Photos from April 16th

At the Mitchell Alpaca Factory.  This is one of the first steps in making thread and yarn.  This is the pure alpaca getting processed and stretched into smaller pieces of thread.  

Similar step as above

More stretching of the hair to get it to thinner pieces. They had rows and rows of these machines.  

Some of the thread on the spools

The thread now made into thicker pieces of yarn because the thinner pieces of thread were twisted together.  

A type of yarn that is made by something similar as braiding the thread together.  There are only six machines in the world that can do this.  

Some of the final products they make.  Almost all of the yarn we saw are exported to the US because they had American or English labels on them. 

Susan said it best, "Andrea found her yarn heaven."  

Standing in the Plaza de Armas looking at the Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral looking at the altar 

Inside the cathedral looking the opposite direction at the organ 

Standing on top of the cathedral looking at the bell tower

A panoramic shot of the city and volcanoes opposite the Plaza in Arequipa. 

Looking into the Plaza from on top of the cathedral 

Under the bell on top of the cathedral 

The ladies with Hugo, our host from Friday.  

At the bus station saying our farewells to our host families.  Thank You all so much for your hospitality.  Left to Right:  Bridgett and Maria, Jennifer and Edith, Maria Theresa and Christa, Susan and Hugo, and Andrea and Miguel