Dear Diary

Maple how are you getting home? Driving or Flying?
If driving - we shoud meet if yo are going on I-90.

Dear Diary
Back in Cali safe and sound. We flew into overcast Lima and stayed in the upscale suburb of Miraflores (in a not so upscale dumpy backpackers' hostel that cost a whopping $30 US). The next day we took a bus eight hours to Huancayo in the central highlands crossing a high pass on the way. The river on the way to the pass and the one flowing down from the other side were both visibly poluted by huge gold and mineral mining operations. Not a heron or a swallow to be seen anywhere along either one. Huancayo is a small city a bit off the gringo trail so we saw few foreigners. My wife was stunned by the cold, between about six and fifteen cecius. We paid a guide to take us up to the glacier Huaytapallana and I had to push the little Deawoo in a couple of spots to get it moving due to the altitude. Saw some long billed buzzard sized birds with rufous necks I'm trying to look up and of course an Andean Condor. From there we flew to Cuzco which is lovely alright and the seat of the Inca empire but gaaawd the place is completely over run with all manner of tourists. They also seem to have a serious problem with food at the restaurants. My wife got horribly sick from one and I even had to call a doctor to the hotel. He gave her a shot that helped with the stomach pains but then she got a high fever that lasted most of the night. Later when we left two university gals came through the waiting lounge at the airport with an interview form regarding gastro-intestinal distress experienced. Seems the problem for tourists is so severe the local university is doing a study on it.

We were delayed a day by my wife's illness but continued on taking the four hour tourist train to Aguas Calientes at the foot of Machu Pichu. This place too was a teeming mass of Northface bedecked tourists. I escaped for a while by walking along the railroad tracks through the rainforest. Buses leave every fifteen minutes for the half hour trip up to the top or you can climb but it's all straight up. We made the trip up the next day and got completely skunked by the weather. Rain and thick clouds all day. If I ever try again I'll leave my schedule open ended so as to be able to wait for a clear day. One of the features that impressed me the most was the ingenious system of inch and a half wide troughs carved in stone that brought water from rain collection areas to the rest of the compound. I am inspired now to read up on the Inca. Also interesting is that Peruvians every where seem to feel a strong personal connection to their Inka ancestors. In Colombia not counting the elite of course nobody seems to have any idea of their family origens past the grandparent stage.

From Cuzco we flew to Arequipa skipping the trip by bus to much colder Puno and Lake Titcaca. Arequipa reminds me more than anything of Tucson in November. It's in a high desert valley close against the mountains on one side and cold at night and hot in the daytime with a blazing sun in a cloudless sky. It's touristy too but nothing like Cuzco. It's the second largest city but walking around the elagant "centro" area with it's beautifully kept Plaza De Armas you'd think you were in a much smaller city. Restaurant offerings include sea urchin, osterich, alpaca and guina pig among others. We rented a car (the owner came along to drive) and drove a couple of hours out to a Vicuna reserve in the broad high desert and they weren't hard to find as there were water holes near the road. Thier eyes are so big you'd think they're nocturnal which makes them look like they were sketched by that awfull painter of children and puppies, is it Keen? Thier stomachs (and the Alpacas' too) are adapted to eat a low scrub that's the exact consistency of hard plastic since that's all there is not counting some cactus as far as the eye can see.

It was a whirlwind trip and there's much I would have done had I gone on my own but it's a start.

Back in Cali I've returned to an inferno, hot hot hot!

Pitter, you have the coolest adventures!

Pitter,
write about the types, colors of clothing. What do they wear to work? What do they wear to weddings and special social occasions?

Mapleleaf, for more market photos showing how they're dressed see the link below. Out in the country going to work means tending the sheep. The women wear leggings (for the cold,) skirt, sweater and bowler hat. I didn't see any weddings but I'm sure the cloths are colorfull.

http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0803/Pitter/Peru%20Parade/Mercado/

Pitter, thanks for all your stories and photos! They send the imagination flying,
and I think they inspire people to go out and live more fully.


Dear Diary,
I wrote the following strangeness on D'artagnan's What do you choose to worry about?
thread, but I think it goes here too...

----------
Beer makes me worry about beer.
Money makes me worry about money.
Friends make me worry about community.

Today, all I have left of them is the sun
with nothing at all to fall back on
for comfort, help, or security.

Strangely, I'm not all that worried.
I went swimming yesterday and found peace in the raw simplicity.
A painful, agonizing, tranquil kind of peace.

Being open helps.

Dear Diary,

Sunday again - time is really flying. Finally, fall is here and I don't want to think about it. Oh well, I will spend more time at the computer, I guess.

This week was very short because I went on a business trip to Bologna on Monday and returned on Wednesday night. I worked a lot on Thursday and Friday. Had a quiet Friday night going to the gym first and then just relaxed on the sofa with Nisse and Mysan. Went to the movies on Saturday and then to Suedbahnhof with Stefan and Petra and finally ended up in the Carabic Bar which is a strip bar on small town level. Petra and I had a lot of fun watching the few men that were there.

And even though we did not get home before 4.30 am, I went to the gym at 11 and had a good workout. I am very proud of myself. Susan even went along - suffering less than on Friday, thank God!

