Since Monday 16th of March 2020 I have been working at home, along with my entire office here in Amsterdam and other people across Europe and other parts around the world. Skype, Teams and IT networks in general are definitely stress tested in the biggest unplanned experiment that anyone can imagine.
I ventured out for some groceries and it was pretty decent in my neck of the woods, no spectacular supermarket fights and it was pretty well stocked, although there were more holes on the shelves than normal. In the afternoon I ventured out and was surprised to see quite a few people out and about in the park.
I decided not to go home for a visit at this time, as it would cause unnecessary health risk for me and my loved ones. I hope that sometime soon I will be able to visit without the fear of quarantine or disease.
In the air there is a general air of strangeness, even mild notes of panic. But on another level, far from the human factor of panic and disease, nature is slowly breaking into spring. Days are getting longer, the sun is coming to grace us with its presence, and the trees are slowly breaking into bloom.
A couple of colleagues were talking about going to Arequipa and on the spot I decided to join them. At the 2:30am alarm on Saturday morning I was reconsidering my life choices, but after flying at impossible-o’clock we arrived in Arequipa just after sunrise and my decisions started making sense again. A friend who lives locally picked us up at the airport and we took the hit the road straight away to visit the nature surrounding the city.
Lets be honest, to get out of the city it is necessary to drive through all the outskirts of the city and there are big trucks and ugly roads to pass, but with a bit of patience, our excellent driver and roadtrip partner got us through the traffic. Once we were on the open roads it was fascinating to see the changing landscapes, from dry rocky cliffs to a greener landscape.
One moment I was being slowly lulled asleep, and the next we saw the plume of smoke above an active volcano! It is so majestic and so special in this part of the Andes.
We stopped at the highest point in the mountains, 4910m, to take a picture at the marker and to have a look at the volcanoes in the area. Around here you can see a lot of the little stacks of stones, a type of prayer of the local people to the volcano gods. We also got the opportunity to see some of the local wildlife in their natural habitat.
Getting into the Colca valley, we were held to a bit of roadway ransom by dancers in traditional clothes who dance across the road. It was really nice but we were worried that we might be too late to see the condors fly. Luckily they let us pass and as we rounded the corner on the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, we saw the two majestic birds circling the sky. The valley itself is super majestic and the view was wonderful. Combined with the sunshine and blue sky it was something really special.
After admiring the birds and the sunshine we made our way back to the city, but not before stopping for some cuddles from a friendly alpaca named Pepe, and another named Chocolate, for obvious reasons.
Back in the city we had the chance to see how the locals shop. I find it quite charming that the ladies really do dress up in the traditional wear of the Andes. I also loved the fact that there is an entire plant store on the back of a bakkie (or truck as it is known in parts of the world outside of South Africa)
After a big lunch and a great evening of company and kareoke we set of the next day to see the sights of Arequipa.
Our first stop was at “La ruta de Sillar”, a borrow pit where they cut stones from white cold lava.
The city is full of the white stonework and the beautiful carvings can be seen all over the city, especially in the older buildings.
As it is with any visit to a Peruvian city, the food is absolutely incredible. I had a big lunch of Chupe de Camerones, a thick soup with river shrimp, that comes with a bib and everything. When in Arequipa, it is also recommended that you try the “jugo de papaya arequipena”. I am not usually a fan of papaya juice, but these aren’t normal papayas. These little things are tiny and packed with flavour and just simply tasty. The restaurant, El Nueva Palomino, is a fantastic place to try the best of the Arequpena cuisine, but be warned, the portions are huge. Feel free to try the Cuy(Guinea pig) or the trout as well.
After lunch we visited a gorgeous viewpoint nearby to see the sites of the city, and take in some more of the gorgeous white stonework.
There is nothing like a sunset over a volcano to remind you what a lovely weekend we have passed, and to end it all off with some desert in a tiny square to see the city lights before taking off.
