YA LEUM.66 — Arequipa, a place for family love, arequipenho adobo and hikes
We were traveling for more than a year and that lifestyle was now a part of me. I already knew how to travel, what to explore, and who I wanted to meet.
Couchsurfing was the best tool during the trip! We met dozens of people thanks to this concept that unfortunately is still mistrusted by most people.
After Puno, we traveled to Arequipa to meet the famous white city, considered by many as the most beautiful in the country.
Couchsurfing led us to meet Augusto, a boy who lived with his family. They offered a room promised fun and cultural exchanges.
We arrived at the end of the afternoon and were received by Augusto and his mother, Nanny. They offered us tea, some snacks, and we immediately started talking. The connection was immediate! Nanny and Augusto were easygoing, careful, and always smiling. When Nanny realized that my favorite drink was pisco sour — a Peruvian cocktail made with egg whites, lemon juice, and pisco –she immediately prepared us pisco to teach us how to do it. A homemade pisco sour, made by a Peruvian, in Peru… was the highlight of my day.
They lived in a complex made of two apartments: in the first one, lived Augusto, Nanny, and Adolfo. Downstairs, lived Augusto’s grandparents: Pastor and Sílvia, and the last floor had a terrace, with a separate room, where we were staying.
On that day, we did not have time to meet Adolfo, Augusto’s father. Yet, we already felt at home! I could barely believe how incredible they were welcoming us.
On the next day, we woke up early to explore the city with Augusto and met Adolfo before he went to work! We were soon talking like we had always known each other.
We promised Adolfo to continue the interesting and elucidative conversation about Peruvian politics and economy after his workday.
This family was so kind, generous, and warm-hearted!
One could feel the harmony through the entire house! Everyone was gentle and caring, not only with us but also between themselves.
And we still had not met their grandparents!
Augusto took us to meet Pastor and Silvia and they welcomed us equally well in their house.
With them, we felt just the same we felt with Augusto and his parents: happiness and peace.
We spent the days with Augusto and his parents, hanging out and knowing each other better.
Adolfo and Nanny told us everything about their handmade and homemade beer project. The Cacique Beer — the name they gave to their passion. Since they already produced some quantity of beer, they got a small stand in the center of the city where they sold it whenever it was possible. Now, they are even developing an app!
On another day, we went for a walk to the waterfalls in Sogay with some of Augusto’s friends. Before we started our walk, at 8 a.m., Agusto’s grandmother wanted to prepare a family Sunday meal. Since we were spending the day at the waterfalls, we ate lunch at breakfast… so, at 6 a.m. we ate a pork stew, the well-known adobo arequipenho, cooked during the night. Silvia woke up at 4 a.m. to prepare that breakfast-lunch with its strong, delicious spices and ingredients I had never heard about.
To help with digestion, we drank a drag of Peruvian brandy and at 6:30 a.m. I was ready to get to Everest and return.
We got on our way to the waterfalls filled with energy and already quite awake!
For the majority of the group, the walk was easy but for me, it was a little more challenging. Everybody was enjoying and thoughtful, which always makes everything much easier.
On the night of our departure, Augusto’s parents suggested a homemade pizza night with the entire family! They had a wood oven and each one of us chose prepared its own pizza. The night was spent trying everyone else’s pizza, sharing jokes, and even dancing a little. Not even Augusto’s grandparents were shy!
I was now traveling for a year and this home feeling was exactly what I was needing. The comfort, the family spirit, the house life, and not having to think about the next thing to explore… it was a feeling of peacefulness that traveling does not always offer.
On the next day, before we left, I spent the morning with Silvia, taking care of her birds, to whom she dedicated time and care every day. Patiently and carefully, Silvia cleaned, tidied up, and sang for her little birds who were always eager to meet her.
One could feel the love of that house even on the little birds.
In the Galindo family’s building, love was the most important. And only a few rare times did I witness a love like this.
To this day, we still talk to Augusto! He became a friend, who we miss and to whom we wish a genuinely good life. For him and all his family!
The way they treated us contributed a little bit more to how we see the world today.
Their genuine and warm friendliness showed us, once again, that the world really is filled with extraordinary human beings.
March 2018,
Patricia Assis