Now I am waiting for news from Nicole who had the big talk with her (ex?) boyfriend planned for this weekend. I keep my fingers crossed for her and can't wait to visit her in two weeks.

Dear Diary
Driving Me Crazy

Had my last driving class today at driving school. I got to drive through El Centro and San Andresito (bad place) sort of the final exam. Interesting class. My instructor pointed out a team of ladrones to me in El Centro, two men on motos and one in a car. I don't know how he knew but he swore he did. He said any Yamaha RX 125 is suspect because that is the bike all ladrones (thieves) and sicarios (killers) worth their salt use because it can make the fastest getaways. Which reminds me. There are two lecture classes in the course each a grueling three hours long in a small non air-conditioned room. The first is all about the transit laws. At the end of this we saw a video that was absolutely classic "drivers' ed" with all the do's and don'ts most of us saw in high school...but with a twist. At the end it showed how you don't pull up close behind a stopped van because two "tipos" jumped out who were going to rob or kidnap you. By maintaining a lot of space you could just whip around them (maybe flattening one 'em?) without having to take the time to back up in reverse. Who'd a thunk it?! Ah Colombia...Ok the idea is you take the driving class at an academia because at the end the school gets you your drivers licence guarrenteed included in the price of the class. Supposedly you can go to the department of transito and get (buy) one on your own, no test whatsoever, but apparently it's not so easy because there's a huge industry producing false ones. Mostly what I've learned in ten driving sessions is to honk the horn constantly and wave your arms around a lot in traffic. It's been fun.

Oh boy, Pitter. That does not sound like German driving lessons at all. Let alone everyday German driving. No honking and arm waving!

I enjoy your stories so much! Keep them coming!

Dear Diary,

meanwhile, I spent a weekend at Nicole's. She is still in the middle of her separation from Guenter. Funny thing is he just ignores it. I can tell she is getting there - it just takes some time.

And what's new in my life? Hm, not much. I work, go out, go to the gym, meet friends - a good life!

And we will go on vacation soon. We booked one week in Turkey - in a 5 star holiday resort. All inclusive. The only problem I found is that there seems to be no food between 4.00 pm and 4.30 pm. How will we survive? I am very much looking forward to spending a lazy week with Stefan.

And our neighbour Susanne is looking forward to watching the cats. What a relief! That makes it so much easier.

So we will go the Iron Maiden concert on Saturday and our flight to Turkey leaves at 6.05 am on Sunday, October 26. I am thinking about getting a hotel room close to the airport. I don't think we will want to back and forth that night...

Hello, hello,

Interesting comments... I have had a life change...for the good. Depression-wise, I had reached the point of sleeping between meals...some things have not been attended to in years. I had lost control of myself...enter a new doctor. New medience...I now stay awake during the day...completed the trailer I began building some 3-4 years ago...built my wife's cup display area (within a few days). Interesting, was the fact that I quit spending long hours doing A2K. Now, I am more interested in being physically active.

Hello Mapleleaf,

Good to hear from you - and good news, too! I am very happy for you. A2K is good - but there is definitely more to life! Keep me - I mean us - informed.

Take care! I mean it!

Mapleleaf

Great news about the depression. These things can be turned around!

Bad news about A2K time! Those of us over in quote land are hanging in there!

Dinner with Diane and Dyslexia
Last Thursday 10/9, I had a great time with Dyslexia and Diane during a stop over on their way to Arizona. We met at the home of Asheran and Natalie on the other side of the Rio Grande river. Dyslexia and Diane arrived about 5 p.m. after a seven hour drive from Denver. I guess Dyslexia is mellowing because he left his leather leggings and cowboy hat home in Colorado. Diane looked radiant.

I served bacon-wrapped fillet mignon steaks, potato salad, cole slaw and sliced tomatoes. Ash and Natalie baked sugar-free apple muffins for dessert.

After dark, we watched the balloon festival fire works from the balcony and enjoyed the lovely fall weather sans mosquitos.

Asherman opened a split of a Babcock 1986 late harvest riesling, a wine that knocked our socks off. Ever the wine perfectionist, Ash lamented that he thought the wine had passed it's prime, but we thought it the best we had ever tasted.

Dyslexia and Diane looked great, rested, and very happy together. We hope they will be back soon---and closer---as they explore Las Cruces, New Mexico as a possible new home.

We gave them big A2K hugs and wished them safe journey back to Colorado.

BumbleBeeBoogie

Won't your friend need those leggings in Las Cruces? Lot of tumbling tumbleweed. Anyway nice report.

Pitter
Pitter, Dyslexia was looking so suave, I almost didn't recognize him. He was wearing oxfords and burgandy socks, slacks and shirt instead of his fringed leather jacket. So sexy!

Dys and Diane are such a classy couple---and fun, too.

BBB

Dys in OXFORDS?!? I don't believe it.

Pitter, I watched the movie 'Proof of life' last night which is set in Colombia. I kept thinking of you the whole time. Did your ears ring? (That's how you know someone's thinking of you in Germany...)

But now I worry a bit about you... Take care of yourself!

Eva
Eva, Ash and Natalie had to give me smelling salts to revive me from the shock of seeing Dys in oxfords.
BBB

Just RUINS the mental picture, yaknowwhatImean?