The Traveling Turd...Rated PG...Could be considered gross

OK....we are finally coming clean with the story of our Family Turd. We call it the Traveling Turd. I don't know how this got started, but I am fairly sure it had something to do with playing a trick on Grandpa Dave as he likes that sort of thing. Our plan was to put the Turd on Grandpa's plate at dinner. Well....somehow this has become a tradition and the Turd now travels with us. I have taken many photos of the Turd's travels, but I have only been able to locate these. In all the Turd is well traveled and has been to Mainland Japan and Okinawa, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Peru and Ecuador. When Grandpa first met the Turd in Costa Rica I remember him exclaiming, "Who pooped in my wine"?. We get some pretty good laughs out of this. What can I say? Is there something wrong with us?

Guayaquil, Ecuador

We had a nice long weekend in Guayaquil, Ecuador. It was a nice change from Lima for a few days. Enjoy the photos.

The Peruvian Bandit

There is a new phenomenon happening in the Westcott abode......things are disappearing. I'll take off my flip flops and a few minutes later they are not where I left them. There are socks scattered all over the house (though that very well could be Garth and Grace's doings), and all Gracie's stuffed animals have relocated themselves throughout the house. We have a thief amongst us.....or atleast someone who likes to collect things. The new joke is, "If you are missing anything check the dog's bed". Have a look at this video. Mind you, Pisco, AKA Sweet P, AKA Punk, weighs about 2Kg and regularly drags things around that are much bigger than she is. That all said.....she is SUCH a cool dog.......

The Fabulous 80's

Here in Peru the only American style music we get on the radio is 80's music. That suits me fine as I am definitely and 80's fan. Come to find out Peruvians also love 80's music and can sing all the songs despite many of them not speaking English. Kim and Joel Montgomery hosted an EPIC 80's bash at Casa Montgomery a few weeks ago. Fun was had by all, I won some leg warmers and Heath won a tshirt that says, "So what do you little maniacs want to do first"? Can you say Weird Science......ohhh...the good old days.

The Battle of Angamos- October 8th

Miguel Grau Seminario holds an important place amongst Peru’s heroes. His military accomplishments, as well as his distinguished and courageous disposition earned him the title of Knight of the Seas (“Caballero de los mares”). At the end of the 20th century, he was also named the Peruvian of the Milenium.

Miguel Grau commanded the great “Huascar” which was the most brilliant ship of the Peruvian fleet of 1879, during the War of the Pacific. This fleet was inferior to that of the enemy Chileans. After losing the valuable battle ship “Independencia,” in the combat of Iquique (during which the “Huascar” sank the Chilean battleship “Esmeralda”), Miguel Grau was given orders to avoid direct combat with the Chilean fleet. Thanks to the superior speed of the “Huascar,” Grau was able to cruise along the coast creating havoc in enemy lands.

On October 8th of that same year, the monitor “Huascar” was captured after the battle of Angamos, during which its commander was killed. The morning of October 8th saw the ship fleeing from its Chilean aggressors; Grau, knowing combat was inevitable, shot cannons towards the Chilean ship “El Almirante Cochrane.” These shots provoked the eventual retaliation and destruction of “Huascar.” Miguel Grau was killed by a projectile from the Chilean ship. The destruction of the “Huascar” was the final step in the clearing of the Peruvian seas, which allowed for the Chilean invasion by land, of the southernmost portion of Peru.

Beautiful Things...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I was inspired to put together a slide show of the different types of artwork we have come accross. In general I find myself intrigued by religious art. I was surprised by this myself as I still consider my Spiritual Wellbeing to be "Under Construction". I love my Greek Orthodox Icon(straight from Greece...thank you Vivian), my Shinto Torii gates and my ornate Christian cross all the same. Here in Peru I find I am partial to the artwork resulting from the Spanish Christian influences combined with the indigenous Peruvian style. I have included an example in this slideshow. The style is known as Esquela Cusquena (Cusco School). Note the face of the Virgen Mary setting atop Pachamama (or Mother Earth). I don't think the photo does the painting justice, however, the colors are vivid, and the work is very detailed. Anyway.....just a few beautiful things to share with the masses.

Antique Homes Tour in Central Lima

Heath and I were able to go on an Embassy organized tour of various antique homes in the central Lima area. Fantastic, grand and over-the-top big. Spanish, French, Moorish, and Indigenous styles, to name a few. Lima is a huge city with so many things to see. Central Lima is a great area to stroll around, eat and take in the sites.