Time to talk of other things ...

 Refreshing visit to Huacachina oasis and nearby Pisco winery Huacachina Oasis , near the city of Ica in Peru is the only natural oasis in South America. Home to the biggest sand dunes in the continent, you can see carob, date palms and eucalyptus trees on the perimeter of a fresh water lagoon Laguna Huacachina , an eponymous aqua green waterbody fed by a small natural spring, which is the center of this oasis town.  Along Huacachina’s main walkway you’ll find a statue of mermaid, which is a depiction of a well-known legend about the lake’s origins Legend says that the oasis originated when an Inca princess Huacachina who was brushing her hair while looking into a mirror. Just then an intruder passed by and came closer to see the princess. The shy young woman dropped the mirror which shattered into a million pieces creating the lagoon. The princess took shelter in the waters of the lagoon till the pesky intruder left but when s...

The ornate Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesus in Arequipa La Compañía By coincidence, the city of Arequipa and the Society of Jesus were both founded in the same year - 1540 AD. The original plans of the magnificent Jesuit edifice, Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesus (locals simply call it,  La Compañía ), were made by one Gaspar Baez - the main structure is in the form of a Latin cross with three deep naves containing side chapels, a transept and a dome on scallops. Unfortunately, the work he began in 1578, collapsed in the earthquake of 1582.  Eight years later, the Jesuit Diego Felipe began the second construction following Gaspar Baez’s plans and construction continued till 1698. It is said that this structure forms the basis of the so-called 'Arequipa school' of architecture which influenced the design and construction of the churches of Cayma, Paucarpata, Yanahuara, Characato and even in the regions of Puno and Bolivia. The facade and main altar (covered with golden leave...

The dramatic Convento de Santa Catalina in Arequipa   Convento de Santa Catalina de Siena ( Convent of St Catherine of Siena ) was built in 1579 in the Viceroyal architectural style and is located in the historical centre of Arequipa, Peru.  It served as a cloister for nuns of the Dominican Second Order from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, and still houses a small religious community today. The complex, which stretches over 20,000 square meters, is built from  sillar,  a porous volcanic  limestone rock from the nearby volcano Chachani overlooking the city and adobe (straw and mud), painted in the striking primary colors of blue and red. Unfortunately the years and acid rain have taken a toll on the lovely frescos painted along the arched corridors. But there are attempts to preserve and restore this treasure. The foundress of the monastery was a rich widow who did not have any children, Doña María de Guzmán who decided to join the order an...

 Floating reed island of the Uro-Aymara on Lake Titicaca At 12,500 feet, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, the strong sun prevents it from freezing even in winter, covering 3210 sq miles and bordered by Peru to the North and Bolivia to the South.  Lake Titicaca is the home to the Uro-Aymara Indians ,  consisting of indigenous Uru-Chipaya, Uru-Murato, and Uru-Iruito tribes, famous for living for close to 4000 years on reed islands made from ubiquitous totora reed   ( Schoenoplectus californicus ssp. tatora ), a giant bulrush sedge known as   chullu in the local Uro language.  This is the same sort of bulrush used by the natives of Easter Island to build their sea worth boats, and what inspired Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002), the Norwegian explorer and  ethnographer, to work with Uros Indians in constructing large expedition reed boat  Kon-Tiki expedition in 1947, in which he sailed 8,000 km (5,000 miles) across...