Day - Uncertain. Arequipa

 We just finished two full days in Arequipa; the first is kind of a blur because it came on the heels of an all-night bus ride, which turned out to be not as restful and luxurious as it sounds. But for 60 soles we were able to check into our room at 8:30 am (roughly three hours after we arrived) so we got to take a nap for two hours, which eliminated any possibility of having any concept of time for the remainder of the day.

 The second day was so pleasant that now Martha wants to come back here for a week. Arequipa was one of the earliest Spanish settlements in Peru, and as soon as all the Europeans realized that it’s far enough from the coast not to have mosquitos or crushing heat, it became popular enough to earn the nickname “The “White City” and it does feel quite European. But it’s also very close to the Andes, so there is some indigenous culture mixed in.

Like this Catholic church with a baroque façade that include the Hapsburg coat of arms and Aztec gods, ears of corn and pineapples.

But as always, first stop was at the main market.

You may think you know potatoes, but really you don’t.

This woman mixed me up a drink of multiple tropical fruits, most of which were new to me. It was delicious and impossible to duplicate in the US. The oddest fruit in there is called Lugma. I bought one and we all shared it. It has a good, mild flavor and the consistency of damp chalk (sorry, Lugma).

There is a famous monastery here that I visited. It essentially had three major historical phases. 1. 18th century - Spain takes over, builds the monastery and convinces all of the wealthy families that if they want to go to heaven, they have to send their daughters and their money to the monastery. 2. 19th century - the daughters discover Europe, clubs, Hermes and Beyonce and decide life as a nun isn’t so great and they decline the offer of eternal salvation, so the monastery starts taking daughters of poor families. 3. 20th century – church realizes that the families of poor daughters can’t really sustain the monastery, so they lease out parts of it to cafés and souvenir shops.

The main plaza is beautiful. It includes a church, which was built sideways to the plaza so that it looks more imposing than it really is (really). 

But the best part is that it has pop-up confessionals for people who have something to confess but can’t be bothered actually attending church. I was thinking of going, but the main thing I would have to confess is that I took a picture of someone confessing and I doubt I would be forgiven for that.

Tomorrow off to Lake Titicaca, which we may not get to because there is major construction on the only road between here and there.