The days here in Lima just seem to fly by so fast it's hard to believe over a month has passed. I have gotten a little lazy with posting articles since the only real free time that I have tends to be at night, usually by then I am so tired that my eyes can't stand the bright light of an LCD screen. Excuses aside the family business is going well and has my father and I running all over the city on a daily basis. It has been a real pleasure to follow my father (the man I both respect and revere) around and observe his unbelievable people skills. I mean the guy has a way with people that I have never seen before, and frankly I am left speechless and albeit a tad bit jealous.


Last week as most of you are aware was the holy week. For those of you not in the know (which until 10 minutes ago included myself) the holy week is the last week that leads up to Easter Sunday. The week where Jesus himself sat down among friends (minus 1) at the now famous last supper before his death. Now I'm not going to go into more details since I don't necessarily consider myself an expert on the subject.
Peru being a heavily catholic country since the Spanish colonization, celebrates the holy week very seriously. For some the holy week means no school or days off from work, while for others it means a week long celebration of religious devotion. In Lima, a large number of Limeños go on vacation traveling to visit family and cities abroad. I however, wisely chose to avoid the mass hordes of travelers who took to the highways like college students to last call, and instead remained in the city.



So what exactly did I do? Well I celebrated Holy Thursday like any self-respecting, warmblooded American would, by barbecuing meat and drinking a few beers. God Bless America! Naturally friends, family and a few of my father's workers were invited, add a grill made from an old oil drum, 6 whole chickens, one rack of ribs, wood from an uprooted tree, and tons of kerosene. and you got your self a party. Bellies filled and relationships strengthened I said goodnight (at 3am). While the day before was quite the fiasco, Good Friday was anything but GOOD. I spent it at my grandmother's home in Comas, where to my misfortune NOTHING was going on. I was instead subjugated to countless hours of religious movies (no offense intended, sorry grandma!) with no viable route of escape. Dedicated to stick it out like a trooper I stayed and paid my respects to the lord the best way I knew how, by watching his VH1 "where are they know?" documentary many, MANY times.




A picture of dad firing up the grill. Taste the meat, not the heat!


Cousin Vladimir enjoys a generous helping of good ole home cooking.


Mr. Palomino and Uncle Pepe sitting with family friend Robin


Cousin Ramon watching dad working his magic


These two pictures were from Leslie's birthday, A family friend since as long as I can remember.