Feliz Cumpleaños!!!

My stomach is feeling great now! I am so happy! But I woke up with a sore throat! I just can´t get away from anything here. Oh well. I hope I´ll get better soon. I´m already taking some antibiotics. I love how I can just go to the pharmacy and get any kind of medicine I need without having to go to the doctor. It´s so convenient.

So today I went to my tio Ismael´s house. It was his birthday so we went over to visit him. Me, Tia Mimi and Tio Benjamin rode together. It seemed like the longest trip. We rode a bus to start with then got off in some sketchy place and then had to find a "colectivo" (i don´t know what that´s called in english) and then from there we reached his neighborhood and then we took a moto-taxi to his house. It was fun. I love riding those things they are so scary but exciting at the same time.

moto taxi ride

When we got in noone had arrived yet and then Tio Benjamin sang him a birthday song. It was hilarious and very sweet. I didn´t realize he could sing so well.

tio Benjamin´s birthday serenade

I really wanted to buy him a cake so we went to the supermarket and the caked here are amazing, but I already knew that. I´ve actually been so anxious to eat cake here since I knew I was coming to visit! They are definately not bland and boring. They have all kinds of fruity cakes. They had maracuya, lucuma, pineapple, guyanabana. I got the guyanabana one. They decorate the cakes so pretty and the icing is so good! It´s not too heavy or sweet. So while we were at the store I asked my uncle how old he was so I could buy him some candles with the numbers on it. He told me he was turning 68 so I bought those candles. When we got back tio Benjamin saw the candles and he said that he wasn´t turning 68, he was turning 67. Tio Ismael didn´t believe him but then they sat there and calculated form the yearhe was born and he was in fact turning 67! Ha it was so funny! He didn´t even know his own age. I guess that´s what happens when you get so old.


guyanabana cake - delicious!


Lucho, tio Benjamin, Dera, tio Ismael, tia Mimi

tio Benjamin, Renato, tio Ismael, Yara, me, tia Mimi, Dera, Rosanna

My cousins Lucho, Monica, and Omarshowed up too. Monica also brought him a cake. We had a great time just chatting and laughing. They are so crazy and funny. Lucho was telling us all these crazy stories about the people he has picked up in his taxi. It was hilarious! I love my family. I don´t think I want to leave.


Monica, tio Ismael and the second cake


me and Monica


something mustve been interesting on the other room


we looked at old photos from when tio Ismael lived in the jungle in Iquitos and when my mom went to visit him


me and Yara she is adorable!


wearing my cool new chuyo

Ceviche again Atlast!!!

So I woke up this morning feeling alot better. I feel like I can eat real food now. Not just soup! Yay!!! Lastnight me and Stefani stayed up talking really late and I told herthat I just had to eat ceviche and that we have to go, so she promised we would. She didnt go to work today because we didnt get home until about 3 am. We went to a casino with her brother Carlos and I wasn´t eally excited to go because I was so tired but it ended up being fun. He gave us 5 bucks to play with and we ended up just getting free food and talking about everything while he played and lost. I don´t like casinos. Too much temptation so I don´t even try. I didn´t even bring any money. I just go for the free food!

Well my tio David was in town. He lives in Trujillo, Peru. It´s about 8 hours from here. He was here for a few days with my cousin Jonathon. They were staying close by so they came to see me before they left. It was so good to see them again.

Jonathon, tio David, tio Benjamin, me

So tonight me, Stefani, and Jose went to eat some ceviche. First we met up with Jose at this tennis court he was practicing at. Then we went to San Borja where the best cevicherias are supposed to be at. We ordered ceviche mixto which comes with fish, shrimp, clams, and tond of sea creatures. We also ordered fried calamari, cancha, and this soup de Pirehuela (a type of fish). We got so much stuff! I didn´t think we would be able to finish it all. But we did somehow.


where we ate at


I love ceviche!


fried calamari and ceviche


sopa de parihuela


Canchita


this fish was painted on the wall i couldnt help myself

When we left the cevicheria I was just craving some sangria. So we went to a little corner store and got some. It only cost 10 soles and it even came with a cup attached! So we just walked around and drank our sangria and then eventually hailed a taxi and went home. It was such a fun night. And I was soooo full!! It´s good to finally be able to eat normal again!


sangria!

