We arrived at the Lima International Airport on time – twenty minutes past twelve Tuesday morning 15th January. Took another length of time to negotiate Customs and pick up the baggage before we exited the arrival depot to be met by the usual thousands of Peruvians trying to organise a taxi for you and your luggage. Thank heavens Leo and Michael stood head and shoulders above the crowd to welcome us. Many hugs and handshakes followed.
Michael took our heavy luggage to our new home in Motupe Montenegro and Leo took us to Punta Negra for a few days recovery. This recovery process was very much desired for two reasons – Marion needed to slow down after the end of school activities, Christmas and packing for the trip. I needed to settle the aching joints; the flights had certainly caused an amount of havoc within our bodies. I think that general excitement also plays a significant part.
Leo brought us to Michael’s on Friday 18th to settle into the new home for the year. Our new address sounding something like Motope/Montenegro, Canto Grande. What could Marion and I say, it is perfect in every respect and both Leo and Michael had thought of everything possible – furniture, fittings, food you name it and it was both supplied and in place, they are just an amazing pair of men. The house security measures are equally incredible!
We spent our first few days just taking in the house and the surroundings, so vastly different sights and sounds. Eventually we took a bus ride to the giant Metro store about nine kilometers down the road, another experience of automobile action and close shaves! The large supermarkets in Lima are massive and cater for just about anything from electrical goods, to furniture to basic food to tooth picks. On this venture we had to come home by taxi due to purchases such as bucket and mop, glasses, bottled water, food and other odds and ends for the house.
The weekend saw us at three Masses within the Motupe Montenegro parish, seven p.m. Saturday, eight a.m. Sunday morning up the valley and finally seven p.m. at the main church in Motupe. The main churches of Motupe and Montenegro are really well designed buildings while those up the sides of the valley are basically small chapels with very basic furnishings. Mick estimates over one hundred thousand people live within his parish or barrio boundaries!
Some random thoughts, imagine buying fresh bread rolls from a lady wandering the unmade roads with a child’s hooter to attract attention or paying one sol to a man on a bicycle with a home made rack on the back to take away your rubbish or even buying mangoes from a lady on the corner who sits there all day long waving away the flies. Buying beer from the corner shop proves difficult, they want an empty for every full one sold so I need to some how work on building my supply of empties!
Michael took our heavy luggage to our new home in Motupe Montenegro and Leo took us to Punta Negra for a few days recovery. This recovery process was very much desired for two reasons – Marion needed to slow down after the end of school activities, Christmas and packing for the trip. I needed to settle the aching joints; the flights had certainly caused an amount of havoc within our bodies. I think that general excitement also plays a significant part.
Leo brought us to Michael’s on Friday 18th to settle into the new home for the year. Our new address sounding something like Motope/Montenegro, Canto Grande. What could Marion and I say, it is perfect in every respect and both Leo and Michael had thought of everything possible – furniture, fittings, food you name it and it was both supplied and in place, they are just an amazing pair of men. The house security measures are equally incredible!
We spent our first few days just taking in the house and the surroundings, so vastly different sights and sounds. Eventually we took a bus ride to the giant Metro store about nine kilometers down the road, another experience of automobile action and close shaves! The large supermarkets in Lima are massive and cater for just about anything from electrical goods, to furniture to basic food to tooth picks. On this venture we had to come home by taxi due to purchases such as bucket and mop, glasses, bottled water, food and other odds and ends for the house.
The weekend saw us at three Masses within the Motupe Montenegro parish, seven p.m. Saturday, eight a.m. Sunday morning up the valley and finally seven p.m. at the main church in Motupe. The main churches of Motupe and Montenegro are really well designed buildings while those up the sides of the valley are basically small chapels with very basic furnishings. Mick estimates over one hundred thousand people live within his parish or barrio boundaries!
Some random thoughts, imagine buying fresh bread rolls from a lady wandering the unmade roads with a child’s hooter to attract attention or paying one sol to a man on a bicycle with a home made rack on the back to take away your rubbish or even buying mangoes from a lady on the corner who sits there all day long waving away the flies. Buying beer from the corner shop proves difficult, they want an empty for every full one sold so I need to some how work on building my supply of empties!
We had a good day yesterday, Marion went with Clare, a New Zealand Josephite Sister, for a few hours teaching some small children, our double bed arrived as did the carpenter to measure and make the actual frame and Mick and I went shopping for a book case, which by the way traveled home on the top of his trusty little VW through the chaotic traffic! The locals laugh their heads off when they see me trying to get into the front passenger seat. The only bad news was that Telefonica Peru still have not appeared to connect the phone and internet. We keep being told manana oh pasado manana – tomorrow or the next day! Some things take a long time in Peru.
Five of us celebrated Australia Day one day early due to Mick’s usual commitments on the actual day – Masses, Baptisms and even Weddings. The group consisted of Sister Margaret Malady, a Josephite Sister from Gippsland, Padre Napa, a Columban from Tonga, Michael, Marion and myself.
Still no sign of the base for our bed or Telefonica Peru to connect our phone and internet, you guessed the same response, manana o pasado manana! Wrong, Telefonica Peru arrived on Australia Day, five minutes after we arrived home with a brand new printer/photocopier. However, the internet is still another dream for a few days. I really need to work on my levels of patience. When they eventually arrived it was during a power blackout and could no nothing until the power was returned, thank heavens that occurred two hours later and the connection was achieved.
An evangelical church is literally next door and all day Saturdays are fun, monotonous music and singing interspersed with lengthy sermons beginning at six in the morning and goes non stop till late in the evening. The congregation shows fantastic devotion and perseverance.
