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Medellin, The City of Eternal Spring!

Good Golly its Holly!
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Medellin, The City of Eternal Spring!

After having been in Colombia for two separate visits, we put together our ten reasons that we could live in Medellin – The City of Eternal Spring. It is a no brainer for us. We know we love warm weather vs cold weather & after having visited for an extended time in both Cartanega & Bogota, off we went to Medellin, which has surpassed our expectations.

As I’ve repeated a dozen times, our original plan in international travel has always been to explore & see if there is a country that we felt comfortable enough to want to possibly settle down. Up to this point in landing we have been feeling Mexico {top contender at this point] is for us but with the short time we have been in Medellin, I can’t lie, we are loving it…

Ten Reasons We Could Retire to Medellin!

In our quest for a piece of paradise to permanently land in, Medellin hits all the right spots. To be clear, these are what WE consider as OUR TOP TEN reasons that we could retire in Medellin. What would you add, if anything?

1] City of Eternal Spring Weather

With an average daily temperature of 75 year round, it is easy to see why Medellin is also called The City of Eternal Spring! It is beautiful & green with a chance of rain quite often. It may be just a drizzle for the day or a down pour during the night. We would recommend to always carry an umbrella. Most of the day showers last only a short time. A couple days last week reached mid 80s but that is not the norm. Our bones do not like cold weather so this is perfect weather for us.

Temperatures are a dream in Medellin the City of Eternal Spring!
Temperatures are a dream in Medellin the City of Eternal Spring!

2] Affordable Cost of Medellin

Food – We have found Medellin to be very affordable. We have found that eating out at the local restaurants five out of seven days of the week is more affordable than grocery shopping and cooking at home. We have found the meals are an awesome culinary delight!

This complete Sunday meal referred to as “Almuerzo” cost us about the same price as what you would spend on a Happy Meal at a McDonald’s restaurant! The meal also included two tall glasses of a natural drink of “Pina con Leche”! On a weekday a normal Almuerzo meal for the two of us which consists a large bowl of soup, pork, chicken or beef meat choice, salad, bread and a drink is less than the price of a pack of cigarettes in the States! So its a no brainer to see that by eating the local food vs shopping & cooking at your casa is worth the short walk to take full advantage of!

Our favorite Colombian Almuerzo lunches always start with a delicious soup.
Almost every day we eat out we order the Almuerzo {lunch special] which always begins with a huge bowl of some kind of soup. Yummy every time!
Main dish of the Almuerzo has your choice of chicken, beef or pork. This Sunday special came with all three.
Soup followed by plate with your choice of meat. This Sunday meal included 3 meats.

Groceries – We walk to grocery store at least once a week to pick up a few necessities we would need to eat at home when we stay in. Plus, the excuse to go to store gives us another reason to get out for our daily walks. There is always a neighborhood market pretty handy to pick up fresh fruit, vegetables & snacks if desired.

Belen Market restocking their fresh fruits and vegetables in Medellin.
Belen Market restocking their fresh fruits and vegetables in Medellin.

Housing – For the most part we have chosen to stay in AirBnBs during our travels & thats where we are presently – in an AirBnB. We did get the opportunity for a friend to show us their apartment that rented for a little over $320 USD & I have to say we were totally surprised. They had a nice sized swimming pool, a sauna and it was a gated community with 24 hour security. That would make rent here in Medellin around 3/4 less than in the U.S. Now if you have to be in a more tourist area I saw a beautiful Laureles one bedroom for $630, without the pool and all the other amenities. What I’m saying is tourist areas are for tourist & they charge tourist prices. You do you.

For now, until we have kept with using AirBnBs. That gives us one expense a month [no utilities, cable, trash pickup, etc.].

Transportation – We do not own a vehicle but that has not stopped us from getting from point A to B. Uber, taxis & InDrive (our favorite) are super affordable. We haven’t used the local day to day buses yet but that is next on our list!

One way bus ticket cost for each of us for a two hour trip to San Vicente, Colombia.
One way bus ticket for each of us for a two hour trip to San Vicente.
The bus terminal was huge. I'm so happy that we were with locals who knew how to get to what we needed.
The bus terminal was huge. I’m so happy that we were with local friends who knew how to get to where we needed.

