We’re happy to report that Jim and April are alive and getting better!!!  Their stomachs have almost stopped the flip-flop game and they have never been so excited to breathe fresh air! 

  

Just to give you an idea on how the last few days were for the two while recuperating, below is about the most action we saw out of either one.

    

Unfortunately, now that April and Jim have started to round the corner, it seems that Madeleine and Eric aren’t in the best of shape.  They are trying to take it easy tonight in hopes that they just need an extra “siesta” to keep them from getting sick.

As we mentioned before, we are staying in Miguel’s mother’s apartment while we are in Arequipa.  We are so appreciative of her hospitality and her letting us borrow her place while she is in France anxiously awaiting the birth of a new granddaughter!  Below is a picture of our “Arequipa Home.”

   

We all went out this morning with Francesca and Rodrigo and saw a few sites.  The first place we visited was called “Molino de Sabandia” and it was something like a working farm, showing off tools from several years ago as well as great views.  After walking through rabbits, chickens, horses, roosters and guinea pigs on the way end, we were amazed at all of the beauty that lied on the other side of the entrance. 

 

The following piece of equipment was 386 years old!  This illustrates the hydraulic power that was used to power stone grinding wheels for wheat processing.  The water that is rapidly turning below is what powers the grinder above and grinds the wheat.

 

Next, we went by a few of the beautifully landscaped areas in Arequipa where wedding receptions are typically held.  You can definitely tell why people would want to use these venues for such ceremonial nights. 

In the afternoon, we did a little bit of shopping and then hung around the house taking it easy.

Tonight, Miguel stopped over and Eric and April went to Pizza Hut with him to pick up a pizza!  Madeleine decided she wanted to play it safe with crackers, Jim said he wasn’t sure what (if anything) he was hungry for, and April’s only request for her first meal was AMERICAN!  We decided on a cheese pizza from Pizza Hut and then called it an early night….

We are all keeping our fingers crossed that this “bug” will have left us during the night and that we will all be feeling much better by morning!

Little Matteo has a school program tomorrow morning that we hope to attend… He will be singing and dancing and we are sure that it will be adorable!  We also plan on visiting a Monastery here in Arequipa and perhaps visiting the downtown area. 

 

Goodnight to everyone back home.