Arequipa

I have never seen so many different kind of potatoes.  This is in the San Camilo market, Arequipa

San Camilo Market

Uta and Deborah, my companions in exploring Arequipa, Day 1

I arrived in Arequipa yesterday morning after a night bus-ride from Nazca.  I spent the day with Uta and Deborah, who I met in Huacachina.  By far the highlight of the day was seeing Juanita, the Ice Maiden  found in 1995 at the top of the mountain Ampato near here.  Deborah (Switzerland) and I went and did a tour of the museum where Juanita is currently residing.  The general consensus among archaelogists and anthropologists is that Juanita was between 12 and 14 years old when she was walked up to the top of this mountain (quite a trek) to be sacrificed to the Incan gods.  Other mummies were found below Juanita on the mountain as well. Juanita is particularly well preserved because her body was frozen at the top of the mountain.  She was discovered when a nearby volcano erupted causing the snowcap at the top of Ampato to melt.  There were also many artifacts found near her, also things offered to the gods in sacrifice.  I was able to see artifacts like shoes, cloth, gold figurines, and bags which held the sacred coca leaves that were offered in addition to Juanita herself.  You can learn a little more if you´re interested at these links-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u782D1Q_2DY
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/arequipa/2881010012.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummy_Juanita

Having mate de coca at a terrace cafe above the Plaza del armas, Arequipa



Main Cathedral, Plaza del Armas, Arequipa


Arequipa seems like a pretty cosmopolitan city, and perhaps if Cusco doesn´t work out, I could see myself working here.  I did meet up with the woman who I had a skype interview with in the US, Madai, and learned more about the school that she is starting.  It will be in a house in a gated community in Cayma, and will offer an afterschool program to children that includes English classes, art, dance and music.  There will also be classes for 3 or 4 year olds in the mornings.  Madai grew up in Cusco, but was living in the US for several years and working as a Spanish teacher in Montessori schools. 

Yesterday I met up with a girl from New Jersey who has been teaching here in Arequipa for 2 months now.  She, like me, got her TEFL certificate in Costa Rica, in Samara, but wasn´t able to find work in CR, so she came here to teach.  She brought me to her school, where I plan on sending my resume in Cusco doesn´t work out.

Last night I met up with a Peruvian for a drink through the Couchsurfer network.  He works with a volunteer organization that brings foreign volunteers up to a small village in the Colca Canyon, where they teach the children there and do other cultural programs.

I was supposed to leave for my 3 day Colca Canyon trek this morning around 3 AM. I was all ready to go, and ended up waiting until 4 AM, when the lady from the agency that Denis from my hostel had called informed me the guide had somehow managed to leave without me.  I was quite enraged, especially given that I hadn´t slept well and then was waiting for an hour only to be told I wasn´t going anywhere.  I went to the agency this morning, where fortunately they were very apologetic and offered to pay for my hostel tonight if I go tomorrow morning.  So I have a whole day more to kill in Arequipa.  Quite perturbed to say that least, but at least I won´t be losing money in the deal.