Life in Lima is filled with interesting and strange memories, and sometimes just mundane. I arrived for a party late, more than an hour after the appointed time, and i was still the first one there! But I did like the sign in the bathroom:
Don’t throw into the toilet: Paper Feminine products Cellphoens Love letters Socks Soda cans Hopes or dreams
Another memorable site in Lima will always be the cats in Parque Kennedy, a clowder of cats who live there and are cared for by a community of really special people. Sitting or strolling in the park is always worth your while.
My life in Lima Peru centered around 2 things… surfing and working on the Panamerican games. So how great was the pleasure in working all those into a single day? After preparing the venues for the games, we had to get it ready for games mode. I liked the metaphor in turning a normal vehicle into a Dakar Rally vehicle – adding all sorts of extra features.
To do this, our team was ramped up to bring in expertise and extra hands for all the extra preparations. On one of these days I arranged a surf lesson for some of my newly arrived colleagues. Due to specific conditions on the day we visited a different beach than normal, and this one had SAND! Nancy learnt what we are talking about when we said its like being stuck in a washing machine, and Jesus finally got to walk on water!
Getting ready for the games also means hosting test events. During these events some of the additional features get activated, but mostly it is to see how the venue performs during a real match. So when the venue I was responsible for was hosting a test event, I was super happy to be present and to see the first matches being played in a building that I saw develop from a plan on an architects screen, to a real place with crowds. cheers, and even Milko, the mascot!
One of the things I learnt while living abroad is how much there is in my beautiful home country to appreciate. So on a visit to the family, I convinced my trusty travel partners (my parents) to make a 2 day trip to the Kruger National park.
Not a real rhino
My last visit was when I was a teenager and I was excited about the opportunity to visit this special place again.
Big five minus Rhino (not advisable to photograph due to Geotags and poaching) and the Leopard (it was a bit too far away(
What a treat! We spent spent two nights in the park and we were not disappointed! Not only did we see all of the big five, we were also treated by the sight of some other small and big wildlife.
During those 3 days and 2 nights in the park, I was reminded once more at how absolutely lucky we are to have a spot in the paradise on earth.
Its not every day you get picked up by a guy in a van, and definitely not when the van is as cool as this one. Our guide picked us up from the hotel and took us to his studio near the beach, where we were ready to get our hands dirty.
This was probably one of my most memorable days on my Mexican food adventure, and how could it not be? Fish tacos, the ocean, and giant margaritas.
In this class I had the opportunity to clean and prepare a fish for the barbeque. we marinated a few in a lovely sauce, and some other in the sun. we also made some Mexican ceviche and a salad to enjoy with our fish tacos and quesadillas.
What an incredible end to an incredible holiday. Everything about the place makes me want to go back! One day….
Oaxaca is known as a foodie destination in Mexico and also the home of Mole, a dipping sauce that is often made with chocolate (or bugs). We had the opportunity to attend a cooking class to learn how it is done and i was super happy for the opportunity.
After starting the roasting of some tomatoes, we we walked down to through the city to the local market to get the ingredients. Here the instructor also showed us the different ingredients and how its prepared in the market. I enjoyed the Trump piñata in the gift shop.
Back in the cooking school we set about cutting, grinding and cooking, while snacking on some beautiful and delicious local fruits. Its incredible to taste the local flavours. We even make two kinds of our our own tortillas, plain and with some squash blossoms in them.
Cooking lesson in progress
After an instructive session we finally sit down to eat on the gorgeous veranda with a beautifully set table.
After the lesson I had the opportunity to stroll around the town, to take in the sights, get myself a funky hat, and try another of the famous Oaxaca chocolate milkshakes. Man, they are good!
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As this is our last night in this magical city, we head out for a upper scale restaurant on a rooftop terrace to take in the balmy nights, some incredible taquitos and a couple of cocktails!
In the last few years I have inadvertently had a few very special birthday adventures in far flung and exotic places and this year was no different. To celebrate my special day, our guide treated me to a cake of my choosing (chocolate tres leches) and I enjoyed it with a cup of incredible Oaxaca hot chocolate. Definitely a feast fit for a birthday!
