Things that no one ever, ever needs - Nico does Arequipa

After a two day adventure in the world´s deepest canyon (Colca) with Noam and Eliana featuring majestic condors and a couple beers in the hot springs, I had a few days to relax in Arequipa before more excitement.


Strolling around the beautiful White City, my business training began buzzing in the back of my head as I absorbed the socio-economic life of ordinary Peruvians.

The scenes brought to mind a classic quote from The Office when Oscar is advising Michael Scott (Steve Carell) how to think about his finances. "Okay, the green bar is what you spend every month on stuff you need, like a car and a house...The red bar is what you spend on non-essentials, like magazines, entertainment, things like that...The scary black bar is what you spend on things that no one ever, ever needs, like multiple magic sets, professional bass fishing equipment..."

Thing that Arequipa needs: A store for party supplies.
A non-essential: A store devoted entirely to selling piñatas (called a piñateria).
No one ever, ever needs: Eight piñaterias on the same block as our hostel.

Thing that Arequipa needs: Somebody selling water in the park.
A non-essential: People stepping onto city buses to sell candy bars and nuts.
No one ever, ever needs: Old people sitting on benches with scales on the ground in front of them. To my great delight, I witnessed a man pay to use one of these.

Thing that Arequipa needs: A Claro store for buying cellphones and calling plans.
A non-essential: Several Claro stores scattered around the city.
No one ever, ever needs: Two dozen Claro stores in the couple blocks surrounding the Plaza de Armas along with a Claro parade featuring a marching band and guys doing flips. Claro´s sole main competitor has few to zero stores in this area.

And don´t get me started on the sunglasses stores.  Somehow they have yet to realize that Peruvians just don't wear sunglasses.  Ever.


Check back soon for Asch kalt - Nico and Alejandro do Lake Titicaca.