n = gets.chomp.to_i
a = gets.chomp.split(" ").map(&:to_i)
tmp = []
0.upto(n-2) do |j|
    if a[j] < a[j+1]
        if tmp == []
            tmp << j
            tmp << j + 1
        elsif a[j-1] < a[j]
             tmp << j + 1
        elsif a[j-1] > a[j]
            if tmp[-1] == j-1
                tmp << j + 1
            elsif tmp[-1] == j
                tmp << j + 1
            else
                tmp << j
                tmp << j + 1
            end
        end
    else
        if tmp == []
            tmp << j
        elsif a[j-1] < a[j]
            if tmp[-1] == j - 1
                tmp << j + 1
            elsif tmp[-1] != j
                tmp << j
            end
        elsif a[j-1] > a[j]
            if tmp[-1] == j - 1
                tmp << j + 1
            elsif tmp[-1] != j
                tmp << j
            end
        end
    end
end
puts tmp.count
# arr = []
# tmp.each do |k|
#     arr << a[k]
# end
# p arr