In arequipa -- i left houston at 3:30pm ...
Trip Start
Jan 24, 2000
1
5
Trip End
Feb 15, 2000
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Arequipa,
Peru
Tuesday, January 25, 2000
Getting through customs was no big deal -- ask a few questions, stamp the passport, and head on through. What was surprising was the mob that was waiting once you walked out of the customs check. Unlike the airports in the US, the taxi cab drivers are all there vying for your business at once. Picture 75 guys with a TAXI sign screaming at you in their best english. I made my way through the mob and back into the airport terminal.
It was around midnight, and I had decided to stay up until kevin arrived at 7am. I thought it would not be a problem, even though I only slept 2 hours the night before. It may have been a problem staying awake, but the 85 degree tempurature in the airport building certainly made sleeping impossible. They have no air conditioning in their airport building, and it is the middle of summer. It was the longest 7 hours of my life.
Kevin arrived right on time, and we set out to get our plane tickets to Arequipa, which is located in southern Peru, about 100 miles from the Chilean border. To make a long story short, buying a ticket on these domestic airlines is just a big goat rodeo. Couple that with the fact that we were supposed to leave at 9:30am, arriving at noon, but did not arrive in Arequipa until 6pm. But I am here nonetheless. We took a cab from the airport to our hotel (note the word hotel, not hostel) -- the cab ride was only 3 bucks...I can get used to these prices.
Tomorrow we will get up at 6am and begin a 2 day hike in the Colca canyon, which is the 2nd deepest canyon in the world (and about 2 times as deep as the Grand Canyon).
One last note -- although I finally received my digital camera, I am unable to upload pictures while over here -- the process would be pretty painful to do on someone elses computer -- and I dont think they are too keen about people just changing the configurations on their machines. But rest assured I am taking several pictures and they will be up on the internet as soon as I get home.
Comments
Hot in the airport
Yeah, the no air condition in the middle of summer sounds pretty bad. With the added people in the airport I would think that the heat would be like driving in death valley.