How Am I Supposed to Leave?

A few posts ago I mentioned that I may be becoming a minimalist. I'm really enjoying not having to worry about what I wear or how my make up looks. The girls here don't look like they wear as much makeup as the ones in the States, and they are still beautiful. The backpackers rarely even wear clean clothes so all the dressing up and selfie crap is nonexistent. I worry only about the plans for the day and who we are going to spend it with.

In Lima, my parents took my sister and I to a hostel before they left. My mom made a huge deal about how gross the place was. We ended up not staying there because we hopped on an overnight bus to Trujillo, but she drove me insane with the fact that a hostel was not up to par with her Marriott. Michelle and I made fun of it at every new place we stayed, thinking how much my mom would cringe at the thought of sleeping on a mattress on the floor or in a place that needed a little sweeping.

One of the girls I met in Huanchaco, a Dutch chica named Flor, invited us over for breakfast one morning. A random door on one of the streets opens into a courtyard-type space. In one corner is a sink surrounded by a little counter space, an old fridge, and a plastic table. Random baskets hang from the sides of the building for storage. Inside another door goes into the bedrooms and a bathroom. All of it is old and not kept up due the constant change of residency. At first, my thoughts were very negative. I was slightly grossed out at the condition of the sink and I noticed that the fridge was rusting. But after some thought and another delicious meal, I had a totally different mindset.

The French chef, Audrey, makes the best food I've had my entire life, no joke. Her kitchen is tiny. It's literally smaller than the size of my bathroom in Georgia. There's pots and pans everywhere and a fly trapper hanging right by the entrance. I was so surprised to see that the huge portions of artistic food I ate came from such a cramped space.

Last night we were walking on the beach and saw the most hippy looking VW bus parked. It's ends up that this Argentinian guy named Fernando has lived in it for five years straight, driving all over Central and South America. He makes these little instruments to sell as he travels and is completely content with this way if living. We drank mate tea with him and learned about his life and heard some incredible stories.

Living where I am from is a blessing. We have a huge house, people we hire to clean it, and Mom makes sure everything is spotless. It's great. But it takes some travelling to see that having all that does not mean as much as we, in the States, are raised to think. So many people live with so much less, and they might actually be happier than we are.

As an almost twenty year old, the last thing I want to be held down by is stupid things like nice, new clothes and a table clothe that matches the curtains. My sister and I were just talking about how much fun we have had and how much we've done the past few days. I love the small, Latin lifestyle of markets and simple houses. These people live to surf, to hike, to party, and to make good food without all the extra glamour that the world I live in at home is obsessed with.

It's Not Over Yet!

Figure 1: Chelly and I eating some of Audrey's amazing food.

I’m not quite sure how I got so lucky with stupid United flights that my sister, Michelle is sitting across the table from me in Huanchaco, Peru. We made it and have never been better. This weird little town is on desert land, but right up the beach where surfers flock all day. It has this weird weather that makes it looks a bit gross at times but when the sun is out, it has beauty that stands out from our typical Florida beaches. The people here are simple. Local families own restaurants or shops and their kids are always running around. The tourists are backpackers with nothing on their schedule but to eat good food and drink with friends. Some of them are here semi-permentally. They work at schools here to learn Spanish themselves, get paid very little, and spent their free time making new friends and going on trips.

Figure 2: Michelle and Kuku (Audrey's daughter)

We arrived here Wednesday morning after a night on a bus from Lima. We surprised a woman Michelle knew when she was here last year. The woman, Marcia, had been working out at a gym (Michelle had also gone to) when we peeked in. She was super excited and demanded we go straight to her house and eat breakfast. Within ten minutes of knocking on the door, I had met her husband and son, been shown into a room, and were sitting at a table with breakfast in front of us. The rest of the day was spent walking around meeting a ton of new people and trying to remember all their names.

We ate some incredible food by a woman named Audrey (pronounced Oo-drey). She is from France and worked in many famous restaurants before she realized that was not what she wanted. She came here and opened her own restaurant, so that she could have fresh ingredients and the freedom to make whatever she wants, without the restrictions of a menu (Figure 3). Every day she makes new things, and if you show up on time you get a huge plate of it gloriously presented for thirteen soles. Her husband is always around and helping too. I’m pretty sure he is a hundred percent Incan- mostly ‘cause he looks it. Their daughter is nothing but energetic at all times, running around and talking to all the customers (Figure 2).

Figure 3: One of Audrey's creations

Figure 4: Me and some school kids 

Actually, every place we go to that has kids, they end up sitting on our lap or having elaborate Spanish conversations with my sister (Figure 4). About an hour ago, a little girl named Daniella drew me pictures in my notebook in exchange for Patty Cake lessons. We had a blast.

Conversing with the locals and other South American travelers definitely helps my Spanish, although it is very embarrassing to pull out my dictionary to talk to a kid or have absolutely no idea what Marcia just said to me and Michelle is not around as back up. Sadly, we are only going to be here until next Wednesday, so for now I am attempting to cram as much Spanish into my brain as possible. 

Last Day in Lima

Yesterday was a very long day. I got up at the same time I always do but had to wait until 9:30 in the evening to go to the airport. To pass the time, we went to the museum of gastronomy in Lima. That is a museum dedicated to the history of Peruvian food. The museum displayed the entire scope of Peruvian food from quinoa to pisco. 

After that, we went to the Cathedral of Lima. It is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen although the room with the archbishops heads was a little weird. 

Lastly, I went with Dr. Brown and his family to the beach one last time. The sunset was absolutely beautiful. It was the perfect way to wrap up the trip.