After finishing our stretch at building hospitals in Pisco, we went out with our volunteer friends for our last night and drank too much, including a PSF invention called ´Mangria´ which is the typical Sangria but with vodka (and much more deadly)

As you can imagine, that had the effect of Dave and Emily waking up the next morning with very sore heads. To make things worse it was super hot (as usual) and we had to get a taxi and then a bus to the town Ica.

The hour bus through the desert was very long and painful, but we arrived at our next stop which was Huacachina, the desert town we spent a day in a few weeks previosuly.

Our plan was to chill out in the desert before heading south to Arequipa. Chill we did and the next day we got on an overnight bus south.

Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru at an altitude of 2357m above sea level within the Andes mountains. The city is surrounded by spectacular scenery with many mountains and volcanos circling the urban area, the Volcan El Misti being the most famous at 6000m above sea level and dominating the skyline.

So we arrived to our new hostel, a lovely place called ´Mi Casa´ which is run by a nice Italian called Alesandro. It is more like a big quiet house than a hostel, with large rooms, kitchen, living room, roof terrace and outdoor patio garden to relax in.

Unfortunalty Emily was not feeling well the first two days, and Dave not felling well the third day so the first three days consisted of some wandering around the city (slowly) and recovering in the hostel.

Once recovered on day four we headed out properly to enjoy what Arequipa had to offer, which was lots of buildings made from volcanic stone called ´stillar´ which sparkles in the light and gives the city its own distinct character. A lovely tree filled main plaza, great restaurants. wonderful museums and a fascinating monastery.

The museum of choice was about a number of frozen children that were found at the top of a 6000m volcano nearby.

These children (aged between 11 and 15) were chosen to be sacrificed by the Inca priests to appease the gods. They were forced to walk for 3 months across Peru and then up to the top of the volcano. After a ceremony they were boshed on the head with a pointy stick which pretty much killed them, then buried in the ground. All to control the weather, which of course it did not.

Some 500 years later a team of explorers discoved the burial site and brought them down.

At the end of the museum you get to see one of the children, intact and kept in a climate controlled case.....very moving and fascinating but we also found it very sad that these children were basically murdered under the pretence that they were doing an honorable thing (if it was so important why didnt the priests sacrifice themselves eh?)

The monestary we visited is called ´Santa Catalina´ and is a 20,000sq.m walled city consiting of an entire city block. Built in 1579 it was founded by a rich widow who selected woman from diverse social backgrounds to live and practice there, never to return to their homes and families.

After 411 years of complete seculsion from the outside world, they opened their doors to the public in 1970. Dave and Emily arrived 41 years later to have a snoop around.....And it was very impressive.

A huge complex of hundreds of rooms with internal courtyards, kitchens and clever washing facilities all connected by lovely streets, fountains and cloisters. Although very old it has a very modern feel to it with vibrant coloured walls of blue, red and orange with lots of great little views and surprises to get two Architects very excited !

After spending most of the day there, we went for an interesting dinner and for that you will have to read the next blog.....