June 4, Belatedly: Happy Birthday to our other B-I-L!!!

We were up and about by 0830. The shower in our apartment has a nice rain shower head and the hot water has not run out on us. The pressure could be more though it is not stingy. Just one of those things…when one step is deficient, it can make it negative. I try to remember to balance with the positive. Anyway, we had our Javas and breakfast of Muesli with that great yogurt. We stayed in as the morning gave way to afternoon. We cooked up some chorizo (sausage-like bratwurst) with some sauteed onions making a sandwich with Gouda cheese and the rosemary focaccia. We also had the left over salad from Jeff’s meal yesterday. Tasty! Jeff had done lots of researching/planning and I did a blog.

Before we knew it – it was 1530. We went out. Jeff had researched a dentist. He’s not having trouble. He just is being proactive and seeing about getting a permanent crown…his temporary crown has been doing well. Anyway the dentist was about a mile’s walk away. When we arrived to set up a visit, we were surprised…he was able to be seen! Not only that – when Jeff went back they were willing to work on it right then!! Jeff said they did an x-ray and tried to pry it off, without success. So he arranged an appointment for Saturday at 0900. He had to pay 45 PEN, which was only $13.19! That accomplished, we went to a Hypermart for a big shopping list. Jeff hired an Uber to get back. Once back we had a snack of popcorn. Then called it a day.

     June 5,

I awoke earlier today – 0700! We got around and had our Javas on the roof. It is a nice temperature, a bit cool but the hot drinks help compensate. We love the views up here. Our apartment has a small balcony, but it overlooks a crowded, noisy small road. Once we finished we went back down for breakfast, having scrambled eggs with mushrooms & onions on the last of our focaccia. Then I wrote another blog and Jeff read.

Around 1230 we went out, just to explore and eventually get lunch. We walked about first finding a courtyard that opened into a little tourism center. A few stalls inside were selling different items. We browsed a bit, as Jeff needs a new wallet, but he did not see what he had in mind. We exited the cute courtyard, and right outside of it was a History Museum. We paid 10 PEN, or $2.93 each to enter. It had “ten halls of culture and history”. The ones I was interested in the most were the Colonial Architecture, with picture of different facades of churches in Arequipa; the Renowned Figures of Arequipa, which had a write up the man – dedicated hero statue – I mentioned in the blog prior; the Arequipa’s Earthquakes, telling of at least four major ones: 1868, 1958,1960, and 2001 with Richter magnitudes 9, 7, 7.5, and 8.4 respectively; and lastly the Art Gallery with featured works of Jorge Vinatea Reinoso- great realistic drawings and comical ones!

When we finished the museum we went to lunch at Alasena. We each had a Hoy Menu Parrillero “Today’s Menu Grill”. I had Filete de Pollo and Jeff had Lomo Saltado – a traditional Peruvian stir-fry dish of marinated sirloin strips with onions & tomatoes. Both were served with fries and rice. Mine also had a small salad; both had part of a chorizo. With the set meal came a glass of guava juice. I had to use Google translate to find out what the juice was – partly because I did not know how to ask that in Spanish, but mostly because our waitress was deaf and maybe mute…she never spoke. There were signs all around showing the Sign Language alphabet, and simple gestures like ‘Thank You’. One picture showed how to say ‘Jesus Loves You’! Right on!! We also each had our first Pisco Sour on this trip to Peru. I can’t believe we waited this long! The bill came to 70 PEN plus 7 PEN tip, which was a total of $22.58.

We left and walked by a shop – I happened to see a very purple bandana. I lost my old one somewhere, so I was replacing it. Then we walked on to the big market with stalls everywhere with everything for sale. Jeff remembered this place but I did not. We bought a Queso Helado and split it. The sign of this stall boasted their recipe was from their grandparents in 1923! Next we went to a fruit stand, buying some fruit here. We passed by stalls that had several kinds of potatoes, turmeric, and one had the purple corn that they make into the drink I had a couple of days ago.

We left the market, moseying on. We found an all purpose shop for a light bulb replacement for the exhaust hood, but they did not have the bulb. The guy directed us where to go and we got them! We passed by Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus). We stopped as it was open. We had to pay 10 PEN, $2.93 each to enter. The huge main altar was gold gilded in the Andean baroque style according to a QR code. The walls were all white from the volcanic rock so prevalent in the city. Many pictures were also with QR codes – one was from 1685, it was of the founder of the Society. One other thing, I’ll mention – this church had a gorgeous Chapel of Saint Ignatius. It was overwhelming, so much color! All of it was decoratively painted- the upper dome has lasted vibrantly painted since the 17th century. No photos were allowed, so if you come to Arequipa…this is a must see!

We finally went back through the main Plaza de Armas around 1600, as the sunlight was getting that golden hour! Stunning! We left here after Jeff visited an ATM, and went back to our place. Once at our place we went to the roof – watched the sunset and talked with our Canadian neighbor. Then it got chilly so we departed and had a light supper of cheese, crackers, peanuts, and a corn nut-type snack. I blogged and Jeff read. Another couple days of simply living, someplace else!