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Tacky in Tacna

January 12th, 2005

Stepping off the air-conned bus was a bit of a shock. The bus station thermometer showed 38 degrees centigrade, and as we gathered our luggage from the bowels of the bus we were assailed on all sides by touts shouting “Arica, taxi, colectivo, taxi, colectivo, Arica, ARICA, ARICA!!!!”. Okay, steady on now, can’t you see we’re bus lagged??!!!!
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Not yer National Express!

January 12th, 2005

We booked the Cruz del Sur bus from Arequipa to Tacna. This meant an early start but we could have a snooze on the bus. Our Fiat Uno taxi to the main bus station was an interesting ride as I shared the back seat with all our luggage, pieces of the back window kept falling out and the driver was running on empty for most of the journey (we freewheeled into a petrol station on the way there!)!
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Chile, anyone??

January 11th, 2005

After our exertions along the Inca Trail, we’d planned to spend the rest of our adventure taking it a little easier before our holidays were over and it was time to get back to work. A scan of the guidebooks for beaches and quality R&R between Arequipa and Lima suggested little of interest, and so over a drink I put it to Em that we should hop the border over to Chile. Momentarily phazed by the suggestion, Em studied the guidebooks and then agreed. Okay, Chile here we come (via a bookshop for a new guide!). It also means another country stamp in the passport, and yet another chance for Eug to get a decent Peru stamp – the two he’s got so far are disappointingly undecipherable.

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Silencio!!

January 11th, 2005

It was somewhat ironic that our hotel opposite the convent of Arequipa insisted on continuing its “building” development from the crack of dawn, bearing in mind that the sanctity of the convent opposite required silence both from the nuns that inhabit it and their guests that visit!
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Save our Meat!

January 11th, 2005

After reading someone else´s blog, we’d heard about frequent protests in Arequipa. So, it would only be natural to see one while we were here! The main square had a slow march trampling around, under the guidance of a woman with a loud speaker who often incited a cheer and shouts from the followers.
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Chance meetings

January 10th, 2005

For dinner tonight we decided to visit El Guacho´s, highly recommended for meat, meat and yet more meat. And we weren’t disappointed!! Instead of menu descriptions accompanied by pictures adjacent to them, a whole tray of cuts were brought out for us to choose from. “JTB” would have been suitably impressed!
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All Saints in Arequipa

January 10th, 2005

Our hotel in Arequipa was opposite the convent and we were greeted by the bells from all over town ringing when we arrived. The hotel was clean and very, very quiet (apart from the ubiquitous door banging at 5am and lets not forget the building work hammer/drill that began at 7am – no worries about the alarm not working there then!).
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Observations of an airport junkie

January 10th, 2005

Our flight today took us from Cusco to Arequipa, and since this is our 8th flight since we left the UK, a few common observations are beginning to appear…..
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Catching up

January 9th, 2005

Back at the hotel we had a nice surpise – a note from John and Al, a couple we’d met in the mines of Potosi almost three weeks before. They too were in Cusco, and planning their own Inca Trail, so after a quick wash and change we set off to meet them for some supper and swap notes.
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The train journey between Machu Picchu & Cusco

January 9th, 2005

Leaving Machu Picchu for the last time was quite sad, but at least we’d had the benefit of two good days of exploring and climbing. Now it was time to catch the first train back to Cusco, and after a quick (and excellent) lunch at SAS’s hostel in town we headed for the train station.
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