Santa Catalina
SUMMARY: I describe Santa Catalina monastery, arguably the principal tourist destination in Arequipa. Pictures.
Nicolas and I went to Santa Catalina during my sobriety streak. Besides Plaza de Armas and La Catedral (which are free), Santa Catalina is the top tourist destination in Arequipa and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Santa Catalina was a monastery built in the 16th century in operation well into the 19th century. It takes up two square blocks of downtown Arequipa. Inside is a small town – a city within a city – closed off to the outside world. It’s a concrete maze of hallways leading to living quarters, dining rooms, kitchens, and gardens – beautifully painted with bright colors. … Read more
Cold Gringo and Homosexuality in Peru
SUMMARY: I describe a culture shock about interacting with other men and, unrelatedly, homosexuality and tolerance in Peru.
I feel the warm culture of Latin America is a better fit for me, but there are ways in which I am and may always be a cold gringo.
I have many friends already and am getting along well, but something occasionally bothers me about my male friends. When males become friends, they typically insult and poke fun of each other. This is completely normal. Having been in a fraternity and always had macho asshole friends, I can hang with the best of them. However, a certain amount of time is needed for the friendship to incubate and develop before the insults begin. In the warm culture, guys become good friends in less time. I’m a cold gringo because I need more time before I’m comfortable with this kind of joking. … Read more
Little Things from Arequipa
SUMMARY: Another round of miscellaneous oddities to a gringo in Peru.
Little Things
There’s this odd phenomenon in Peru of giving children English and American names. I’ve met people named Billy, Jennifer, Percy, Stephanie, Henry, Washington. I don’t get it. WASHINGTON!
There are police all over the downtown area. Two of them stand together on almost every other corner. They usually say hello or nod to me when I walk past. I think they’re very conscious of making tourists feel welcome.
Obviously, Catholicism is popular throughout Latin America. About 100% of taxis are decorated – littered in most cases – with images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, various saints, and other religious images and themes. When riding in a car past a church, most people cross themselves. And one popular brand of clothes – especially for combi employees but for anybody on the street – is Juan Pablo II. It is a brown shirt or hat with the image of the late Pope John Paul II. He’s like Michael Jordan here. … Read more
