Installment 1: What we ate in Peru

Cocoa leaves for tea ...it's legal, relax.

Let's start with the good stuff first, shall we? The food in Peru was wonderful (well, at first...later on we weren't feeling so hot but I will save that for the Injuries & Illnesses post). We dove right in, being very adventurous in what we tried. Some of the best food we had was in Arequipa but everywhere we went the flavors were awesome. Take a peek at some of the best meals...

Trucha (I think it was crispy trout on yams)

A little bit of everything ( wedding food, first course)

Chocolate fondue ( prize for anyone who can identify the little round fruit?)

Juanes ( chicken & rice in Biajoa leaf) and vegetable curry

Aji de Gallina and corn chowder

Just chocolate mousse

Sizzling lamb, beef, alpaca and ostrich with yummy dipping sauces and French Fries

Pisco sour sampler

Adobo and rocoto rellena

Choclo con queso and palta rellena

Shrimp ceviche with yams and corn

Rocoto relleno and palta rellena

Roasted corn

Fruitas

Not Pictured: bottled water sin gas, trail mix, granola bars, Zone bars, dark chocolate, cereal, Chez Maggie's sausage & red pepper pizza, nasty muna, and the many pills we had to take for all our ailments.

Americanos come home

We are home! We had a WONDERFUL trip full of new experiences, food, people, and culture!! I have so much to share but I will need to do it in various installments. Stay tuned for posts on the following topics: Stray Dogs in the Peruvian Culture, Ro$$ & Yesika's Wedding Festivities, Our Injuries & Illnesses, Surviving a Cab Ride in Arequipa, Cusco- How 11,000 ft Kicked Our Butts, Gnats of the Sacred Valley, and Going Broke in the Andes...

Nori seemed to have a great time with her grandparents while we were away. They went to the Fair, playgrounds, The MN Children's Museum, out to dinner at Tuggs on the river, colored pictures, blew bubbles, played and played! I missed her like crazy, complete with nervous breakdown on the plane ride to Lima from Miami. She seemed happy to see us, kinda staring in disbelief that we had finally returned. While we were away, she developed an affinity for Jimmy Buffet, now requesting "Jimmy Buffet...Cheeseburger" as her favorite song. So happy to be home with our girl!

Thanks Gamma & Gampa (and everyone else who helped out)!

Happy Birthday Anders Ho!

To Andy from the Andes

the best cook/father figure I know. Not for your kids, for me. Hugs!

Feliz cumpleanos a Dorothy!

Tu eres el perro de mis suenos! Tu tienes seis anos hoy!!!

Adios!

Our first South American trip has begun! Nori is being cared for by "Gamma & Gampa" but we will miss her terribly! Don't worry, I WILL bore you with all the details and photos once we get home! Everyone stay safe and healthy while we are gone (Mom, I am talking to you!).

Love you all!

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A Peruvian Preview

On August 29th, we fly to Lima via along layover in Miami for a brief overnight stay and then fly out to Arequipa the next morning. In Arequipa we are staying at the adorable Casa Arequipa B & B for two nights while exploring all the local sights, restaurants and cultures of Peru's "White City", the county's second largest.

From there we fly in to Cusco, elevation11,000 feet, to tour historic buildings and enormous Catholic churches built on Inca ruins, view Incan art, and try new culinary adventures such as cuy (roasted Guinea pig) and ceviche. Did I mention you can get an hour long massage for $15?

After two nights at the Hotel Rumi Punku in Cusco, we will trek to Machu Picchu

The rest of our trip will be in the Sacred Valley for some R&R and Ross & Yesika's wedding at our resort, RioSagrado, just outside of Urumbamba. We fly home on Sept 7th, perhaps with an appreciation for pisco sour?

Can't get enough of ourselves...

New pics!

8 Switch

Winona Daily News does an article on my brother's band...