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A couple weeks ago we took a two hour trip outside edellin for a total of 18.000 COP or $4.17 one way for the both of us! The bus was comfortable. I do have to say it took a minute to get use to how the bus driver manuerved the very curvy/down the mountain return trip but we did have some great sights along the way. I will say don’t plan on rushing in a bus. On our way home that Sunday evening, it must have stopped ten times to let locals on from side of the highway. Note: the bus was full when we left SV so those extras picked up stood up the balance of the trip to Medellin.

3] The Safest City in Colombia?

Is Medellin the safest city in Colombia? That has been a common question from our friends back in the U.S. Though Medellin has a history wrought with drug trafficking, etc, Medellin is considered to be one of the safest cities in Colombia. Like any big city in the U.S. or any other country, there is always safety concerns & gangs are still active in certain parts of the country. Be vigilant. If you stick to the more populated areas & use common sense in being aware of your surroundings you should be perfectly fine. Of course, as in any large city anywhere in the world, there will be theft & there is still issues in some areas of the country with cartels but it seems pickpockets, snatch & run are the most common thefts in tourist areas of Medellin. Showing a wad of cash is a beacon to any thief. Be aware.

We are out everyday & have never felt fear but let me say we rarely go out after dark. We carry waist packs. Name brand purses, fancy phones, wallets, showing of cash can make you a victim. Speaking of phones, if you are one of millions who love their latest & greatest Samsung or iPhone, you might consider investing in a less expensive throw away phone to use when out in a crowd – if it gets stolen you still have your other phone.

We carry copies of our passports & keep originals put up. We’ve been asked only once for a copy of our passport when shopping for phone service. We’ve used the passport card a few times for id & it was accepted. Bottom line, keep your cash hidden & important original docs such as your passport locked up – carry a paper copy.

As a side note, I found my waist pack at the mall & I wear it everywhere. It has room for my phone, zipper compartment for cash & outside zipper compartment for passport photo copy. I no longer carry a shoulder bag & my hands are free!

For any country you are considering visiting you need to check out the State Travel Advisory, plus we are diligent about reporting our travel movements to Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

4] Water is drinkable

I am happy to be able to drink water from the faucet. This is the first south of the border place that we could do that. We’ve been told Medellin has the cleanest water in the country & that most of the larger cities in Colombia including Cartanega & Bogota to name a couple have drinkable tap water. But all cities are not the same. The towns farther out from the larger cities may not be so lucky so if in doubt buy bottles.

The first weekend we were in Medellin happened to be the weekend that all water was shut off in the city so the pipes could be cleaned! Have you ever heard of a city doing that? Well, we were quite impressed. The water was turned on periodically for a few minutes throughout the weekend for convenience. Its normal & again that’s why Medellin’s water is drinkable.

5] Flying into Medellin, Colombia

There are ten international airports in Colombia & a multitude of domestic airports. Flying into Medellin use The Jorge Maria Cordova International Airport or the smaller Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport depending where you are flying from. American, Avianca, Jet Blue, Latam, Copa, Aeromexico & Spirit all fly into Medellin & depending on which U.S. city you are flying from direct flights are available.

One of the airlines we seem to like the best. Preparing for takeoff in Medellin.
One of the airlines we seem to like the best. Preparing for takeoff in Medellin.

We have found traveling between Latin American countries to be very economical. If you travel with just a backpack, the price of a flight can be ridiculously affordable – its when you carry luggage the price might add up a bit but still pretty affordable! You do you!

Checking in luggage to Medellin from Peru.
Checking luggage.

6] Best Colombian Coffee

You know the first thing you think of when people say Colombia is coffee!!! Who knew that the best Colombian coffee [Tinto] [my opinion only] is available from street vendors in a little plastic cup! My favorite is Tinto with leches but black with sugar works as well. Ok Tinto is not your average coffee but it is really good & the price is ridiculous for the taste you get.

Whether it is the perfect temperate weather or the rich mountain soil, it all comes together to make some pretty great world known Colombia coffee. Along with the perfect weather, beans are harvested by hand so only the ripe beans are picked raising the quality of the coffee.

7] Healthcare in Medellin

Colombia’s healthcare is ranked among the world’s best by World Health Organization at 22nd in the world ABOVE Canada & the U.S.! Medellin happens to have one of the four top hospitals in Colombia – the Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe. With the quality of training & star facilities it is not surprising to hear that Colombia is a huge draw for cosmetic surgery & transplant surgery!

