Arrived in Arequipa
From the plane…
Flying south from Lima between the coast and the Andes. Desert-like peaks and valleys below out my window (looking east), with higher mountain peaks and valleys in the distance. Areas where snow has melted lead to drainage rivers. Greenery is sparse and only around rivers. Rock strata of the mountains visible. Some of the mountains and hills may have green on them, but hard to tell. Colors are mostly reddish-brown, drak brown-green, black. Four to five tall peaks rise high as we near Arequipa. Odd circular pattern on the ground in one area, probably ruins. Huge peak down mounain now visible sittin glike a king on a throne above the city–must be El Misti; it looks misty. Large city of 750,000 (according to my book) in the valley among eroded or naturally cut-out mini canyons or valleys–the largest most green of all must be flanking the Rio Chili. City spread out andneighborhoods on plateaus. Mountain surrounding. And touch down…safe landing.
