We arrived to Arequipa monday evening, tired, hungry, and very cranky. As we got off the bus at the terminal the Brits asked us where we were staying. When we told them we weren't sure; we still had to find a hostel. They looked at us in a very puzzled manner and wished us luck. So ends our ride with the Brits....or so we thought.
The taxi situation is a little interesting in Arequipa. I suppose in the past, they have had issues with it. So the police are all outside , watching the cab drivers and talking to them occasionally. We go to get in the cab and the police is talking to the driver. She takes down some info and tells us to get in. I've noticed throughout the city that they pride themselves I their tourism and keeping their tourists safe; so I suppose it's just one more method of them keeping us safe. Right on.
So as I have said earlier, crepes/panqueques are big here. And of course Meg and I have located the panquequería in town. We throw our packs to the side and sit down, ready for some dinner panqueques. As good as they were, they weren't that filling. But that's alright because they have desert crepes :) after one of those each, we just want a bed. I had found a hostel with dorm rooms for only 15 soles a night, so we head in that direction. I know the address and according to "the moon" there was another inn right beside it. So we head towards that hotel and figure well just find it along the way. We found the other hotel, and a llama chilling in the park, but no Posada de Virrey. The bellhop from the other hotel stops us and asks us where we are trying to go. Turns out we are at 101 bolognesi and we want 103 puente Grau... We are actually in the 500 block, not the 100. Well crap. Guess well start walking. The bellhop was impressed with my Spanish though :)
We finally make it to the hostel and check into our dorm. It seems nice enough, especially for $5 a night. La doña is a little pushy but in a helpful way. AND there's HOT WATER!!! that's a huge rarity in Peru. Up to this point I had attempted to take 2 showers, both of which were cold rinses. So when I figured out the shower and actually got hot water ..... Oh you can't even believe how great that felt. Plus we were sharing the dorm with another guy from Oregon, Nathan, and he filed us in on where to do our laundry. Laundry and hot water?? I must be dreaming.
The next morning we head out, laundry in tow, ready for clean clothes and coffee. Oh clean clothes, it will be such a treat. 1st time the whole trip! We drop them off with this sweet little lady who has her kids playing in the back. 5 kilos of clothing...15 soles. No worries. Well be back at 5.
We walk towards la plaza de armas. Arequipa is shockingly a very clean city and their is a lack of ferrel dogs and cats, which is a kind of a nice change. Their plaza de armas definitely benefits from the tourism. The volcanoes and mountains provide the background for the plazas and restaurants flood the second floor balconies of the buildings surrounding the plaza. We had breakfast and proved to be the ultimate tourists by taking some photos of the mtn surrounded cathedral.
What I haven't seen in other cities but I found here was when shopping, they follow you. And when I say follow, I don't mean move from room to room as you move, I mean on your ass with every move ... Almost as if I stopped quick, they would bump into me. I suppose it's there anti-theft method, but instead it just caused Megs and I to leave. I don't like the hovering feeling.
Anotare thing which i really enjoy is the amount of NGOs in Peru. A few times I have found cafés who actually give 100% of their profits to their sister organization. They usually deal with public health issues and abuse towards woman and children. We have been making it a point to support them whenever we can. I'd very much like to return to Peru and volunteer with some of these organizations ... I've been taking notes :)
So the final amusing thing that happened in Arequipa. We thought we had spotted the Brits when we were having breakfast. But we werent entirely sure. However it was one of those huge double decker busses filled with older tourists so...we were pretty sure. When we went to pick up our laundry, it wasn't quite ready; she was still ironing and folding it ... I mean really lady, have you seen us?? Anyhow, I stood there for a few minute playing barco vs. moto with her son. Suddenly we hear "getting all cleaned up are we?" Meg and I turn around to see 2 of our British friends. We joked with them for a minute. "Have you gotten your manicure a pedicure? Your toes look clean." they were such a trip. Oh the folks you meet when traveling.
-la gringuita
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