Life Lessons Learnt: Arequipa Edition
I’m not sure how Sophie and I ended up in Arequipa, but we managed it somehow. I mean, I was thinking of heading there because a few people had told me to, but my plans are constantly in flux. Honestly, I think the only reason we got there was because a series of disconnected events caused us to get hold of tourist tickets for the Colca Canyon. Neither of us really knew anything about the canyon or Arequipa, but when you travel on a budget it feels wrong to give up free things.
It’s advice time.
-Remember who gave which recommendations. If a party-er tells you a hostel is amazing, chances are you’ll hate it if you don’t tend to enjoy things like UV parties.
-Old things aren’t always worth the entrance fee. If the monastery costs 35 soles to enter, and the museum 25 soles, just walk around them, look at postcards of them, and then go antiquing to get your fix of old things.
-When altitude is high fiveing your head and stomach, coca is your best friend. Coca leaves make tea, or more disgustingly can just be chewed. You can also get coca sucking candies, or chewy candies that taste like chewing on a day old tea bag. Yum.
-Once again, sometimes it’s worth the extra 10 soles for a bus, especially when it picks you up at your hostel. But then again, sometimes the cheaper and more frustrating bus means that you end up somewhere new and get to explore. This has given us a mixed message. No wonder we never learn this lesson.
-In a Peruvian market, an acceptable meal is a heaping portion of rice AND pasta AND potatoes.
Roccota rellena. Spicy but delicious. Gotta love markets.
-Sometimes it’s important to treat yourself to a fancy meal. Which in our case means $5 potatoes from heaven.
Lomo Saltado on potatoes. So much yum.
