Blogs from Arequipa, Peru, South America - page 10

Heute in einer Woche bin ich schon am Heimweg. Momentan bin ich in Arequipa und warte auf meinem Bus nach Cabanaconde, der um ein Uhr nachts losfaehrt. In Cabanaconde befindet sich der Colca Canyon, den ich aus Zeitgruenden bei meinem ersten Besuch in Arequipa auslassen musste. Ob ich ein oder zwei Tage bleibe werde ich spontan entscheiden. Danach gehts auf jeden Fall direkt nach Lima. Meine restlichen Tage in La Paz waren ruhig, aber sehr interessant. Ich habe zuerst das Projekt PAV-4-14 besucht, wo eine Tagesbetreuung von Kindern von hilfsbeduerftigen Eltern/alleinerziehenden Muettern/... in El Alto bereitgestellt wird. Aufgrund einer gesetzlichen Aenderung in Bolivien macht das Projekt leider schwierige Zeiten durch. Neben dem Besuch der Betreuungsstation in El Alto und einer Spritztour mit dem Bus, welcher durch Mittel des Vereins "Inti fuer Strassenkinder" unterstuetzt wurde, sta... read more

So after a 12 hour night bus from Ica we arrived in Arequipa. We travelled VIP with Cruz del sur, and this made the journey very easy. The seats were big leather recliners, with a telly each and steward. Would defiantly recommend. We checked into our accommodation a Casa called Casa de Avila. It was nice all the rooms are round a central garden that has a pet turtle. We chilled out as the night bus had been long. We then explored the town getting some food. Exploring the food market which was interesting, and seeing all the old buildings. Day two was spent relaxing and shopping for winter woollies for our trek which is fast approaching. Day three we awoke early and were collected by our tour guide Olivia, along with 3 other people we ... read more

14 Aug Day 2: City of Arequipa Things were decidedly cool at the breakfast table this morning between Pen and Koala. We went to catch the bus for our four hour tour and found the square blocked off. Three got through the barriers and two didn't. More of that later. The square was blocked off for practice for tomorrow's celebrations for Arequipa Day (foundation day in 1541 - about 472 years). Well we think it was practice. The reason we are in doubt is because the Present of Peru turned up today (Don managed to get a photo) but unfortunately not while I was there because Liz, Garry and I literally had front row seats. Did I mention that the practice was by the Military - Army, Navy and Airforce. The uniforms here are quite spectacular. ... read more

Me voila a present au sud du Perou, dans la ville d'Arequipa. Je decouvre avec surprise le soleil permanent et des nuits a peine fraiches. Cela change de la Cordillere des Andes! En me baladant, j'ai decouvert cette jolie ville coloniale, dont le centre ville fut entierement construit par les espagnols. J'y decouvre de belles faÇades blanches munies de balcons qui longent les maisons, et surtout la place centrale, qui se nomme la "place des Armes". A la tombee de la nuit cette place est magnifique. On peut voir clairement 3 volcans en arriere plan, ainsi que sa cathedrale joliment illumine le soir. La fontaine d'eau et la foule peruvienne qui s'agite sur cette place donne a cette place beaucoup de vie. J'ai beaucoup aime me balade autour de cette place le soir pour chercher avec ... read more

Arriving in Arequipa just as the sun rose on a Monday morning, we got a cab to our hostel and after waking up the owners, we luckily had our room available where we could have a hot shower and pass out for the rest of the morning. As you don't sleep much on the long bus rides here, it feels like mild jetlag the day you arrive somewhere and inevitably means that a good part of the day is lost. Stumbling out of the hostel sometime after lunch we were greeted by a bustling city, heavily influenced by Spanish Architecture with a lot of the main monuments being made out of the white basalt rock that was mined from the 3 huge Volcanoes that tower over the city nearly 4000m above us. At 6057m Chachani is ... read more