Hola
We´re now in Arequipa, Peru´s second largest city and at a reasonable altitude of 2300m instead of 4000! I am happy to breath a higher oxygen content and my brain is starting to work again. By the end of two weeks at altitude I was getting altitude alzheimers and forgetting things and getting spacey. I´ve learned on this trip that I am a sea level girl happily!
Arequipa is known as the white city as the buildings are made from a volacanic material which is white. Its lovely here and feels very european in the centre. Although there are 3/4 of a million people here the centre is quite managable. Yesterday we sat on the plaza with coffee and people watched and ooed and awed over the volcano looming over the cathedral.
We also feed the pigeons in the square which seems to be a local pasttime.
We only did one touristy thing yesterday which was quite worthwhile - we went to see the Ice Princess Juanita. Juanita is an Incan mummy scarificed to a volcano 500 years ago and discovered 10 years ago. At the university here they run a very good small museum with a film and student tour. It was amazingly intersting. I´d like to write more but there is only one computer in the hostel and there is a line up.

All for now!
ciao
Evelyn