Out and About

Here I am drinking wine in a beautiful courtyard some evening back:

As I mentioned -- many building open to inside courtyards, often with multible businesses all opening into the common courtyard.

This was taken in a vegetable shop in Arequipa. That squash I had in soup and I liked it. It is very large -- often as big as a pumpkin -- so this is how they cut off pieces for sale. 

This is the same shop. Why they have a chicken leg sitting there is beyond me. 

They also sell eggs, which sit on the shelf at room temputure -- which I understand is the practice most everywhere except USA. 

Visited the main cementary in Arequipa. I expected ancient, old headstones and such -- didn't get it. 

A little late did I hear that the translation of the name of this bird is something like 'Vicious Killer Bird.' By the skin of my teeth I escaped unscathed.

Shoe shine in the main plaza in Arequipa. 

Finding my way about town solo is always an adventure. There's nothing like standing in a street, street signs being painted over or missing, no map, many of the street tiny lanes then dead end such -- and figuring out where you are and where you want to go. 

Keep in mind all this while it was just fall back home in the northern hemisphere -- so with the warm sun on your back you just can't get your mind to comprehend that you are facing due south, not north. 

So this map screen shot is what I use sometimes to mark my starting point so I can find my way back. 

I was in Cusco yesterday and a street peddler hit me up to buy something. I said no, but I said I will pay you to help me find the hotel. Gave him S/ 2. Later I realized I had forgotten something, asked directions at the hotel, went out and could not find the shop. Ran into the same guy -- we walked to the shop, bought the stuff and walked back to the hotel. Cost me S/ 7. 

I was a bit supprised to see a casino. Turns out there are quite a few. 

This is the hotel. I am still suprised at how many hazards are just routinely accepted in Peru. In USA this walkway would have railings, signs or more!

This is the only handicapped parking space I noticed the entire trip. 

What else I realized is no ever-present UPS trucks. I did not see any UPS or FedEx once down here.