I'm Back!

I'm back from my extensive holiday vacation and while I blame some of my disregard for this blog on the gorgeous summer weather, I know that my massive procrastination is also at fault.  Let me just start by saying how much I am looking forward to my baby Rosemary being born.  Zdenka and I are practically counting the days now as we expect her arrival sometime in February.  Amazingly the pregnancy has gone well for the Mrs. with the exception of the dreaded hospital consults.  EsSalud (state run public health care) is a mad house run by a bunch of underpaid state employees whose diminished morale have converted them into soulless ogres (don't even get me started on the nurses who never take responsibility for anything), with the exception Dr. Valdivia. 

On a lighter note, I have been frequenting the beaches of Chorrillos at least once a week since the summer began in late December.  Zdenka is crazy about the beach (me not so much) so we've spent quite a lot of time sunbathing and relaxing to the sounds of the Southern Pacific coast.  Resting in a hammock style chair under the shade of an umbrella with a cold beer in one hand and a chicken sandwich or fresh ceviche in the other  (beach ain't half bad), and what makes it even better is the fact that it's only a 10 minute car ride from home.

Work is SLOWLY starting to pick up but somehow hasn't kept students from haphazardly canceling classes at the last minute on the basis of a whim.  I laugh when I look back and remember how I used to be a lazy ass (not 100% reformed yet) who would beg and plead with the gods for a sick day or snow day to skip out on work, ah memories. 

Today was Lima's anniversary as the city celebrated it's 476th birthday and to mark this important date the new mayor of Lima, Susana Villaran announced today that only new vehicles would be allowed into the public transportation system.  This decision was made to help combat the cities growing problems with pollution and old and unsafe transport vehicles which flood the streets.  This could be a good step for Lima but one which will definitely cause tensions in the public transit sector.  It should be interesting to see how exactly the mayor intends on putting her plan into action.  The general response of the public seems to be in favor of the mayor's proposal and many have addressed concerns as to what will be done to deal with the already massive number of combi's that circulate through Lima.  This should be an interesting year!