Casa Arequipa

... and vast expanses of farming terraces. We came to a stop at El Cruz del Condor, a high vantage point where we could observe the graceful Condor soaring on thermals along and over the canyon. These birds feed off dead animals, relying on others such as the fox to kill and open prey before they muscle in and gorge themselves on the open flesh. There are also eagles here and we even saw a falcon but they seem insignificant compared to the magnificent Condor.

A further, long bus ...

... eettentjes waar je heerlijk kunt eten voor weinig geld. Mijzelf dan ook tegoed gedaan met een heerlijk stukje alpaca van de grill. In de namiddag nog even van het zonnetje genoten in de tuin van het hostal maar het blijfr oppassen want de zon is heel fel en valt door het lekkere wndje minder heet aan. s-Avonds een toertje geboekt naar Canyon Colca voor twee dagen bij een plaatselijke agency wat acheraf een goede keuze blijkt.

... to get changed and fresh up a bit and we then go to a restaurante called Trattoria del Monasterio
It is famous to be one of the best place to try local dishes so let's do it
They do it Cochon d'inde, this cute animal....let's see if I like it.....

Tomorrow will be a long trip to Colca Valley in bus so we shall take it easy to be fresh
Plus altitude does not allow many excess here!!

... teaspoons of curry powder, half a teaspoon of chilli powder and the coconut yoghurt to the mix and blend again.
Step5. Stir-fry the onion, remaining two peppers and the chicken until lightly browned then add the blended goodness. Adding a handful of raisins would be a good idea now, depending how big your hands are of course.
Step6. If you haven’t put the rice on now, do that, I always forget.
Step7.Let me know how it tasted!

Anyway, Arequipa, ‘The White ...

... stomach!

Another adventure tomorrow: a 3 day hike into the Colca canyon. Sadly that involves a 3am departure...not happy jan!

Oh, and we are getting a little nervous about our chances of seeing the big MP...Cuzco is currently closed to transport coming or going due to some strike action, so we´re keeping our fingers very tightly crossed that it will all clear up in the next week or 2.

Miss you all,
Love Anna & Carl xx

We knew security in Peru was more of an issue than Bolivia (but all relative really, as you have to remain pretty vigilant in all of South America), and particularly guidebooks had recommended not to take night buses if at all possible as sometimes they get robbed, and possessions can go missing from your day pack at your feet. All very well, and we´re pretty good at heeding advice, but the trouble is that in most of Peru, given distances ...

... spent many years working with him at a homeless shelter in Lewiston, Maine - the St. Martin de Porres Residence. That will explain the many St Martin references in our blog entries:


Hi Brother,

We aren´t in Lima yet. Today we toured a Dominican nunnery from the 1500´s. You call your place a convent and the nuns call theirs a monastery, so I get kind of confused ...