Arequipa

Ingrid wrote:

So we arrived in Arequipa about 8.30am on Friday, feeling a bit worse for wear, on limited sleep! We found a hostel and I slept most of the morning. We then wandered around Arequipa...a very different city to Cusco...much bigger, more businessy, less touristy, and generally less going on it seemed, but with beautiful buildings of white sillar stone with real Spanish colonial influence evident. Walked about the town centre, and into the gorgeous cathedral,

Inside the Cathedral

had lunch in a Peruvian vegetarian restaurant that came highly recommended, and was delicioso! I then managed another nap, before going out to explore the city by night.

Arequipa at night

The next morning I explored the Santa Catalina convent...a huge almost enclosed city, probably Arequipa´s biggest attraction. Trev had been last time, so I took myself along and paid for a guided tour, which was worth it, given the sheer size! Very interesting...housed up to 200 nuns in its prime, with around 200 servants....now there are 20 nuns, and no servants! They occupy a small section, and the rest is open to the public. Beautiful cloistered courtyards painted orange and blue, linked by geranium-lined streets, frescos adorning most walls, a huge art gallery etc etc....the pictures won´t do it justice really!

Ingrid´s guide in Santa Catalina, Carmen.

We then went to a traditional Arequipenian restaurant for lunch, via the enormous central market, bustling with people and more fruit, potatoes, fish heads and chicken feet than I ever need to see in my life! Amazingly vibrant though!

Ingrid´s fruit salad at Tradicion Arequipeña

Sat on the roftop of the highest building overlooking the main plaza until sunset, which was gorgeous, sipping fresh guava juice and listening to an Andean band...complete with charanga, panpipes, flute and drums...they were hilarious, and insisted we all wear ponchos up there (got pretty chilly after sunset too!) while they sang and danced around the tables! I bought their album, so will bring the unmistakable Andean sound back to NZ!

Sunset over Arequipa´s Plaza de Armas