A k a day in Lima Peru (Day 13)

 Well, well, well, day 13 and fast approaching the half-way stage. Today once again saw a split effort. Sheila gathered her 5k walking up to the shops for a few emergency provisions before the big weekend shop so I didn't want to drag her out for another 5k to accompany me. I therefore hopped on her bike and pedalled my way to glory. Hence it will have to be a few more random pictures from the archive to show you a bit more about Lima and what our life is like here.

It is very popular to use the San Borja parks for photo shoots. The Peruvians seem to love getting their picture taken and they can be seen selfying right left and centre but they also get the professionals in at the drop of a hat. This picture represents the kind of things that happen in the park but it is not real people (as you can tell). A bit of work must have gone into creating this though.

Will you marry me?

Enjoying the pisco sours

Let us go off on a completely different tack and tell you about when we went to purchase our sofas for the livingroom. We had been in the store a couple of times so maybe they sensed a sale in the offing but on this day they had a camarero (waiter) who was preparing and serving drinks from a bar in the middle of the showroom. We were invited to sit on a comfy chair while they brought us some Pisco Sours the very famous Peruvian beverage.

Did I say it would be some random images? Where are we off to now? Let's go back to the Malecon but at the other end. You will recall a few images with the ocean on the right and Lima to the left. Well in the very distance was a district called Chorillos and at the ned on the hill top they have their very own Christ the Redeemer Statue. It's not as big as the Rio one but when you look at the car for scale it is still pretty impressive.

Maybe the statue is saying a prayer for a winner at the races. We went there for a hour or two one fine day. Never bet anything because we know (a) it's a mugs game and (b) we didn't know what to do!

The tall white building in the middle of the picture is the one we used to live in. It is 29 storeys tall and we were on floor 10.

I did say it would be random and this change of direction is really a curved ball. Before the lockdown we had a chance to go on one school trip. It was a weekend working trip to Chincha an area of Peru that was devastated in an earthquake on August 15th 2007. Since then, yes since then, some families have been without a home. Our school Markham raises funds to buy materials and then the students go and build houses for the families. About 200 volunteers pile into buses in Lima at 4am and drive to Chincha where we get breakfast in the garden (all 200 people) of the organiser's house. We pitch the tents (yes all 200 people) in the garden and head off to start construction. Here is where the family we had were living

And here is the house under construction.

The kids do the building and the painting and the family get to choose the colour scheme. If they can, the families muck in and help with the build. The house at the end has no kitchen or toilet (they still have to use the communal ones) but they have two bedrooms and a livingroom ...... and a roof. I cannot describe how humbling it is to see the joy on the faces as the construction takes shape. During lockdown the four times a year expeditions have had to stop so that is about 50 disappointed families still waiting their turn.

By Sunday afternoon 12 - 14 families have a house each and 200 washed out but happy kids head back to Lima.

This is by no means the schools only charitable project. We are doing Banderas Blancas por Manchay (White Flags) where last year the kids raised S/ 287,000 about £55,000 for soup kitchens to feed 1250 people in Manchay for 3 months. Their target is to do it again this year.

There are so many worthy causes all over the world so if we all just do want we can when we can and be thankful for what we have got. Every little bit helps.

OK random reminiscences over for Day 13.

See you all again soon.