Luckily we have not had any medical issues to have to check out the services, I feel pretty confident that if need be, we would be just fine. I do love the fact that Pharmacist at the local drugstores can give you assistance or guidance on any day to day issues we may have. We have been in other countries where this is common & it has come in very handy for us.

There are several healthcare plans Colombia offers depending on your circumstances – both public & private so that is nice to know.

8] Location of Colombia

Just look at this map & you can understand why the location of Colombia has so much to offer to retirees like us. On the west coast you have the Pacific Ocean – on the North coast you have the warm Caribbean Sea. If you like to fish, surf, swim, explore – you have your choice of waters. With the awesome climate, the interior country has rain forest, desert, mountains.

Colombia is one of the seventeen megadiverse countries in the world & the second highest biodiversity in the world! What are you waiting for? Did you know Colombia can brag that it has 1,954 species of birds or 20% of the world’s species. It also boast the largest number of butterflies at 20% of the planet. Wow!

Colombia's location gives you great temperatures with the choice of mountains, jungle or beach living.
Colombia’s location gives you great temperatures with the choice of mountains, jungle or beach living.

9] Requirements for Residence

The Colombia Resident Visa is the most popular among expats. For retirees, which would be us, we are interested in the retirement or pension visa where you have to show monthly income x3 of the Colombians which would be under $1,000 US$.

Residency requirements in Colombia are doable!
Residency requirements in Colombia are doable!

For more details on the retirement Visas check this out.

10] Colombian Culture

You can’t get more Colombian than having a Bunuelo & Tinto for a morning snack. Especially if the Bunuelo is filled with queso! The ones without queso are pretty good but with gueso & fresh – it is amazing! The Tinto [translates to inky water] is so good – a little different than your regular cup of joe & is served in small plastic cups. It is very affordable & can be found with street vendors & neighborhood cafes.

Fresh queso filled Bunuelo & Tinto for late morning snack is a must try in Medellin!
Fresh queso filled Bunuelo & Tinto for late morning snack is a must try!

Seriously, we have found the Colombians to be very warm people. We are stumbling in our quest to learn Spanish & I would say 99% of the people are happy to help us on pronounciation. We have had several tell us “I can help you learn Spanish” in exchange for them to practice their English. Win Win! As a side note I just started Spanish lessons again so fingers crossed I will be speaking better Spanish soon.

Football, music & carnivals are three things all Colombians can come together on no matter their economic differences. Who hasn’t heard of Colombian singer Shakira! Colombia is home to Botero, the famous sculpture of “fat” people & animals in Plaza Botero. The list goes on.

Religion is a strong force with Colombian families – maybe that has an affect on family values. Families are very close knitted which we find just wonderful.

So realistically could we find ourselves living in Medillin?

Absolutely! At this time, nothing has happened to make us second guess our ability to live here. Having said that, we are not done adventuring other countries yet but Medillin is definitely in the running for a final landing for us. The cost of living, safety, awesome weather & beauty – both nature & the people – have the ability to pull us back but we shall see what is in store for us this next year of travel.

Comuna 13 – A Definite Visit in Medellin, Colombia

Good Golly its Holly!
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Comuna 13 – A Definite Visit in Medellin, Colombia

We are in Medellin, Colombia & Comuna 13 is the first place we want to visit. We are stoked!

In our continuing quest to find OUR little piece of paradise, we came back to Colombia. This will be our third Colombian city to visit after having seen Cartagena & Bogota last year. Though we enjoyed Cartagena & we were pleasantly surprised by Bogota, we are LOVING Medellin & anxious to see what this city has to offer!

Medellin – City of Eternal Spring

The spring like weather is awesome & makes perfect sense that it is called the City of Eternal Spring. It has rained almost every day since our arrival – it may be a 15 minute drizzle & be done or it could be a full out storm like the other night. Then the sun comes out AGAIN. The thing is it is beautiful & green!

Beautiful blue sky over Medellin Colombia!
Beautiful blue sky over Medellin, Colombia!

Enough on that, today I want to talk about our first outing here in Medellin – Comuna 13! Enjoy!

Comuna 13

I’m going to say up front that Comuna 13 was well worth the tour guide. We found ours on AirBnB. You could walk it on your own but there is so much you would miss by not using a host/guide to get the back history of the infamous neighborhood.

