Following nights in and bus rides from Aguas Calientes and Cusco, we arrived in Arequipa. It’s actually our second Ciudad Blanca in the past month (see Sucre post) and nth colonial town in South America, but it is perhaps the best of both categories. Driving in by bus, Arequipa looks like any other South American metropolis, that is a smoggy sprawl buildings that hugs the topography. But arriving in the center by taxi, the downtown was actually attractive. Unlike Cusco, it was clean with wide sidewalks and wasn’t marred by unending blocks of tour agencies and tourist shops. Its called the white city because many of the buildings are constructed out of sillar, a white volcanic rock. Although the cathedrals and important buildings are well-kept and definitely white, the rest of the buildings have taken on a more grayish color. Nonetheless, the architecture is interesting, as many roofs are domed and the inside ceilings of all the buildings we visited are arched.

We only budgeted a day in Arequipa, because we’re much more fans of natural environs than cities (most of all in Latin America), but it was a pleasant day. Our hotel occupied a very old building with lots of character and a rooftop observatory offering views over the city. We visited a convent which held an eclectic museum. We had local food, but also enjoyed two meals at a local Turkish restaurant and enjoyed ice-cream in the Plaza de Armas. Perhaps most of all, it was a lazy day not spent in transit.