Intensive Care..

Today was a sad day. I went to visit my Tia Margarita. She is the oldest of all the aunts. She has been in ICU for over a month. I remember only meeting her once back in 1989. She is I think 80 something years old. She doesnt have health insurance so everything has to be paid out of pocket. They are really struggling right now to pay for all the medications and hospital care. My mom gave me $100 to give to my cousin to help. Saturday they had a "pollada" where they cook some chicken and stuff and sell it to raise money. When I gave my cousin the money she was so grateful and happy. So when I got to the hospital with my tio Benjamin and tia Gloria I saw my other cousin, Tia Margarita´s daughter I can´t remember her name right now she gave me a hug and started crying and was thanking me for the money from my mom and how much it´´s going to help. I got so sad and cried too. She was telling me how sick my aunt is and that she barely responds. It was awful.I was able to go in and see her too. They only let 4 people a day go in to see her. When i went in the nurse had me put on a jacket thing and wash my hands. It´s so different form any ICU´s Ive been in. It´s not as clean and I didnt feel like the jacket I had on was really going to protect the patients from any of my germs but that´s all they do here. When i went in to see her I just started crying because she is so tiny just like my mom and they even look alot alike. She was just laying there with her eyes closed and she had tubes in her mouth and nose. It made me so sad to see her like that. I just prayed for her and triedto talk to her but I don´t know if she even heard me. I couldn´t stay in there long because it just broke my heart. When I came back out I sat next to my cousin and she was telling me how they have so many things they need for her and what my mom gave is going to help for the month. I just felt in my heart that I should give her the money that I had in my pocket. For some reason I had put $50 in my pocket. I don´t even know why. But as I talked to her I realized why. I gave her the money and she was so grateful she cried again. It felt so good to help. I don´t have much but it really doesn´t matter to me that I won´t have alot of spending money. I´d rather help my family. I realize more everyday how much I take my life for granted. I am so grateful to be here and be humbled. It´s exactly what I needed right now.

El Centro de Lima..still sick!!!!

I am still sick. I just want to die! My stomach hurts so bad I have no idea what is wrong with me! I have been taking some medicine since Saturday and it hasnt helped on bit! I think I might have to go to the doctor if I don´t get any better soon. I have been eating alot of soup and tea lately and it still hasn´t helped. I´m getting tired if soup! I want some real food!

So this morning my friend Daniel came to pick me up and I went with him to the bank and to his University so he could sign up for some classes. He ended up taking me to downtown Lima (Centro de Lima). love it there! The buildings are amazing and there are so many people walking around. I took alot of pictures of everything. I still geta lottle worried about taking my camera everywhere though because people will rob you hear in heart beat. But I always feel safer if I´m with a guy. So Daniel carried my bag for me. We walked by the "Plaza de Armas" and the president lives right infront of it. It´s like this huge circle of beauiful buildings.


where the president lives


the little man waved at me from his carraige


I don´t remember what this building is

We ate some lunch at this little rinky dink place. But the food was delicious! All though all I ate was my soup but I could tell the rest of it was good. We had juice of maracuya and the whole meal came with soup and you picked the entree. It was all 5 soles which isnt even 2 dollars. And it was a whole meal! Food here is so cheap!


walking down the street after lunch

We went to this building where they sell tons of stuff. I tried on some hats and bought some jewelry. I bought a new purse too because I didnt have anywhere to carry all the stuff I bought. I also bought some "chuyos" those little hats from here that everyone always likes made out of Alpaca. I have to go back and shop some more! I ended up running out of money.


