27.-29.05. Arequipa

After a quick breakfast the next morning we walk to our actual hotel for the next to days to see when we can check in. They tell us to bring everything over right away since when the demonstration starts at 10am we won't be able to drive through the streets anymore. After getting our stuff there and parking the car, we start checking out the city.
Arequipa is a beautiful city in the southern part of Peru. At just over a million people it is Peru's third largest city, and it's city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mountains to the east are more than 5000 meters high and their peaks are always covered in snow.

 There is a lot of interesting history about this city - see Wikipedia. I have to say this is one of my favorite cities, the weather is fantastic (warm, but not hot, a little chilly at night), and it just feels pleasant to be here. I had my first direct encounter with a lama:

The "Church of the Company" is one of the best preserved baroque churches in South America:

Demonstrators are here on both days. They are demonstrating against the opening of a mine in a beautiful valley, since the chemicals used in the mine will destroy the valley's ecosystem. 

Also quite impressive is the convent of Santa Catalina, which was started more than 400 years ago. Up until the mid-1800's, the girls after the first-born girl of all rich families quasi had to enter the convent. They lived in individual rooms, each had a servant but pretty much lived in solitude. 

 Each nun had their own room, often with cooking facilities.

The place is huge, with several alley ways it is almost like it's own city within the city:

In the mid 1800's the catholic church forced them to live live as a community, and "regulars" could enter the convent. While I was there I was able to do some laundry.

... and enjoy some beautiful views: