After breakfast we headed off to the local market that Janira had mentioned to us.
Banks of fruit and veg
Only some of the 3022 potatoes that Peru has!
It was a fantastic place with a vast number of stalls selling some amazing produce. I bought a golf visor in the Sombrero section and then we just wandered about taking in the sights and smells. The offal section was amazing with all parts of the animals being used, stall after stall of guts, tripe, hooves, cow noses, bull's testes, hearts, livers, kidneys, lungs etc. Literally no part of the animals was going to waste.
The offal was awful!
Afterwards we had a relaxed coffee in the Jesuit cloisters and then headed to the Juanita museum picking up a Queso Helado on the way - cheese icecream - sold everywhere. Sadly it was not as nice as Howard had anticipated - just a normal ice cream.
The museum was interesting but sad as it told the story of Incan ritual sacrifices of children to appease their gods, particularly the volcanoes or mountain gods. We watched a fim about the discovery of these children on the volcano. An eruption basically melted the ice and Juanita’s body was found by some climbers. Juanita is not there just now but another of the sacrificed girls was there. Terribly sad really.
We walked down to the river and then had lunch at a little local restaurant we had passed on the way to the river. It was located in the courtyard of an old manor house and we paid 30 Soles for a 3 course meal with apples juice and a couple of beers, about £7!
On the way back to the hotel we walked through the Plaza des Armes to see the old photograph exhibition and came across Shak and his parents that we had transferred to Arequipa with. We had a great chat with them and found out much more about their history. His parents were Ugandans Indians who had to flee when Amin came to power.
Back in the hotel we packed up ready for an early departure tomorrow and then went to the Cathedral which opens to the public at 5.30pm. It was smaller than expected and bizarrely decorated in a sort of Wedgewood style.
We then had a drink in the high bar 3 storeys above the Plaza with great views over the plaza and the Catherdral.....
and also stopped in the Museo del Pisco for a Pisco Sour on the way home. Not a museum at all, but a very cool bar.
And finally, because we heard blues being played in the Alliance Francaise, we walked in and listened to the end of a great set by a local band. A great way to end our time in Peru.
Finally back to the hotel and final preparations for tomorrow, which will be an early start with a 5am pickup. Down to our last 50 Soles, about £12.50 so it must be time to leave.
