Arequipa, Peru

For the last three weeks we have been able to take a breath and relax. We based ourselves in Arequipa, Peru taking the opportunity to pause from traveling and learn a bit more Spanish. We've had a lovely experience, and stayed in a hotel called Casa de Avila with the most helpful, friendly staff. They have a quiet, peaceful garden that includes a resident tortoise. The city itself is the second largest in Peru, but staying in El Centro doesn't feel like it. The spanish influence is very apparent in the beautiful white buildings as you walk through the cobbled streets. Perhaps the most impressive building is the massive basilica in the Plaza de Armas. It stretches an entire city block with intricate carvings inside and out. From the right angle, the volcano Misti can be seen in the distance, between the two steeples.

The other impressive building in Arequipa is Santa Catalina Monastery, which is basically a city within a city. It has several colorful courtyards and streets. In each of the streets are little houses consisting of a simple bedroom, a living room, and the coolest little kitchens. I'll have to say that the kitchens were my favorite; each with stone shelves, grinding stones, hand pounded copper cookware, and big ovens built into the walls. The whole monastery was amazing. I could practically see the nuns walking the narrow streets, kneeling for worship in the church, and kneading dough in the kitchens. It took us a few hours to explore the whole place, but we'll worth the experience.

Although it has been a lot of time studying here, it hasn't been all work. We have explored the city, gone on a free walking tour, visited the market, gone trekking in the Colca Canyon, and we even took cooking lessons right in our hotel. When we get home, we now have some new international dishes to share with our friends and family. On the menu was rocoto relleno and pastel de papas. This city was beautiful and always worth a visit. This city is so beautiful. I will always recommend it to anyone visiting Peru. From here we go to Cusco for a week then on to Chile.

Lima, Peru
Hotels:
SM Hotel & Business: $59

Restaurants:
Punta Azul
Mama Olla Restaurant

Transportation:
Plane to Lima
On foot

Activities:
Museo Larco
Mira Flores: free
Igesia de San Francisco


Arequipa, Peru
Hotels:
Casa de Avila: $32/night with Spanish classes

Restaurants:
Chelawasi Public House
Zig Zag Restaurant
Crepisimo
Hatunpa
La Nueva Palomino
India Indian Cuisine

Transportation:
Plane to Arequipa
On foot

Activities:
Colca Canyon trek 3d/2n: $120/ea
Spanish classes, 1 month at Casa de Avila: 270/week ea
Monestario de Santa Catalina: 40 soles/ea
Plaza de Armas: free
Yanahuara: free
Cathedral of Arequipa
Museo Santuarios Andinos: 20 soles/ea
Cooking classes at Casa de Avila: 54 soles/ ea
Walking tour: free