PERU...to travel with the Cloud

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We had Christmas with our son Simon in Canada...a road trip through Utah & Arizona during a polar vortex ending staying with Home & Away in Colorado...another road trip down the Blues Highway from Memphis BB King's Blues Club to New Orleans juke joints...schmoozing, bluesing & cruising the Caribbean with those darn Binkleys.

It's time for our South American leg that we only added to meet Tara Cloud.

Peru, Bolivia & Nthn Chile.

Nil planning...dreaming of soaring with condors.

Arrive in Arequipa...Tara there to meet us.

Loaded up with her new camera and various gear we'd collected from Home & Away for her.

"Did you get me a window seat on the flight to Cusco?"

"No. They only let us book three together."

"I'll change the seats," she says...jumping for joy when she has done so.

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Our hotel borders the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral looks down on our balcony while we sip tea and chuckle that we are finally here.

Then a demonstration gathers on the cathedral steps like a storm brewing...while a Roman centurion whips the chained and collared in white tunics crawling towards us... chanting picketers a following.

Immediately I feel at home...'cause home is where the heart is.

For the next month this fabulous continent that is South America is where our heart is.

And who better I had been thinking...than Tara to show us around?

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After Peruvian crepes and glasses of fresh juices it seemed only appropriate to seek some penance and enter monastic life.

So Tara took us to the Santa Catarina Monastery...an old cloistered convent made from the white volcanic rock that pens Arequipa's name as "The White City."

I thought the word carved on an entrance arch "Silencio" meant "Silence" but based on the incessant chattering of Tara and Denise one assumes it means something else!

It was tradition that Peruvian families would give their second daughters to the Church to be nuns.

Many came to be cloistered at Santa Catarina.

The quality of their lodging depended on the benificence of their parents as patrons.

Their quarters are faithfully preserved for the tourist dollar...thus the monastery can continue to bolster it's coffers.

While the angles, arcs and colours were appealing, it was the religious relics that really captured my interest.

So began my search for enlightenment of the essence of Catholicism in South America.

A quest that led to some startling discoveries.

Something to look forward to.

Challenging perceptions, beliefs, doctrines.

One promise...

Fascinating!

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Tara takes us to "the Number 1 restaurant in Arequipa"...Zig Zag... just near the San Francisco Cathedral.

Amazing meal...our shout.

Takes some photos of us with her new camera.

"How'd they come out?" I ask.

"Don't know. Don't know how to do it."

I take her camera, various buttons, press one.

"It's this one."

"Excellent. The photos have come out very well," she says.

"Let me show you Tara.

If you want to hit playback...just press this button."

******



But dark clouds were gathering.

A storm was brewing.

Then the storm hit.

Left us shocked and confused.

These dancers who just wanna have a good time.

Didn't see it coming.

Yet with something in the air...we probably should have.

Then there was silence.

Then the softest sounds.

The sounds of our breathing...our heart beats.

It was exhilarating.

Best thing.

No Spanish.

No plans.

Nothing as it turned out...booked at all.

Let's wing it.

Let's catch the updraughts and soar up and up.

Let's fly with the condors.

Let the wind carry us like feathers in the breeze.

Yep.

Just how we like it.

Let's wing it.

******





Let the adventure begin.

It'll be quite a ride!!!!





Relax & Enjoy,

Dancing Dave

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Comments

[His Dudeness]

Living the life!
North - South, and somewhere in between. You are really getting to see the Americas! Dancing, swinging, singing and laughing, and now flying with the condors. I shall be looking forward to your adventures in S. America... Some salsa, some tango, a bit of the mambo and the merengue, I am sure I will see and read about all of it.

[Dancing Dave]

Living the life!
What a privilege to be able to share the thrills and spills vicariously Ralf as we stumble and rumble...dance and prance...or is it soar and roar...through South America. Enjoy the ride...and thanks for the tip...we'll look forward to the merengue!

[RJT]

At last!
I have been looking forward the to South American chapter of these travels for some time. I can't wait to read about your adventures. What a treat to be able to meet Tara too!

[Dancing Dave]

At last!
I've been busting to tell the tales too Rachael. All I'll say is it'll be quite a ride!

[RJT]

Silencio!
I love this photo....I think "Silencio" is more a suggestion than a hard and fast rule :-)

[Dancing Dave]

Silencio!
Don't know the Spanish for "suggestion"...don't know the Spanish for "hard and fast rule". But there are some things I do know Rachael. But that's another story!

[taracloud]

Doing the South American Two-Step!
Great to meet you two dancers down here, and thanks so much for being my sherpas! I love my new camera, and I especially love the fabric band-aids that stay on sweaty, blistered feet! So glad to get you those window seat for Andes flying. And indeed Silencio just couldn't be followed when Denise and I finally met. Looking forward to your further adventures.

[D MJ Binkley]

South America Chapters
You've always enjoyed exploring South America. I believe Dave and I ate in that restaurant in Arequipa. I'll have to look up the name or we can compare photos. I'm glad S.A. held so many adventures and surprises. Eager to read more.

[Dancing Dave]

Chicha por Gaston Acurio
This Sth American section of the trip was a revelation full of surprises in so many ways ...a magnificent dessert after our 10 days of schmoozing, bluesing & cruising with you guys. Be it Zig Zag or Chicha por Gaston Acurio the gastronomical delights were our first taste of why Peru is highly regarded for its fusion cuisine. We spent some time with a high end chef from Europe who was in Peru to explore this aspect. Let me know if you ate at one of these top spots in Arequipa.

[XiuQiu]

This one
Not the only nice pic, but the one that I remember most. Holy Trinity. -:)

[Dancing Dave]

This one
Gotta agree Peter...the sunset, hands held out in grace, and a bird on the head with another to meet the outstretched hand. Anyway that's how I saw it!

[Welf Herfurth]

Great story
I loved Arequipa a lot. Love the monastery and the market. But the best place must be the plaza. Good to see you there and enjoy.

[Dancing Dave]

Great story
Good to hear from you Welf. You had a bit of a love story in many ways in this part of the World. Hope you follow the ride I will lead you on. Love that in TB we can go to the same places as others but our experiences can be so so different. And that we can share them in the ether...WOW!

[A Small Swede in the Big World]

Meeting the TB family
You're meeting the whole TB family all across the world, one day perhaps our paths will cross as well.

[Dancing Dave]

Meeting the TB family
You are on my wish list Per-Olof so looking forward to when it can happen.

[Jo Trouble]

Soaring where the winds take you
The storm before the calm - the magical freedom of being itineraryless - soaring on the thermals = a blank canvas for adventure. Just as well I wasn't born in Peru - not sure I would have done so well in a convent!

[Dancing Dave]

Soaring where the winds take you
But dark clouds were gathering. A storm was brewing. Then the storm hit. Left us shocked and confused. Sounds like Trouble was about. But where you Jo? Where were you when we needed you most? Well...you'll have to read on to find out all about it!!!