trying on a funny hat

While we were walking down this street I saw this little lady all crumpled up in a ball against a fenced doorway. It was so sad. I took a picture of her because it´s not something you see everyday. Sometimes I look around at all the people here and they seem so positive and happy and alot of people back home just don´t even realize how blessed we are there. We have so much and people here struggle everyday just to survive. Sometimes I feel like I take it for granted and not even stop to think about my life and how I have it so good. I hate that sometimes I forget. You should never forget. I want to wake up every morning and thank God for what I have. He has given me so much and I know that I have to give back for what I have been blessed with. I pray that I can do something good and fulfilling and helpful to someone while I am here. I feel like I am here for a real reason this time. Not just for a vacation and to have fun.
So tonight I spoke to the lady from the orphanage I am going to volunteer at and she said I coold start on Monday! I am so excited! I am going to be helping teach english to the kids. I can´t wait! They are going to come and pick me and bring me back too. Ir´s in this little town names Lurin its about 45 minutes away. I am really looking forward to it!


this image made me so sad.

Out on the town...

I woke up this morning still feeling sick! The medicine apparently isn´t working. I´m thinking I might have accidentally drank some water here too. This sucks. I hate being sick, especially being here because I want to eat everything! The food is so good! Augh oh well. I´m hoping I´ll feel better real soon.

Lastnight I went out with Stefani and her boyfriend Jose. We went to Barranco and they took me to the touristy parts. I have been there before but I always like to go. There were some guys painting these amazing pictures and people selling little jewelry and hats and stuff on the streets. We walked over to this little park and took some pictures. There was this cathedral I think thats what it was and it was all illuminated with lights.


I couldnt figure out how to flip this picture over


Looking down a little passageway


Stopping to smell some flowers

There was also this statue of a black horse and there was some gardens. It´s such a cool place. The night was pretty cold too. I need to buy a thicker jacket!




going for a little stroll

We took a taxi to this other part of Barranco where they sell little stuff like jewelry and things like that. There were so many people around. You could tell alot of them were tourists. Everything is just so beautiful here. The buildings are all colorful and old looking. I am always going to carry my camera with me!


this little fountain was in the middle of the park.

We left Barranco and headed over to Miraflores. Where we walked for what seemed like miles. Miraflores is where there are alot of bars and restaurants and just places to walk around. There´s a park in the center of everything and there are more little stands of jewelry and artesanias. We also saw a firetruck that came by with the sirens on and a new bride and groom was sitting on top waving and smiling. The truck was all decorated in ribbons and there were firemen on top too taking pictures if the couple. It was so funny and crazy to see that! Everybody on the streets stopped to look and take pictures too. It was funny.


couldnt figure out how to flip this picture either

We ended up walking all the way from there to Larco Mar. It was pretty far but I love to walk. Especially since I haven´t been able to work out in soooo long!!! We ended up going to Pizza Hut It stays open really late. It was already 1:30 in the morning! I definatley wasnt about to eat pizza this late. Plus i dont like fast food. They wouldn´t let us eat inside so we had to eat outside. We walked over to the over look and sat on a bench. I ended up falling asleep on the bench while they ate. I´m not used to staying up so late plus I was so tired from all the walking. We just sat there and watched all the drunk people pass by making fools of themselves. I just wanted to go to bed though. I´m getting old.


Tonight they took me to "El Parque de las Piletas". It´s this new park that has tons of fountains and lights. It´s supposed to be one of the best of the world! We stood in line for what felt like forever. I ended up buyimg 2 things of cotton candy, some gummy bears, a drink and some chocalate just waiting to get in. I need to quit spending money on crap! Anywyas, when we finally got in it was so pretty! The fountains were really really beautiful! We walked around to all of them and just enjoyed being there. It was so cold though!


the first fountain we came to


I love candy apples!


kids can run and play in this one. The water just randomly goes up from the ground and you get so wet.


this picture wasnt taken well obviously




riding in the "Combi" on the way back.

Getting sick..augh

So Friday morning my cousin Claudia came to see me! I was so excited to see her. She just started working at a salon and she does manicures and pedicures. She wanted to do my nails too so she glued some tips on my nails and gave me a french manicure. It was really pretty but I am just not a long nails person. It´s just kinda hard to function with because long nails just get in the way. Becky came over too and we just hung out and took some pictures. We drank some tea and ate some bread and just chatted away.


