Day 15

First day back at school since getting sick.  Feeling much better but still periodic stabbing pains.   Valerie another student is also sick.  I'm wondering why her friend Taylor isn't because the two girls share almost everything.  And Taylor is the one who ate the Cuy! (guinea pig). After class I took my clothes to the laundromat.  I thought I would find someplace to do them myself but no they have little shops that do it for you.  It was only 12 soles for 4 pounds so certainly worth it.  Soap alone would have cost me that.  

Clothes being cleaned , time to clean up me.  Headed to the nearest salon for manicure, pedicure and wash and blow dry.  Ok you may have to sit down when I tell you what I paid for all this luxury.   Ready?  35 soles or about 14 dollars.  Seriously!    Now, no, you don't get the long foot and calf rub nor big reclining massage chair but your nails look good.

The school was offering a guided tour to Barranco.  I didn't want to miss anything so I signed on.  We took the metro, my first bus here, and it's only about 4 stops down so not far.  They really take pride in having a beautiful plaza everywhere.  This area had a beautiful view of the ocean and footbridge to get you across the highway that borders the coast.  After view and picture a little rest stop for a drink.  Two Pisco Sours, A crushed slushie type drink and two waters.  I had the water.  Now this place was a little pricey definitely a break from what I've seen.  It was happy hour so two for one but a Pisco sour was 16 soles, about 7 dollars.  I do not often drink in bars but I guess that's about what we charge for an alcohol drink.   But at happy hour they split the cost.  Interesting you had to get the two, you could not just buy one for less money.   Now for all their high costs I do have to say they had the cleanest nicest bathroom I've seen since being here.

Two of the students with us tried a street vendor and got leche con arroz with a little matamoros.  They said it tasted like sweet oatmeal with jam.  I hope they are well tomorrow, I passes.  No more street vendor food for me!

Day 14

Sunday I got up very early had a taxi by 6:20.  For those of you who know me well you know I don't do 6AM.  No problem with catching bus.   We headed out as usually on Peruana time which means 30 minutes late.  First stop was for a bathroom break.  Ok here is a tip.  If you really like using toilet paper remember to always keep some on you.  Because it is apparently not a high priority for the locations to provide it.

Next stop was a sort of police patrol, had to wonder about my tour because it seems he got a ticket for not having all papers in order.  Brief delay then on our way.  Passed by some beautiful beaches I wish I could find a way to get out to them.  Renting a car is out of the question, driving here is crazy.  Street markings, stop signs are all really suggestions more then actual rules.  I know that Ted would go nuts.  Cars honk as a method of communication but he jumps if someone honks at him.   Yea, his head would explode trying to drive here.  He might try it, cause he is too cheap to take taxis, but I'm smart enough to know when I'm beat.

Our first stop was in a small town called Caneta.  That n should have a tilde over it but I can't do with this keyboard.  Some words the spell check knows that and corrects for me, but oh well.   This little town seems to be a collection of hovels with a beautiful plaza, a gorgeous boulevard with antique lights, benches for sitting and a type of animal park. Interesting that in the circus here animals are prohibited for concern for the animals.  Yet this little zoo has animals in cages too small.  Many were pacing back and forth.   But the cages were clean and they seemed well fed and healthy otherwise.  Towards the back was a basketball court.  They seem to really like those here but the society as a whole is rather short so probably no NBA Stars coming out of Peru.   All around were representations of things such as great wall of china, pyramids, macchu picchu, disney characters, looney tunes, Adam and Eve complete with snake in tree and various others with no discernible pattern.   They had something similar to a pedicab with three wheels but it is motorized and covered.  The cemetary was next door a sad desolate looking place.  But I hear people are dying to get in there.  Lol.

Next stop was the real destination, Lunahuana.   There I had lunch.  Because of my stomach issues I asked the guide to point me in the direction of a place that was sure to be sanitary and where I could get caldo de gallina ( chicken soup) .  He walked me to a place and as I sat down an old man that was on out tour alone had been following and he helped himself to my table.   I didn't talk to him much.  I'm sure he would have been interesting but again with stomach issues I just wanted some quiet time.  He tried to engage me a couple of times and about half way through lunch he asked if I was married.  When I said yes, he pretty much left me alone.  Hmmm.... Not quite sure if he just wanted the company or was the old guy really trying to get with me?  

