Thursday 11th June

We pack up our stuff and again join a tour group. 1st stop is the oldest tree in the world; over 2000 years old with a daughter tree over 1000years old. It's pretty impressive. It's in fenced church grounds with manicured gardens and has a team of specialists to mind it. It was sick in recent years and went brown and branches were cut away and became green once more.
Due to the dark clouds we head to the waterfalls and pools before the rain comes, but it clears and ends up being a very hot walk to see the petrified waterfalls. They petrified due to the high calcium content in the water. Now there is only a tiny amount of water originating from small springs atop the falls. On the way we have to travel through farmers fields even though a nice new Road exists. It has to be blessed by the president and he is afraid to come due to strikes by teachers. Or so we are told. Nether-the-less it is profitable for the farmers as the charge per drive through. We enjoy fresh cool coconut water to help cool down. Lunch again is buffet and then we are off to see more preserved ruins. Built to withstand the earthquakes, unlike the mountains top city, but not ppl invasion. The Spanish started it and then the local ppl took parts for their homes until it was banned and protected. We go to a foot loom factory where mats and wall hangings are made. It's a long intense process, especially for the picture designs. Taking months to create. Not to name the thread preparation. The last stop of the day was to a brewery to see how they make alcoholic drinks from a cactus plant. It's raining now, cooling the hot day.
We are dropped off at the bus station where we await our 9pm bus. Night bus here we come!