Touristy things

This has been a mostly relaxing weekend. Our weekdays have been so full with classes in the morning and the school each afternoon, that everyone in the house was excited for some personal downtime to focus on Spanish homework, napping, sunbathing (not me!) and the like...

But since this has also been my last weekend to really enjoy Arequipa (as I have assorted trips planned for the next two), I wanted to tackle the shortlist of things I knew I really wanted to see and do while here. On Saturday this consisted of a leisurely morning at the house, followed by a walk into town with Julia to visit the Museo Santury where the famous ¨ice princess¨ Juanita lies enshrined in her freezer display case. Discovered only about 15 years ago at the summit of Nevado Ampato, Juanita (as she has been named apropos the archeologist that found her) was the young girl sacrificed by the Incans to appease their gods five centuries ago. Other child sacrifices have been discovered since, but Juanita is considered the most well preserved thanks to icy conditions on top of the mountain and it was a strange culmination of the solemn 30 minute guided tour through Incan burial artifacts to come upon her small icy body in its fetal position behind so many layers of glass.

Back at the house, everyone was gathering for our slated 4 pm departure to ¨Tradición Arequipian,¨a local restaurant recommended to us by Lonely Planet for its typical regional cuisine. Mostly I´ve been eating what I´ve been making at the house ie lots of avocado sandwiches, pasta, eggs and toast, etc. etc. along with the occassional super affordable Italian, Mexican and Chinese meal out. Clearly it was time for some fried guinea pig! Just kidding. Actually this was not on my tasting to do list (though Julia had one in Cusco and said it was not so bad). Instead, I sampled the rocoto relleno (spicy meat, rice and potato stuffed red pepper) and the rancho al horno (yup roasted suckling pig) and finally got to try some chicha, a popular sweet corn drink which was really nice and refreshing though it could have been colder. Jim ordered the chupa de camarones so between us all we were pretty covered in the recommended cuisine sampling. It was a fun time, followed by café and tortas at our favorite neighborhood chapel-run coffee shop, where we played Uno and Connect Four.

Then this afternoon I ventured out alone (yeyeyeyey some alone time!) to see the beautiful Monasterio de Santa Catalina. It was another perfect summery day and I would have enjoyed the stroll through the Sunday quiet streets of Arequipa more if I hadn´t awoke feeling a little bit sickly (was it the horno ... or the apple ... I ate??). But the colonial style convent,virtually a city within a city founded in 1580 for the nun-aspiring daughters of wealthy families throughout Spain and closed off from the public until the early 70s, was peaceful and worth it and I was glad to have a quiet afternoon to myself there.

Now back in the house it is 7:30 and we are gathered round the telly to watch ¿Qué Pasa Ayer? ie The Hangover, which I am quiet happy to be seeing again because it was so funny the first time. I will make some toast and take some aspirin and hope that I am in fine condition to start the week anew come the ´morrow.

Muchos besos.