La Plazuela Hotel Arequipa

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... very little decomposition, considering it´s over 500 years old. In my tour group happened to be Tony and Helen from my Inca trail group, which was a cool surprise. <br><br>Today and yesterday have mostly been spent wandering Arequipa. Yesterday I stumbled across a big food and music festival which was cool. Today, because I´ve been so stingy with food money, usually spending less than $4 a day, and because I have a bunch of soles ...

... The whole group head off to celebrate Kate´s birthday that evening... Kate is really surpised when Luciano (our tour guide) presents her with the biggest Chocolate Cake or Dolce con Leche! Absolutely gorgeous but very sickly, I could only manage 2 pieces!!!!<br><br>After the meal half the group head back to the hotel, but us hardcore lot continue the party at a Kareoke bar, drinking jugs of Sangria ...

... over a dirt track brought us to the start point of the trek at 3,300m. We get sweeping views along the canyon that stretch for miles and the little, unspoilt villages that dot the opposite side seem impossibly far away. The bottom, where the Rio Colca cuts through the rock looks a very long walk indeed. In the background looms the grey menacing mass of Sabancaya (5,976m), one of the most active volcanoes in the Americas and its more docile neighbour, Ampato (6,288m). At random along the ...

... into a church that holds about 200 people. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half and consisted of: announcements, reminding people of their responsibilities in the program (i.e. write the person supporting them to tell them thank you and how they are doing (and don't ask them for things, come to the meeting and be quiet and pay attention), a lecture from, in this case, a psychiatrist, birthday announcements, and recognitions for certain people. There is also ...

... anything more is very painful. <br><br>They live with their mother in a room that is probably 10x10. It is made out of stone, which has been loosely mortared together, and there is a tin roof. There are actually two beds and a dresser, which their padrino has helped them get. Their father is gone. Their mother has her problems. She works odd jobs. She often has a boyfriend who stays with them in their 10x10 room and who frequently beats ...

... to the Vatican on a smaller scale. Inner walls are stained bright burnt orange or sky blue by organic dyes that are regularly reapplied -- so one must be vigilant to not brush against them with your shoulder for example :). For 10 Soles extra I join another American couple to take a guided tour, which was well worth it to gain a deeper appreciation for why things were <br>certain ways ...

... a saint by Pope John Paul. Was good to see.<br>Rest of day was more relaxing and we decided to try some crepes in a crepe restaurant recommended by Lonely Planet called Zig Zag creperie. That night we also tried Mexican restaurant so we really looked after ourselves that day. Mexican was ok for Peruvian standards. Some of their western dishes are not the best..eg the pasta here is pretty poor so we have leaned not to try that ...

... I said goodbye to Joel and wished him well at Chivay. I was disgusted however to find out that there was no seats left on any bus back to Arequipa that day. I really wanted to get back to the city so I got chatting with a Chilean family that were in the same boat as me. We managed to persuade a local guy to drive us the 4 hours to Arequipa at a cost of 50 Soles per person. Worth it to get back to Arequipa, a shower and some clean clothes...

... way there we went over the pass which is 5000m high and I almost fainted there. In the morning we went to see the Condors in the wild. After that Martin and I went to explore the village of Coporaque. In the evening I went to local springs which were ok and Martin went to mountains to shoot the sunset pictures.<br>The third day we returned back to Arequipa where we tryed the Guienua pig for lunch. It taste as a rubbit but it looks awfull on the plate. <br>Next day we were off to Cusco.