Arequipa – Volcanoes, Monastery and Juanita

My first day in Peru was spent in Arequipa. I have really fallen in love with this city; so if the rest of Peru is like this, or better, than I am really in for a treat.

I guess I will start off with the not so wonderful day and a half of traveling to Peru. It started off at the airport dealing with the really rude airline staff. So it wasn’t the most positive start.

I then boarded the plane from Germany to Paris. Great! No problems there….until, 

…..I experienced my first aborted landing. I had heard that aborted landings sometimes happen, but I was horrified of the thought of experiencing it myself. This is due to the fact that I have a fear of flying.

We were descending into Paris and I was enjoying the view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Then all of a sudden the engines roared and we shot up into the sky again. I mean, seriously?! Did this have to happen to me – the girl with the worst case of flying phobia?

I am pleased to report that not only did I survive, but I also didn’t cry like a baby!

The journey from Paris to Lima was a lot better, and easier on my nerves as I received an upgrade to business class!!! Great food, lie-flat chairs and star treatment was received from the air stewards.

The twelve hours went by really fast, and was one of the few times that I wanted my flight to last a bit longer.

The stress of traveling quickly returned after landing in Lima as I only had an hour to get on my plane to Arequipa. I did make the flight so I could finally start to get excited about the fact that I was now in Peru!  I was savouring the view from the plane as the landscape was truly stunning.

My first day in Arequipa was incredible. I have fallen in love with this city for its beautiful people, stunning mountain scenery and the beauty of this white city. 

Arequipa is surrounded by three volcanoes. My favorite is called Misti. She is a stunning volcano with a perfect cone shape, and is the only active volcano.

Misti Volcano

This city is known as the white city as most of the buildings are made with the white volcanic rock, Sillar.

My day started with a visit to Santa Catalina Monastery. I highly recommend visiting this place, even if you are not a deeply religious person.

Santa Catalina Monastery

It’s a gorgeous place to visit, with the wonderful architecture, history and gardens.

The monastery was founded in 1579 and since then nuns have entered the convent. It is constructed with the volcanic rock Sillar; this is what makes the blue and red colored paint shine so vibrantly.

My visit to the Monastery ended with a climb to the top of one of the buildings. I was greeted with a panoramic view of the city, and the volcanoes surrounding it.

In the afternoon I went to visit an old friend, a VERY old friend. Infact she is about 500 years old and her name is Juanita. She was discovered by an anthropologist visiting a volcano that had only recently erupted. The eruption melted the snow to expose her; this resulted in her discovery.

She is now kept in a museum, where I had an opportunity to view her! It was really interesting. I found the story of the final days of her life quite sad though. She was offered to the gods by the Incas at the tender age of twelve years old.  The Incas and Juanita had climbed a 20,000 + feet  volcano, sedated her, and struck her on the head. She was then placed in the volcano and offered to the gods. And there she lay for many years until she was discovered.

My day ended by getting my final fix of volcano viewing. They are so stunning to look at that you just can’t get enough. I climbed to the top of the Cathedral, and it gave an even clearer panoramic view of the volcanoes.

Picchu Picchu Volcano Arequipa

I just stood there staring at Misti, trying to soak in the view as much as I could. I soon realised that I would never get enough, so I tore myself away.

The day was perfect and was a great start to Peru. It’s going to be hard to beat this one!

Arequipa Plaza Peru