Princess Juanita and the KFC Twister Meal
Arequipa, Peru
We had one day to spend in Arequipa, Peru's second biggest city. We also had a list of jobs that needed to be ticked off whilst in a big city. So in 24 hours we almost successfully completed all of the To Do items:
1. Visit tourist attraction Monasterio Santa Catalina
A "city within a city", this 500 year old monastery is picturesque with its white stoned walls, cobbled streets etc. Our guide explained how the rich nuns of the past lived quite comfortably, most of them voluntarily isolated from the rest of the city. Some were sent there by their families, our guide explained, since at that time woman were often told what to do. Nick suggested to the guide that it was better that way but the sullen guide didn't appear to find that funny.
Today the central chapel has been converted into a gallery of sixteenth century religious art. We visited after dark, where the village outside is lit by candles and inside only the paintings are softly illuminated. At one end of the gallery there is a life size Jesus on crucifix and in the corner next to it, a display of priests robes, golden and delicately embroidered by the nuns. The glass display case had a faulty bulb which made a flashing strobe effect. We took the opportunity to create our very first scary movie using the Canon Happy Snapper Point and Click. Any interested parties/indie film makers may send enquiries using the feedback page and we will gladly send the footage.
2.Visit tourist attraction Juanita the Ice Princess
I am bored of museums filled with rocks and other archeological findings like clay pots glued back together and uninspiring cooking/hunting utilities. But this museum was different. First they show a video of how some Germans discovered the graves of Inca children on a volcano. Then they walk you through the artefacts found in the graves which builds the evidence that the children were killed and buried as sacrifices to the gods. And finally, they reveal Juanita. The frozen corpse of a 12 year old girl killed by a blow to the head in the 1500's. She is so well preserved you can see her skin.
The museum is called something like Museo Collegio Blah but in reality they should just call it Juanita's museum, since that's all its really about. I was glad, then, that Juanita was actually there. Apparently between January and April each year they take her away to a lab for further tests. Just imagine how pissed off you'd be if she wasn't there when you finally arrived at 'Juanita's room'. Still, it was only 15 soles each plus a tip for our second humourless guide woman of the day.
3. Backup ever increasing photos and clear space on iPad
The problem is that we've taken so many pics that the 32GB iPad is full. We need to back them up or find more storage. This is the only job we weren't able to complete. First we tried burning them onto a CD at a photo shop- no can do, the computer won't talk to iPad. Then we tried to buy an external hard drive- no can do, the hard drive won't talk to iPad. Eventually we found the iPlace store, where they told us to use Dropbox, which is what we are already doing. A fruitless and frustrating attempt. Technology problems never fail to annoy, especially in developing countries.
4. Purchase hiking gear.
We've already done a couple of hikes in attire that's more suited to a London night club than outdoor trekking. So we figured investing in some decent hiking pants would do us well for our upcoming adventures in the Colca Canyon, Huaraz region, Macchu Piccu and Ciudad Perdida. But we learnt the hard way that its best to come to South America prepared. Forget purchasing North Face, Columbia or any other decent outdoor outfitters in Arequipa. At least in la Paz you can get cheap knock offs, but here there is hardly anything. So our first day in Peru was spent in the Umbro/Merrell outlet of a western style mall. Nick is very pleased with his new rain jacket though which is the official showerproof training jacket of the Peruvian National Football Team. This also pleases me as he is giving the llama jersey a break.
Ps we both had KFC twister meals while we were there. I'm not ashamed. Nick had Inca Kola instead of Coke which adds authenticity. Maybe.
5. Sort out bus tickets to Colca Canyon
We have two options. Option A: the nice tourist bus that stops at a small village and Condor viewing platform en route. At 35 soles (£9) its more expensive with comfortable seats and generally considered more reliable. But it leaves at 3am.
Option B: the 17 soles local bus which leaves at the decent hour of 2pm.
We opted for B. B for Big Mistake. I got the aisle seat, and when more and more peasants got on board at each stop it started to resemble the Northern Line at 8am on a weekday. But more peasanty. I had one woman standing in front of me, leaning over my head with her arm in my face whilst pushing me sideways. The old guy behind me has his dirty fingernails gripping my headrest. The woman next to me had a stinking baby strapped on her back and was actually sitting on my shoulder. Then you get some hawkers hopping onto the bus at every stop trying to palm off their foodstuffs. Nick said the guy selling apples was the oldest man he'd ever seen, as old as a tree. I said he looked like a walnut. Shame.