28th April – Tuesday

Today has been long, too long and my body and brain hurt!

When I got to the Peru Hop station last night I wasn’t sure where to go as there was a chain blocking the main entrance. A very handsome young man sitting outside told me to jump over the chain so I did. Later every time I passed him he had a wink and beautiful smile for me, unfortunately I ran out reasons to walk past him. The bus was not full and I got a window seat, I am so happy I paid for the cheaper ticket!

The journey must have been the most uncomfortable, bar a couple of chicken buses, that I have been on across the year. The chairs only semi recline, so it was difficult to get comfortable and my sciatica was not happy. The bus was too hot, FFS, all I have been is cold and last night I was too hot – bloody typical. And as for a smooth ride, the bus suspension was ruined and the Peruvian roads have ruined it. Pot hole after pot hole, twist and turn after twist and turn – it was horrendous. I got so little sleep that I have felt in need of a bed all day.

Having not heard back from my hostel about an early (5:30am) check in, I got dropped off at the Peru Hop Flying Pig Hostel. You will not believe it, I left my phone on the bloody bus. Thank god I realised in time and managed to run back to it before it left. I then messaged my hostel, only to be told that I was a month early! I had booked for 28^th May not 28^th April – FFS – all of this with no sleep in my body. Luckily my hostel were able to move my booking to today but I could not check in early so I curled up in a Flying Pig armchair and tried to get some sleep. I woke every 20 minutes thinking it had been an hour – ouch! And when I did get to my hostel, which was only a ten minute walk for the Flying Pig, there was no one to let me and 2 other guests in. Eventually someone left so we slid in but then had to wait half an hour for the receptionist. In this time my tour guide was hassling me to be ready to be picked up for the Ruta del Sillar tour that I had previously booked for this morning. I am really not sure where I got the patience to cope, but I did. I changed in the loos and the receptionist turned up just in time to store my stiff and I was fit and ready for my 9am tour pick up.

The tour was actually really good considering it was all of £12, but I was far too exhausted to really appreciate it. We did three stops. The first was in the district of Yanahuara to admire the white stone buildings, white stone baroque church, Parroquia San Juan Bautista de Yanahuara, (which was beautifully ornate on the outside), the white stone fountain and the white stone 9 arches. Through the arches you could see the three main volcano, Miski, Pichu Pichu and another, I cannot recall it’s name. Overall there are 7 volcanos that overlook Arequipa but only one is active, I think that is Miski. Anyway, they were very beautiful and at least one can be viewed from wherever you are in town. After here we went to the white stone quarry, it was bloody huge, and one of 16 quarries in the area, not all for white stone though, there are many other minerals mined in the area and leather is one of the main products produced here. Thus making Arequipa the second most important city in Peru. The quarry did not look like it was mined any more and was now just a place for tourists. There were lots of statues carved from the white stone as well as a two stone museums, one was of stone animals, I cannot recall what the other was. It was only s/3 to get into the animal one so I paid my money and had a walk around it. I must admit the statues were very good, the snake was my favourite. After the quarry we went to a small canyon, my first, I am going to the world’s second ldeepest one tomorrow. It was quite amazing to walk through the canyon with the stones rising high above you on both sides. I really enjoyed the small trek and looking at all of the ancient rock carvings at the cross road of the canyon. To get out we had to climb one side of the canyon, it wasn’t steep or a long climb but I noticed I didn’t get so out of breath, which made me wonder if my lungs are finally beginning to return to normal – I hope so.

We got dropped off by the main plaza in Arequipa, and from what I could see it looks amazing. However my body mind and sole were having none of it and I slowly staggered back to my room and had a couple of hours kip. This evening I had a little walk into the historical centre but only to buy beer, water and use an ATM. I have a 3am start tomorrow, so will get some more very much needed sleep and explore the historical centre tomorrow when we get dropped off. However from my little walk this evening I got the feeling that Arequipa is a very beautiful calm city with some very beautiful architecture, I look forward to exploring it a little tomorrow,