Things I will already miss about Peru or just take home with me:

1.     Those little spoons they stir the coffee with.

2.     The crowed combi rides (combis are vans that take you almost everywhere.)

3.     Maybe even the moto-taxis (three wheeled motorcycles that take you everywhere, maybe for a slightly higher fee, but they are very convenient.)

4.     The good food. Yep, the food here is much better on average than in the U.S. Occasionally it is oh hum but only at Bembos (like McDonalds) is it worse than oh hum.

5.     Adding lime to chicken soups. Try it. It is excellent.

6.     Very few Peruvians smoke, they know it is expensive.

7.     Many of the houses here have a beautiful sense of architecture.

Things I don’t understand: Why do they start the business day at 8 or 9 when the sun sets at 6 or 6:30? They live a great deal in the dark here. Or at least my families have. When I start early morning patrol to figure out peoples’ schedules then I might learn more.

One thing I won’t miss: The traffic in Lima. At one point there are 6 lanes of traffic going into Lima. OK, I realize this is a big city and 6 lanes going into a big city should be no big deal, except this is on a one way road with only two-lanes.  Driving is a constant game of switching lanes and trying to cut other drivers off. I think everyone hates the traffic in Lima.

I have been up and down the coast of Peru since my last post. I am now in my site in Cerro Alegre in the Department of Lima, District of Cañete, an agricultural area much like Salinas. This is a nice quiet suburb with a few minimarkets, just like Fresno the Mini Markets lack fruit and vegetables, many mototaxi’s waiting to take you to Imperial, the bigger town near where there are an amazing number of little stores selling everyday items.

The nicest place I was at Tina Silva’s site, in the north in Lambayeca. Or at least when I was there, it was country quiet, with a beautiful view of some mountains. I felt I could live there forever. Much of the coast is irrigated agriculture or desert sands. Much of it I passed in the night on buses with the windows covered with shades or moisture. So although I have traveled pretty much coast to coast that doesn’t mean I have seen the whole coast.

I have not been in the Sierras, yet...I will in a few months.