As Arequipa sits in the middle of the highlands and the coast, we'd been warned to expect cooler weather and rain; a big change from the heat and humidity we'd suffered so far. The skies stayed clear as we went for an unnecessarily long walk to lunch, designed to help ease altitude-induced digestive issues. High altitude can bring a number of fun physical symptoms, including shortness of breath, faintness, headaches, general weakness, stomach issues and dry nose, eyes and lips. We set up a bingo table and readied our pens.
Lunch finally happened at a Peruvian restaurant garnished with ropes of chilies, mortar and pestles, red-faced men operating the mortar and pestles, and traditional costumes on the waitstaff (long black braids, skirts, occasional woolen ponchos and broad brimmed hats). The menu offered Arequipa-style guinea pig which I somehow resisted. The prepared dish strongly resembled a baby chihuahua all splayed out for desexing surgery. (Year 10 work experience haunts me still.) Instead I watched a braver member of the group chow down on its little teeny haunches. Not bad, apparently.
Post-lunch, we took a tour through the Santa Catalina Convent which was founded in 1597 by the Dominican Order. It is five acres of beautiful citadel within the city, and bursting with flowers. We turned the three cloisters into one massive photo shoot.
After that, the group decided as a whole that we'd been ignoring dessert for far too long. Dinner that night was cake. It wasn't even Peruvian cake.
My stomach was full of regrets in the morning, but I distracted myself by looking out at the smoking volcanoes on the horizon. Time to pack our bags and drive out for a closer look.
My stomach was full of regrets in the morning, but I distracted myself by looking out at the smoking volcanoes on the horizon. Time to pack our bags and drive out for a closer look.
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