Arequipa, Peru by the kids

On the 10th we arrived at Arequipa by bus, it was a long trip. We went to our hotel and put our stuff down. We then went to have lunch and it was yum. Then we went out to have a walk around the area. It was very pretty, there was lots of city squares and a basilica. After that we went home and went to sleep.
On the 11th we went out and booked some tours (boring), then went to visit the basilica. We had to take a guided tour to go in but it covered the basilica, the museum and the roof. We first had a look in the basilica. There was a pipe organ that came from Germany and it was humungous, 12 meters tall and 1218 pipes, it’s the biggest in south America. Lots of things in the basilica where from either France, Italy, Spain or Germany. After the basilica we went to the museum, it had lots of gold stuff and gems, there were crowns and relic holders, it was stunning. After that we went up to the roof where we could see for ages. The way the roof is bumpy it makes it look like cement sand dunes. There were also some bells up on the roof, the biggest one was 5 tonnes, it had a deep tone. After that we went to a monastery, a monastery is where nuns live. The one we visited is the most famous in Peru, it’s 20,000 m2, in other words it’s ginormous. When we got in, we walked through different places where nuns lived, it was very small. There was a really long alley that had little rooms along the side, it was interesting. After that we went to a lama place that had information about lamas and alpacas and there were some real lamas and alpacas too. They showed the way they sheered them and what the wool feels like, it feels really soft and nice. After that we went to the gift shop and bought some scarfs for me and Emma and then we went to a bar. Mum and dad got some drinks and I got a ginger beer, it was nice. After that we went back to the room and went to sleep.
On the 12th we started the tour we booked yesterday, it was a two-day tour and we were going to see view points and stuff. We hopped on the van, it was a long drive but once we got to the first stop it was worth it. We could see lots of vicuñas. Vicuñas are from the family of Camelidae, (which means they are very far off related to camels like your related to baboons) they look sort of like a miniature lamas. There was lots of them like over 20. After that we took the van to a place where mum and dad got some Inka tea, there was lots of stuff in it including coca leaves and mint. After that we went to a place on the side of the road that had hundreds of lamas and alpacas, it was so cool. There were also lots of people there too, mum took a few photos. Then after that we went to a view point: it was 4910 meters above sea level, it’s the highest we’ve been on our travels (besides aeroplanes). There was lots of rock stacks everywhere I looked, it was unbelievable. There was also a big statue of a condor. After that we went to a hot spring that had lots of baths around it, the baths were like 36-40◦C. It was lovely. We stayed in there for a while but then something sad happened that always happens, we had to get out. Then we drove to the hotel and waited there a while till we went to a restaurant that had dancers there. I participated in a few dances because most of the dances involved people from the crowd. It was fun. After that we went to the hotel and went to sleep.
On the 13th we were on the second and last day of the tour. We started out on a town square that had a market, and we could see an active volcano. The guide said the last time it erupted was in 2016, and it erupts very often like the one before that was in 2015, and before that it was in 2014. After that we went to the terraces, there like bit of land cut out of the mountain and there used as farm land, the terraces were started by the Incas. After that we stopped at a path that would lead to a place where we could see condors. The people who wanted to do the path (me, dad and a few other people) got of there, while the people who didn’t want to do it stayed in the van and got drove to the place (lazy). The place that we could see the condors was in Colca canyon: so to walk there, we had to walk on the side of the canyon. There were so many good views. When we got to the condor place, we stayed there for a while looking around, and then we some people were pointing at something so I looked and I saw a condor. It was far away but I could just see it, then it flew up and around: it was spectacular, marvellous, absolutely stunning. Then it flew out of sight, but we only waited a little bit because it flew back and then it changed directions and flew right over top of us, it was still like 10 meters up but it looked awesome. After that we didn’t see it again, we went to the van and it took us back to Arequipa, we went to the hotel and slept.
On the 14th we packed and took a bus to Puno. It was a long trip and it was late by the time we got there so we went straight to the hotel and went to sleep.
Andrew (10 years old) absolute genius with brain power of Albert Einstein. He has won many awards and is a role model to many people. (mum edit: or so he says!)

On the 10th we took a bus from Lima to Arequipa. We got there at around 9am. We bought bus tickets for our next stop. After that we took a taxi to our stay. We rested a bit then had lunch. We did a bit of shopping after. Then blog. After that we had a little walk around the city. Then in the evening, we had a movie night. Yay.
On the 11th we booked tours for the next two days. Then we visited the church of Arequipa. It was a guided tour. I don’t really like guided tours, but I have to admit that this one was good. We paid the guide twenty sol (sol is Peru money). Twenty sol is about nine dollars Australian. There was a massive organ that had 1218 pipes. It had metal pipes and wooden pipes. It was amazing. Then we went to a place where nuns live. When you became a nun, you couldn’t see anybody, you couldn’t talk to anybody, and you couldn’t leave. So, when you became a nun, you became a nun. In their room, they had a bed, a kitchen and a little room to wash yourself. If you were willing to spend money on your daughter, you could get her a nice room. It was massive. The thing that interested me the most was a giant kitchen. It had so many pots. After that we went to the world of llamas. There were a few llamas. We got to feed them. There was a baby that was still getting fed by milk. We saw it happen. Then we bought scarfs. They are really comfy. Then we went to a bar. You could call the bar these two names. Now here or nowhere. Then we went back home.
On the 12th it was the first day of our two-day tour. We did several stops. The first stop was to see vicunas. They are like llamas. The vicunas are safe, and you can’t have them as pets, but the alpaca and llamas you can. The second stop was to try inca tea. I didn’t like it. it was full of leaves and tasted disgusting. The third stop was to pat llamas and alpacas. Their wool was slightly rough. The fourth stop was the highest point. It was 4910 metres high. I felt sick so I stayed in the bus. If you want information about it, go to the other three. The fifth stop was the hot baths. We changed into our swimsuit. It was so nice. Mum, Dad, Andrew and I had our own big tub. There were other people in other baths. It was easily the best time of day. Then we had dinner in a bar that had music and dancing.
On the 13th we did a couple of visits but the thing that I liked the most was seeing a condor fly above us. We went to a condor sighting place. Here are some facts about condors. Condors can weigh up to 15kg. In a single day condors can fly 300km in search of food. Instead of making nests, they lay their eggs on the edge of a cliff. It was truly magnificent.
On the 14th we took a llllooooonnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggg bus. It lasted the whole day. I hated it.
Emma (9 years old)Lue lisää