The White City

Vanessa in a convent!!

From the scorching desert heat we travelled south to Peru’s second largest city, Arequipa. It’s dubbed ‘the white city’ due to its main cathedral, government buildings and mansions being constructed of ‘sillar’, a local white volcanic rock which glistens in the sunshine.

The central plaza’s buildings are all made of sillar which makes it a wonderful place to stroll around, as is the mesmerising Santa Catalina Monastery.  It’s a huge complex, a citadel within the city occupying 5 acres with its own streets, a central square and has only recently been opened to the public after 500 years of shenanigans which are allegedly so bizarre there’s a film recently been made about it. Stories of slavery, outrageous wealth, pregnancy and even the body of a baby being found buried within its walls. It’s a beautiful and intriguing place to walk around, especially at night when its dimly lit.

Colca Canyon, The Andes

That evening we were collected at 2.30am, yes 2.30am for a day trip to the Colca Canyon in the Andes Mountains, the deepest canyon in the world and twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Unbelievably there were 12 other idiots on the trip and the first stop was the highest point reached by road, a breathless 5350 metres above sea level, more than half the height of Mount Everest. Breathless not only because of the altitude but at 6am it was bone chillingly cold.

We were lucky to have glorious sunshine for the day as we witnessed condors with their 11 foot wingspan, glide across the canyon, mountain villages with their colourfully dressed woman, Inca  terraces constructed in impossible places and the canyon itself, so deep that you could be barely see the raging river below. Truly spectacular scenery and an amazing day which made it worthwhile getting up at stupid o’clock.