Arequipa, Peru - Day 27 - 28

arequipa cathedral at night
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i thought i wasnt going to make it to Arequipa! the bus journey was 6 hour long in a crappy, old, non-AC bus with some smelly people (i dont think everyone shower once a day...ew) and ya it was just crap! but i made it!! sooo happy to be back on my feet! :)

My rule for travelling is always arrive during the day in a new city. to me its more of a security thing - at least during the day i can see my surroundings and know where i am, etc. but because of the bus schedule and duration, i arrived around 9pm or maybe even later in Arequipa. I read sooo many things in guidebooks and even there are signs at bus terminals saying do not take unlicensed taxi cuz its dangerous. so i grabbed a cab inside the parking lot of the bus terminal and for 10 peruvian pesos (yes im back to peruvian pesos...no more converting chilean pesos) the licenced cab took me to my hostel/B&B.  I immediately dropped my bag off and run back out into the streets again since it was still early and i was starving! south americans love their rotisserie chicken...there's pollo (chicken) everywhere! so i finally tried it...ya its chicken alright and with a side of fries...just like swiss chalet haha! that night i saw the center of Arequipa...it was pretty...lots of lights...lots of people...really pretty!

monastery of santa catalina
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The next morning i saw the Plaza de Armas (every south american city has a plaza de armas), the main cathedral, several churches that are made of white volcanic stone (Arequipa is known for that), saw Mount Misti (from afar...i didnt do the hike...sad), and just enjoyed the city. If i had know there is so much to do in Arequipa i would've definitely came earlier - i couldnt see Colca Canyan and do a 1 day to 3 day tour to see the world's deepest canyon and hike up Mt. Misti...im sad i didnt get to do that. well...i didnt have my hiking shoes so whatever.  I was back up in 2000+ meter in altitude again and i noticed a difference as soon as i got to Arequipa. i found myself panting for a bit for doing simple tasks like picking up my shoes on the ground and coming back up....*breathe*...it felt like i running a marathon (not like i know how that feels like haha)

artesan market
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i would've flown out of Arequipa back to Lima if i found a flight for less than $100USD...no luck! so back on the bus i go - i took the 8:30pm over night Cruz del Sur bus which was comfortable but not as great as the Tur Bus in Chile..but still good. Back to where i started...and on the way home :(