Category Archives: South America

Last Christmas, our youngest daughter Lillian and her boyfriend Neil visited us in Peru. This year they went to see his family but our two older daughters visited us. We enjoyed every minute.  I didn’t take nearly enough photos. Amanda and Jimmy arrived on Dec. 20 and Lyra arrived on Dec. 22. We spent Dec.Continue reading “Holiday visitors”

When we want to go beach combing in Peru we have always gone to a beach about an hour’s drive from here. This year, things seem to be changing. The beach is normally empty except for a row of seabirds wading along the edge. There are mole crabs (muy-muy) under the sand where the surfContinue reading “There’s something happening but you don’t know what it is…”

“Let’s not rush into things,” is a phrase that people on the beach can really get behind. Today is Dec. 15, ten days until Christmas, one of the biggest holidays of the year and source of a lot of annual income along the shore. There’s been a surge of efforts to fix the beach upContinue reading “Getting ready for the season”

For all we hear about the decline of Catholicism around the world, a version of it is alive and well in Barranca. I am not sure how many people I know go to Mass every Sunday, but almost everyone participates in one of the many festivals in honor of the Virgin Mary or other saintsContinue reading “Religious at heart”

Originally posted on Perspectives on economics and civilization:
We know that other countries have sometimes elected presidents who then manipulated the great powers of their office to nullify constitutional constraints and establish a permanent grip on political power. But from George Washington’s first election until now, Americans always selected presidents who, in prior public service,…

We wanted to make another guest room more attractive because we are having both daughters visit over Christmas. If Amanda and Jimmy take the suite, Lyra would be left with an unimproved space. The ceilings are so high that it is difficult to get artwork big enough to fill the wall. I designed a patchworkContinue reading “New Artwork on the Wall”

Trying to look at a familiar place with fresh eyes is a difficult proposition. I’ve been here in Barranca many times. One of the good things about a beach community is that it doesn’t change. The same fishermen haul out their beach seine every afternoon even though I have yet to see more than aContinue reading “Life on the Beach 2016”

The last time I spoke to someone who was openly for Trump was a taxi driver in Edinburgh back in July. This shows you that I was completely out of touch with what most Americans think, or at least half of the US citizens who voted.                                      During the eight months that were were on theContinue reading “After Election Day 2016”

It is strange to be back in Peru after eight months. A little has changed and a lot hasn’t. Our flight was smooth and we arrived on time after leaving Miami a few minutes late. We landed at 10:30 pm and were probably at the Hotel Senorial by 12:30 am, which isn’t bad considering thatContinue reading “Back in Peru, Nov. 2016”

I wanted to say that for a while (see my Facebook for the actual eyeglasses). Accuracy demands that I note it’s not just me and my attractive eyewear, but also Jonathan (beloved and chef), two or three large suitcases, carry-ons and much paperwork clutched in our slightly nervous hands. Last year was easy, everyone spokeContinue reading “Me and my Warby Parkers are off and away”