Arequipa, Peru

We have spent the last three days in the city of Arequipa.  Our next journey will take use hiking in a remote canyon so we have chosen to stay in the city until our stomachs are back to 100% before making the trek.  Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru.  Unlike Lima, where we were glad to leave, Arequipa has a friendlier feel with locals socializing in the square till late at night and beautiful surroundings including snow capped volcanos. 

One of the advantages of being in a big city is that our protesting stomachs have been treated to some familiar foods.  I never thought in a million years that I would be relieved, not to mention excited to see a Pizza Hut or Starbucks in my travels.  We are still learning the food in Preu and the menu’s are a guessing game. We often know not what we have ordered and pray the waiter does not bring out the local dish of fried whole guinea pig.  A hot pizza from Pizza Hut, followed by a green tea from Starbucks was extremely satisfying and the most we’ve been able to eat in a while. We do look forward, however, to getting back to the ever fun menu guessing game.   

As a social worker and believer in global human rights I was thrilled to find that Arequipa`s sqare is taking part in the global Occupy Wall-Street movement.  Protest banners are strung along the square voicing concerns about everything from local hunger to copper mining to what we persieved a seeminly less pressing issues such as the participation inHalloween damming our souls.  Either way the square is a buzz and I’m enjoying it.

We predict we will be here another day to make sure we’re acclimatized and ready to go. The city is full of museums , monistaries and walks to fill our time.  The other day we were on a walk in a local neighbourhood heading towards a view point when we passed a local who looked up at us and laughed. When I turned back to see what the little man found so funny he laughed again and shook his head saying `King Kong!, King Kong!`.  Oddly Colin and I took comfort in this, I mean if you were a thug looking for a quick  robbery on some tourists, would you pick the two that reminded you of King Kong? I think not ;)   

R