Weekend of joy

I recently got together with a good friend from school (was going to say 'old' but I don't think she'll apreciate that! hehe), we met again after almost 10 years! She invited us (Tommy and Mel) to her family land south of Lima, 131 km from the city, for the weekend.
Since the moment we arrived there, we were treated as family, memories from over a decade came back!

We spent time with her family while making a 'Patasca', a traditional Andes soup made with corn and a sheep's head... I know, not exactly the best picture in your head. We don't eat Patasca, but we stayed there by the fire and the clay pot outside, sitting around, laughing and talking most of the night, watching a clear sky filled with stars.

Making 'Patasca'

As we were so many, we decided to book rooms in a near by hostel, very nice and with some surprises, like this guy having fun in the sun...


... or this rare-place-to-be super shy guy!


The next morning we walked around the land looking for grapes, apples, bananas, figs and 'lúcumas', which ended in a HUGE bags that arrived home with us, and will be shared with family and friends, as they are so many!


We tried 'cabrito al palo' (the body of the sheep used for Patasca on a stick and cooked slowly with fire), it was delicious!

'Cabrito al palo'

It was an extraordinary experience, different and new, like going back to the basic living, before electric power and gourmet food, away from microwaves and supermarkets, eating fruit directly from the trees and sharing old traditions that are slowly disappearing in favour of 'fast life' convinience.

Over there we saw beautiful birds, butterflies, strange (to us) insects (possible future post), as well as farm animals and cute and tasty 'cuys' that we don't get to see in the city.

Vermilion Flycatcher

It was a great weekend with simple and warm people, with big smiles and hearts, in love with their land and their traditions, and I'm grateful we had the oportunity to spend time with them.

I'll wish for more great weekends, spent with friends and family, with nature and love around! I'll try to escape from the big city every now and then... Anyone said 'chicken run'? ;)