Steve’s Last Night in Arequipa
SUMMARY: Steve’s last night in Arequipa – a brief night out to the bars. Pictures from Chuck and Steve’s time here.
Chuck and Steve had a blast in Cusco. They met some Irish girls. Chuck had sex with one of them and Steve made out with another. They returned to Arequipa Wednesday. Chuck slept all night and flew out Thursday morning. Steve, Beto and I went out Thursday night.
At the club, Beto knew a girl at a table of girls and gringos. One of the gringos was a 17 year old kid. Another gringo, who had dreadlocks and sandals, teaches English. Another gringo at the table was getting married this weekend. He runs a tourism agency catering to Americans visiting Peru – mountains, jungle, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Colca, Lima, whatever. … Read more
Human Rights in Peru
SUMMARY: While researching for an article for an encyclopedia company, I discovered the not-so-stellar human rights record of Peru and detail the most troubling points in this post.
I recently finished an article on Peru for a publishing company in New York. I had to research quite a bit and learned a lot of things I did not want to know – specifically the details of Peru’s human rights record. While America has come under fire for things like denying due process to Guantanamo detainees, waterboarding, and rendition, this is child’s play compared to what I read about Peru. My friend Lucia wanted to know specifically what bothered me. Where to start? … Read more
More Gringos Visit: Inebriation Ensues
SUMMARY: Chuck and Steve visit Arequipa. Another drunken gringo weekend.
Two buddies, Chuck and Steve, came to Arequipa for the weekend. Chuck arrived Thursday night and Steve arrived Friday morning. I planned on taking Chuck to Dady O’s – a sleazy reggaeton club downtown known for young easy women and dirt cheap drinks. But alas, Rosa called me around ten to tell me that she and a friend were at Deja Vu. She and I had arranged for her to line up a couple friends for Chuck and Steve. She was with the main English speaker, Evelyn, at Deja Vu.
Chuck and I arrived at Deja Vu and started drinking and dancing salsa, cumbia, and reggaeton. Chuck, when he’s not being a shy introvert, is really goofy and makes fun of himself to get laughs. Evelyn and Rosa had no idea what to make of him. Latino guys aren’t like that. The girls got a kick out of him. Chuck made out with Evelyn when we were all saying goodbye. That made me happy. … Read more
Natural Weight: Weight Loss in Peru
SUMMARY: I lose a ton of weight since moving to Peru and explain why.
After the virus or whatever kind of divine wrath was cast upon my digestive system, coworkers told me i looked a lot skinnier – just in the days since getting sick. i weighed myself at 190 lbs. I weighed about 225 when I moved here… Read more
My First Earthquake
Arequipa experienced a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in the wee hours of the morning today, July 8, 2008. It was my first earthquake. I’ve lost my earthquake virginity. I don’t remember exactly what woke me up. Maybe my roommate’s childhood toys falling from the shelving unit at the foot of my bed. Or the glass windows next to my bed banging against each other. Or, just maybe, the floor rocking my bed up and down literally shaking me out of my dreams.
I leapt up, opened the door and stood in the doorway (I had learned that it what you’re supposed to do in an earthquake). My roommates came out of their rooms at the same time as I did. My roommate’s toys kept falling from shelves and, unfortunately, my things also fell from the nightstand. The tremors gradually weakened and subsided. I was back in bed under the covers with the door closed before my roommates could even get to their bedroom doors. I fell asleep easily.
I forgot about the episode this morning, only remembering when everybody asked me if that was my first earthquake. I was like, “Oh yeah.” They said 6.2 was pretty weak. I agreed.
Sleaze in Arequipa (and God’s Punishment)
SUMMARY: Dennis comes to Arequipa. Another drunken gringo weekend and its aftermath described. Pictures.
Dennis arrived Thursday. I had Rosa line up an English-speaking friend and we went out for some food and a drink. Dennis and I were really tired so we called it an early night. When I got back to the apartment, the entire second floor was underwater – about five inches. My roommate’s dad made a minor repair to the toilet which apparently came undone while we were out. Now the second floor was a lake.
Dennis had the insane, divine luck to have put his suitcase and all his things on top of my bed where they stayed completely dry. We slept on the couches downstairs. Friday, Dennis and I spent all morning sweeping the water out the front door. … Read more
