A Mari Usque Ad Mare: October 2011

Today we left Tacna for Arequipa on a 5 hour long busride. The view was nice and we had a nice rest and snack on the bus.

All these pictures were taken when we were passing through the rich, green valleys in the Locumba region.

Gorgeous.

Yes, I know it looks like snow, but it's actually super-white sand.

This truly is a beautiful world we are so blessed to live in. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard."(Ps 19:1-3)

Above: When we arrived in Arequipa, we met up with some of the other exchange students here. The ones who welcomed us were (left to right, excluding the Tacna kids) Addey Meachum, Céline Elber, and Rose Allen.

The last picture for today - the above is called "Lomo Soltado" - A delicious blend of meat, onions, french fries, rice, and more. Mmm... Gastronomía Arequipeña...

I am very, very, very far behind in my blog. Schnell schnell!

These pictures we taken when the two other exchange students - Gabriel and Erin - arrived.

Above: My room - all the houses here are so colourful!

The vista outside of my room.

This giant water bottle only costs about 56 Canadian cents.

The beach at Boca del Río - a town at the pacific ocean, around 45 minutes from Tacna.

Why do I look like I am squinting even though it's overcast? Because I am.

Above: Boca del Río

These little beans are served in all restaurants as pre-meal snacks - they taste a bit like popcorn.

Ceviche - Raw seafood (mainly octopus) served in a lime and tiger-milk sauce with a side of choclo and sweet potatoes, with exquisitely fine onions diced on top ... definitely my new favorite meal, ever. Absolutely phenomenal.

Above: Fish with pieces of pea-pods , potatoes, carrots, and peas. Sounds gross? No way - it's delicious.

Celebrating Keegan's birthday over skype.

Roasted Chicken with a side of salad, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and choclo. Mmmm....

The view outside my window.

Below: the bottom floor of my house.

A parade which the exchange students had to participate in.

Ape (ah-pay) - I like to think of this as a Peruvian version of a beaver-tail (a Canadian pastry). Both sound like they're made from animals, and both are delicious pastries and VERY fattening.