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Arequipa, Peru
17° 19' S 70° 19' W
Dec 03, 2006 03:00
Distance 0km

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Girls Night Out

Text written in: English (US)

I was interested in seeing a little more of the culture in Arequipa, so Mark sent me out with the girls to a popular restaurant and dance place - Turístico de Arequipa.  The girls included Yesenia and 3 of the teachers from the grade school.  The place is huge with a beautiful patio and indoor restaurant serving typical Arequipean food.  It also had a live band and large dance floor. 

On Saturdays, things start in the mid-afternoon and continue into the wee hours of the morning.  We arrived at 4:00, had some snacks and beer on the patio, and waited for the band to start at 6:00.  When we moved inside at 5:30, the place was almost full!  Obviously a very popular place with all the locals (I think I was the only gringo)!   

Most of the native Peruvians love to dance.  All the children learn to dance in school at a very young age.  If you start the music, the kids begin to move naturally and rhythmically with no inhibitions.  This obviously continues as the children grow up, because the dance floor was PACKED the minute the music started.  It was so fun to watch the great dancers on the floor.  

Yesenia and the girls LOVE to dance, so they were up dancing immediately.  Of course, they wouldn't have it that I sit and watch, so out I went to try a little salsa.  Supposedly, it is all in the hips and knees and I could sure feel it on Sunday!  We had a great time and finally left at 1:00 AM, just when the party was really beginning.  It is my understanding that it woulld continue until 4 or 5 in the morning.  Peru is a great place for "night" people!

P.S.  We had a massage the next day at the house to help iron out the kinks.  A great deal - an hour massage for 10 soles (about $3)!  I could do that daily!