We had two days to relax in Arequipa before making the trip up to Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
It was great to get another bite at the place, literally.
We wandered around the main square from eatery to eatery, caught up on home life, blogging and a wee bit of interview prep for Dr Tallon. Fingers crossed!
Arequipa is a beautiful city that if you allow it, moves around you with a relaxed easiness. We wandered in and out of Plaza de Armas, past Basilica Catedral de Arequipa in all its volcanic colonial grandeur. This is easily the calmest city we have visited on the trip so far.
The Iglesia de le Compania, a smaller church just off Plaza de Armas boasts Arequipa-esque intricate stone carvings on it's facade.
Connected to the Iglesia are the old monastery cloisters that have now been converted into a prime restaurant and shopping location in the heart of the city.
It was nice to see a complex repurposed so effectively and cared for so well.
Feeling a little guilty about our lack of cultural interest in Arequipa, we visited the Museo del Pisco to expand our education, diving into some of Peru's much famed drink, the Pisco Sour.
Sadly one of us couldn't stand the heat in the kitchen and had to drop down to something sweeter. Pisco Punch. Wimp.
Arequipa was a great little city break sandwiched between two blocks of more 'outdoorsy' activity.