DAY 21-MANTARANI, PERU

We arrived here at Matarani, Peru, at noon.  It is a sunny and very pleasant day with temperature of
79F.

                   I took this interesting photo yesterday as were were sailing out of Pisco.

What We Did Last Night:
We had a great time last night at dinner.  We dined with Captain Teo and the Social Hostess, Caron.  Also invited were Joe & Judy Carson.  We seem to dine with them a lot.  Unfortunately, I edited the photo taken and now I cannot move it from my camera.  Won't do that again.  The comedian's show was so-so.  The Pacific Ocean now has some long swells so ride not quite as good last night and probably tonight.

Historical/Background Info:
        We docked at noon in the port city of Matarani located on the southern coast of Peru.  As you will see in my photos this is a major industrial port of Peru.  Corn, soybeans, and wheat are imported here from Argentina and can be observed being loaded on trucks from cargo ships.  There are several mines in the area which export copper, zinc, lead, potash, and ammonia nitrate.  There is basically nothing to see or do around the port area.  Mollendo is a town of about 30,000 people located 25 minute drive south of here and lies on the coast.  It use to be the main port until Matarani was developed about 50 years ago.  Today the port at Mollendo serves mostly local fishermen.  The population doubles during summer months when people from Arequipa come to the beach here.  Arequipa is a 2 hour drive inland from our ship and is the second most industrialized and commercial city of Peru.  It’s metro population is over 900,000.  The city is just over 7600 feet above sea level and is framed in background by a series of 3 volcanic cones and the Andes.  The historic center of the city is dominated by colonial style Spanish architecture and white volcanic stone called “ashlar” as wood in rare in this area.  The houses have semi-circular arches and vaulted ceiling with walls 3 feet thick.  Regent does have an excursions to see Arequipa but they costs $229 per person extra.  They even throw in a box “dinner” to eat on 2 hour bus ride back to the ship.  This is a RIPOFF!!  Seems Regent is having more of these extra cost excursions.  Yes, people on the two 7 hour excursions to Arequipa will not return to the ship until around 9:00pm.  Sailing time is 10:00pm.

What We Did Today:
Our room service breakfast showed up at 8:00.  At 11:00 we went up to the fitness center for our hour long workout.  At 1:00 we had a nice lunch up in La Veranda.  The featured carving was salmon in puff pastry, our favorite.

                                        Some locals enjoying a small beach area in port.

                                             Grain storage after unloaded from the ships.

                           Cargo ship behind us is unloading something that looks like pipes.

                                              People coming off the ship for tours.

                                         Some fishing boats just outside the small harbor.

We decided not to go on our tour today.  There is a free shuttle from here to Mollendo, a 25 minute drive from here.  We took this shuttle in 2012 but ever got off the bus and came right back to the ship.  Not much to see or do.  So we will enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the ship.  It is very pleasant out on our balcony.

No show tonight as a couple of the tours will be getting back late.  Tonight we also have to turn our clocks ahead two hours so will be a shorter night.  Not often we change clocks two hours during night.  Should have more interesting photos on tomorrow's posting.