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Geo: -16.39, -71.53
Health is always potentially a concern when travelling. We have been really healthy on this trip besides some minor skin irritations, bites and normal aches and pains. However, during our first night in Arequipa at Casa de Sillar I had a mysterious allergy attack. I woke up at 3:30am from vivid dreams of cats to which I am deathly allergic. My sinuses were totally blocked and my face looked like I had been on the losing end of a boxing match with all the puffiness and swollen closed eyes but without the bruising. Problem was, I had no idea what I was allergic to - was it the strange pillow? Perhaps the bed or room had been sprayed with something? Maybe cats lived here when they had no hotel guests? Thankfully my lungs didn't engage in this event as normally with this type of a reaction, asthma would also kick in. I took some medications, got up and packed, had an ice cold shower to ensure I got any allergens off me and sat in an allergy-free wooden chair until it was late enough to get into another hotel.
At 6:00am we went down the street to La Casa de
Melgar. This was the house of the bishop of Arequipa at the end of the 19th century. The vaulted ceilings, multiple courtyards, art and antiques are a perfect photographer's haven. So while I slept all day, Jim just hung around taking pictures. I guess in some ways we both had a day of healing. This place was one of the 4 best places we stayed at in all of Ecuador and Peru! It is a real gem.
Unfortunately, we were in Arequipa for only 2 days so missed seeing a lot of the beautiful sites in the city. We wandered around the city on day 2 taking in the convent, a church here and there and some alpaca wool shops. We caught an uneventful flight (which is the kind of flight one wants to have) to Lima. We are heading home for a couple of weeks and this begins that journey homeward.
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Rick
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Jimmie, your photos continue to be fantastic!!! And, Donna, I love your wonderful narratives, too!!!