Anticuchos

Anticuchos are Peruvian-style meat skewers.  They are commonly sold by street-cart vendors and the most popular kind are made of beef heart (the darker piles on the sides are beef heart).  I can't say I've had the pleasure of tasting them though. 

A store on the corner

This is, in fact, a store on the corner - but it's definitely not your typical corner store.  They're everywhere and I love them!

Globos

I see these and am instantly reminded of my childhood visits to Mexico.  Balloons (globos) might be a universal trigger for childhood memories! 

Because every restaurant needs a harpist...obviously.

This is Señor Pedro.  He is the resident harpist at my favourite vegetarian restaurant.  He really does play beautifully (and he makes a killing in tips!). 

Museo Nactional

Three of my favourite items from my visit to the National Museum (Museo Nactional).  A solid gold owl with emerald eyes, a beautiful painting depicting life in the mountains, and a crown that once belonged to an Incan princess (!)

Hecho en Peru

Embroidery on a woman's traditional dress.  Done totally by hand.

When in doubt...parade!

This was the grande finale of this year's parade season, and it was an honour to be a part of it.  Over 5,000 kids came out to showcase their skills and celebrate Peruvian independence day (July 28th).  It was moving to see the pride on their faces as they represented their beautiful country - Viva Peru!

Pre-parade balloon wrangling.

Straight-up terrifying.

Sign reads "we can".  Girl to his right seems unconvinced.

Not a single person asked to take this kid's picture, so I took a bunch so he wouldn't feel left out!  I think he makes a cute paper bag princess cow thingy :D

High security.

Peruvian beauties.

Because, why not?

So pretty!

Check out the beautiful skirt.  This little girl had so much energy!  Ah, to be eight years old again!

White and red.

Mini-Pope.

Cutest smile of the day.

Loved these costumes - especially the headpieces and conch shells.

Best seat in the house.

This one was amazing in person, but made a couple of kids cry...

The end.

Untitled

Cool mural in the historic centre. 

The original sugar high

This is freshly peeled and sliced sugarcane ($0.20 a bag!).  For those of you who have never tried it - you chew on the slices,  sucking out all the sugary goodness, then you spit out the wood-like fibres.  A while ago I was on the bus and I saw a little girl (she couldn't have been older than four) sitting on her sleeping mother's lap.  She was chewing on these things and carefully arranging the chewed up husks along the top of the (oblivious) bus driver's headrest.  Gross, cute and funny, all at the same time.

The Hills

Kids finishing up an afternoon soccer match in San Juan de Lurigancho.

Onomatopoeia

On a totally unrelated note...here is a picture of the doorbell chime in my apartment.  What can I say, I am easily amused.

Pasacalle

When I am not out in the field, part of my job involves helping with the parades that the municipality sponsors.  Schools from all over Lima come to the main plaza to participate in the "Pasacalle" - a parade type display of regional dances (yes, that is a real snake in the first picture!).  The next one is coming up on July 20th.

The "brave face"

Here's us putting on our brave faces...saying goodbye at the airport after my recent trip home (ignore my awful hair).

6 Month Anniversary

Sorry for the total lack of updates for the last month.  I can't believe it's been six months since I arrived in Peru!  Still loving it and discovering new things every day.