After lunch I headed for my adventure, white water rafting.  We crammed into little busses that ran us up river,  quick instructions and into the raft.  The mountains surrounding the river are brown sand and rock.  The boulders in the river were huge.  You could easily imagine you were transported back to time of dinosaurs.  Boulders taller then me, smooth and just beautiful.  Of course we got completely soaked.  In one side was a steep climb to the street on the other the mountains.  No animals but plenty people standing around to watch the rafters.  At the take out quite a climb back up was necessary.  Got to the top and it was mayhem but guides to direct you.

After I changed my clothes had time for a little shopping.   A truck driving through the streets with it's cargo bed full of mandarin oranges, something they grow here.  On his loud speaker he was announcing his wares, 1 kilo of oranges for 1 Soles.   Is a kilo 2.2 pounds?  So about 2 pounds of oranges for about 40 cents.  I bought two kilos.  That was the best mandarin orange I have ever had.  It probably was picked that same day or the day before.

The bus then took me to an archeological site where at first I thought there wasn't much.  From the road you crossed the river on a suspension bridge that felt more like a trampoline with the movement, to a small area with about 8 tables selling souvenirs and honey.   Then a small collection of boards tied together to cross a small tributary to the river where there were many horses you could rent.

I was tempted but they lead you up themselves and I don't really need to pay for a pony ride.   So I headed up the hill not knowing what I would find.  There was a whole little plaza with a band playing and people dancing.   There was a boy giving a talk about how they gather the honey complete with the bees and all.  Then we sampled three types of honey.  The first was normal, the second tasted like it had a liquor added and then a molasses tasting one.  

The fun is not over at the other end of the square they are producing wine and Pisco.  Pisco being the favorite alcohol of Peru.  A short talk, a few samples and then you could purchase.   How do you know if it is a quality bottle of Pisco?  You shake the bottle, if the inside liquid forms itself to look like a tornado then it is quality.

I had left my backpack on the bus and I would swear I had left it closed but it was slightly opened.  Who knows, there was nothing in it but my wet clothes and so nothing was taken.  

On the way back we had a movie, Battleship.  At least it was something I had not seen.  Now when we got back it was a quieter corner where I was dropped off and I was a little concerned about getting a cab.  Thought about just hoofing it.  Glad I didn't because I would have set off in the wrong direction.  But apparently if you get into the wrong cab they will take you somewhere different drop you off where there is a group to rob you.   So you want to make sure you get a good one.  There are buses but I haven't figured those out just yet.

The tour guide went with me to the corner for a taxi.  He dismissed the first one and negotiated me a price on the second.  I made it home well so I guess he knows his taxis!

Day 12 and 13

Ok not much for Friday, I skipped school and stayed in bed because if being sick. This morning I got up at 5 in the morning to take a trip out to Paracas.  But when I got to where the buses are it was really busy and my ticket was just a voucher from a bank and none of the buses recognized it nor had my name on their list.  So I had to return and as of this writing they are calling to see what happened.  The name of the agencia was written only on one piece of paper that the señora of the house kept to call a taxi for me.  No one told me that I needed to know that name and no one told me.  So at each bus they just asked what agency?  I didn't know so I was out of luck. Just as well I think, my body doesn't hurt anymore but my stomach is not totally well. I said I would walk around Lima later this afternoon, but they said everything is closed for the independence day.  So I guess another slow day.  Now I know the agency name so in the morning for my next trip I should not have a problem.  We hope.  My host family is saying they will go with me, but it is too early.  Tomorrow leaves at 7.  I think the only problem is that I didn't have the agency name.   I tried to use the Skype program my husband installed in my IPad to talk to him.  That was a bust.  The WIFI here, which by the way here is pronounced, weefee,  was going up and down and would drop the call.  I could hear him clearly but he could not hear me except a snippet here and there.  But it was good to hear his voice, so I guess not a total bust.  I think maybe two weeks is my limit.  I'm ready to come home.  But only one more week here then I will move to another city so all will be new again.  I haven't bought too many souvenirs because I do not want to have to carry to Cusco and back.  I have two days when I get back from Cusco and I am scouting out my purchases.  So I can just run around and grab what I want.

Day 11

Not much to write for today.  I got a little cocky and ate something from a street vendor and now I am paying for it.  After school straight to bed, very cold. Could not get warm.  After some warm tea, it came back up and now a fever.  So I am warm now.  I really hope it's just a 24 hour thing because I just bought excursions for the weekend.  I still have one more day to recover and felt 100% better.  So looks good, I think.  

