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Trip to Peru, the 10th day No.4

After check-in, we went into the restaurant opposite the hostel.

“May we see the menu please?” said Saul and Cesar in Spanish.  “No, we don’t have a menu.”, was the answer.  What????  Looking around, I saw several people eating a soup with lots of vegitable in it.  “I will have that one”.

Cesar had the same one, followed by “Arroz con pollo” (Peruvian chicken with rice), followed by a magcup of tea.  This is Peruvian 3 course menu.  How much?  It was s/3.  About 50p.  Wow!      

Trip to Peru, the 10th day No.3

After the vast, endless mountain range, a small but civilized town appeared.  It was Paucartambo.  It has its own square and was crowded with people. 

First of all, we went to find a place to stay.  Among several hostels, the one Saul chose was Hostel Victoria.  The hotel in Tarma was reasonably spacious and had a hot shower.  They changed bed linen to clearn starchy ones every morning.  The price was s/52 for a doubleroom per night.  About £8.7.  On the other hand, this Hostel Victoria charged s/25 for a double per night which was about £4.2!!!  Very cheap!

We entered the room.  It was very small.  There was a small double bed and free space a bit smaller than the bed itself.  However, there was a big TV and a toilet and a hot shower.

There was one thing missing.  Normally there should be this.  Can you guess what it was?

It was a door between the bedroom and the shower room (with toilet).  There was no door!!!!

In order not to repeat the same miserable thing happened at San Ramón, I slept in my sleeping bag this time.

Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation

The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation (Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA, http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu/) holds an International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration every three years, and the next exhibition will be held from 30 September 2007 to 21 December 2007.

I recently received a letter from Mr J White, the curator of Art, the Hunt Institute which told me that they would include my paintings for the next exhibition.  The two paintings which are accepted are:  Encyclia cochleata and Encyclia dickinsoniana.   Both of the paintings are included in this blog.

I am very pleased to hear it.  I will visit the USA for the first time next year.

 

Trip to Peru, the 10th day No.1

restaurant in 4125m

On the 31st of August, one day before going back to Lima, we left Tarma where we stayed 6 consecutive nights for Paucartambo, 2500m (8202f).  As it takes 4 hours by car from Tarma to Paucartambo, we planned to have breakfast at the restaurant next to our hotel at 6.30 am before leaving.  Unfortunately we found the restaurant still closed then, we left Tarma without breakfast. 

Soon after leaving Tarma, the scenery changed to pure mountainous region.  Mountains after mountains and nothing else.  Just so vast that it is very difficult to think it is the region more than 3000m (9843f) above sea level.  It is just like normal plains.

We turned right at Las Vegas into a major road(3N) towards Huánuco 1910m (6266f), driving through San Pedro de Cajas and Junín.  Junín is the centre for the production of Maca.  “Look!  There is Maca field there!”, “Look!  There too!”, said Saul.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing there but plateau, and occasional small towns appeared suddenly and disappeared into vast plateau again.

Another small town started to appear and we found this restaurant.  We decided to drop in for breakfast.  I ordered coca tea here as well. 

“What is the altitude around here?”  A surprising answer came back, “4125 m (13533 f)”  Wow!

  

Trip to Peru, the 9th day No.19

fiesta in Tarma

The wonderful thing is that these floats were all hand-made by the children of the class.  I imagine that the children had a great time creating these floats together under the guidance of the teacher.  Simple but clever device was used.  I was very impressed.

This fiesta recalled me to my high school days.  We made a big paper doll of our class teacher after school in order to cheer for our team at the PE day.  Its hands and legs didn’t move.  It wasn’t illuminated either.  But even now, XX years after that day, we still cherish the memory when we gather together.     

These children will cherish the days of creating these floats together in the future.