Wednesday 12 September 2012 and
Sunday 16 September 2012
LA CASA DE MI ABUELA
CALLE JERUSALEN 606
AREQUIPA PERU
TEL (51-54) 242761
Arequipa is a smaller city than Lima. You can always tell when you have to walk from the plane to the airport building on the Tarmac that it's smaller! Arequipa is at 2 300 m altitude but Greg and I were fine. We stayed in a quaint walled hacienda style place. Not a motel but several townhouses on open grounds. (See photos posted ... Lindas hire car) We walked down to the city square (cos every town has one). There were huge speakers being erected and a row of police holding shields and armed very well! We asked the local turismo (tourist) agency what was going on and she said the local teachers were striking for more pay! I made an encouraging sign and then we watched the action. Surely not just the teachers! Every district was represented. Banners. Music. Dancing by local indigenous. Traffic jams and more little taxis in one place than I've ever seen. Fun. We got walking directions to a viewing point where we could see Misti and Mismi volcanoes. Later while resting back at our room, I heard music that was coming closer and closer. I recognized 'fleur de lis'. It wasn't until later when out again that I realized it was the local garbage truck! After tonight we go to Colca Valley for a couple of nights then return to Arequipa for one more night.