Arequipa and the Cañon de Colca

Having knocked Machu Picchu off my theoretical bucket list, it was time to leave rainy Cusco for what I hoped would be a warmer, dryer climate. Arequipa is Peru's second largest city and sits at the end of a massive canyon, popular with trekkers and condor-watchers, and those of us who just want some sun. Travelling with a couple of people I'd met in Cusco, I decided to spend a couple of relaxing days in the canyon itself, in a lovely little town called Cabanaconde.

Alas, after a couple of long bus rides, we arrived to heavy rain and a temperature only slightly higher than the one we'd just left. Luckily there was plenty of booze and hot soup, and a warm bed to follow them. The next day was cloudy, rainy, and beer-filled again, but the next day was beautifully sunny and clear.

A foggy look across the canyon.

A better view.

I came back into the city to see some of the sights and mail home a box of the souvenirs (not all for me) I can't stop collecting. The center of Arequipa is lovely, full of well-maintained colonial buildings and colorfully landscaped plazas where you can sit and enjoy the sun (!) and the views.

I also made a stop at the Monasterio Santa Catalina, a convent founded in 1579 that lived its first few centuries rather extravagantly with the daughters of wealthy locals bringing in new construction, fancy china, and plenty of luxury goods. Opened to the public in 1970, it still houses a cloister of about 20 sisters who live fully equipped but somewhat more modest lives than their predecessors.

I spent a morning touring the peaceful and beautiful grounds with a nice sunny sky overhead and soaked in the meditative, historically rich atmoshpere, then stopped for lunch in the cafe.

Some sort of succlent in front of a bright blue wall.

Carved wood doors. Lots of decorative touches to brighten the cloistered life.

Dazzlingly blue courtyard.

A large kitchen off a shared apartment. Sisters after my own heart.

The novices' courtyard. Novices spent 20 hours a day alone in their rooms for their first 2 years at the convent.

One of the "streets" within the complex, painted a gorgeous brick red. I think I've found a color scheme for my next home.

Part of the tongue in cheek menu at the cafe.

I had the Salad of Diligence.

And then the passionfruit tart. I never knew those seeds were so pretty.

Diligently savoring my dessert.

A papaya arequipeña, a smaller and more fragrant local cousin to the larger version we know and love.

What could be a huge mistake: fresh jugo de papaya arequipeña at the public market. (But it wasn't)