Day 10

Today we decorated the class room for independence day and there is a contest for who is the best.  So if on Facebook you "like" the page for ECELA Lima you can vote for your favorite room.  Our group is called the Vicuñas.  The n should have a tilde but can't figure that out right now.  A vicuña is a a member of the llama family along with Alpacas.  I took a nap because we were going out in the evening.  Below my window I heard all this commotion.  I saw a man who had a bicycle type cart for selling fruits and vegetables in a tug of war with his bike and the police.  He was right at the entrance to a parking lot.  That's important to the story.  Finally he wins the tug of war takes his bike into the parking lot, but not before the police take something out of his box.  Once the bike is in the parking lot the police seem to lose all interest in it.  The man walks out and past them and just keeps on going. Another police car pulls up, they talk, then they all leave.  No one touches his cart again.  The explanation is that it is illegal for him to sell on the streets near my apartment.  So they were going to appropriate his bike.  But once it was in the parking lot, it was no longer on the streets they couldn't take it.  But I suspect someone thought there was more because another man was using his cell phone to take pictures of the police car license plates and the police.  So who knows?

Tonight we went to the water park.  This park has the fountains coming out of the grounds and 13 different fountains.  All with different features,  the last and bests is not unlike the Bellagio with water sprays set to music.  But they took the term dancing waters to a whole new level.  The center piece has a show projected onto the water so it looks like a hologram.  You had a show, a 30 foot ballerina dancing, then folk dancers and lots more.  It Was fantastic.   One of the fountains which is set in ground, creates a maze so you can walk in and around the fountains to the center without getting wet.  But of course that was no fun, so a bunch of kids, teenagers were busy pushing their friends into the sprays. 

I got about three levels in and then the sprays changed and I had one hit me right on the back.  Apparently it is best to learn the spray pattern first. There were booths set up with treats to eat and of course face painting for e kids.  I saw my first plate of Cuy.   Now this is considered a delicacy and a Peruvian favorite.  So I knew I would find it sooner or later.  What I wasn't expecting was to see that the piece had its little claw still intact and fried,  Cuy is Guinea Pig.  One of the students bought a plate, I passed. Without the claw I might have considered it but the claw did me in. 

We returned by taxi and wouldn't you know it guess who was singing on the radio.  Wow, what are the odds?  She just follows me everywhere.  But they are very find of 80's music so I expected I might hear it eventually.  But in a 10 minute cab ride?   I got home by 9 and my family had saved me dinner, pasta with Alfredo sauce and langostinos.  I told her I could eat while I was out but she wouldn't hear it.  So no Cuy for me, I knew I had dinner waiting.  But I did have a Churro with a filling of dulce de leche.  Now I have had a churro before in Texas and I thought no big deal. But it was cold and unfilled.  Well, a warm churro filled is the best thing I have had in I don't know how long.  It is heaven in a stick and way too dangerous for someone wanting to lose weight.  I have to walk pretty far to get it so that may save me.  I'm afraid though I may be tempted now everytime I see it.

Day 9

Today I went to the movies to see Ice Age.  I planned on meeting two other girls there,  but we are not operating in the world of text mags and cell phones here.  They have cell phones in Peru of course but we don't.  So the movie started at 8:15.  I arrived at 8:15.  Not  seeing the girls I assumed they bought their tickets and were inside.  It was crazy busy because Tuesday is 1/2 off.  Inside I could not see anyone, it was already dark so I take a seat and watch the movie.  Ok,  I need more time here,  just beginning to think I'm doing pretty good.  But of course the teachers speak clearly and a little slower.  The movie was much quicker, so a little harder to follow.  BTW, I didn't get popcorn but if I did movie, popcorn and cola would have been about 8 dollars.  I really see why this is a great place to retire.  If you are on social security you can live very well here. I stopped at one place for lunch and most items were 22 soles and I thought wow that is way too expensive, I usually pay 9 soles and a restaurant around the corner that is super high class is 40 soles.  But the 22 would have been 8.50.  In the states that would have seem cheap.  But here I thought oh, no.

