2153 In small restaurant called Mister Chicken near plaza de armas. Chuleta de res not on, so having 0.25 chicken with chips, tried to ask for salad without dressing but who knows. Food!
2203 Not amazing but v welcome. Tried Chinese restaurant next door but they didn't have anything except chaufa, not even with anything afaict, so left.
2228 Back at hotel. Bill was 11, made it 13. Slightly tempted to look for a beer or at least to have wandered over to plaza for a look, but I am just a smidge dubious about the somewhat deserted street outside hostel and I 'want' to be up early to try to look into tours to Cañon de Colca (serious doubts re altitude, iirc past performance is no guarantee of future performance so although I was mostly OK in 2010 that offers little reassurance this time, I guess the main thing is therefore I am *not* doing any major physical exertion, including any significant walking, as it's about 4000m asl and I will not be remotely acclimatised, I don't think 2500m here in Arequipa does any good at all, frankly even the small risk of getting altitude sickness just sitting in a car/bus doesn't appeal much - this also disinclines me against taking the public, ie non-tour, bus as that would probably be more embarassing/difficult if I start to feel sick as the bus ascends, not that I absolutely won't do this however, anyway, need to see how tomorrow pans out) and also be good to have two days off the beer. Have five bed room to myself (one double, a single, bunk beds), wonder if am only guest. Shared bathroom. I have a key to street door but struggled so much to open it guy came and let me in.
Saw couple of shops (open at this time!) with lots of fruit in the same street as hotel from taxi, not going tonight but will tomorrow. Taxi was 7 (fixed price not meter), made it 8, driver waited til I was let in the unlabelled hostel. That was about fair (no pun intended), didn't see a meter fitted and sign at terminal says plaza de armas is 6 so 7 to this nearby street is not a significant rip off if at all.
2237 It's odd as there is a genuine single bedded room opposite which looks empty. I obviously don't mind but surprised as what if a group turns up tomorrow morning? Anyway.
2306 Cleaned teeth, flossed, had shower (not v strong flow but warm if not hot). Not exactly tired but not exactly bursting with energy either. Will probably try to put off going to bed until this battery at 100% and can switch to other for overnight charge - due to heavy phone reading, battery got low and decided to switch about an hour or two away from Arequipa.
No proper window again. Not a huge deal but interesting to realise. Here there is a window above head height, the place is on a slope so while room approx same level as street door it may still be sub-basement. At Hostal Le Prince in Tacna had a window looking over inner stairwell and hallway so kept curtain drawn. No window except above door into hallway in Calama. Vallenar hotel may have had a window - I seem to recall it being naturally light - but may have been net curtained or something. Budget travel baby. :-)
0001 In bed. Pillow bit hard as is mattress but tis OK. Beats sleeping on a bus hollow even so.
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