Our Great Adventure: Arequipa Day 279 24/06/2015

With our Galapagos trip booked we had quite a few things to do so we got up just after 0800 to give us time before heading out to join a free walking tour. After breakfast we emailed all the booking info required to Happy Gringo, our chosen travel agent, checked out flights to Guayaquil (we haven't got time to get the bus from Lima), accommodation etc. We also needed to book bus tickets to Cabanaconde as the desks were closed when we arrived last night. Given the bus station is c3km from where we are staying we got a taxi both ways. Back in the main town we walked to Plaza San Fransisco where the walking tour was due to start at 1045. We waited until 1100 to no avail. Luckily we'd seen another tour advertised which started at 1500 and decided we'd go for this. We walked back towards the main square, Plaza de Armas, found a bank, checked unsuccessfully in several chemists for contact lens solution for Diane before stopping for a late morning drink. From here we walked down passed the monastery and spotted a lovely French cafe serving quiche were we stopped for lunch. Back at the Casona we did a bit more travel planning before heading out for the 1500 tour. Arequipa, Peru's second largest city, is set with a spectacular backdrop of snow capped volcanos. The cone shaped El Misti (5822m) is active, last erupting in 2001 when we were here in Peru in the northern Andes. As a result of continuous activity there are few high rise buildings in the town. Known as the white city for its stonework it is distinctively colonial in its architecture. We met the tour guide and another 20 or so people in the Plaza de Armas and headed to the Iglesia de La Compania, one of the cities oldest churches noted for it's ornate facade, an interesting mixture of indigenous and european styles. From here we walked into one of the many courtyards and admired the wonderful architecture and views out to Volcan Chachani (6075m). We continued on to the outer buildings of the Museo Santuarios Andinos where the ice maiden is on exhibit (although we didn't see her). We walked out to the river to get a better view of the volcanos before wandering around some of the old colonial areas, visiting a chocolate museum, alpaca shop and finally stopping at a nearby bar for a pisco sour. In the evening we went to Zingaro and had a lovely meal (Simon indulging his Alpaca craving again!). Back at the hotel we sorted our bags (we're leaving our main bags here whilst we visit Cabanaconde) and caught up on emails.