Update Arequipa

 

Our first trip outside of Arequipa was Mollendo, a beach resort on the Pacific Ocean which, is very lively in the summer, but was pretty well deserted when we went there.  The ride, by bus for a few hours from 7500 meters to sea level was very interesting.  We went through an absolute desert and as we got closer to the sea, we hit a wall of fog. We stayed in a funny place that seemed to be an old hotel, but was actually a relatively new one behind a boarded up old hotel. The beach was a bit surprising because it is fronted by a major street and a railway and it was a bit cold.  Apparently, the water is very cold and rough and not many people swim even in the summer.  However, it is a pretty town   and the next day we went to a National Preserve in Mejia, a town nearby, where we walked on the beach for a few hours, which was quite enjoyable.Lots of buzzards and jelly fish.       Then we walked from the Preserve back to the main street, through fields of rice and cows walking down the dirt road.

 

Unfortunately during this time David was spending every week, from Monday to Friday in Lima and only coming home on weekends.  Luckily I am taking Spanish classes from9:00 am to 1:00 pm every day, so, at least I was keeping busy.

 

The next time David came home, we went to Corire, a wonderful town near a huge field filled with volcanic rocks covered with petroglyphs.  We took a taxi to the remote area, which waited for us for a few hours and then took us back to the town.                      We found out that Corire is the camerone (fresh water shrimp)  capitol of Peru, so we headed off  for chupa de Cameron in a dirt floored restaurant practically in the river. 

This was the freshest shrimp we have ever eaten.

David had an adventure through work when he went to a mine called Pucamarca  about 4 hours from Tacna.    Please note the lethal fire plugs that are all over Peru, just waiting to trip you up. The mine was at 4300 meters, and, not surprisingly, David got quite sick. It is quite a production to go to one of these mines because each time David goes, he will have to have a series of tests to make sure he can survive at such a high altitude.  During the ride to the mine, David saw wild llamas.     

 

At this point in the month David was able to arrange to create a home office and his trips to Lima have ceased!!!!!  We are both enormously happy.  However, David’s Ariquipa office won’t be ready until at least January which is a bit difficult.

 

The whole month of October is known as the purple month in acknowledgment of the Fiesta del Senor de los Milagros.  Observant women wear purple dresses with white rope sashes and each Saturday a different church has a procession down a major street.  We went to one from the Church of St. Augustine.        It  featured flour paintings on the street    and women carrying crosses       a band seemingly made up of church members and a huge statue of Christ carried on the shoulders of many men      surrounded by a rope which the crowd latches on to in order to share the impact of the procession.  Both David and I felt the emotional impact of this wonderful tradition. 

 

The day after the processions we went to the last day of a 4 day food festival which is an annual occurrence here.  Many local and regional restaurants set up elaborate kitchens and serve dishes typical of their offerings and all through the day there are dancers, bands and performances.  We, naturally, ate ourselves silly and had a great time.  The only thing we missed eating was the barbecue because each plate held enough food for about 6 people and we knew we would waste too much. (notice the fingernails!)

guinea pig stage 1                                                                                                     (stage 2)        (stage 3)             Tasty lizard!    Local entertainment

   and food! like this fried dough served with a tasty syrup.         and great entertainment.             and amazing glasses of chicha        and more food like chilis rellana  and camerones, and cheese 




 

Today, October 27 we found a great new market, which is about a half hour walk from our house.  The main attraction was the fish area, where we bought our own camerones from which I made my own chupa de camerone for dinner tonight.  I also bought a beautiful canary!!!!

 

We really love everything about living here from the garbage system (big baskets on poles on the sidewalk, to the crowded streets, to the ice cream to the wonderful sunsets.