travelling yipee enjoying life on the road!!!
Well, Sunday was good relaxing ,spent time on internet and caught up with reading the Sunday Times and things. The had a water cut so had to wait for a shower so spent morning relaxing. Collected Ana s mum and then went to pick up Ali s contact from Argentina Rose who has just started to work for UNICEF Peru a week ago. Idea was to go to the governors palace and see an exhibition of textiles but when we arrived it was closed on Sunday so missed that and went for a late lunch in Mireflores. Good to chat to Rose about child problems although she said she was not an expert on Peru having just arrived. Went home chatted and got ready for my ).9.15pm bus to Arequipa. Tired so knew I would sleep. Comfortable seats, got like an airline dinner that I wasnt expecting and fell asleep pretty fast. Missed the film. Woke at 5ish and watched the landscape float past along the Pacific ocean for about 3 hours with varying drops below stunning althought the sea seemed somewhat dirty which was upsetting a yellow line of horrid froth for miles. Had breakfast and arrived in Arequipa around midday. Got a taxi, negotiated the price cos I am not prepared to be taken for a gringa all the time. Found a lovely little hotel in lonely planet which is great with all sorts of courtyards and lovely colours , quite enchanting. dropped off my stuff and headed straight out to see what the town is like: very different from Lima, well the central area where I am is the old part and very much influenced by colonial Spain. buildings built in volcanic stone, its known as the white city. Saw the Plaza de armas the cathedral, various churches, stopped for a cheap menu luch which was very good, needed my intake of rice, having serious withdrawls!!!! then went to a convent which was fabulous took about 100 photos completely carried away took a guide and then spent a futher hour there on my own just loved it so much so that I got up at 6.30 this morning to go to mass to see the church and the 23 remaining nuns that live in a closed section. They sing mass every morning and itsone of the the only times you can see the church so I got to hear them sing. I was the only gringa around.
yesterday I then sorted out trips to canyon 2 days and one night and then started to think about the rest of the trip, so today booked 4 days on the inca trail leaving cuzco on 13th March till 17th. Hope I am up to it but it will be a great experience. Ate at a nice restaurant. The place is really quiet as its off season here, getting good at haggling for prices of hotel etc, it works. And a charming young waiter chatted me up throughout the meal which was interesting , had been educated in the states and obviously comes from a good family gave me advice on what to visit etc.
All in all loving it so far. Today visited some private houses pottered, changed money chatted to fellow travellers in the hotel a load of very pretty american girls here on a course staying in Cuzco mainly but off on a trip to spend time with families in the canyon area. They have paid $17000 for their 3 month trip, a little excessive but they are enjoying themselves.
Well, all well, weather not good from now on it will be raining and much colder. Last night seemed very cold and with the airconditioning of the bus I seem to have a cold, took my first lemsip .
A bientot
/https%3A%2F%2Fassets.over-blog.com%2Ft%2Fcedistic%2Fcamera.png)
/https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.canalblog.com%2F05%2F45%2F545515%2F35594675_o.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.canalblog.com%2F96%2F42%2F545515%2F33332120_o.jpg)