Our second Saturday evening Mass at Motupe was interesting, there was a wedding in the middle of the Mass – once it began! The bride arrived about twenty minutes late, however, apparently this is usual. After that all went well until Marion ‘mislaid’ her best sun glasses in the church, one would think that items are safe in church. She has decided to pray to her favourite patron of lost things – Saint Anthony. Personally I do not think Saint Anthony operates too well in Peru, I would think that you would have more chance of finding them by hunting the little second hand stalls in the markets! Time will tell of whose faith is stronger.
Imagine in Australia a wedding party celebration going on in the suburbs till about four thirty in the morning and the public address system cranked up to its highest levels. Well it happened almost next door last night! It seems as though sleep will be easier during the week rather than on weekends.
Mick keeps telling us that our popularity grows as shown by the ever increasing number of people interested in enrolling in the classes to learn English. Our first information meeting next Monday evening should tell the truth.
The meeting was a great success, although as half expected, the full complement did not attend. One giant plus was that we started on time and those who attended were most enthusiastic and possessed a varying degree of English. They departed most excited about the prospect of the first class next Monday evening; we only hope that we can fulfill their dreams and expectations. Time will tell.
The final few days of January provided the both of us with two more fascinating experiences. Firstly, Mick offered to drive us to Acho, the huge plant and flower market for Lima. You would not believe that such an array of falling down, grubby sheds could house such an amazing range of fresh flowers, plants, pots, fertilizers and bagged soil. We had great fun shopping for herbs, pots and soil, the actual beginnings of our little garden. We will go back very soon for more plants and slabs of lawn so that we can create the finished product. The owners of our house are very impressed with our endeavours.
The second experience happened yesterday when we took a small bus, collectivo, from Montenegro to the centre of Lima. Fifty minutes of sardine like travel while we dodged, weaved, braked and accelerated into the city. I can assure that recommended number of passengers does not apply in Lima. After fifteen minutes of stretching I managed to get into a taxi to take us to Miraflores to meet Leo, achieve some shopping and have lunch together in a fine restaurant on the cliff face overlooking the Pacific Ocean. To use the phrase ‘chalk and cheese’ would not even be a valid way to try and describe the difference between Motupe Montenegro and Miraflores, two vastly different areas of Lima and only about thirty kilometers apart.
Five of us celebrated Australia Day one day early due to Mick’s usual commitments on the actual day – Masses, Baptisms and even Weddings. The group consisted of Sister Margaret Malady, a Josephite Sister from Gippsland, Padre Napa, a Columban from Tonga, Michael, Marion and myself.
Still no sign of the base for our bed or Telefonica Peru to connect our phone and internet, you guessed the same response, manana o pasado manana! Wrong, Telefonica Peru arrived on Australia Day, five minutes after we arrived home with a brand new printer/photocopier. However, the internet is still another dream for a few days. I really need to work on my levels of patience. When they eventually arrived it was during a power blackout and could no nothing until the power was returned, thank heavens that occurred two hours later and the connection was achieved.
An evangelical church is literally next door and all day Saturdays are fun, monotonous music and singing interspersed with lengthy sermons beginning at six in the morning and goes non stop till late in the evening. The congregation shows fantastic devotion and perseverance.
Our second Saturday evening Mass at Motupe was interesting, there was a wedding in the middle of the Mass – once it began! The bride arrived about twenty minutes late, however, apparently this is usual. After that all went well until Marion ‘mislaid’ her best sun glasses in the church, one would think that items are safe in church. She has decided to pray to her favourite patron of lost things – Saint Anthony. Personally I do not think Saint Anthony operates too well in Peru, I would think that you would have more chance of finding them by hunting the little second hand stalls in the markets! Time will tell of whose faith is stronger.
Imagine in Australia a wedding party celebration going on in the suburbs till about four thirty in the morning and the public address system cranked up to its highest levels. Well it happened almost next door last night! It seems as though sleep will be easier during the week rather than on weekends.
Mick keeps telling us that our popularity grows as shown by the ever increasing number of people interested in enrolling in the classes to learn English. Our first information meeting next Monday evening should tell the truth.
The meeting was a great success, although as half expected, the full complement did not attend. One giant plus was that we started on time and those who attended were most enthusiastic and possessed a varying degree of English. They departed most excited about the prospect of the first class next Monday evening; we only hope that we can fulfill their dreams and expectations. Time will tell.
The final few days of January provided the both of us with two more fascinating experiences. Firstly, Mick offered to drive us to Acho, the huge plant and flower market for Lima. You would not believe that such an array of falling down, grubby sheds could house such an amazing range of fresh flowers, plants, pots, fertilizers and bagged soil. We had great fun shopping for herbs, pots and soil, the actual beginnings of our little garden. We will go back very soon for more plants and slabs of lawn so that we can create the finished product. The owners of our house are very impressed with our endeavours.
The second experience happened yesterday when we took a small bus, collectivo, from Montenegro to the centre of Lima. Fifty minutes of sardine like travel while we dodged, weaved, braked and accelerated into the city. I can assure that recommended number of passengers does not apply in Lima. After fifteen minutes of stretching I managed to get into a taxi to take us to Miraflores to meet Leo, achieve some shopping and have lunch together in a fine restaurant on the cliff face overlooking the Pacific Ocean. To use the phrase ‘chalk and cheese’ would not even be a valid way to try and describe the difference between Motupe Montenegro and Miraflores, two vastly different areas of Lima and only about thirty kilometers apart.
As you may notice security is a problem, even to the extent of caging in our 'back yard'!
All of a sudden it is February and we wonder what experiences it will bring.
All of a sudden it is February and we wonder what experiences it will bring.
