Arequipa

Trip Start Sep 03, 2007

220

Trip End Jun 17, 2009

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Flag of Peru Arequipa, Peru
Friday, January 25, 2008

The new double decker bus rolled in at 1100pm, the luggage was loaded in the storage hold, which took up most of downstairs and we climbed upstairs into very comfortable, reclining seats which had drop down leg supports. We kept our personal valuables bags with us and jammed them under our seats. The bus set off and the main lights were switched off, as we left the quiet streets of Nazca behind and were soon speeding away south east and inland.

We had been warned that the journey would take over eight hours, as at this time of year the roads were misty! We settled down into a sort of relaxed (ish) drowsiness, without really sleeping properly and were conscious of the many tight bends and hills that our route felt it was taking.

By 6.30 am it was dawn and unable to struggle to try to sleep any more, I peered out of the curtains on a very rocky, mountainous area

Arequipa church

. Soon the stewardess switched on some piano 'wake up' music and served our breakfast, which was a cold hot dog and thick black coffee (no milk available). The 600 km (400 miles) journey ended as we entered a large town and pulled into the modern bus station of 'Arequipa'. Taxis to the small hotel in town and after another (better) breakfast we were out on the streets.

Arequipa, at a height of 2300 metres above sea level, is called 'The White City'. First because the buildings are built from the white solidified rock of volcanic ash, which is very strong and heavy and secondly because it was founded by the 'white' Spaniards, who wanted a city in the mountains where there was water available.

We visited The Monastery of Santa Catalina, which is an old convent and then walked round the city square, conscious of the altitude, looking at the impressive, large, lava rock buildings before returning to the hotel mid afternoon. The city is quite old with many shops and cafes fitted into the buildings. What I did notice was the high number of cake shops with enormous cream cakes in the windows and even though this was 'my kinda town', I was too tired from the bus journey to have appreciated them - me!! We did get the chance of a couple of hours snooze before the evening meal and this helped a lot.

There is usually a briefing for the following day's activities, just before dinner and as we sat in the hotel lobby we were served with a proper "Pisco Sour', very tasty as a pre dinner drink.

We went out into the busy Friday streets to a restaurant which specialized in Peruvian food and were recommended by our guide to try the 'Trilogia', a hot griddled combination of Alpaca, Beef and Ostrich steaks, served with fried Yucca (tastes like dry potato) and baked ratatouille. The very good wine list had my favourite Spanish rioja (Yes here in Peru!), so it was a very enjoyable meal indeed.

Trying to sleep was difficult on this Friday night, as the noisy people in the streets woke up the dogs in the area in a sleep depriving double act. This only went on until 3.30 am, when a cockerel on a nearby roof decided to get in on the act. Another exhausting night.