September 28, 2007

From SATA-Peru-2007

Okay friends, today was a great day in the Arequipa city.

We woke up late for the first time in a while and enjoyed a leisurely day up until our tour with Francisco in the afternoon. Everyone went there seperate ways in the morning, the fellas headed for some delicious pizza. We met back up in the hotel courtyard for some pool time and some intense study of "The Conquest of the Inca" by John Hemming, a role model for us all. 2:30 rolled around and it was off to another tour, this time of Arequipa. Our tour guide was a middle aged professor from a local university, he was extrememly knowledgable. We went to an overlook of the city and learned a little about the history of Arequipa's inhabitance and also about some of the volcanoes that dot the horizon. From there we made a stop at what was the oldest bridge in the world when it was built some hundred years ago.

Our next stop of note was a colonial nunnery where we were introduced to the exciting life of a nun in the 16th century. Some of the girls were tempted to take up residence there but fortunately Manuel talked them out of it. Anyhow perhaps the highlight of the nunnery tour was at the end when we made a stop at the pisco shop to taste some of the finest Pisco that peru has to offer. We all enjoyed the passion fruit sours and left with a little more bounce in our step

The tour had at this point neared its end and we made two last quick stops at Francisco's alma mater and then to the cathedral in La Plaza de Armas. The cathedral was immense and full of people for the night's mass. By now it was almost time for us to head to the bus station for our return trip to Cusco, but there was time just enough for some dinner.

A delicious dinner was had by all at el restaurante Ekeko. The menu showcased some two or three pages full of meat dishes. The guys were in heaven here, especially Mike and Rick who ordered plates filled with every type of meat available. Our time in Arequipa was up, we hurried to the bus station for our overnight trip to Cusco. To everyone's shock and amazement we were to ride in a double decker bus! Shana was afraid, everyone else was thrilled at this unique oppurtunity. And our prime seats at the front of the bus' second floor ALMOST made up for the fact that I don't think anyone slept for more than 30 minutes on the long winding road to Cusco.

September 27, 2007 September 29, 2007