Hostal Bolivar Arequipa

After making our way through the market in Chivay picking up a fresh avocado, some dry cow cheese and 8 rolls of freshly baked beauties from the smily ladies behind their stalls, we took the rickety old bus back to Arequipa in an aim to get to to Nazca. <br><br>Having already been to Cusco, Arequipa is a bit unequipped as a city and largely full of New York style boutiques and ...

... really, really expensive, but the food was sensational and we had a good time reminiscing about our recent adventures. On the way home after dinner we ran into a little girl of about 9yrs on the edge of the square selling things; it started with a hat:<br><br>Girl: Want to buy a hat?<br>Us: No thanks<br>G: Why not?<br>Us: Cause we don´t need one<br>G:Yes you do, its cold! You need a hat!!<br>Us: Where´s your hat then? If you thinks its cold why ...

... trek back uphill before we get breakfast, although there is some satisfaction in overtaking the other group who are begging their guide for a rest break. Though I should probably add that Bevan was carrying my bag as well as his own for half the way.<br>For the return bus, we get stuck with another group of loud complaining backpackers who don't want to stop at any of the viewpoints or hot springs on the way. We stop in a pleasant town for ...

... evening, from where it´ll be off to Nazca, and the final leg up to Lima to catch my plane home. <br>You might remember (or not even give a ****, no probs - I´m more than happy to remind you!!)that I was off base for a few days while sailing around Lake Tits for 2 days on Sat and Sun. We saw 3 islands - the floating islands of Uros, (yep, I know I´d been there before but the duplication was unavoidable in order to reach the other 2 - Amantani and Taquile ...

... Sounds like something that would happen in a club in Amsterdam, but here they were fully clothed and the lights were on the whole time! Promise.)<br><br>The journey out to the canyon invloved a few stops to view Inca terraces, old burial tombs in the mountainside and a couple of catholic churches. Eventually we arrived at the viewing point and had a spectacular view of the amazing (and HUGE) Andean Condor, spiralling up out of the ...

... to cook for ourselves and watch tv for a bit again. All boring sounding but very nice homely stuff that we'd been missing! The city was really picturesque, lots of old colonial buildings made from volcanic rock and an amazing old convent more like a walled city within the city. This was also our base for a trip to Colca Canyon.<br>

... part of the day, I found it hilarious. Also spotted near the statue was the narliest police dog I have ever seen, he deserved a picture. We took the bus back to Miraflores for some R and R and then I was able to meet up with Kristina for dinner. The next day I navigated my way to the cheaper bus option to go to Huacachina. By six I made it to my next hostel, which was pretty sweet with its pool and poolside bar.<br><br>Huacachina was a place recommended ...

... like, so we headed south down to the market area of the city. We had been advised to watch our belongings in this area so we were extra vigilant. The market was indeed a very bustly place, full of locals eating and drinking the most oddball things. We came across a stall where a lady had a tank full of live frogs. She would then boil some of the little blighters and pop them in a blender with some yellow liquid and blend the lot at high speed! The locals would then drink ...

... in the day. We walked along the streets, checked out some souvenir stores, and looked for a place to just sit and have coffee.<br> <br> The buildings here in Arequipa are mostly white, contrasted by huge black window railings. A type of volcanic rock called sillar used to build these structures gives it the white color, and the white color gleams at a certain time of the day (hence the name, white city). We walked through the cobblestoned streets ...

... amazingly well preserved, along with all the artefacts found with her. The main cathedral on the square was also impressive, exceptionally large, a tribute to the importance of the Catholic faith in Peru.<br><br>After meeting our local guide for a briefing on the next stops on our trip, the adults went for an excellent meal (particularly Alison's baked asparagus...) in a more modern Peruvian fusion restaurant. The boys went with Julio to shoot pool and generally have a break from us.