Salt-astic!

I really should get prizes for my post titles. Obviously I spend hours thinking of creative titles. Just a little gift from me to you, with much love.

Okay! Time for some Salineras de Maras fun! I may have slightly mislead you yesterday by indicating we went to Moray first and then the Salinas, as it is casually called. In reality, it was the reverse. I just like to switch things up now and then. Anyways! The Salinas. Gorgeous scenery was enjoyed. And then we arrived! The Salinas is pretty cool. If you like salt. If you have no interest in how salt is collected then you would probably be bored out of your mind visiting this place. It consists of thousands of ancient salt mines that form terraces on the hill sides. These are apparently owned by families and passed down from generation to generation. In some information provided to us, we learned that the process for collecting salt involves flooding the mines, letting the water evaporate over a three day period, and then collecting the salt, which sits on the ground like snow.

See? LIKE SNOW BUT IT’S SALTY.

You can walk along narrow pathways separating the mines to check things out. And then do things like trying to do a pistol (it’s a Crossfit thing) without falling over.

I, of course, had to taste the salt. Just a dip of the hand into the warm water (it comes from hot springs) and then a taste! Mmmmm…. just need an avocado to sprinkle some on. Others may want a tequila shot.

It was really amazing to se how the salt crystallizes on the ground, and little rivers of water running through. A fascinating place that still provides a source of income for families in the area. I picked up some natural salt in the market last week and am loving it. I’m not sure if it came from Salinas or not, but it definitely has a much better flavour that typical table salt. And is the same price, about S/1 for a big bag. I’m bringing some back to Canada with me.

FYI, some people are getting salt as gifts.