We were suppose to meet our guide at the San Javier Metro but we miscalculated how busy traffic would be so we were late arriving & had to go to the second point to catch up with Alex, our host & the rest of the group. Thankfully our Uber driver, Karla, was a dream. Streets were crowded – you couldn’t back up & could barely inch forward – she was not going to just leave us. She called the host to see where he was exactly before she would let us get out. It was that crowded (vendors/guides looking for business) but luckily again he was just across the intersection & soon as we got out of the car I heard “Holly” being yelled from across the street.

Here is what I took away from this guided walk thru Comuna 13!

1] Comuna 13 is a neighborhood in Medellin with a tragic history. Guns, drugs, militia, guerillas, you name it which left it in crisis for several decades [1980s thru the 90s]. At one time it was known as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world!

The lack of police protection & the location of the neighborhood on the western side of Medellin in the Andes Mountains made this particular neighborhood fair game for the lawlessness of drug trafficking, guerillas, etc.

Houses built on houses in Comuna 13.
Houses built on houses in Comuna 13.

2] Misplaced paisas settled in this barrio living where they could. Houses were built basically up the mountain & set on top of each other. Since there was little to no money, building supplies were whatever the people could find – scrap metal, plastic, tile, rock, etc. Because of the fragile building, locals were not even safe in their homes from gunfire between gangs, guerillas, militia, etc. which left many innocents dead or injured – some while in their own homes when wild bullets would go through the walls of their homes. Remember police did not dare enter this neighborhood so locals were helpless.

View from the top of Comuna 13 looking down to Medellin.
View from the top of Comuna 13 looking down to Medellin.

3] Largely due to the resilience of the paisas finally in 2002 President Uribe began “Operation Orion”. In short, there was a major raid wiping out gangs, etc. in the neighborhood. It took 3,000 troops & helicopters to get it done. But when it was over & successful. Social programs were initiated in giving the neighborhood back to the people.

These eyes protect the water & sanitation for the Comuna 13.
These eyes protect the water & sanitation lines for the Comuna 13 neighborhood.

Children can play outside. Special places were put up for children to play.

This particular little boy, Jessie, came off the basketball court asking The Big Guy to shoot hoops with him. Of course, he cannot turn down an offer like that! Ha.
This particular little boy, Jessie, came off the basketball court asking The Big Guy to shoot hoops with him. Of course, he cannot turn down an offer like that! Ha.
Paisa checing out the tourists in Comuna 13.
Paisa checing out the tourists!

4] Street graffiti & wall murals are a large pull for tourists. When tourist come, paisas sale their goods & rely deeply on the tourists. Colors are bold & smiles are big. We were told that the graffiti artists are running out of walls to paint – next will be stairs & walkways.

Every piece of art tells a story.

Street art. We are all the same & the keyhole represents being open minded
We are all the same & the key hole represents an open mind.
Women & animals play a huge part in most wall art in Comuna 13.
Women & animals play a huge part in wall art in Comuna 13.
One of hundreds wall art in Comuna 13.
One of hundreds wall art in Comuna 13.
Purple corn wall art.
Purple corn wall art.

5] Stairs! There is one paved walk that snakes it way up the hill. This allows cycles & small tractors access. On our visit it was normal to have to let motorcycles or wagons pass on their way up & down the sidewalk. This is not a street – there are none. If someone needs to move or buy groceries, etc. they have to climb steps – a lot of steps.

Stairs Stairs & more stairs in Comuna 13.
Just one of many stairs in Comuna 13.

6] Escalators! In 2011 the government installed five solar powered escalators up the mountain to aid, especially the elderly, those who traveled up & down the mountain from the neighborhood to city.

Five escalators make the trek up and down the mountain so much easier especially for elders.
Five escalators make the trek up and down the mountain so much easier especially for elders.

Take the tour. The cost is affordable & walking Comuna 13 will forever change your outlook on this Colombian cityl Despite the history the paisas are strong & love their country. I highly recommend this tour!

Wall art in Comuna 13.
Wall art in Comuna 13.

Five Day Lima Itinerary – Easy Peasy!

Good Golly its Holly!
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Five Day Lima Itinerary – Easy Peasy!

