Huaca Huantille

Leisurely Afternoon with Friends

We had a great day with friends yesterday. Lea and Archie called to say they were headed in our direction to buy some DVD's at the market. So they came by our place and we went to lunch at our "new favorite huarique" (hole in the wall) where we all enjoyed a good lunch for about 10 soles ($4 US) each. Gene and I shared a "Combo #6, which was a big portion of ceviche and a generous serving of arroz con mariscos (rice with seafood). After lunch we walked a block up the street to the huaca. Strangely enough we've lived here half a year now and had never visited the huaca which is 4 blocks from our apartment. So more on the huaca later, because it is a fascinating place. After our tour of the huaca, we decided that we really deserved ice cream! The 3-block walk to the heladeria (ice cream parlor) took us by one of my favorite little corner markets, which just happens to be next to a building that we once considered buying in. Lea and I stopped by to check it out. The building was nice, quality wood floors and doors, fabulous view of the huaca from the balcony. Nice area near the cupola, the heladeria and everything else. But what I remembered was that we had rejected it originally because of its size. The apartments are truly miniscule - actually made our apartment seem spacious! And by the way, the price was just about the same as the one we bought.
At the end of the next block is the cupola, the beautiful church which is the main landmark of Magdalena del Mar. And then the following block has enough diversity in its architecture to make me realize that I truly do not need to travel elsewhere to find new sources of photography subjects.



And another great day ends at the best heladeria in Lima, just 4 blocks from our apartment.

And besides ...

I have a new fabulous new camera and need some new places to photograph!

This photo was taken through my kitchen window of the newspaper kiosk three blocks down the street!

Where Next?

Of the twelve countries in South America, we have only spent time in two – Perú and Argentina (we have both taken bus trips across the border to Chile to renew our visas – 22 hours each way – but didn't see any of the country, so it doesn't count). Much as I would love to return to the amazing Buenos Aires in Argentina, and much as I am appalled that after 2 ½ years, we have seen nothing of Perú outside of Lima (and little of Lima itself), it is also time, I think, to see some more of the continent. I am only in the beginning of my thought process on this, so I'm just thinking outloud here, but I'm looking at Ecuador or Colombia as our most likely trips sometime soon. Chile, of course, also has much to offer and everyone I know who has been there seems to fall in love with it. So it is high on the list of possibilities for the future also. Venezuela might be interesting these days. I've always wanted to see Uruguay, so if we get that far south at some time in the future, that would clearly involve a return to Argentina also. There are so many places on other continents that float around on the edge of my consciousness (Malaysia, Vietnam, numerous places in western and eastern europe, India … ) that I have to really work to stay focused on this idea of seeing South America, but I am determined to do so. So how about a trip real soon to either Ecuador or Colombia, with another South American country before the year is out. And meanwhile, how about planning the next trip(s) outside the continent, with a plan to do another major trip during 2014 if not before. That's a good framework on which to build a plan. Admittedly though, it's a bit too broad to ensure project completion.

The countries of South America: Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Perú