Where I live...

Took some photos of my new abode.  The first pic is of my little room (also for the hired help many times, it's right off of the kitchen) and the second is the house cat, Boris.  This is all in a 15 story building probably built in the late seventies.  I'll be here until the first week of December - someone already had a reservation starting the 15th.  I'll be moving to fancier accomodations (with my own bathroom!) in a house in Miraflores rented out by the South American Explorers' Club.

Lúcuma

Saludos a todos-

I'm moved into my cute apartment in Jesús María (ten min walk from work) and I have three fun roommates. There is Yessica- '10 Stanford grad doing a Fullbright; Kaylin - '08 Rutgers grad also doing a Fullbright; and Ibis, a fiery Peruvian woman who holds the lease on the apartment.  Pictures of them to follow shortly.

For those of you who knew me when I studied abroad in Santiago, Chile (11 years ago!), I became slightly obsessed with the fruit known as Lúcuma.  Here in Perú, folks here are really into their postres de Lúcuma.  Most common are the ice cream and the cake,  but there is also lúcuma flavored syrup with which to top your ice cream and even some more savory options- like chicken topped with a lúcuma sauce.  Yum!  Below are a couple pics (from the Internet) of my favorite lúcuma items.  When my birthday rolls around in a few weeks, I am most definitely having a lúcuma cake.

Arrived in Lima

I'm at a Starbucks (again) in the swanky neighborhood of San Isidro. The Lonely Planet describes the neighborhood like this:  "San Isidro is where many of Lima's elite can be found:  inhabiting expansive modernist homes and sipping cocktails at members-only social clubs.  (Want to fit in?  Carry a tennis racket.)"
I think this is a little extreme, but has some truth to it.  My favorite Starbucks is in Óvalo Gutierrez (pictured below), which is a veritable Gringolandia:  Chili's and TGIFriday's are the other hot spots.  Tonight, I'll be at that Fridays with another American to watch the Giants' game.  I actually bought a Giants hat at SFO before I left so I can sport a little SF pride.  Surprising?  Perhaps.

Lima is overcast and humid, but not hot (it's like 65 degrees today).  I hear the fog lifts for about six weeks in January/February, so that'll be the time to hit the beach.  I've been walking most places and am a popular target for honking (mostly taxis hoping I want a ride, but also some gringa gawkers).  Crossing the street is a bit tricky- there are few crosswalks and pedestrians do not have the right of way.  So it's a lot of scampering across when it looks clear (both me and actual Peruvians).  Good times.  Below is a street scene a little further north in San Isidro.  Where are the tennis rackets?  :-)

About to Depart

This is my new blog to chronicle my time in Lima, Peru.