Life in Ilo

Greetings,

Well, it has now been about a month since I returned back to Peru. It is amazing how my concept of time has changed over the past months. My experiences here in this small port town continue to shape my slower pace of life. Ilo is a charming town of about 75,000 people in Southern Peru. No too far from the Chilean border. It´s main existence is tied to the fact is is a fishing and commerce port. It is right on the water and I have had the fortune of getting to know this place during summer. We´ll see if that was a wise decision or not. It could turn out to be like when I moved to Seattle in summer! We shall see.

I live downtown where there is a small, charming plaza flanked on one side by a lovely Catholic Church. I walk everywhere, which is wonderful. It takes me back to my college days at Seattle University when I didn´t have a car and I walked everywhere. The main difference is the hills are not as steep and of course the city is not as sprawling. However, I still manage to forget which street has which stores etc. I have the main one´s on the plaza figured out but I tend to wander a lot looking for a certain store. They are so small and so many of them they all blend together from small convenience type stores, internet cafes, beauty shops, cell phone stores. It´s one large outdoor strip mall.

I have also been making daily trips to the ¨market¨which is a series of tent shops and some fixed stores. It is about a 15 minute walk away and I take the boardwalk along the ocean to get there and back. It too is a great adventure. So many little shops selling every possible thing and each has its speciality. Women´s undergarment, toiletries etc. The trick is finding exactly what you need. It is located on a hill and is 6 or 7 blocks long and 4 or so blocks wide so it is easy to get lost, but the great thing is...no pressure. I have never been so relaxed in my life. I for once have the freedom to wander here and there like a grand adventure without the rush of having to find and purchase something within the alloted time. Before it always seemed my life was so packed that I was always thinking of the next place to be or thing to do and never did I walk so much. It is wonderful and I am really relishing it. I am enjoying being in the same town for a while. I am getting to see some familiar faces at the shops I frequent and not feel so much like an alien.

However, on to that subject. Yes, I am a resident alien dropped into town. I am nearly the only gringa in town. There is rumor of another, but there have been no sightings. I however am everywhere and all you have to do is see the stares or listen for the whistles. Yes, I am a novelty and I guess that is a good thing in a fishing port. Walking along the boardwalk I get polite but obvious attention. Thank God at least I am more attractive than fish and endless water. So I don´t mind too much. I have been proposed to at least twice and been given a few phone numbers. I like to chat and be nice, not always a good thing in a town where you are a minority. But at least it is a nice attention. I´ve had a few funny faces from children as well who can´t stop staring. I´m thinking of getting a cage and putting myself up for exhibition. No, seriously people are warm, helpful, kind and curious. I have had a very warm reception and it´s good to learn by experience what it means to be a minority.

The photos below are from Easter. I spent Easter with Richard and his family. They all have Thursday and Friday off of work and spend family time. There are special foods prepared etc. It was great fun. I had a wonderful seafood soup one day and ceviche, which I love and good thing too because it is the speciality of Peru and it is readily available in this town. Anyway, as you can see there was also an outing to the children´s park situated on the waterfront with Richard´s two nieces Alessandra and Vivan ages 5 and 6. Vivan lives in Lima and was able to travel with her Dad for Easter. We had great fun with the girls who were a bundle of energy. They love to be together, which was fun to watch. We also celebrated his cousin Daniella´s 13th birthday on Saturday night at his grandparents house. This too was an experience. We watched salsa videos with the volume turned way up and intermittent dancing as well as plenty of beer. There were about 13 cousins running in and out of the house as well. A good time was had by all.

So, this is my introductory blog posting. I will go back to more regular posts. I have lots of other little stories to share and insights you may or may not find worthwhile, but I have found it is great therapy for me to write it. To see the new photos just click on the photo and then the password is Laura.