Day 11, Sunday 12/13

The morning was spent hanging out at home.  When I woke up and wandered down into the kitchen, Dan was in the middle of making waffles.  Between the three of us, we made breakfast and had some really interesting conversation on culture, the education system, living abroad, and family values.  A lot of the conversation centered around how globalization has caused people to lose sight of relationships with their community and instead created a culture of consumers, driven by materials things and who view success in those terms.

A couple of insights from Dan:

Dan is a surfer and he's been making a few of his own boards.  He talked about how sometimes he'd want to give up on the hobby if it wasn't going well for him, but he kept thinking "This next board might be the one that is amazing" so he'd give  it another try.  What  a great philosophy on life, almost a spin on George Martinez's "A no is just a no until you get a yes."

Secondly...damn, I forgot the other one!  It'll come back to me.

I'm off to shower, then head to the Plaza for some more picture taking.

Day 10, Saturday 12/12

I arrived in Ariquepa at 9:00 a.m. and Dan and Jen came to pick me up.  They are two awesome friends of Reada and Dave's that used to work with them in Lima.  They're currently teaching for a private mining company in Ariquepa and have a sweet living situation and a private driver.

We stopped at an outdoor market/sale for textiles where I stocked up on some gifts for people at home, then we  headed back to the house.  Dan is half Korean and he was making mondu (kind of a dumpling) so I learned how to do stuff and seal  those.  After a while I showered and we went to lunch in town at Cresperia, a crepe place.  Jen stayed to study while I went off to the monestary for a tour.

At St. Catarina I declined a guide and wandered around taking photos and playing with my camera.  The energy at this monestary is amazing, it was tranquil and peaceful, yet vibrant and colorful with the red walls, blue courtyards and potted flowers evverywhere.  After two hours I met back up with Jen and we came back to the house.

After a quick nap for me, we headed to Zig Zag for dinner.  There was a festival for La Virgin de Guadalupe, complete with mariachis and fireworks, which is interesting since I thought that the Virgin de Guadalupe was a Mexican thing, but I guess not.  Jen and I stepped outside for some of the festivities, then we headed into the restaurant for our meal.  Dinner was a trio of meats: beef, alpaca and ostrich, all served tableside on a heated lava rock.  After Jen and I finished a bottle of wine, the three of us headed home for the night.

Day 9, Friday 12/11

I hopped on the Cruz del Sol bus at 5:30 p.m. and rode 16 hours to Ariquepa.  Nothing too notable.

Day 8, Thursday 12/10

I was supposed to leave for my trip today but wanted to get a few more things in order first, washing clothes and planning my itinerary.  I realized I'm much more comfortable having an agenda, even if I decide not to stick to it, rather than just leaving and playing it by ear.  This is especially true when it comes to things like this trip where I'll be taking, multiple buses, taxis, trains, planes, and staying at different hotels.  It just helps me to feel like I have a better grasp on things.

R&D took me to buy my bus ticket then we went to this yummy middle eastern place for lunch called Tierra Santa.

Reada and I went to a little cafe for a chat, then came back home.

Later that evening, Dave and I met up with Spencer for dinner at Edo while Reada went to a wedding shower.

I've been planning my itenary and blogging the rest of the night.  I discovered that my snazzy new computer does indeed have an SD card reader so I've been uploading photos onto Facebook so people can see what I've been up to.  I'm such a dork for not knowing I had the ability to put my pictures up this whole time!

Day 7, Wednesday 12/9

Felt better today.

Walked around the neighborhood, had lunch at a Chinese restaurant and read in the park.  Watched this guy and his dogs and missed Sophers.

Both R&D were out so I chilled at home.  Dinner was an empanada and gelato at 4D.  Coconut and Mint Chip make a yummy and refreshing combo.

Day 6, Tuesday 12/8

Stayed in PJs all day with really bad stomach cramping.  Dave and Reada took great care of me, buying me gatorade and medicine and feeding me soup.  Thanks guys!

Day 5, Monday 12/7

Monday Reada had a planning session to attend to so Dave took me to this awesome little seafood restaurant called Sonia's.  It's family run and the owners take their boat out every day to catch the day's fish.

I decided to make R&D a thank you dinner/belated birthday dinner and Reada requested flautas.  Dinner was yummy but I ended up getting sick that night with the Dreaded Peru Belly.

Day 4, Sunday 12/6

The day started with lunch at Taca, one of R&D's favorite restaurants for authentic Peruvian food.  Pictures to come.
Dave was going to go to a bullfight with his friends Anne and Spencer, but Spencer got sick with the flu.  While this was unfortunate for him (feel better Spencer!) this meant that there was an available ticket for me.  R&D and I had talked about the concept of bullfighting and at first I was really against it.  After some thought and discussion, I realized that these bulls were treated better than most cattle that we eat so I got over it.  When the chance to see this unique cultural spectacle arose, I jumped on it.

