Social Life Rocks!

September 12, 2009

      OK - just have to tell you all that our social life here is like nothing I've ever seen before! We're busy most evenings, especially on the weekends. What fun adventures we have, even if it's just to check out a new restaurant, or visit a new boot/shoe store! Lots of delicious food, too. Last week, we were out for dinner on Thursday night at a wine bar where we ate lots of appetizers as we tried different types of wine. An evening for Women & Wine for me on Friday night, and Saturday I ran with the Peru Runners (my new hobby), before we went to a friends' house Saturday night for fabulous  baked garlic, shrimp with cocktail sauce, eggplant appetizers followed by homemade lasagne, fresh salad, and even creme brulee for dessert.  What a treat! We were out again Sunday for late lunch/early dinner of chicken and ribs - yum!

       We took a break on Monday and Tuesday but were out again on Wednesday for a movie at the South American Explorers Club, which we joined last weekend. The movie was good, but was a rather depressing story of Peru during the 80's when Sendero Luminosa was terrorizing the population.  Seemed like things were just so out of control.
    

(On the side, a picture of causa - mashed yellow 

potato with layers of tuna or shrimp - delicious!)

On Thursday we had another delicious dinner with friends at an Italian trattoria, and then on Friday, we went to a huge all-staff TGIF at our school superintendant's place ! It's a whirlwind of social activities and is so much fun.
     Today, I ran again (Saturday-and with all of this socializing, I think it is going to be a necessity!)) and got my arm gently twisted into going for a massage. Wow - so luxurious! The massage felt fabulous after an 8-mile run, and the location is breathtaking, The spa is in a gym that sort of dangles over a cliff above the ocean. The room I was in has all glass walls and through the whole massage, I could just relax and listen to the waves crashing on the beach below.
     I rushed home for a quick change and was out again for an afternoon at a pottery factory with the same friends. We drove like mad to get there because we lingered a bit longer than we should have at our massages, and the factory closed at 1:00 - we pulled up to the gate at exactly 1:00 and thankfully they let us in. We all shopped for nearly and hour and a half before we drove a half hour back into Lima.
     On the way to the factory we had quite an adventure because we inadvertently took a round about way to get there. On the way back, we planned a quicker return, but drove directly into a police roadblock. They were stopping everyone and checking for insurance papers. So much for my growlingly hungry belly! We weren't sure what to do because we weren't keen on paying a fee to go on our merry way, and weren't entirely sure what we were being asked for. In the end, the husband of one of my friends was called, put on the phone with the police officer, and a few minutes later, we were once again on our way! So, still famished, we were finally heading off for lunch at 3:00. Longer day than anticipated, but what fun! We ate at a cool restaurant on the water, almost directly below where we had our massages earlier in the day. We could watch the waves crashing nearly under our table!  (pic from http://www.in-lan.com/en/0710/images/top_lima_cala_restaurante_a.jpg)
      What a lovely morning and afternoon. I had fun and was out all day.   Spencer just left a bit ago to join a few of the other new guys for dinner. I passed on going out tonight, and think I may be heading to bed before too much longer. Starting the day at 6:30 with a run makes for a long day!