Santa Catalina Convent in Arequipa, Peru

The Santa Catalina Convent was founded in 1579 only 40 years after the arrival of the Spaniards and the establishment of the city of Arequipa.  Arequipa today is Peru's second largest city.
Here at the convent the rich families let their 2nd girl of the family join the cloister at the age of 12 years. After 1 to 4 years as a novice they became nuns. Here they had a chance to learn to read and write and the life could have been better then to be married at that time. At it's hight there was over 200 nuns and 200 servants living here. They all lived in private houses or apartments along one of the 6 streets named after cities in Andalucia of Spain. There are 3 cloister gardens or squares in the convent, communal areas that are now art galleries of art from the School of Cuzco.
There are 22 nuns living in a special part of the convent that has been open to the public since 1970.
The entrance fee is 35 soles for adults but it is well worth a visit. For 5 soles per person you can get a private guide to show you around and that is the best way to see the convent and to know what you see.
Santa Catalina 301, Arequipa, Peru
(just a few blocks from the main square)
www.santacatalina.org.pe

Regional Museum of Ica, Peru

The Regional Museum of Ica, Peru is a small museum that is well worth the visit if you are in the region. It is a small museum that has a great collection of the peruvian civilizations of southern Peru. Here you see wonderful pottery, textiles and artifacts from the Paracas, Nazca, Wari, Ica and Inka times. Some of the most stunning things are the mummies from the Paracas times with the manmade deformed sculls, the trophy heads and the sculls with scars from surgery done 2000 years ago. Not to be missed!
Ayabaca Street, 8 block s/n San Isidro, Ica, Peru
034-234383

Rico Pollo Restaurant in Nazca, Peru

In the city of Nazca there is not a big option of restaurants. If you want to do like the locals and go to a polleria for a great chicken you should head for the Restaurant Rico Pollo. It is simple but very nice and the chicken is great and the portions are huge! It's grilled chicken at it's best.
Rico Pollo, Calle Lima 190, Nacza (close to the square)

Ceviche at Restaurante Grecia in Pisco, Paracas

North or Paracas and close to Pisco is the small fishing village of San Andrés. Here there is a small restaurant by the harbour that serves great ceviche among other things.  The fish is so fresh directly from the fishing boats of the Pacific and here you can really have great raw fish. One of the national dishes of Peru is the Ceviche. This dish is made of raw fish served in lime, a bit of chili, cilantro and onion. It is not served as in Europe or the US in a coctail glass but a big portion  with boiled sweet potato and corn.
Try it out at this nice but simple and dirt cheep restaurant if you have the chance.
Restaurante Grecia
Genaro Medrano 500
San Andrés, Pisco, Peru
Phone: 056-542608

Yamanote Line - The best way to move around in Tokyo

I think that Yamanote Line is the best way to move around in Tokyo. This JR Line takes you to most of the main attractions of Tokyo like Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ueno, Akihabara, Tokyo, Ginza ( Yurakucho) and the train station Shinagawa.
This circle line takes almost 1 hour to go all the way around so it is important that you go in the right direction.
Prices for a 20 minute ride or about 8 stations is 190 Yen only. ( 2 US or 13 Swedish Kronor)
This line also have all information in English, Chinese and Korean.