I will confess that getting out of bed in a 45 degree morning is not always easy. Our bed is very comfortable and with the duvet pulled up to my nose I can pretend it’s a toasty hot morning in Florida, except it isn’t and then Rusty starts.
He yelps gently, demanding to be let out and the fact that he prefers to sleep inside on his bed gives you an idea how cold it is here. But that’s not enough so grumbling and muttering under my breath I take him down to the gate and ring the bell and wait for the buzzer that tells me the gate is unlocked by remote control. Out we go to walk the neighborhood.
Arequipa is actually quite a clean town, and I pick up after Rusty and there is a dumpster conveniently nearby. One thing I find extremely odd here is how barred and locked up everything is. People live in constant fear it feels like. The small stores aren’t always staffed and you have to call for service so someone can come out from the back. But even then you don’t get to go inside. I find it weird. This restaurant wasn’t yet open for service but it was barred and locked.
After his walk Rusty was ready to recuperate.
Later we left him aboard GANNET2 where he sleeps and feels safe and walked into town without him.
Like I said Arequipa is pretty clean and this mess will eventually be cleaned up by city cleaners who can be seen wandering around town with brooms and shovels.
Not everyone loves their city and it’s a shame because this is a pretty old town.
And this is a beautiful city.
Imagine how I feel stepping past the poverty and indifference. We keep handing out coins in an effort not feel so shitty but it doesn’t really work.
Overlanding friends who cage before is recommended the 13 Monjas (“monks”). Cheesy Naan appetizers.
Cheesy indeed with three sauces, tomato sauce for pasta, hummus, and a pineapple marmalade.
I had grilled Arequipa sausage with a cucumber pickle.
Layne had chicken masala and we shared each other’s.
With drinks and mineral water I’d was about $50 and the check came in a book of poetry by a Spanish poet I’d never heard of but I have now.
This is the only street in Arequipa where we have seen outside seating. 
For coffee we went to a roof top.
The baristas were a fun bunch and produced an excellent flat white for me.
It was pleasant there but the views weren’t anything to write home about.
Our plan had been to visit the cloisters of St Catherine under the arch but it was Sunday and the lines was totally backed up so that tour got postponed. It’s supposed to be a really nice historic nunnery worth visiting.
And so back home to a really happy dog ready to greet us.