Causa

 

I went somewhere I got soup, a plate with rice, potatoes, a chicken breast filled with asparagus and carrots, a glass of juice and a small dessert for 12 soles.  That's 4.61.  Just crazy.   And it was good and no I have not gotten sick even one time.  They bring the food out when it is ready, so they do not hold for the whole table so everyone gets theirs fresh and hot.  This restaurant is actually the first to serve me a salsa. But I got a very small container. About a tablespoon. With the first bite I realizes that was more then enough. Oh my, I had forgotten I was in a south American country and to be wary of the salsa. I thought my mouth would explode, right there. Next time I will be much more cautious. The juice I had today was very interesting.  Chicha Morado.  I did not know what it was.  It had a vaguely familiar taste I could not nail down. But it was very good.  Turns out it is made of corn, a purple corn.   Oh, I forgot to finish my story about the girls.  As it turns out one got their at 8:30 and the movie was sold out so she got a seat for another.  The third got their around same time but they didn't see each other.  She also got a ticket for another movie but went I to Ice Age.  But no one ever saw another.  So we went to movies together but we didn't. We have pictures now, thanks to my wonderful husband so you want to peruse some of the past posts to see what he has put up.

Day 8

Monday the start of week 2.  I can already tell these five weeks are going to go by too quickly.  I was afraid that 5 weeks would be too long but no, I'm already thinking I need to stay.  I can tell I am already starting to think in Spanish.  I think of something to write to my husband and I am thinking in Spanish and the realize no, I probably want to write to him in English.  My classes changed and now they start at 9 both back to back so instead of having a lunch break I am done at lunch time.  My conversation class now has only one other man but maybe tomorrow we get a new student?  Who knows?  My grammar class is with the same people except we lost one.   She is done.  Classes start every Monday so you can jump in any Monday and start wherever your level is.   One of the girls is taking surfing lessons on Tuesday.  So I may go with her and get to the beach tomorrow but probably I will go to the movies.  Most of the American movies are subtitled.  But Ice Age is in Spanish and on Tuesdays the movies are half price.   I do not like getting up early but it is better that I have more day to see more.  Two of the young girls are going to get a group to go to a bar for dancing in the evening.  I'm going to tag along.  I would not want to go alone but I would like to see the dancing etc.  Who knows maybe someone will ask me to dance and then I can break his heart at the end of the evening when I say I'm so sorry but the love of my life is in Texas.  Adios.  Imagine at my age?  It could happen people. The school showed a movie from Argentina,  La Secreto de Los Ojos.  The secret of the eyes.  Ted you should see if you could find this I think you will like it.  It is in Spanish, por supesto, and the subtitles were in Spanish.  It moved quickly so we were trying hard to keep up.  I speak Spanish better then the two girls watching with me so from time to time I would catch them up.  At one point, a woman was talking about the suspect of a crime and I said oh I think she just said he had a small dick.  And sure enough he stood up and took it out just to prove her wrong !  So I guess I understand in context pretty well.  But you know how movies have become somewhat formulaic.  I can often guess what is about to happen, well this one does keep you guessing through out and ends well.   I bought my first Inca Cola, it is cooling now.  It is a very popular soft drink yellow in color.  I do not like drinking sodas with sugar but I have to try it.  Well we figured out why Ted could not get into my blog so maybe now he can start posting some pictures.  I will send him some for each of the past days.  Although for those of you who view my facebook I have posted a few.  I took nearly 200 photos of the parade.  You gotta love digital where you can take as many as your battery will and memory will let you.  I missed some in the idle because the battery died after 2 hours because I took too many short videos.  But after an hour of charging I got another hour of photos.  At the very end of the parade they shot fireworks at Kennedy Park we could see them over the top of a building from the apartment window. Chao!

Day 7

Sunday was the grand parade for independence day which is actually 7/28 but the parade was this weekend.  It was four hours from 2:30 to 6:30. But our apartment is on the route in a quieter part so we were able to move chairs to the fence line and could sit sometimes.   The parade is sponsored by a local store called Wong.  So pretty much like Macy's does thanksgiving.  The start had about five Chinese dragons and it ended with a large lit up dragon because Wongs is owned by the Chinese. In the middle were many different groups in local costumes performing folk dances and various pageant winners such as Miss Argentina, Miss Peru, Miss Brazil etc.  One of the floats contained performers from a popular T.V. Game show. The crowd went crazy and a large group of people were just running along and following this one float.

