mine in Peru told me that it would not be a problem as the law requires the mining companies to leave the site in the same condition as they found it when they started their mining business. A task that seems to be impossible to me after having seen some of the largest mines of the country. How would you...

...rebuild this mountain?

Another open question is the use of chemicals and its longterm impact on fauna and flora. 

One thing is for sure, mining will change Peru, its economy but also its landscape on the long run. Let's hope more positive then negative. 

Would you like to see more pictures of Peru? Not just of the mines? Click HERE for the currently up-dated Photo Gallery of Peru.

Getting prepared for Bolivia

Bolivia has a long history of road blockades to put weight on political or social interests of the people.

But as a regular blue truck blog reader you know...

...I am not even in Bolivia yet. So what happened?

Heading from Abancay to Cusco I got into a road blockade here in Peru. 

Fortunately the demonstration had not started or already finished, 

therefore I could sneek through without any further issues.

Peru, it's not over yet...

...but the Photo Gallery has been updated, check out Peru in pictures: HERE! 

Look here:

Do you feel like seening more? 

HERE you go!

The Blue Girls

For the next female visitors at the blue truck: Adequate dress can be found in Lima, Peru!

The Blue Truck Or The Blue Taxi?

What do you think? Do I need to rename the blue truck? Even more than in other latin american countries the blue truck has become a taxi here in the Andes of Peru. 

Once I have taken a young woman with here huge package hidden in colourful handwoven fabrics on her back. When she asked to get off, she unpacked the package a 25 liter plastic barrel was hidden in there. She told me to get a cup and poured some fresh cow milk in my cup. She said that it was very good and healthy for me. I did take a couple of sips, but must admit I did not like the cow warm drink too much. I waited until she packed her load on her back again and waived me good by from a little side track going to a small group of houses. I took another sip, still did not like it too much. Climbing up on the seat of the Toyota heading South without having finished my cup of milk.

Another time I took an old couple. They squeezed on the seat with many bags and packs on there knees. After we took off I noticed a very strong, goaty smell and thought, holy sh... this woman is smelling strong. Not long and the bag that touched my knee a little bit, since the cockpit of the blue truck was well loaded, started moving, a little head of a baby sheep or Alapaca streched out of the bag. The lady tenderly stroke over the head while the baby animal was making its neck as long as it could to see something out of the windshield. The woman was smilling at me, kind of getting my approval for having her little animal with her. I smiled back. The old couples eyes were focused on the screen of the GPS where they were totally fascinated that the little TV knew us, showing us as a little blue arrow in the landscape. They asked how it worked, but as I mentioned the word satelite it was all over their faces that they had no idea about it. I explained it was an electronic map, that would guide us through the landscape. They were hooked to the little screen for the next hour until they got off. 

Many more interesting encounters with locals in Peru that took a seat on the passangers side in the blue truck. Soon I will be heading to Bolovia. Let's see if I get as many passangers as in Peru.

Great Night In

Some times you don't need to go out to have a great time. 

Last night we had an international BBQ party at Camping La Quinta in Cusco Peru.

And even if you are a vegetarian there was something for you...

...everybody was preparing some food, sides, salads, sweets...

...or making sure the grill was... 

...adequately used. 

Thank you for a great night, my fellow campers at La Quinta, Cusco, Peru.

Chilling & Grilling: BBQ @ La Quinta

We're having an International Overlander Jamboree here at Camping La Quinta. Without having planned it. I have not seen as many overlanders at one spot since Mexico. 

USA, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands are present in person. Veichles manufactured in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada and probaly Mexico (you never know with those US trucks).  

We are going to fight the cold nights today with a huge BBQ, a Campfire and some internally heating drinks. 

Camping La Quinta rocks!

Cusco, Camping La Quinta

What a runner "Beautiful Girls and Tough Trucks" had been, in less than 24 hours this post got over 400 clicks! A record on the blue truck blog!

I am not sure if I manage to keep up fast enough with "Meet and Greet" I have just arrived at the Camping in Cusco again, third time. And there are so many campers, I believe I haven't seen as many travelling vehicles at the same time since I have left the USA. So forgive me if it takes a while for me to provide you with more, more beautiful girls, more interesting families, more long travelling couples and more tough trucks.

Stay tuned, the next up-date is coming, soon - sooner or later!

What a Guide!

On Machu Pichu you can hire true full service tour guides...

...including a creamy backrub. But! Make sure you negotiate your prices before, nothing is for free at South Americas most visted tourist attraction.

Stay tuned to see more tourists,

Ooops.... sorry...

...to see more of Machu Pichu soon. 

Right here on the blue truck blog.

Ground Power Unit - For Aviators Only!

This one is for my aviation friends: Peruvian GPU, four standard truck batteries connected together, a cable with a aircraft plug and off you go. It worked!

Are you a true Aviation Nut?

Really?

Really, really?

I mean do you really have Aviation in your flesh and blood?

If so, you should visit the Aviation Nut Photo Gallery.

Enjoy!

Land Cruisers come with shower

Do you remember when I was telling you about my OMG-Shower, not? Read about it here! It seems as Toyota Land Cruisers are just something for clean people, they just seem to come with a shower, those Toyotas. Even though I must admit...

...my version is not as elegant as the fixed installation this peruvian travelling Cruiser has. 

And I must admit, as impressive this installation is, I would have torn it off about a hundred times by now while going through the bush, sneeking along rocky walls or beeing too lazy to cut the trees left and right before squeezing through.

Hitchhikers Hostal Lima

The seccond go around at Hitchhikers Hostal in Lima...

...we are sitting kind of tight and cozy together. 

What means badass in French? Or: The French Answer...

...to the German MAN's and Unimog's overlanding on the American Continent. I have met this french family of four in their badass off-road Renault truck in Cusco. The truck is for sale in a couple of months in South America. 

Los Andes

It is now here!

The blue truck photo gallery of the longest mountain range in the world: Los Andes.

Living at the edge.

Surviving where others did not make it.

And ever again, breathtaking beauty.

CLICK here and enjoy ther first series of pictures of Los Andes.

It's Not Rush-Hour Yet!

This is Lima trafic during the day, imagine what rush hour looks like!

By the way...

...I am not the last one in line, it doesn't look much better in the rear view mirror.

All part of the fun!

Imagine when this country moves up a little economic wise and more people can afford their own wheels.