Family for Christmas Week

The most exciting event of 2011, for me, was the visit for the week before Christmas by son Mark, daughter-in-law Debbie, and the fabulous dancing duo grandchildren, Megan and Austin! Their first visit to Peru, the kids' first trip outside the US, and my first experience having the family visit me since we left the US nearly 10 years ago (Mark visited for a few days when we were in Costa Rica, but this was a first for the whole family to come). Of course by the time they arrived here, I was a basket case from trying to have everything ready and perfect and planning how I was going to fit in everything that I needed to show them in just five short days!
This is a collage of our activities their first day here. We walked to Parque Kennedy, which gave them a chance to see the amazing architecture along the boulevard. Of course there is always something going on in the park, but on this day, it seemed nothing was happening. I had thought I would take them to Larco Mar mall for the buffet lunch at Mango's, but I couldn't get reservations (had never needed them in the past, but this was, after all, Christmas week; I should have thought of it). So we decided to get lunch at the market, which is of course a more interesting experience, and actually better food in a big variety, but not the overwhelming number of choices that you get at Mango's. It was a lot of fun, some great food and the kids enjoyed getting their pescado entero (whole fish), head and tail and all. In the evening we had a fabulous walk up Conquistadores to have dinner at Tanta, where the food is always great. The street was alive with lights and music and people, a huge surprise fiesta for us. After dinner we enjoyed a very pleasant walk home through Parque Los Olivos. How wonderful to live in a city with such great walking opportunities. And how wonderful to have the opportunity to show it to my adorable grandchildren.