My host family had her daughter and her two grandsons came over for the parade.  The oldest is 8 and the baby just short of 3.  Very cute and well behaved.  The daughter works with children with down syndrome.  Their other daughter lives in Canada and a son in Los Angeles. We started the day with a breakfast made by Luis.  The first time he cooked.  A mixture of scrambled eggs and chorizo on bread.  The bread here is very good,  actually almost everything peruana is good.  The only bad thing I've had was the pizza.  Then we walked down to see a few of the floats getting ready.  
After the parade dinner and bed,  what and exciting life !  No? The other student that was in the house was from New Jersey and he left.  I mentioned that it was really noisy from street noise in my room so we moved rooms the other is on the other side of the apartment and quieter.  When she asked if I wanted to move I hesitated, I mean I knew I was comfortable if  I changed?  Who knew.  So I tried the new bed and I said is it the same?  I decided it was so I said ok?  But next thing I knew they were moving the mattress from my room, I thought how odd if she didn't want me to mess up another sheet why not just change the sheets?  Finally I had to ask.  She thought I said the other mattress was better so she wanted me make sure I was most comfortable so they just changed the mattress out.  Lol, very accommodating they are.  I find pretty much the same through out.  Just the nicest people ever.  Also it is very interesting to see the confidence.  In Texas people from Mexico tend to shy away from contact and tend to do menial labor.  But here of course is their home turf.  I am the odd man out.   There are lots of casinos near my apartment.  I looked into one.  They have similar games and they take American dollars for the most part, there is a small room with machines that will take soles.  But I need my money for my travels so I am leaving the casinos alone!

Day 6

Day six was very busy.  Early in the morning I walked to Kennedy Park about 15 minutes and caught the Mirabus.  It is a double decker red bus like in London.  Of course I sat in the top.  It took a route showing some sites, an archeological site in Lima but only stopped at the Cathedral de Lima.  The guide took us in and gave some information for much of the church.  The Plaza is very large and beautiful.  They really care for the flowers and plants here in both public and private areas.   In the underground tombs of this church there is a glass box full of skulls.

Later on I will see the cathedral de San Francisco and go down to the catacombs but no pictures allowed there. After the bus guide showed the church they allowed a few minutes for walking around and shopping then left for Miraflores.  I stayed and would catch up with the second tour of the day to return.  I'm glad I did because just 20 minutes after they left I was surprised to find myself front and center at the changing of the guard.  It was very interesting the whole music and precision marching of the military.  They didn't skimp on the show they did about five different variations.

I walked over to the cathedral of San Francisco, took a tour.  The man taking money told me to wait a few minutes for the English guide.  I didn't say a word so he couldn't know what language I spoke but I do not look Perano.  The costs of things go back and forth here.  I get used to paying only 4 dollars for lunch which is 10 soles.  So when they something is 35 soles I think oh that is expensive.  Yet that is a little less then 15 dollars which is what I paid for a new shirt across from the cathedral.  Anyway getting into the cathedral was 7 soles.

Oh and by the way when I was looking at the shirts, I said I didn't think it would fit. The vendor said no problem try it on, he led me back I thought to a fitting room.  No of course not, it was basically and alley to the back.  After I had it on a little girl came wandering thru out the back.   They still have monks living there.  They have a beautiful courtyard.  Which just reminded me when I build my house I want to build it in a square and have a courtyard in the middle. The steps very old and worn. 

The library is one of the oldest.  The carvings and ornamentation on these old churches is just amazing.  You could not build one of these today,  the costs would be astronomical and I do not think the artisans would put as much detail and love into their work. I had lunch at a small bar, I ordered the pizza.  It was ok but I would not order it again.  I saw that my hotel when I return from Cusco is in central Lima so I will wait to explore more of that area when I return.  After lunch I walked to a park Murallo.  There are stone walls exposed, old archeology sites.  The museum was closed so I headed over to barrio chine, China Town.  The stores there were disappointing, just cheap junk that mostly I could buy at home if I wanted.  It was very crowded, the most people I have seen since coming here.  I am staying in a high end part of Lima that is quiet and upper class.   In the center I found all the people and strolling through the market was an experience. The smell of fish and meat.  Stomachs hanging from hooks, pigs feet, goat carcasses, brains, and a small donkeys head.  The merchant of the brains was leaning back napping.  Not too many customers for him.  There was normal meat hanging too but who could consider it will all the other right beside.  Don't forget the whole plucked ducks hanging with a hook through their beaks.

