TGIF

Apologies for being MIA. I spent last weekend at Lake Titicaca - the largest lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world. That was a whirlwind weekend trip... 6 hour bus ride Friday night to Puno, long hot shower, 6 hours of sleep, then on a boat to visit 3 islands on the lake and spend the night with a family on one of the islands (without cars or roads, electricity, and running water). Then Sunday boat ride back to Puno and another 6 hour bus ride back to Arequipa. Arrived to Arequipa late Sunday night and spent Monday in bed all day (sick from the exhaust fumes while riding on the top of the boat). Good thing Monday was a holiday!

Then I had some bad shrimp on Tuesday night and spent all day Wednesday in bed. But I guess what doesn´t kill you only makes you stronger!? So hopefully I won´t be sick anymore during my remaining 5 weeks here. (And I have my secret stash of azithromycin just in case).

Tomorrow is July 4th, my 2nd favorite holiday. I am a bit bummed to miss it for the 2nd year in a row (I was in the Amazon rainforest in Perú last year). Instead, I am having lunch with an American friend at a nice traditional, outdoor restaurant here in Arequipa (Sol de Mayo). I was thinking we should have lunch at Burger King in honor of the 4th of July, but I think we´ll pass on that. Maybe I can find some yummy apple pie and vanilla ice cream somewhere?

What else... I´m looking forward to my 5 day trip to Santiago, Chile in 2 weeks! I need to start doing my research on things to do/see/eat and a place to stay!

Happy 4th of July!