Kate & Monique's

Hola!!!

Well we have already told you about the great hostel and showers in Arequipa, however we skipped the part about our new amigo. We met Stefan(o?) on the bus and agreed to share a (very, very tiny) cab and we all ended up sharing a dorm room for 15 soles each, our first encounter with cheap, cheap Peru (15 soles is $6 Aus), which worked out well for all.

We spent our days in Arequipa shopping up a storm. Peru is so cheap (seriously!!!!!!!) it was jewelry and chingy shoes galore (we have a photo for you Jo, it is crazy). In between shopping we hung out with our new buddy and ate and ate CHEAP Peruvian food (E.G 3 courses and wine for 15 soles).

On our last day we decided to do the touristy thing and visit the infamous cloistered monestry which has only recently been opened to public. We were both amused by the history of the nuns in the convent. In the past, the eldest daughter got to marry into a rich family, have kids and inherit all the parents mulla. The second daughter (ie Renee and Bec) had to enter the convent as novices at 12 years old never to be seen again (literally). We liked that one and think our parents should take note of this.

Well that about sums up Arequipa, we loved it and all its cheapness. However we need to move onto stories of Cuzco and the Inca Trail.

Chao Amigos