Arequipa

Now in Arequipa. Had the needed dose of luckon my way there, but well, yeah, who would leave someone standing at the side of the road in the high mountain desert some 200km away from the next sizeable town?

I walked the entire stretch from Puno to Juliaca, this last to be the merchants town closest to the city of Puno and also the location for the airport. Has a very bad reputation regarding safety, but didn't see anything suspicious there.

Just about 2km out of Juliaca a truck picked me up, and at a very leisurely pace we started off into the mountains. He was on his way to a cupper/silver mine, not a really big one, but a localy owned business.

When he had to leave the main road - I am still, or again on the Pan-American highway - I got out his truck with still 197km to go to Ariquipa.

My decision to come here and not go to Cuzco was partially taken by the fact that I want to stick as much as possible to "la panamericana" and the prices of a visit to Machu Pichu. A one day visit will cost you about 150 USD, unless you really go looking for the cheapest alternatives. A three day tour, with compulsary guide will end up nearly double that.

I hadn't walked 100m when I blue Nissan pick-up truck stopped just in front of me, I hadn't even stuck out my thumb yet, and they took me all the way to the outskirts of Arequipa.

Arequipa is a wonderfull colonial city, I still have to see most of it. I think I'll be staying here for a while longer. Foto's will follow on a later date.
My skin is still recovering from some over-exposure to the strong high altitude sun.

Peru is pretty expensive though.

Cheers all!
Happy Paddy's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!