OK, let's stop here

The city of Arequipa derives it's name from the Quecha phrase, "ari quepay" which means "OK, let's stop here." That could not haven accurately describedy sentiment when the 13 hour bus ride pulled into the crowded terminal. The city is a bastion of relative wealth as evidenced by the beautiful colonial buildings that make up a large area of the    city center. Arequipa is also known for having a proud people that feel somewhat disconnected from Lima and the rest of Peru, making it the starting point for two political coups in the mid 20th century. Today it holds the distinction of being the center of Peru's right wing political movement.

I spent four days here exploring the city's many churches, monasteries and parks.

The Plaza de Armas was surrounded by colonial buildings and a magnificent church.

Outside of town was a deep agricultural valley with a stunning lookout flanked by snow-capped mountains and the famous El Misti volcano.

After several days of long walks around the city, I decided to try an alpaca steak, which was rather disappointing. Not sure what the day-glow green sauce was but the meat was thick and chewy... Not very good.

After a few days in Arequipa and tired of long buses, I caught a flight to Lima to get back to the beach and chase some surf...