Arequipa and Surrounds

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From Nazca I got on the bus headed for Arequipa...arriving first thing in the morning. After some food and a shower it was time to explore, heading for the monestry which was huge, and beautifully maintained. After some lunch at a cute little cafe in a Melbourne-like lane way, it was off to visit the mummy museum where an exhibit of the ice girl (Juanita) who was found not too long after after a volcanic eruption freed her from her tomb, was on display, It was quite a confronting exhibition, but very interesting. In the evening we met up with Lili and Renee (friends from Nazca) and had dinner up a few stories at a rooftop restaurant which looks over the beautiful Arequipa Plaza de Armas. After checking out the night life it was back to the hotel to try rest for an overnight trip to Colca canyon on Friday morning.The drive out to Chivay Friday morning was quite long, but with some amazing mountain scenery, along with sightings of many alpacas. We stopped off along the way at a point that was 4900m above sea level, the air here very thin. We then continued in to Chivay, where we had time to explore the town square, Chivay was quite a small town, where the main work for the locals is agriculture, it had a very desert feel to it. After a bit of exploration, Lili, Ted, Renee and I went to the mineral springs, poor Nick unable to join us as he had was pretty sick. After dinner it was an early night to be up to head out to the canyon the following morning to see condors. When we first arrived at the canyon we couldn't see any condors, but after going for a bit of a walk we were lucky enough to see at least 8 of the enormous birds, some coming in quite closely to where we were, quite amazing to see. After watching the birds and checking out the canyon it was back on the bus and back to Chivay for lunch before heading back to Arequipa. After a bit of a rest back in Arequipa, Ted, Nick (who was feeling better after a visit from the nurse and a jab in the bum) and myself organised to meet up with Ren and Lili for dinner at nice restaurant for our last catch up before parting ways with the girls. Ren was unable to make it but the rest of us enjoyed some absolutely delicious and well presented food before heading out to a bar for a farewell drink, where Nick was drinking "virgin cocktails" which called for a bit of shit stirring, but overall it was a great last night in the beautiful Arequipa...next stop Cuzco and preparation for trek and Machu Pichu.

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