Hotel Viza Arequipa

... TM, Aaron and Davy arrived from Cusco. They had a change of plan also once they read more about Arequipa...however they weredefiantlyy not taking part in anytrekkingg after their experience on the Inka trail.

They all went out for a fancy dinner while I found some noodles etc for $1USD...which were actually really good!

Off to bed for an early night, 3am start tomorrow!

... I finally gave in and paid the 5 soles to go to the hotel. It was annoying - again - but there was nothing to do about it. It turned out that the bus was in earlier than expected and that m guide Norma had been there shortly after I had left. (I called Rafael in Lima, and although he did not answer he reached me later by phone at the hotel and told he had called the agency immediately. My room was not ready - of course....so I had breakfast at the hotel just at Norma was ...

... seatbelts that don´t work. Paulo has some vision problems and his wife and daughter had to alert him when the light changed colors and I had to warn him when a speed bump was approaching. A few close calls didn´t seem to faze Paulo or his wife so I tried to be as calm as possible and gave into the faith that this family has been driving like this for years.

Sunday, I awoke early to visit the plaza de armas once more. I ...

Ok, first I MUST PREFACE THAT i am using a spanish keyboard and the letters are mostly rubbed off so please excuse the typos!

Spent themorning in Miraflores. What lovely weather! Cloudy, humid and cool it was a nice chage from hot and dry Pueblo. Alas, it would not last long. I walked along the malecon overlooking the playa and city. There are a few people out and about this early. There are families with children ...

... 40. The flight to Lima left at 11:43. Evidently the twenty five of us who were supposed to be on that flight were not enough reason to hold the plane. You would have to American Airlines why. They told us the flight plans and timelines over central and south America were very strict. Sounds dubios to me but what do I know. What about the one ...

... wait, no confusing menu, and no time lost on food delivery. The food was decent but not great. It did, however, satisfy my craving for fried rice and pork.

Back in Miraflores I walked by Starbucks and heard someone call my name. It was Aga from La Serena! We were both amazed to run into each other in this city in a completely different country with 8 million inhabitants. Of course, if we were to spot each other ...

... of the city.  I got a chance to see little old ladies, business people in suits, teenagers, moms with kids, nurses in their scrubs, helpful old men, and well-dressed 20 somethings all ride the bus.  It really wasn't that shady.
If you had room left on your bus, peddlers would sometimes get on at one stop and then get off at the next.  In between, they tried to sell you gum, candy, or other snacks.  Room is a relative term.  We rode one bus where every seat was filled ...

... largest fountain in a park in the world. We saw some old ruins that were built in early A.D. as well (I think it was around 200-700 A.D.). We also saw the President's Palace here in Lima as well. Melanie and I sat on the top of the bus and we could see great! We took tons of pictures! During the middle of the tour we stopped to see the Monastery of San Francisco. It was enormous, ornate, and beautiful! I took a bunch of photographs outside ...

Woke up today at 11am, jet lag at its best.... Started the day by heading to the local shopping center that is located right on the ocean. The fog was thick but still warm out today. Found a few buys such as a purse made out of llama leather and locally made jewelry. Then jumped in a cab to head to the local outdoor markets. Hundreds of stalls filled with local goods and were able to buy ...

... His friend was trying to back me up at some points of what I was saying, but he eventually kept quiet as it seemed he did not want to offend his friend. I found it amazing that I was just having my breakfast, trying to be friendly when he just felt the need to explain to me as to why he thought it was better to not travel alone. I say everyone has different preferences – but he can't say one is better than the other if he hadn't tried both ways ...