20 Nuevo Soles for 2 New Soles*
* The title is a play on words: The currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol.
I have a pair of sandals that I have had about 10 years and I love them! At home, it is just about impossible to find a shoe repair shop, and even when you do, the repairs are sometimes as much as a new pair of shoes.

I just about threw them away in October when I left Hawaii, and again in January when I left home. But instead, I wore them on the plane to Peru. Those of you who know me, know how hard it is for me to throw things away.
Now, as luck would have it, just a few blocks away from my guesthouse in Arequipa, there must be 20 shoe repair shops—some no larger than a closet. I decided I did not have much to lose, so I entrusted my very special sandals to Charle. He very generously let me watch and take photographs.
The cost? 20 soles—about $7.
Other Blog Posts You May Find Interesting

Cathy is Going to Peru
In two weeks I am off to a new adventure. By way of explaining the impetus for this trip, I will answer in FAQ format the questions with which friends and acquaintances have been bombarding me.

The Benefits of Coca
Coca leaves are readily available in the street in Peru. Coca is particularly effective against altitude sickness (“soroche” in Spanish) because coca assists in a greater absorption of oxygen in the blood and therefore to the brain.

Courage?
This blog entry is especially for all those people who have commented to me about how brave I am for travelling on my own. Occasionally I have these experiences that put me in my place where so-called “courage” is concerned. And what is courage, after all?