Our time was coming to an end in Lima so we put together a ‘loose’ five day Lima itinerary. It only made sense to see how much we could comfortably do in just a very short time left in Lima. We had been in Peru for over 2 1/2 months & had spent our time strolling the neigborhoods of Yanahaura & Camay in Arequipa as well as our present neightborhood here in Pueblo Libre in Lima, all of which we enjoyed getting to know. Each definitely had a variety of sights you must see but Arequipa was covered in an earlier post so this post is dedicated to Lima. Since we are cognizant of the fact of what we can & cannot do in ‘cold’ weather or prefer not to, we spent our time adventuring in Lima that we had not previously seen. We may at some point be back during warmer weather to venture outside of the capital!

In no particular order here are the places we deemed necessary to see & what can easily be seen in a week or shorter time span on your trip to Lima, Peru.

Historical Lima Itinerary

Give this trip a day only because there are so many historical buildings that you can see. You may not see everything but what you can walk & see in four hours will leave you time to check out one of the restaurants or stop for a great cup of coffee & your feet will appreciate it. Tip: if nothing else write down the name of the building & you can search it later for back history. You are not going to remember everything you read or hear while on a walking tour.

Traditional Market
Located close to downtown Lima, this market is a sight to see. Rows & rows of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish & butchered chickens with a little kitchen here & there to catch a seat & sandwich/coffee. Speaking of chickens, this was my introduction to what a butchered chicken really looks like. I wondered why all the chickens hanging had ‘cherry tomatoes’ stuck on them. Well, the ladies at our coffee shop educated us on that! Those are not tomatoes – they are unformed chicken eggs! They laughed so hard when we asked the question. LOL. I consider muself a country girl but then we NEVER had chickens.
Butched chicken at Tradicional Market in centro Lima with unformed eggs intact!
Butched chicken at Tradicional Market in centro Lima with unformed eggs intact!

Parque de las Leyendas

This parque is located in Pueblo Libre neighborhood we stayed in. It was a good walk from apartment but well worth it. Price to get in amounted to $4 per person & we spent a good part of a day here. Animals, historical ruins, museum, birds, gardens & restaurant. Of course, there are the vendors but that didn’t bother us. Just be sure to wear your walking shoes. We did not walk all the animal areas but what we saw [seals, kangaroos, deer, etc] was nice & what kid is not entertained at the zoo.

Parque de las Leyendas signage
Parque de las Leyendas
Seals at the Parque de las Leyendas in Lima, Peru.
This big guy was totally entertaining to us and the kiddos watching. He would squeeze his big body between the wall & post (could not have been more than a few inches!) and go back and forth between the two pools.

Our favorite spot of the whole park was the gardens. The birds were so lovely & the flowers were beautiful. It was definitely a place we could have spent the whole day! Check out the colors of the flowers!

The garden at Parque de las Leyendas in Lima, Peru.
The garden at Parque de las Leyendas in Lima, Peru. Beautiful beyond words.

Barranco

Barranco is close to the top (with Miraflores & San Isidro) as the ‘hot spots’ for tourist to stay with loads of hotels, restaurants, etc. We went for an afternoon to meet our friend for lunch & then took a walk about to check out the area. It was beautiful & very “hip” with a bohemian feel. The highlight for us was first the church Parroquia La Santisima Cruz, built mid 1940s so it is a fairly ‘new’ church on the plaza.

The Parroquia La Santisima Cruz was amazing lit up at night with doors open.
The Parroquia La Santisima Cruz was amazing lit up at night with doors open.

I had to give you a close up of the entry to church above. Check out all that engraving!

Beautiful entry door of church
Beautiful entry door of church.

Miraflores

We spent 1/2 day in Miraflores on a walking tour. AMAZING AirBnB host Jared far surpassed our expectations & just did an incredible job sharing with us the history of neighborhoods we walked & sights, interesting conversation for sure. He took us to another amazing local market & gave us a breakdown on the fruits & vegetable on display. We ended up at Love Park & the amazing view of the Pacific Ocean. This was one of three days of our stay in Lima that the sun actually came out. Here are some miscellaneous photos!

The Famous Kiss - El Beso behind us!
The Famous Kiss – El Beso behind us!
The Famous Kiss - El Beso behind us!
Mosaic winding bench looking out over Pacific Ocean.
Entre el tiempo schulpture in Miraflores.
Entre el tiempo schulpture in Miraflores.
View of Pacific Ocean from Malecon, Miraflores Lima Peru
View of Pacific Ocean from Malecon, Miraflores Lima Peru

Forever Travel Friends

Although the weather was in mid 60s, we found ourselves wearing sweaters & jackets most days. The sky was a continuous dreary gray everyday [we had three days of beautiful blue sky] which left our bones somewhat achy BUT we really enjoyed the history & sights we were able to take in. The weather could have definently been better but after all we were in Peru during their winter, duh!

