Day 63 - Arequipa, Peru

We wake up in our lovely hotel and sort out our plan for the day. First off we go to do the free walking tours that we have heard so much about. They basically rely on you giving them a good tip. 

We walk around the corner from our hotel to the main square to meet up with the guide. Arequipa is absolutely gorgeous. We are so happy we made the decision to come here. Well worth a horrendous bus journey. 

The centre of town is Plaza de Armas (not surprising as every place we have been too has a central square called the same) where the cathedral is. 

Arequipa has a pretty fantastic setting in between El Misti (5882m) volcano and Chachani (6076m) and Pichu Pichi (5571m) mountains. It's an old colonial town with a real sophistication about the place and known as the white city due to the distinctive stonework of the buildings. 

We wait around for a bit for the tour and son realise we are in the wrong square so leg it up to the right square. Luckily the tour hasn't set off yet. We are just in time! 

Now for another crazy moment. We look across the group and see James and EmiIy again (from work and the couple we bumped into in Santiago airport). Such a strange coincidence as we were not planning on coming here and they ended up arriving a day early! We were destined to have a good night out together! 

We set off on the tour. Is OK but a little commercial. We set off well visiting some of the older areas of town. 

We could be in a European city. 

We then go to a lovely park in the centre of the city and get to do something I hadn't done for years - go down a slide and a pretty lethal one at that due to the length, speed and dangerous landing patch at the bottom! A lot of people end up on their back sides at the bottom. 

Next up we go to Mundo Alpaca, a little factory that makes clothes out of Llama and Alpaca fur. We learn about the different types of Llama and Alpaca. 

And then get to meet some in person. 

Processing of the wool. It is so soft. Apparently the Alpaca wool is really expensive. 

Explaining how the wool is colored. 

Then made into clothes. 

It was interesting but all aimed at making us buy something. They picked the wrong audience though considering this is a free walking tour full of travellers and the clothes were damn expensive (up to £1000 for a Alpaca poncho). 

After a short stop at a little restaurant to taste some local Peruvian potatoes we go to a cool little place called Chaqcgao Chocolates to learn about the Peruvian coco industry which is apparently the second largest in the world behind Africa and 100% fair trade. We get a recap on how chocolate is make (it's been a while since we have been to Cadburys world!) and get to try some of the different coco beans. A lot of local micro brewery's also use their coco to make beer. We has the Cusquena malt beer last night which had a very chocolatey taste. Not the nicest of beer. 

The tour ends in a bar (with no drink) just a sampling of a cheese stick and a huge sales pitch to go to all the places we have visited on the tour. The girls was great but definitely did herself out of a large tip by failing to show or tell us about any major landmark in town!

After we go for a beers or three with James and Emily. We arrange to meet them later for dinner and we head off to Museo Santaroius Andonis to see 'Sunita' the ice maiden. The main attraction here is Juanita but she is on holiday at the moment getting a make over. The museum is fantastic. So interesting. It basically tells the story of Juanita, who is an inca princess who is sacrificed in the summit of the Ampato volcano (6300m) over 500 years ago.  The incas worshiped the mountains as gods and felt that they could only be appeased by sacrifice. In all they have found over 12 frozen children. They are scarily well preserved due to the ice. They were also buried with fantastic treasures as well which are all on display in the museum. Fascinating stuff. 

No photos were allowed in there so here are some off t'internet to show what Juanita looks like. Amazingly well preserved. 

We then head back get changed to go out.

We meet up with James and Emily in a roof top bar on the main square with fantastic views over the catherdal. 

No surprises that Nat is cold. Luckily they have smelly old ponchos!

We then head to a fantastic restaurant called Zig Zag which came highly recommended. It is amazing. Fantastic food. We go for the meat feast option and even get our own bibs!

My favourite bit of the meal was the llama. Absolutely delicious. Will definitely be having this again (in this format as opposed to the last time I had it) (Llama middle, duck left, beef right). 

After we head into the pumping (but in a good way) town for more drinks. We find a little bar and hit the Pisco Sours. Can't go wrong for three Pisco's for 15 soles (£1 each!). Even the llama know how to have a good time in this place. 

We then head to a great rock bar with a brilliant band on. We are over the moon to find out that no matter where you are in the world a good rock band always finishes on Rage!

Great night and great company. Also good to be able to booze again with out altitude effects! Going to struggle to get up for our 7.30am bus in the morning though - an uncharacteristic late night tonight with a 1.30am finish!!