Welcome To Arequipa
On arrival to Arequipa bus station the next morning I grabbed a taxi into the town centre and checked myself into a hostel. The rafting expedition had me staying at hotel for tomorrow night - so today mission was to acquaint myself with the town and find the hotel.
A large walk around town not only found tomorrows goal but also the main shopping centre and some night spots too.
Popping out at night to a pizza place I decided to follow it up with a beer in one or two of the night clubs. One place opened up into a huge underground venue with a large dance floor. The noise that seeped outside sounded like it might be playing Western music. No such luck, it was Reggaton (whose style I could now recognise). Oh well, I figured a beer, maybe two and move on - or move home. Again, no such luck.
A couple sat opposite caught my attention, mainly because the girl had braided hair and wore a 2 piece suit - both extremely odd in this part of the country. It seems I had also caught their attention and after a short while they moved over for a chat. I took a deep breath - hoping my Spanglish would be up to scratch.
It seems it was, they stayed and another round of beers ensued. The girl invited me to the dance floor. I was worried and it wasn't just about my lack of floor skills either. I looked nervously at her bloke but he just smiled and waved me on! I survived a couple of songs and brought her back after hearing my beer call my name. It was then I find out the two weren't a couple, just good mates. Just as well a couple of their friends turned up to reduce the attention I was receiving!
More beers and more dance floor antics and I'm invited back with everyone for some after hours drinking. Ack, so be it! Then it gets weird...
We all invade someone's family home which looked suspiciously like a shed complete with sliding door. We had to wake someone's younger brother to get in. Some spirits sans mixers come out to play but the brother, so he was told, was too young to participate. It was all quite merry until one of the girly friends fetches a photo album and starts to gleefully take me through it. Half way through and within the space of about 4 photos she gets emotional and then starts weeping. I look at everyone else for guidance - they just shrugged and offer me another drink!
I'm in a strange house in a country where I don't speak the language, the girl next to me is seriously crying and her friends seem oblivious to her plight! Um, awkward I did feel. Finally they came to my rescue, help comfort her and tried explaining it to me. From what I could gather, she had a childhood sweetheart who'd recently left her and their toddler child. Therefore she tended to get a little emotional after a few drinks. Apparently I had been looking at photos of him.
Well, everyone tried not to let the distressed girl ruin the mood of the party (as it seems she often does) but unfortunately... it did! Ack, it was nearing 4:30 am anyway! Wanting to get a taxi home I was instead let to a bare concrete room with a mattress on the floor. The younger brother was very insistent I stay. The house was very small and I was worried I'd be taking someone else's bed. The kid laughed and mentioned his sister would be joining me soon! Err, time to exit. (After all I had paid for perfectly good bed!) I politely forced the issue of a taxi and bade everyone a good night!
Posted by Steve Eynon