I caught the return bus easily and made it back in time to go to a salon and get my hair washed and dried.  The water at my house comes through the shower somewhat thinly.  So  I didn't want to try to get all the shampoo out of my hair with a thin trickle.  Guess the costs?  10 soles!  The exchange rate is about 2.5 to 1.  So even with leaving a tip I paid about five dollars the get a shampoo and dry.  Now he didn't use the flat iron but no problem. Dinner was a Chinese dish of fried rice, langostino, ham and chicken.  Then straight on to bed.

Day 5

Ok, so I hope I can enlist my husband to help put up a few pictures.  I know this would be so much more interesting.  But apparently there are some features on some websites that do not work with the IPad .  Uploading pictures to this site is one of them. Today was Camille's last day of class.  Her fiancé came to town and they are headed off to the Amazon.  So after class we went to a Pub and had a couple of beers, talked about dogs, cats, etc.  One of the students is Australian and I learned today the term cheeky snaps.  What he calls taking pictures.  So I'm learning Spanish and a little Australian. We had out first exam to determine placement for the next week.  I aced it of course.  But nothing to be too proud of, I mean this is a voluntary school so it was a little light.  Just enough for them to determine what level to put you at.  Not like I was going to get kicked out or anything.  But one of e students did choose today to have lunch with a friend and did not make it back to class.  So I don't know what penalty she will face. Lol Tomorrow, I will take a tour bus into Central Lima.  I do not know what could happen if you grab a taxi off the streets but I was warned again not to do it.  The señor of the house says even his wife is forbidden to take a taxi off the streets.  She has to call the taxi company.  I didn't get the whole story, but the taxis do not have meters.  They changed the rules a while back and anyone with a car that can drive can call himself a taxi.  So without meters, or any other provisions you really are just jumping into a strangers car.  So he is adamant that it is not safe for a single woman to do.  I do not believe I will test it out, I will just believe him.   I had a Duncan donut. I have resisted the treats and such but I finally caved.  But I walked quite always to and back from there so that should count for something.   It is about a 15 minute walk there.

Coming back I went into the church, there were quite a few people there and on the backside of the church I found another favorite haunt of the cats.  It is crazy it is like Hitchcock and the Birds only with cats.  I really wish I could hold one and pet it.  They are very docile. I saw where a cousin posted the weather on Texas at 108F.  I am quite enjoying my 70 degree days and do not relish returning to that heat.  I was considering staying some extra time because I think I would like to go to Iquitos and see the Amazon.  But you have to take the vaccine for malaria 10 days ahead of time and with my leaving for Cusco I do not have time.  But if I took e vaccination now I could go when I return.   I received an email from my instructor in Dallas that she will have another mediation for me after 8/21.  So I better return.  I have 4 more mediations to do with her and I could also start on my own. I would like to participate more before jumping in solo.  Now that I realized if I book some volunteer time this trip can be a tax deduction I definitely see a return visit in my future.  Also, I will have to work a few days in Montreal and New York so I can get some tax benefit for being there also.  Just need to find a hook for China.  Lol.  Now I also saw a program for Russia and I see I have some Russians friends reading my blog. Let's just put our heads together and come up with an excuse to head there!

Day 4

Today I had lunch with a new friend from e states.  I know her aunt and uncle and she ate at my restaurant once.  So we kind of new each other.  She married a Peruvian that she met in London of all places.  They have one daughter 15 months old and she is expecting her second.  She has invited me to stay with them in a house in Pisac when I move to Cusco. I brought her some Boudreauxs Butt Cream from the states.  Apparently the diaper creams in Peru are not good. Two girls and I walked to e Inca Mart and I bought a couple of small things.  I am trying to wait until I leave so I do not have to carry so much to Cusco.   So I will go on a grand buying spree on the 18th and for now try to just window shop and compare prices. You do not have to ask for organic here it pretty much is all organic.  The chickens are not pumped full of hormones.  Everything I've had has been delicious.  For lunch I had the equivalent of a Philly cheesesteak but the seasoning was excellent. For dinner my host family made a simple dessert of bananas, cinnamon, sugar and she said just a touch of Pisco,  The local liqueur.    I learned that way way back they used to give the slaves the hearts, livers, brains etc of the animals.  Then they saw the slaves were growing big and strong because it was so rich they started using it.  I assured him I did not care to eat heart.  He said if I put it on a plate and I do not tell you what it is?  I said that would be very bad of you.  He promised he would not sneak that in on me.

