El Misti
In refreshing contrast to the disembarkment techniques employed in the US, here in South America you step off the plane right onto the tarmac, just like in the good old days of American aviation. After descending a staircase of course.
Crossing the runway to get to my baggage gave me the opportunity to say hello to an old friend:
El Misti is so large it can be seen from practically any point in Arequipa and as a result it is one of the city’s most defining characteristics. The volcano has been dormant for the last 300 years and luckily this particular morning still found him out like a light. I was surprised to find the peak capped with snow, which is a seasonal occurrence that I was fortunate enough to arrive in time to see.
