It has been awhile since we updated our blog so here it is. I had to leave Lima in the first week of January and cross the Ecquadorian border in that my visa for Peru was about to expire, then re-enter Peru for another 90 days, othewise I would have to have paid $1.00 per day plus penalties. That is about to happen again, but now that I have a Peruvian wife, the options have expanded.
Las Lomas in NW Peru is a wonderful town of some 8,000, mostly rice farmers and the associated supported businesses, hardware stores, ag. supply points and implement repair shops. Not far away though are gold mining operations. Here the culture and time contrasts were pronounced. You may see a gold miners new ford pick up truck following a little girl and her donky hauling water barefooted escorted by little brother and sister. Getting up in the mornings was great with all of the loose goats, pigs, chickens, dogs just off your doorstep making their early rounds forraging for breakfast.
Food was always fresh and plentyful, people very friendly with lots of gossup being the only American in town, the local Gringo, but all in all, I fitted in well. Spent a lot of time remodeling the home we stayed in complete with outside toilet, no inside plumbing at all, securing water daily, no laundry, dirt floors, lots of misquitoes and hotter than hell being just south a few miles of the equator, yet I loved it and want to return. Evenings always cooled off and simply and mix of two centuries right in front of you. The Village was even giving away building lots to encourage community growth. Should you ever wish come to this beautiful country, I would be delighted in sharing some dos and dont.s with you.
As soon as I have our film developed and placed on a CD, I will then upload here for you to see, first hand, the reflecions of our treasured experience in this rice centered communtiy. Lastly, I am moved to tell you that there are not a lot of Americans who could adapt to this type of simple living absent all of the traditional American conveniences, just like living in the wild west of150 years ago. These are tough simple people and makes me concious of just how far we have removed ourselves from the real world. I think the coming photos will express that thought.