Claudia, me, Becky

After Claudia left to go to work, I went to my Tia Nelly´s house. My Tia Nelly has breast cancer and she is going to have a mastectomy next week. She is so cute and little. And she is still as happy as can be. She doesn´t even look sick at all! It was really good to see her. She just came back from New York. She had gone to visit her daughter Kela and that´s where she took some tests and found out she had cancer. We stayed there for a couple of hours and I ate some lunch.


Tia Nelly

I got back to tia Mimi´s house and packed up my stuff. I had already planned on staying with my cousin Stefani for the week. She´s one of my cousin´s closest to my age. Everyone else is alot older. We get along so good and have so much fun together. My cousin Lucho came to pick me up and drive me to her house. She lives in Surco and I am staying in El Callao and it´s a pretty long drive. But the drive is nice because we go through this road that overlooks the ocean and it´s so pretty.

When I got to Stefani´s house they were all waiting for my arrival. Everyone there was Stefani, Carlos, his wife Mary, Patty her husband Jose and her 2 kids Alonzo and Camilla, and my tio Benjamin and my tia Glorai. We had some wine and champagne to celebrate! My tia Gloria also made Papa La Huncaina (potato´s covered in this cheese stuff) it was delicious! We all just sat around and had a great time and took some pictures.


me, Stefani

Towards the end of the night I wasnt feelong so well. I had started to feel a little sick to my stomach on my way there but I did´nt think anything about it. But when I woke up in the morning I felt so sick! I had drank some yogurt Friday afternoon before leaving and I think that something was wrong with it. Maybe it was expired. All I know is that I felt awful and my stomach was killing me! I had to go to the pharmacy to get some medicine. It´s not helping.

Seeing some sights...

I love papaya! It´s absolutely my favorite fruit! My Tia Mimi bought me one special for my arrival. I have been having papaya smoothies every morning for breakfast. Its so filling and satisfying!

Me and my Tia Mimi

I woke up this morning with an urge to exersize. It´s so hard not to just be able to go out and go for a run whenever I want to. I don´t know my way around plus it´s not exactly that safe in some places. But I have been walking in the mornings with my aunt so atleast I can get some exersize in while I am here. I wish I could climb though. I miss the gym.

So Thursday after noon me and my Tia Mimi went to eat lunch at my Tio Ismael´s house. He lives kinda far away so we met my cousin Ruben at his house and picked him up and we all went together. We had "Lomo Saltado" which is fried potato with steak with rice on the side. It was delicious! My tio Benjamin came and my Tio Daniel and his wife Anna came as well. It was really good to see them again. We ended up just hanging out and talking until about 10 at night.

Tia Mimi, Tio Benjamin, Rosanna, Tio Daniel, Tia Anna, Me, Tio Ismael, and Ruben"El Choche"

That night after we left I still wasn´t tired so I called my cousin Becky to see if she wanted to go out. So I walked over to her house to figure out what we would do. Her husband Fernando and her kids Raquel, Fernandito and Christina came along too. When we went out to the car there was this cute little homeless dog that ran up to me. He was so sweet. I couldn´t help but play with him. There are so many dogs here all over the place everywhere I go I see them.

cute little homeless dog


in the car on our way, Fernadito, Christina, Raquel and me

So we ended up going to "Larco Mar" which is kind of like an "out in the open" mall. It overlooks the ocean and it has lots of little stores and restaurants. We walked around and took some pictures. It was cool out and breezy. It´s so pretty to look out onto the ocean and the lights.


next to Tony Roma´s (they have those here)


my nieces Raquel and Christina

After we left there we realized we were hungry again. So we went to Barranco, another part of Lima, where they have really good "anticuchos", cow heart on a stick. It´s one of my other favorite foods here. We ate at this little restaurant called "San Juanito", that´s the place I normally go to when I come here to eat anticuchos. It was so good! We also had some corn on the cob, the corn here isn´t like any other. The kernels are so gigantic and so much tastier then any other corn I have ever had. Í had another papaya smoothie too and also drank some Inca Cola. I love late night meals!


eating Anticuchos! yum!