We took a taxi up to Plaza Del Toro Acho and it was a mad house.  We had "good" seats in the shade so our area was packed with upper class Peruvians all dressed up.  Acho is the second oldest bullfighting plaza still in use in the world and it was like a trip back in time to be there.  Our "concession" area had nice wine, tons of different food and cigars.  You buy a cushion to make the concrete seat more comfy.

Once we finally got home we had dinner at Papa John's, and R&D tradition and called it a night.

Day 3, Saturday 12/5

We woke up early today so that Reada could take me to shoe heaven, otherwise known as Moore's. This boutique was chock full of gorgeous custom-made leather shoes of all types. I made a few investments (good shoes are an investment, shut up) that I'm really excited about. Being that I'm such a shoe fanatic, this took us a good 2 hours and Reada was patient and very helpful in reigning me in. R&D had a wedding luncheon to go to, so I got dropped off for a pedicure, then wandered around Miraflores, the fun and fashionable district in Lima.

There's a nice shopping center built into the side of the cliff that opens into the Pacific ocean. It was nice to wander about and see all the people enjoying the weekend. I'm really not a mall person so I had lunch and left.

Tonight Reada is taking me along to a bachelorette party for a friend of hers. Dave baked a cake for the occasion and I bet you can imagine just what kind of cake fits the theme. If you guessed penis cake, you are correct!

Peru

Why Peru?
I booked this trip on the fly when I found out that Reada is pregnant and coming home for five months in December, then moving from Peru. I'd been meaning to take this trip for three years but since I'd never been able to use my flyer miles for a convenient trip, I'd postponded it. On Sunday I talked to Reada on the phone and heard her news and thought, it's now or never! I have the time, I have the FF miles and I have a place to stay in Lima. Three days later I'd booked a three week trip leaving seven days from then.

Trip down - Wednesday, 12/2
Juan was a rockstar and dropped me off at the airport. I had to book first class in order to use my miles and oh man, what a difference. No waiting in lines, you get to board right away, there is loads of space in the cabin, free liquor the whole flight, hot towels, lobster, dinner, cheesecake, wine, full reclining seats, 40 movies and games to play. It was great and I hope I'll get to fly that way again, but I'd never pay for it cause it's way too expensive. The flight was six and a half hours long. Dave was awesome and met me at the airport.

Reada and Dave live in this beautiful red brick house right on the Pacific Ocean. They have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sunroom and a space upstairs for tv and computers. They've been wonderful and I can't say enough how much I love being with them again. Reada is one of my favorite people and I have missed her dearly these past three years.

Day 1 - Thursday, 12/3
When I woke up I found out that Reada's school had potential cases of swine flu so they sent her cute pregnant butt home for two days which she was sad about but I was selfishly thrilled. :) I love that Reada cares so much about her students and her job as their teacher. I want to have that kind of passion and dedication for my work someday (soon I hope.)

Lunch - Punta Azul
Puffy corn - This was a little bowl of puffy corn kernals that tasted like corn nuts and popcorn
Calamare frito - Fried Calamari with fresh tartar sauce
Causa - Cold mashed potatoes with tumeric (or they were orange potatoes), layered with a chopped fish and shrimp mayo based salad, covered in grated hard boiled egg, all shaped like a fish. This was my favorite.
Ceviche Punta Azul con Salsa Rocotto - Fish, shrimp, calamari, octopus, lime, and red onion covered in this red pepper sauce. Not spicy at all but really fresh tasting.

Dave left to tutor and Reada and I walked around Miraflores and Parque Kenedy, then taxi'd home to walk Matza and have ice cream in the park. I emailed, read The Ruins, napped, then we went to dinner.

Dinner - El Pollon
Pollo A la Brasa - Rotisserie chicken with fries, salad and Inca Kola. The rub they put on the chicken here is delish, way better than Pollo Loco in San Antonio. I could live without Inca Kola, the golden bubblegum soda they love so much in Peru. Mayonaise is less goopy and more creamy and there's always some aji or chili condiment served with the meal. I'm staying away from salad and any fruit with skin on it in hopes of avoiding The Dreaded Peru Belly.

Back to the house for some reading and internet, then off to walk Matza and get some gelato. I got Panna and Frambose or something. Cream and raspberry in a cone.

Day 2 - Friday, 12/4
Woke up around 10:30, read some, walked Matza with Dave and grabbed some empanadas.

Lunch - Don Mario Panederia
Empanadas de lomo saltado - Flaky potpie-like pastery with strips of beef sauted with onion, garlic and tomato. Delish.
Calzone Mixto - Ham and something empanada

R&D had to sell their second car so they dropped me off at a Starbucks so I hung out using their wi-fi. I know, I know, going to Starbucks in a foreign country is stupid, but I wanted to start my blog and do some trip planning, and people watching at Starbucks for a few hours was a nice way to spend the time.

Dave made us some tasty Chinese food at home and we chilled at home for the rest of the night.