Day 3

Today I walked to the beach. It has been around 70 here. This is winter time here. So not a lot of people at the beach. But there were two swimmers and a while griupnof surfers. Actually I looked at it from a high cliff. Hopefullyy I will get to the waters edge before I leave. But you cross a busy highway so I do not think I can walk.

 I will have to try my hand at negotiating a taxi. After class the school arranged a salsa class. I feel pretty good about what I learned maybe I will hit a club while here. Most of the students are younger and they have been out dancing. I can probably go with one of them. I might like to go just to watch. Yep that is about it for today. Again a delicious lunch for about 4 dollar including a glass of fresh squeezed papaya juice. It was at a German restaurant but the food was peruanian. We couldn't figure out what made it German except maybe the beer.

Day 2

Now I do not know if I will write everyday. Do not know if there will be enough excitement. After all I am just in class during the day. Just so much you can write about lunch. It was very good. I had potatosm rice and a lightly fried fish, it was very good and it costs less then $5. My breakfasts and dinners are provided by my host family. Nothing special so far but it is edible. Think how much I am saving not having to eat out every single meal. After school I walked around the shops. I saw some adorable sweaters for kids and I couldn't believe they were only 12 dollars. But all my little girls would probably peer a llama. They are so soft. I walked to a park in Miraflores. I saw one cat, then in e middle of a concrete bench area were two cats curled up sleeping in the open. Then I noticed a man using his computer holding a cat and that is when I realized there were cats everywhere. They were looking up at the trees, sitting next to people, sleeping just anywhere they dropped. I asked the man if it was a park for cats. He said no there were just a lot hanging around and the cat in his lap was not his. He just picked one.

I touched a few on the head. You could tell they were accustomed to being petted. They all looked well fed and happy. Because of my cat allergies I didn't get into them too much.But it was really interesting. Found the McDonald's, Burger King and Duncan Donuts. Now e donuts looked really good but I abstained. But I see a visit in my future. I have a class mate from Australia. He married a girl from Peru. Most are from the United States. I have already moved up a class. I guess I was too shy in speaking the oral tests and was put into a class below my ability. So I was advised to move up the next day. The waiters here are paid a decent wage so tips are appreciated but not obligatory and never tip a taxi. But you do have to negotiate in advance. If you just jump in you may get a nasty surprise at the end. There is no meter. Just say where you are going, he will say 19, you say 5 and you settle somewhere. I got a pretty decent manicure or only 4 dollars. Manicure and Pedicure together is 25 soles and the exchange is 2.6 soles to 1 dollar. I think I said before with the buildings it is much like New York although they are not so high, just close together. But the people are nice and obliging and quick with a Buenas Dias. Definitely NOT like New York in that regard. A man started talking to me on the street and invited me to meet for coffee. I do not know if he was being curious and kind or had some other agenda but I quickly declines and made a getaway. I took the backpack to school as it was more convenient to hold my iPad and books but I think it tells all I am a tourist. From now on, I will go back to apartment after class and drop off the backpack. Well I didn't think today was too exciting but it seems I found plenty to write about. Hasta Mañana!

