Arequipa Impressions

Monastery at night, impressive!

Arequipa is an old city by American standards. Old European-style structures and narrow streets of the original city date back to the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries. But modern development has produced new neighborhoods around the old city that are self-contained. Peruvians can live very comfortably in their neighborhoods without the need to travel to the old city.

In these newer parts of the city everything seems to be in phase one of construction. I already described the airport's arrival lounge-a permanent roof is not yet in place. Business buildings and houses are occupied, but still not complete. Steel rebar sticks out of the top of pillars, indicating the direction of future additions. Brick walls are often unfinished waiting for plaster, and later paint. Some roads have curbs, but no pavement. Growth happens when funds are available. But everyone seems to know growth is happening. There is a positive attitude about the future.

The attraction of the old city is its completeness and modern upgrades. Some streets are paved, some are cobblestone, most are narrow. The streets in the old city were put down before anyone thought about cars. Now that cars exist the narrow streets are barely adequate, unless you're driving a nano-cab (see next paragraph), then you're good. Our bus filled those little streets. In fact Catherine LaHaye (that is the American, well North American Catherine, you know the one from Charlotte-we had Peruvian Catherine too) said that she felt she could reach out the bus window and grab a bottle of coke of the shelf in a store. Being an honest person she didn't do it, but that gave a good description of the narrow feel of the streets.

Thoroughfares are few and filled with vehicles, especially 'nano-cabs.' Mini-sub-compact cars are painted bright colors and patched with advertising. Jeff Foxworthy would have a heyday with nano-cabs: 'If your cab and two others are traveling side-by-side between the dotted lines of one lane, you could be in a nano-cab.' 'Don't you mean dashed lines?' 'No when you're traveling that fast the lines look like dots.'
'If your taxi driver just passed another car by sliding under a moving semi trailer, you could be in a nano-cab.'
'If the fourth member of your family is strapped to the roof, you could be in a nano-cab.'
'If the horsepower rating on the horn is greater than the horsepower rating of the engine, you could be in a nano-cab.'
'If your driver uses the horn instead of the brakes for emergency stops, you could be in a nano-cab.'
Nano-cabs make up for their smallness by sheer numbers; they are abundant. I would be willing to guess (you thought I was going to say,'bet.' I don't bet, I digress, but I don't bet); I would be willing to guess that by weight the all of the nano-cabs in Arequipa together would out weigh all other vehicles in the city. They are small, but they are many.

Arequipa's modern upgrades include McDonald's, Burger King, and Starbucks, if you consider those upgrades. But the best attractions are the arts and architecture. Old world construction in the square in front of the centuries old convent meets modern buildings in a beautiful way. We were privileged to attend a free concert of the Arequipa symphony-especially privileged because Gaby is their flutist. Several times we heard her instrument floating freely and flawlessly above the others. After a week of ministry it was delightful to do some touring in this interesting and beautiful city.

Nano-cab (SUV-style) almost eclipsed by a compact car

Nano-cab (circa 2012) in front of Monastery (circa 1621)