June 15,

We were up and about by 0730. No real plans today, we readied having our Javas and breakfast of just one and a half pieces of French toast. Normally we have two pieces each, but we were still a bit full from our meal yesterday. Then I cleaned a bit. With the weather being so dry, dust accumulates quickly on everything. I was making the bed and remembered something I haven’t mentioned. The bedroom curtains have Nazca Lines’ critters on them. Every time I see them I smile. Anyway, the morning gave way to the afternoon. We made “Verde Salsa Peruano” (a type of pesto) sausage pasta. It turned out lovely and we ate it on our rooftop with some Peruvian Malbec wine…gorgeous weather. One of the reasons we love it here.

When we finished, we went out walking about. On the rooftop, we had spotted out places that seemed like they would have a view, so what was where we walked about. Just getting out and exploring. We ended up going to the mall and finished getting more steps. We stopped in their version of a dollar store and then the Tottus Grocery store. Back at our place we settled in and had popcorn for a snack supper. Then we were able to connect on WhatsApp with Jeff’s sister and her husband, as they had been busy on Sunday. They are well and enjoyed their outing yesterday. A laid back day of living.

     June 16,

Up and about today, but we had plans, which involved eating…of course! So we did not have breakfast as such. I had a snack of yogurt with peanuts with my coffee, Jeff opted for nothing with his hot chocolate. We watched our morning couple of You Tubers then did a load of laundry. We went for a small walkabout and then back to hang out our clean laundry. Then it was time to head back out.

We went to our Llama Spanish School by 1300. But we were not there for speaking lessons, rather for cooking lessons! We had enrolled in a Peruvian Cooking Class!! YEAH!!! Maria met us and said her chef was sick! Jeff said we could come back later or next week. But she said that she would teach us. We found out she loves to cook, while not a professional she has taught cooking classes in the past. We were fine with this and explained that most of our cooking class experiences have not been with professionals. Anyway, we proceeded!

The menu included a starter (which is given as a main or entree); an entree; a dessert and a spin on a Pisco Sour. She started by showing us most of the stuff she had already prepped. This actually entailed a lot. She had been busy. Then she gave us an apron each to wear. They were so cool!! Mine had a Ceviche recipe embroidered on it and Jeff’s had a Pisco Sour recipe on his. What fun! Then she took us into a kitchen set up for the classes and gave us a printed copy of the four recipes that we made. The starter was “Causa Limena, one of Peru’s most iconic dishes.” The printout listed some history of the dish. “The word ‘causa’ is believed to come from the Quechua word ‘kausay,’ which means ‘life’ or ‘sustenance.’” The dish is basically a layered dish – potatoes, chicken mix & sliced avocados, and more potatoes – topped with garnish of HB egg, black olive, and parsley. The main dish was “Aji de Gallina, one of Peru’s most comfort foods…originating in the colonial period” and has merged “Spanish cooking” with “Peruvian ingredients” adding “influences of African and European cuisines.” The Spanish word gallina, means hen. And uses yellow chili peppers, aji amarillo – which she treated so they would not be spicy (it’s a “secret”she showed us). The dish is a thick chicken soup/stew served over boiled potato slices and a side of rice. The dessert was “Mazamorra Morada, a traditional Peruvian dessert…made from maiz morado, or purple corn.” It was like a pudding/gelatin with apples & pineapple, and well…it’s purple. Lastly, the drink/cocktail was “Maracuya Sour, a tropical variation of Peru’s famous Pisco Sour.” It contained passionfruit and Pisco!

We had fun cooking and then eating our creations. Everything was excellent, and we sat in the courtyard of the school enjoying it and talking with Maria. But like always, we had way too much food! When we finished, Maria insisted on us taking the last of the Causa Limena with us. So Jeff paid her 340 PEN, or $99.75 for the class. We left and went back to our place in a food coma. No supper or snack required tonight. Lastly we watched Argentina beat the Algerian team in the World Cup, that is Messi beat the Algerian team! HA – I even think I heard Argentinian fans cheering from Argentina up here! 😂