We won’t miss the weather but boy will we miss the many people we met who will forever have a spot in our hearts & hopefully will stay in touch.

Cafe Max – our go to coffee shop for absolutely wonderful coffee & four awesome ladies – Lucia, Eduarlis, Julia, Maria & Karol. Every day visiting the cafe for coffee was also a Spanish course for The Big Guy & I. So patient with us.

Mary – this little high energy local introduced us to a very popular Peruvian dish, Popeyes. LOL! Enough said.

Ladies of Cafe Max & Mary, Pueblo Libre, Lima Peru.
Love always to these ladies & yes we will stay in touch!

Addiction Tattoo

Steven definitely has grown on us and will forever be in our thoughts.

Tattoo artist at Addiction Tattoo in Pueblo Libre, Lima Peru.

Pueblo Libre

We’ve said from the start of our travels we want to be immersed in the neighborhoods of whatever country we land in & it was no different with Lima, Peru. Our AirBnb was located in the heart of a working neighborhood called Pueblo Lima & because of the locals we have met & formed bonds with, it will be forever in our hearts a great place to be. We were treated kindly & never had any issues.

We were asked toward the end of our month in Pueblo Libre “WHY are you there”? “You should be over in Miraflores.” I’m just going to say again we don’t travel to see tourist sites alone & we never stay in tourist hotels. That’s not us. I’m not going to say it was perfect – there were streets off main streets that were still dirt like but… Traffic was horrendous but when is it not for a city population of around 11 million? Streets were clean! We had our pick of bakeries & restaurants, etc. We really do want to get a feel for the locals – after all the intent of this traveling to begin with was to find a country/town that we felt comfortable enough in if we decided to move permanentlyl

Again, you know what you are looking for – we definitely know what we want! No judging here! Happy travels.

One Day in Arequipa?

Good Golly its Holly!
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One Day in Arequipa?

If you only have one day to visit Arequipa, there is a lot you will be able to see. Get your walking shoes on!  As our time in Arequipa was narrowing to an end, we decided what the heck lets do a walking tour to see what we have missed. Yikes! Turns out that although we enjoyed our daily walkabouts, there was a whole other part of town that we had missed.  

We signed up with Paolo thru AirBnB & took a walking tour of Arequipa. Now, if you follow us, you know I am not one that easily promotes guided tours {we’ve had a couple not so good ones] but this guy was amazing. A three hour guided tour of the hidden neighborhoods in Arequipa. A great walking tour as we listened to his amazing stories about the history of Arequipa was well worth the price we paid! After the tour ended, The Big Guy & I spent the balance of the afternoon walking home through other neighboring streets we had not previously seen.

Children playing at the park in Arequipa at the end of a school day.
A group of older boys were practicing pull ups so of course The Big Guy joined in. We loved seeing all ages of children playing in the parks after spending a day in school.

With a population of close to one million & framed by three volcanoes – Chachani, El Misti & Pichu Pichu – Arequipa has a lot to share with you. The city has a history that goes back ten thousand years & I’m not even going to try to break it down for you but I’ll tell you below how you can get a short but great understanding of it.

Highlights of our one day in Arequipa walking tour with Paolo!

Santa Catalina Monastery

The Santa Catalina monastery covers 20,000 square meters having been built in mid 1500s & is basically its own little town.  Over time it has been damaged by earthquakes but reconstructed for the most part. Presently it is still an active monastery with a small number of nuns but our guide informed us that there is a lack of young women desiring to become nuns which is sad. This view from across the street gives you an idea of its size!

Looking at the Santa Catalina Monastery facing Santa Catalina Avenida from across the street on upper level.
Looking at the Santa Catalina Monastery facing Santa Catalina Avenida from across the street on upper level. Guided tours are available!

Capilla de San Ignacia

This church built in 1698 had so much detail in & out! Paolo explained the meanings of the various symbols. It even had a miniature replica for the blind to be able to appreciate the architecture.