Day One in Lima

As I headed to the airport there were two voices in my head.  One saying "Stop, stop go back.  What are you doing?  They have parasites in the water,  you don't know your way.  Just stay home until someone can come with you.". The other voice says "Shut up, I'm going.  I will not stay home so you are wasting your breath." The flights were uneventful for me at least.  In Miami the flight was delayed because out of a group of 14 teenagers only 4 made it in the plane.  After a few minutes search the decision was made to remove their luggage from the plane and we were on our way,  Hmmm, how did 10 of them not make it in the plane and yet their luggage did? We obviously see way too many movies.  Rarely have I been on a plane and not seen the movie showing.  No exception today they showed Mysterious Island.  Not one of those great movies you like to see over and over again.  So I get a head start on my blog. So far the only item left behind that I know of, is my Chefs Envy.  I bought two to bring as gifts for my host families.  But luckily I also brought truffles so not going empty handed.  Now Ted will have a great White Elephant gift for his company Christmas lunch.   Already obvious I am in the minority, mostly Spanish around and they ran out of English custom cards so I had to do mine in Spanish.  It wasn't a problem only one word on the form I didn't recognize and my seat mate helped with that.  Only I do not believe she speaks English because she gave me e definition in Spanish.  The word was for bags, but it was not bolsa that I would know it was Bultos.  Now she said it was like cartons but my dictionary says lump. Hmmm... Well if I get it wrong I hope customs here has a sense of humor! I arrived at my destination at 11 in the evening.  12 hours or travel time.  The flight was late so I was a little anxious when I didn't see my driver.  But just as I decided I needed to call someone he came around.  I am staying with an older couple in an apartment on the 11th floor.  It is very nice and clean.  My hosts are very nice.  They have one daughter living here another in Canada and a third in Los Angeles.  I would not want all of my kids spread out so far.  But that seems to be the way of the world now.  Perhaps that is why they take in students from the school.  I am not the typical age of their students.  The other student staying in the house is 15.  In two weeks we will have. Student from Germany.  So I may get a little two for one, although we should not change to German.  That is why you do not do these classes with a friend.   Because the temptation to speak your native tongue is too great.  The purpose here is to force using and listening in the language you are learning.  My class times will begin at 11 in the morning, Yea!  I do not have to get up so early.  I will be done by 4pm and then I can begin to walk around Lima.

It is now just seven days before I will board a flight and leave my husband and family and the United States for Peru. This has been a long time coming. From an early age I always planned on traveling the world. I planned on learning 13 languages and having 12 kids. I haven't accomplished either. But I do have 3 sons, twin boys who are probably very grateful I changed my plans on naming them Prometheus and Epimetheus. Today is their birthday, they turned 28. Their older brother Mark is 30. I also have studied French, German, Spanish, Italian, and sign language. But I digress. I thought I might join the peace corps. But you need a college degree so I started school. Bored with school I jumped into marriage and motherhood. After the kids were graduated I looked into the Peace Corps as I now had a BA and an MBA but as it turns out along the way I had joined the Navy Reserves in Intelligence. They

do not let you do Peace Corps if you are recently involved in Intel. I could have told them I didn't know much and wouldn't spy but just the same that was a dead end. My mother got the idea we should start a store. I worked endlessly trying to make that venture work but six years later we closed. At last I am free, no kids, no job, what shall I do? For the first few months my mother needed my help as she recovered from symptoms of myasethia Gravis. I had a few months of freedom and then accepted a job that promised travel opportunities. But the first few months were the busiest so the furthest I traveled was Granbury, Texas. After the Christmas Season I went to Arkansas then to Houston to learn to be a trainer for the company. This was supposed to be a traveling trainer position but shortly after I was trained the company changed policy and wanted to have trainers for each area. Oh and did I mention being in the military for travel, but with kids being young and the project I worked on that adventure got me as far as Corpus Christi. Then a situation comes up and Ted and I find ourselves parents again to a 7 year old and 3 year old. Ted lets me know very quickly that this means even Houston is out of the question. Grounded again. The girls were returned to their parents on June 15 and by the end of the next week I finalized my trip to Peru before anything else could possibly stop me. I am already making plans after Peru for Montreal, China and perhaps Thailand. Now I have to work in there somewhere so we shall see if the company promise of travel holds true. We sell in Montreal, Toronto, Scotland, England, and New York. So hopefully I can refill the coffers every now and then. Now life has been good. I have been able to travel probably more then some not as much as others and certainly not as much as I would like. But it has always been my desire to do more then just visit. I want to live there, be a part of it. So here I go...I will update this blog from time to time on what I find along the way. The school I chose has three locations, Argentina, Chile or Peru. Since I chose Peru it seems like the universe is telling me that was a good choice. A friend of my mother's, Tomas, his mother lives there. Last week I ran into an good customer from the store and discovered her niece lives there. I contacted her and she has invited me to stay at their house in Pisac, she wants to meet for lunch or dinner and has offered any assistance I may need. So I will not be totally alone. I will be attending a school taking 20 hours a week in Spanish classes and the school has arranged for me to stay with an older couple in their spare bedroom. It is only 94 right now but this past week has seen temperatures well over 100 to 109. It is winter in Peru, Lima around 70 and the nights in Cusco will get down to 35. So I shall not miss this Texas heat. Adios, por ahora, Laura.