About 15 meters below me at the end of a very long rope, my instructor shouted words of encouragement. I tried not to let the lizards that ran from cactus to cactus distract me. The sun scorched my back and every finger ached with pain as I feverishly explored the surface above. This time I was determined not to let the rock get the better of me. I took a deep breath, ignored the pain and attempted one last time to pull myself up to the next level. I held on with all my might and will, told myself I could do it, but it was no use…my fingers started slipping and my left foot was shaking uncontrollably. It wasn’t the idea of being 20 meters above ground clinging to a rock face that scared me - it was the thought of failure. I defied every last warning of insufficient strength and energy until I was finally defeated. All of a sudden my fingers slipped and gravity got the better of me. It was like my entire body automatically switched itself off and shut down. The second my fingers lost their grip I was flung outwards away from the rock-face and was left suspended, hanging in the air. I moaned and cursed to my instructor below which highly amused him. “Play with the gravity” he suggested. “It’s all about the position of your body” he added. Meanwhile, I’m dangling, swaying to and fro without a morsel of energy left within. I had had enough. He lowered me down and congratulated me on my efforts. Considering I didn't have the best footwear for rock climbing (they didn't have my shoe size...apparently I have abnormally big feet...at least I do in Peru) I did pretty well for my first experience. I did actually make it to the top of that climb in the end. It's amazing how powerful the mind is. It really was a case of mind over matter. Maintaining a positive metal attitude was definitely the key to my success. And maybe not just in rock climbing.
Plaza Armas There are two things I like about Arequipa. The first is Plaza Armas, a beautiful square surrounded by white volcanic brick buildings. The square contains a fountain, many trees of varying types, lots of lazy locals, and about a million pigeons who feed off them. Arches line three sides of the square and support terraces which house a large assortment of cafes and restaurants. They all practically beg for your custom but offer great views of the square. Dominated on the fourth side is a huge cathedral which is also built from white stone. In fact, there are many buildings in the city constructed using this volcanic material which is why the city has been nick-named "the White City".
The second thing Arequipa has going for it is the location. Set at the bottom of two volcanos and a snow-capped mountain range, Arequipa offers a constant mountainous backdrop no matter where you happen to be in the city.
Greetings from Arequipa My notes on Arequipa wouldn't be complete without details of at least one of my café experiences. Café Venezuelan is quite possibly the smallest coffee shop I have had the pleasure of visiting. It is one of those places that clearly put more effort into their coffee products than the aesthetics of the interior. Having said that, I should point out that it is precisely this rough-around-the-edges independent style which attracts me to such places. The café boasted a menu of about 100 different types of coffee and they also sold their own beans (which is always a good sign). The coffee was excellent, as was the little toasted sandwich filled with chicken and mayo that came with it. The aroma of freshly ground coffee that consumed the entire place was divine. I could have sat there for hours soaking up the culture. It was heavenly and I was yet again reminded of my passion for coffee.
