Day 8 in Peru – Arequipa
Today I went walking to “La Catedral Central.” Walking the streets of Arequipa alone I felt like I could live here. Its odd I know – but I felt like I need to learn this place & get used to it. I did not feel out of place or like a stranger. I am at ease!
The only time I felt like a tourist was when I stopped to get an Inca Kola. I could have swarn the lady said “un sol 20” but I fumbled with the coins – flipping them over to look for the 20 – and all of a sudden the price went up!
People will do what they can to get every last cent. The difference, in my mind was only .07 US, but I quess in their culture it was alot. Alot or a little, though, it only represented living a life of scarecity and the need to “get mine while I can.” But does it justify stealing from a tourist?
I had already opened the “gaseosa,” paid for leason learned and moved away from a space of scarecity!
Anyway I kept walking with a general idea of where I was heading. Keeping the Idea of the spire of “Plaza de Armas” in my mind’s eye as the focus. Walking for what seemed for miles, I finally asked a “policia nacional” for directions.
“A bit down this way and then you’ll see the Plaza.” The officer said. Signaling with his hand a right turn. I nodded with acknowledgement as if I understood. I kind of did – but got lost in the assumptions of the directions. What is a “bit” and when will I see the Plaza. What would the plaza look like when I look to the right?
He was assuming that I would recognize the characteristics of a plaza. I was assuming specifics like “two blocks” or “turn right.” If I did not catch the flick of the wrist out of the corner of my eye, I would have missed a vital part of the directions.
Interesting to see this culture’s given set of assumptions. I wonder, as an American, how do my sets of assumptions look like to outsiders? What is it that I assume that is inherently natural about my place in the world?
Finally I ended up at “La Plaza de Armas.” And giving up my need for specifics I was able to find the “bit” and looking to the right I now know how to distinguish the way a plaza looks like from the fringe. Walking up the narrow street I can see the edge of the plaza coming towards me. The building up ahead is facing something bigger then itself and is bathed in longer rays of light.
The place was loaded with people! Being Saturday I guess everyone came out for a day of distractions in the park. I spent the whole afternoon people watching. Taking pictures of kids chasing pigeons, of moms holding their kids back from stepping into the fountain. I snapped photos of indigenous people in traditional garbs. They always catch my eye.
Many locals call them “Cholos” and dislike them. But I see them wearing their detailed, pink embroidered vests with the sparkling beads; their bright green colorful, pleated skirts; the thick brown woolen leg warmers and the long black breaided hair under their wide-rimmed gray Fadoros as a point of pride. After all, they are the direct decendents of the great Inca warriors and their colors tell the tales of their long disreguarded traditions.
I am lost in taking pictures and enjoying the plaza without the tourist rush to see every building before my time is up. No tour guide hurrying me along to see the next artifact and eat up the next bit of information. I feel free to take my time and wait for the kids to start chasing the birds again. I am at peace with myself and free from the reings of time.
As the sun starts setting, I am loving the light of the “magic hour.” I snap every picture I could! Same image in every setting imaginable so that I could capture every bit of color and light intensity. I am drinking in every drop of life that I can. The only limit was the memory chip’s capacity and battery life. Those extinguished and the light gone, I felt I have captured a bit of splendor & glory that it is to finally be enjoying living my life.
This is truly a magical moment and a blessing that I am here to enjoy it and that God has granted me this gift. Now I am rejuvinated and free to take this new vigor & energy home to charge up my family’s energy.
I miss M&M; very much, but I think they will be proud of me and happy that I am creating this & getting myself ready for the road ahead of us.