Market at Arequipa

                          The first place I go when I arrive in a city new to me is head for the market. Of course I will have already done my research about local dishes and ingredients and just need someone to help me identify them. I heartily advise making prior arrangements with a travel or other agency to hire a guide or, better still, if you are in the food business, try to find out who the players in town are and contact them before getting there  Maybe they'll offer to take you around.                         Not quite as exotic as the Cusco market or maybe it's just that I was more familiar with everything by the time we got to Arequipa.  I could have done without seeing the live cuys or guinea pigs the love to eat along with pigeons, partridges and such but had fun with the love potions and myriad kinds of potatoes. .            

The Cuy                                                                                                                                                                                                             Pet Food on the right

          I love to buy one or two pieces of local or regional dress and mix them wi4th my basic black here I finally found a vest and an extremely bright and tacky jacket that even I can't pull off. I also got the baby llama I  wanted for my granddaughter. The only thing I could not find was the white stove-top hat that my son so wanted. I found truly exciting cards with a fruit, animal or thing with it's name in Spanish and English.. I can't wait until I can spend some time with Violeta.  I think that she'll enjoy it.             The Jacket                     Now I'll  just up assorted images for a kaleidoscopic view.