Capilla de San Ignacia in Arequipa. There is a minature model set up in front of church for the benefit of the blind.
Capilla de San Ignacia in Arequipa. There is a minature model set up in front of church for the benefit of the blind.
Interior photo of Capilla de San Ignacia
Interior of Capilla de San Ignacia church

Queso Helado

This delicious ice cream originating from Arequipa is delicious.  The name itself translates to cheese ice cream but there is absolutely no cheese in it – sweet cream, milk, coconut, cinnamon…. We tried it & the one scoop was not enough!  

Queso Helado is a specialty of Arequipa!
Queso Helado!

Art Studios

I don’t know why but we were pleasantly surprised by the number of art studios that allowed us to walk thru without entry.  Most of the art museums were someone’s home at one time. Here is one, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, we visited with a sample of the art.

One of the many art museums that were converted from homes.
One of the many art museums that were converted from homes.

In some of the rooms of art, viewers were invited to write a title for that piece & place it on a sticky by the art.

Comtemporary art piece in Arequipa museum. I'll leave to you to how you want to translate the art.
The Museum guide was quite proud of this one & asked us what we thought of it. I knew almost immediately what the artist was trying to translate. I’ll leave it there for your translation.

In another studio we were met by this courtyard inspired by Spanish artist, Salvador Dali. Do you recognize The Dali Mask? It was used in the Spanish movie “Money Heist”.

Based on Salvador Dali's The Mask used as the mask in the Spanish movie The Money Heist.
Based on Salvador Dali’s The Mask used as the mask in the Spanish movie The Money Heist.

Colonial Architecture

Beautiful buildings, most built using Sillar, the white volcanic rock, were on every street.  We learned that the thick walls & arched ceilings help protect against earthquakes which are pretty common in Arequipa. A month into our visit here there was a 7 a.m. 7.2 earthquake out of Puna, Peru that was felt here in Arequipa that woke me up with the bed shaking like crazy.  But I’m getting off course.

The thick walls and curved arches are built to help withstand earthquakes.

Curved arches and thick walls are built to withstand earthquakes in Arequipa.
This is the entry to a sample of the larger homes in Arequpa! Notice the thick walls & curved arch.

The colonial style architecture is awesome & have so much character. The shots of color with flowers & occasional bold paint colors are a photographers dream!

The detail in these columns is amazing.
Bold blue house with water fountain in Arequipa.
Amazing colors!
Chariot doors in Arequipa;.
We saw quite a few realllllly tall doors like this. Paolo told us these would open for the chariots & the ledge on the left was to get up into the chariots. True or not, it’s a nice story.

Parks

Like many other south of the US border countries, we have been amazed by the number of neighborhood parks. Some with benches to sit & enjoy the world as it zooms by or others where children of all ages gather after school to play & connect with friends.

Chicha

Paolo told us the story of Chicha. To be honest the story made me reconsider trying this drink but it was really good. The drink is made from dried purple corn. Paolo told us that originally the corn would be chewed by a person & then spit the juice into a container which is what you ended up drinking. Yuck! Evidently the Europeans frowned upon hearing how it was made & refused to drink. Hence the Peruvians had to figure out how to process the corn to make it more inviting to others. Chicha is a must to try on your visit to Arequipa.

Last thoughts on one day in Arequipa

If I forgot to remark earlier, here are some things you need to keep in mind when you are planning a trip to Arequipa! There are loose dogs everywhere. Lots of them. So watch your step – there are no “owners” to pick the poo up after these dogs.

Traffic is horrible. Just because the light is red doesn’t mean a motorbike or car won’t try to squeeze past. Buses do not, I repeat, do not, give an inch to other cars or bikes or pedestrians.  Well maybe occasionally but rarely so step quickly when crossing a street.

Arequipa is a photographers’ dream! The architecture is amazing & so much history behind the buildings.

Taxis are amazing & easy to wave down on streets. They drive, continually honking their horns to let pedestrians know they are ready to pick them up. Pretty amazing to me. (Uber didn’t work for us?)

Plenty of restaurants to choose from both U.S. fast food chains as well as Peruvian restaurants. We highly recommend the little Peruvian kitchens.

There are so many things we have seen, so many photographs of the beautiful sights, historical & ones you see everyday in a walk. I hope we put a taste in your mouth for Arequipa – even if for a short visit. We spent two months & still didn’t see probably 1/3 of what the city has to offer. There is definitely something for everyone in Arequipa!

Lastly if you plan to travel to Peru in May, June, & July, the heart of the winter season, bring your jacket! Once the sun starts going down it gets cool fast.

Next stop is Lima!

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