Arequipa & The Volcano I´m here to Climb.

We rumbled into another amazing Peru town today called Arequipa, the town is a wash with white volcanic rock (sillar) buildings. The locals believe that when the moon split from the earth it forgot to take Arequipa with it.
Amazingly we accidently timed our arrival with Arequipa day, which is a huge festival which takes place once a year. All the surrounding towns parade, dance and sing through the streets leading donkeys which carry wood to later be burned in a huge fire at the main Plaza. Above is a photo of the carnival in the Plaza, and below another shot of the stunning Cathedral. If you look closely just to the left of the left tower of the Cathedral in the picture below you can see the peak of the 6075 meter snowcapped Chichani volcano. I am booked to climb it on Wednesday. Although it seems there is only me in Arequipa who wants to do it at the moment, so I have to wait for another 2 or more people to join the group otherwise we cant go. Where is Harry when you need him. I will spend a night sleeping on the mountain in a tent at 5300 meters then awake at 3am to complete the 7 hour climb to the summit. We will be wearing crampons, and using ice picks. But carrying NO oxygen. NARLY!!
Laters
Chris