Work took me back to Peru this month for a 10-day trip to a lovely town in the south called Arequipa. Arequipa was founded by the Spaniards in 1540 and is today the second-largest city in Peru after Lima. Sitting at 7,740 feet (2,380 meters) above sea level, the name of the game is take to take it slow and steady until you acclimate. The hotel our delegation was staying at, Tierra Sur, was a few minutes walk from the main square in the colonial-era city center called the Plaza de Armas. Many of the buildings in the historic center were built from a white volcanic stone called sillar, giving Arequia the nickname of the White City. The 17th century neoclassical Basilica Cathedral is the beautiful imposing giant of the square, which is still very well attended as the region remains quite catholic. In 2000, UNESCO listed the city center as a World Heritage Site. When you land in Arequipa, the first thing you notice after the altitude are the imposing volcanoes that flank the city - El Misti, Chanchani and Cerro Nicholson. I only discovered after returning to Paris that the proximity of Misti to Arequipa "as well its history of explosive eruptions make it one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes." Good to know!! Thanks for keeping a lid on it big guy. There were a number of highlights for me on this trip, in no particular order including: Llamas and alpacas Little Pamela here was roaming the streets of Arequipa with her owners. It was never determined what species of baby she was, but man she was cute! This is prime llama and alpaca territory here; and textiles from baby alpaca wool is a major industry. The llamas on the right identify the owner by the colored tassels on their ears. Santa Catalina Monastery For me, the Santa Catalina Monastery complex is the absolute gem of Arequipa. It was originally built in the 1570s, and after a series of expansions, is today a city within a city that is still home to around 20 nuns. I doubt very much that the depth of the serenity you feel when visiting will fully transcend to these photos, but suffice it to say that while I have never myself been inclined to become a nun, I totally understand why a person would choose to live their life in a place as beautiful and heavenly as this. More photos in the trip album. Colca Canyon
I was lucky enough to be able to squeeze in a day trip to see the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons of the world. The tour started at 3am, followed by breakfast in Chivay after a 3.5 hour drive with cocoa leaf tea for the altitude. We pressed on through the Colca valley, where they've grown quinoa, corn, potatoes and more for thousands of years on terraces. We finally reached the condor lookout, where the big (endangered) birds were putting on a show. Our guide was from the valley, and could offer us an insiders perspective on the life of the indigenous people who lived there before the Spaniards colonized the region.
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AuthorBecause why not get married and move to Paris to really kick off your thirties? Archives
December 2016
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