There is always something new on the beach. I’ll post weekly with what’s been going on. This week we determined that there are at least two whimbrels on the beach, and possibly four, two pairs. These fanciful birds are long-beaked shore birds, a bit smaller than their cousins, the curlew. Bird guides list them asContinue reading “A Week of Whimbrels”
Category Archives: South America
Beach Days
Even when the day dawns bright and the mist burns off rapidly, the hot sun on the wet sand produces billows of mist all morning. People are setting up their umbrella while big puffs of fog roll by like ghost tumbleweeds. Once the sun comes out, all kinds of people come to the beach. SomeContinue reading “Beach Days”
How to Make Paella
The main event at a recent housewarming was paella made by two Spaniards. These are experienced paella-makers, and they came prepared.They used a portable gas burner with three concentric rings of flame, perfect for a paella pan. Sauteeing the initial vegetables and seasonings in the big paella pan. At subsequent points, more liquid wasContinue reading “How to Make Paella”
New on the Street
My horizons are a bit smaller in Barranca than elsewhere, since my universe is my neighborhood. It was pretty exciting to have a new food truck cafe. A pleasant Colombian couple is selling coffee drinks and the back of their van has two beautiful old-fashioned looking expresso machines. The two wear traditional Colombian outfits andContinue reading “New on the Street”
Bringing In 2018
We had a wonderful New Year’s Eve considering that at noon on Dec. 31 we had no idea what would happen. A couple of conversations later and a quick trip to the store we were set. (Jonathan shopped while I stood in the long line. Serendipity smiled, and he turned up just as I gotContinue reading “Bringing In 2018”
Transitions
It’s time again for resolutions that we would like to keep, those we might keep, and a few that we keep making even though know we will never keep them. Hope is boundless, so let’s all put a big scoop of it in our resolutions and head on in to the New Year. Our holidayContinue reading “Transitions”
Last visit to our favorite beach…. for now
We took a last visit to the Albufera de Medio Mundo, our favorite place to go beachcombing. It’s very isolated and we wanted to see the effect of recent weather on a beach that doesn’t get cleaned up every morning like ours does. Hicimos una última visita a la Albufera de Medio Mundo, nuestro lugarContinue reading “Last visit to our favorite beach…. for now”
Cheering up the Patio
With the help of our talented friend Leila, we added some color to the patio. Con el ayuda de nuestra talentosa amiga Leila, mejoremos el patio con colores nuevos. I provided some images of birds from ancient Peruvian pottery and Leila used them to create her own contemporary versions on decorative planters. She even toldContinue reading “Cheering up the Patio”
Rain–El Niño–Disaster
A strong El Nino was predicted for December 2015 through April 2016 in Peru, and the government made funds available for disaster prevention. The season passed with barely a rain shower and the ocean only warmed slightly. Disaster averted. This year, no El Nino was forecast when the rains began. Up and down the coastContinue reading “Rain–El Niño–Disaster”
Rain!
When we came to Peru in 1999, people showed us the tiny splash marks of raindrops in the desert and said they were from the last rainfall, in 1964. That may have been hyperbole, because there is thick sea mist, but last night, it really rained, for the first time since we put the newContinue reading “Rain!”
Llywindatravels 2025 