After settling in at Oaxaca we made our way to the Tlacolula market for all the sights and sounds of a traditional market and a traditional barbacoa tasting. It was wonderous to see the local ladies still wearing tradtional dress going about their every day market chores. In this part of the world it looks like time stood still and every day life carries on the way it did for the last few hundred years, with the possible exception of a few tourists of course. The adjacent church has a chapel that has an interesting display of the saints – portraying them in the way they died!
Following the market tour, we visited the ancient ruins at Mitla and marveled at the incredible stonemasonry. This was not built yesterday and yet it remains intact, through years and earthquakes. The adjacent village is still operating today and our guide told us that there bits of ruins that are in people’s back yards because they just always lived there.
On the way back to Oaxaca city, we stop at an Agave factory to learn about the process of making the liquor and then of course taste a bit ourselves. It is definitely part of the quintessential Mexican experience!
Oaxaca itself has a vibrant market with a smoke corridor that sells the meat on offer, all sorts of snacks to be had and so many incredible colours to behold.
Puebla is known for its beautiful tile work, but in my mind it sticks out as the city with the colours. It is filled with beautiful crafts and I was struck by the detail that goes into everything, from the pretty doorways, the detailed embroidery, the painted tiles and even the dessert!
Every building, right down to the bollard are decorated in pretty colours and beautiful tiles and i could not help being inspired by the colours and the spirit that would lead to this kind of beauty.
A rare treat was the chapel covered in gold leaf, an impressive site as always
No Mexican adventure could be complete without a visit to the arena for a bit of Lucho Libre. It is definitely a spectacle, and if you look past the acts and play fighting, it is definitely a show of great acrobatics and athleticism. Not to mention a showmanship. Another aspect that was incredible to watch is the engagment of the crowd, they are invested in the triumphs of their heroes and heroines, they have obvious favourites and the characters definitely have a narrative and an inside joke running with the crowd! Definitely a fun and colourful experience.
No stay to Latinamerica would be complete without a bit of a visit to Mexico, so when I had a few free days thats exactly what I did. On arrival my lovely guide, Karina took my straight to Teotihuacan. My flight was slightly delayed and getting out of the airport was a challenge so we had to fight through traffic but we made it to the complex with a little time spare to see the complex before closing time. Although I had to rush through it, I had the rare opportunity to see it with a nearly empty space, with only a few other tourists around.
The grandiosity is striking and I can only imagine what it must have been like to walk these avenues in the days when the pyramids were covered with beautiful decorations. Persons from various ancient cultures walking these streets in their full garb, probably with a few animals around.
My arrival in Mexico City wasn’t without incident and my wallet was pick-pocketed in the 20m between where I left the taxi and entered the hotel. Moral of the story? Do not carry your wallet in your pocket. Luckily for amazing strangers-turned friends the biggest damage was to my ego, and I managed to have an enjoyable vacation nonetheless.
I joined a tour Intrepid Travel, to do a Real Food Adventure in Mexico and it was a really fantastic experience.
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After a quick introduction to the city, we went on a taco crawl to fill our bellies and get a taste of the adventure that awaits. I got my first taste of real tacos, even at the kind of hole in the wall places where you will barely have a second look! I love the fact that every little eatery has its own house version of the red and green sauce, with varying degrees of spiciness, but always packed with flavour!
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The next day we were treated with a view over the Zocalo – the main square – as the sun was rising and they were raising the massive Mexican flag, with trumpets and everything!
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After breakfast we got to do some sightseeing including the amazing murals of Diego Rivera that shows a history of the colonisation and take-over of Mexico for the resources.
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Other stops on the tour included a cake shop that takes ornate cakes to a new level, the postal palace, and the beautifully tiled building.
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In the afternoon free time we took a hop on hop off bus followed by a stroll around to have a look at what the city has to offer. This ranged from the colourful markets that sells anything from street tacos to Disney costumes made in China, and the very beautiful Grand Hotel with a spectacular glass ceiling and porters dressed up like soldiers from The Nutcracker.
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Dinner was a feast once more of course, and we finished the night off with the beautiful view of the cathedral from our hotel roof terrace!
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