Alberto and Tatiana's bendicion (28 January 2006)

Lorena and I went to the bendicion (engagement) of Alberto and Tatiana. (Alberto is Lorena's elder brother). Here is Lorena and I ready for the evening.


Lorena and myself with Saul and Carmen.


The celebration was held at the Miraflores Park Plaza. Lorena, Alberto, Tatiana and John.


Well, there was plenty of dancing, here myself with Carmen, Alberto and Tatiana in the background.

Colca Canyon and Arequipa (06, 07 January 2006)

The ascent out of the Colca Canyon was long and gruelling. After 4 hours we finally reached the top. Here we are with some other groups. Man, that was tough!


We took a bus from Cabanaconde back to Chivay. We passed the Mirador de los Condores, but there obviously were not a lot of condors to be seen on this day.


On the road from Chivay to Arequipa we could again see the classic volcano "Misti".


The following day we were on our way back to Lima. A great little holiday and a shame it is over so soon.

Colca Canyon (05 January 2006)

We had a very pleasant walk on the day following the gruelling descent. We ascended the other side of the valley a bit and then walked through two villages, Cosñiyuar and Malata.


The weather wasn't so good all the time, however we still had some pretty spectacular views and an excellent experience.


There was quite a descent and then once again we crossed the river.


We stayed the night at the Posada Paraiso in Sangalle. In the background of this photo you can see the generously named "Matrimonial Suite" that we were given.


The evening was cold and raining, so there was not a lot to do. Some messing about followed by sleep and an early start for the dreaded ascent back to Cabanaconde.

Colca Canyon (04 January 2006)

Well time to do a bit of hiking. So after the luxury of a hotel and hot springs we were on our way by bus to Cabanaconde from where we started walking.


Here is Lorena still looking pretty fresh, we still didn't appreciate at this stage just how far we had to go.


About to commence the descent.


It was a long long long way down to the bottom.

Colca Canyon (03 January 2006)

We caught the bus from Arequipa to Chivay and then on to Yanque. The walk to the Colca Lodge was a little further than expected but still it was fine. Here is the lodge from the road.


One of the main attractions of this lodge is that it has it's own hot springs. Wow, what a treat. We had the pools all to ourselves, it was a bit cold, and raining, which was not a problem until it came to getting out!


The sun is out in these photos because we revisited the springs early the following morning and took along our camera. A nice morning before the hard stuff, to follow.

Arequipa - Monasterio de Santa Catalina (02 January 2006)

The monasterio de Santa Catalina was founded in 1580, it is really a convent and extends about 20,000 sq-m. Wandering around the narrow streets was like stepping back in time.



This photo shows just a part of the complex, Lorena is by the fountain.


And this is the laundry.



There are still some 30 nuns who continue to live in a closed part of the complex. The visit was fascinating and recommended.

Arequipa - city tour continued (02 January 2006)

The city tour continued to the "Mansion del Fundador" a 17th-century colonial estate which has been restored. (John was so creative with the pictures)

Then we moved "El Molino de Sabandia" a mill built in 1621 and restored in 1973.

Arequipa - city tour (02 January 2006)

We took a bus-tour to see the sights around Arequipa. Here we are at the "Mirador de Carmen Alto" with Chachani volcano (6,075m) in the background.


At the same lookout, behind Lorena you can see the terraced fields and the "Chili" river.


A little later we visited the rich suburb of Yanahuara. Each arch at the end of the principal plaza is boarded by a poem or philosophical idea. A great view of Misti (5,822m) the only active volcano nearby.


Another view of Misti from the "Mirador de Sachaca" (one of the oldest suburbs of Arequipa). Poor Lorena struggled up the stairs to the top (she was still not acclimatized).

New Year 2006 (31 December 2005 - 01 January 2006)

We decided to go to Arequipa for a holiday and to bring in the new year. Here we are in a hotel ready to go out and join the festivities. Lorena bought 2 pairs of "2006" glasses (obviously in the picture). It is a custom in Peru to toast the new year with champagne in glasses which contain 12 grapes. Each grape represents each month in the new year.

It is also traditional to give your partner new yellow underwear. Here we are viewing some in the street.

The "plaza de armas" in Arequipa was very crowded leading up to midnight. This was another version of peruvian chaos with fire crackers going off everywhere and almost continuosly. We toasted 2006 and then fulfilled another peruvian tradition. We ran around the plaza shouting the names of all the cities we would like to see this year.

The next day we awoke late in our hotel "Casa de Melgar", a nice place constructed of volcanic stone. Here is Lorena at breakfast and here we are in one of the courtyards.

The "plaza de armas" in Arequipa is one of the most beautiful in Peru. Can you spot Lorena?