Arequipa: Altitude, Altitude, and Altitude Again

the moment i stepped off the bus in Arequipa, i felt like i’d been hit by a slow-motion truck.

not because of the city’s charm - though it’s got plenty - but because of the altitude. 2,300 meters. it’s like the air’s playing hard to get.

*i just checked and it’s 22.8°C there right now, which feels like someone’s holding a lukewarm towel to your face. perfect for wandering, terrible for breathing deeply. if you’re coming from sea level, give yourself at least a day to adjust. or two. or five, if you’re me.

anyway, the city itself? white volcanic stone buildings everywhere, like someone carved a whole town out of a single giant tooth. the main square is basically a stage for old men feeding pigeons and teenagers pretending they’re not cold. i sat there for an hour just people-watching and pretending i wasn’t dizzy.

overheard a local saying the best rocoto relleno (spicy stuffed pepper) is at a hole-in-the-wall called "La Capitana." someone told me that if you don’t cry at least once while eating it, you’re not doing it right. i cried. twice.

if you get bored, Cusco and Puno are just a short drive away, though "short" in Peru might mean "bring snacks and a book." i heard from a drunk traveler at a hostel that the bus to Cusco is either "scenic paradise" or "rollercoaster of death" depending on the driver’s life choices.

random tip: don’t trust Google Maps for walking times here. everything’s uphill, and your lungs will betray you. i once tried to “run” to a café and ended up looking like a goldfish out of water.

for staying, i camped at Hostel Q’ente because it was cheap and had llamas in the courtyard. yes, llamas. they judge you silently but it’s comforting.

and if you’re into history, the Monasterio de Santa Catalina is basically a city within a city. i spent three hours there and still felt like i’d only seen the lobby.

here’s a map so you don’t get lost like i did:

bottom line:* Arequipa will mess with your breathing, but it’ll also mess with your heart - in a good way. just go slow, eat spicy stuff, and don’t try to run anywhere. ever.

You might also be interested in:

• https://votoris.com/post/living-in-osmangazi-what-my-wallet-actually-feels-like
• https://votoris.com/post/hamiltons-frozen-mystery-a-photographers-cold-quest
• https://votoris.com/post/the-best-public-and-private-schools-in-borvyehye-al-b-azz-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-local-education-system
• https://votoris.com/post/saltillos-late-october-grind-when-air-has-teeth
• https://votoris.com/post/wanderings-in-veridianheights-a-street-artists-rainkissed-sketch