“Comme remède à la vie en société, je suggère les grandes villes : c’est le seul désert à notre portée.”
Our arrival in Arequipa, Peru's second largest city, could hardly be more classic: with a scenic sunset (yes, that is how long we struggled around in the Toro Muerto desert!) over volcano El Misti - aka the city's "guardian" - and the sound of cheerfully chirping cuys (guinea pigs) in the car in front.
Two days of city life prove a welcome refreshment from the desert dust (and nasty sand flies!). We even dig up our limited city garderobe from deep down our travel bags!
Called the "white city", after the volcanic sillar stone from which most of the city is built, Arequipa is elegant, pleasant, and vibrant. Its colonial atmosphere, with churches, mansions and squares, gives it a charming Andalusian feel. The city's crown jewel, the Monasterio de Santa Catalina, is a true city within the city and by far the most aesthetically pleasing monastery in the catholic world!
From a culinary perspective, Arequipa - with a thriving gastronomic scene to rival Lima - brings us a couple of "firsts": first freshly squeezed carambola juice, first Alpaca steak and first Peruvian wine, all of which are yummy additions to our local culinary record.
