Arequipa - The White City

Mystic Misti Volcano near Arequipa

Good morning from Arequipa ....

.... and why Arequipa is called the White City...

Arequipa is located at an altitude of 2325 m in the desert mountains of the Andes. This beautiful city is practically completly built out of sillar, a kind of white volcanic stone. This is why Arequipa is called the White City. With its one milion inhabitants, Arequipa is the second biggest city of Peru. The main square, the Plaza de Armas is the most beautiful of the country. The magnificent Catedrál and the shopping malls are in colonial style. It is the city of eternal Spring. 

Santa Catalina Monastery - interesting facts: The foundress of the monastery was a rich widow, Maria de Guzman. The tradition of the time indicated that the second son or daughter of a family would enter a life of service in the Church, and the monastery accepted only women from upper class Spanish families. Each family paid a dowry at their daughter's admission to the monastery. The dowry expected of a woman who wished to enter as a nun recitation was 2,400 silver coins, equivalent to about $ 150,000 (U.S.) today. The nuns were also required to bring 25 listed items, including a statue, a painting, a lamp and clothes. The wealthiest nuns may have brought fine English china and silk curtains and rugs. Although it was possible for poorer nuns to enter the convent without paying a dowry, it can be seen from the cells that most of the nuns were very wealthy.

At the Santa Catalina monastery : Kathy in front of the nunnery washing basin and Joe & Winnie in front of the fountain

Group Photo at the arch of the beautiful Arequipa Cathedral

Bald is beautiful - Joe and Ping:  "We know!"

The Wong Brothers:  Ken and Peter,   in front of snow covered El Misti Volcano. We already know them as tough South Africa Explorers!