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(From Wednesday 12th) Thought I may as well use this time to update my blog as we are going out for dinner soon and I´m scared I´ll fall asleep if I go to my room! The good news is I managed almost 6 hours sleep on the night bus, but after a busy day´s sightseeing here in Arequipa, I am feeling rather tired! The bus was pretty swanky,with seats that reclined a lot (not quite to a lying down position, but more than on planes) and leg rest things too. I also happened to have a seat at the front (on top deck) so could stretch legs out and put on ledge thing at front. Sleep was a bit broken but still, not a bad night´s sleep. For some reason the hostess person (yes, the bus had a sort of stewerdess!) woke us all up about an hour before arival to put on a Peru tourist video. We did get a little roll and a coffee or tea for breakfast though, which was unexpected! So, after arrival in Arequipa we went to hotel but it was obviously way too early to check in (7.30) so we just left bags and went into town. First stop, a proper breakfast, then wa group of us visited the Santa Catalina monastery. We hired a guide, who was very informative and it was a really interesting visit. The convent used to be for the second daughters of rich families who by tradition had to go into religious service. They seemed to lead a pretty priviledged life until 1871 when it all changed and became more like a normal convent and it is still a cloister nowadays with around 20 nuns still living and praying there. The building complex itself was very interesting and beautiful, with small streets, like a mini town- there would have been at one time 500 people there, nuns and slaves. The walls were lovely bright colours and streets named after Spanish towns. Afterwards it was time for a museum visit to find out the story of the ice mummy who was found on the top of one of the volcanoes. It is the body of an Inca maiden princess who was sacrificed at the top over 500 years ago. It was discovered in 1995, and due to the icy temperatures her body was almost preserved and is now on display in a glass windowed freezer. There was a video before the little tour and though interesting, we nodded off a bit due to being a little tired! We had a late lunch next on a terrace overlooking the main square with lovely views of the three surrounding snow topped volcanoes, then back to the hotel. As I said we´re going out again soon and I´m trying to avoid the temptation to lie down! Tomorrow we are getting another bus to Colca Canyon, which is apparently twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Not sure if the planned walks include hiking in and out of it, I hope not!
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