PHOTOs!!! 232 of MY Various Favorites

This is all too much.
Yet Not enough.

Thank you everyone for making this possible and for staying in touch. A day did not go by that I didn't think of ATLEAST one of you over the last four months. Your emails and words of wisdem have been so important to me. I am very much looking forward to coming home.

Debbie's Top 16.5 wisdoms gained

16. Being a little stinky is not all that bad.

15. Sleeping in public airports is not all that bad.

14. If an artical of clothing is in the way... send it home.

13. Walk into a local bar and strike up a conversation. =]

12. Ask the locals what they think a traveler should see in their country. (you'll get a variety of ideas)

11. Available space in your backpack is a precious comodity, and becomes a goal.

10. learn to be okay with out you backpack for two days. (see item #15)

9. When leaving a country to go to the next, use and get rid of your coins before the paper notes. Money Exchanges purchase and exchange only bills. On the other hand, coins are a cool momento.

8. When using the international snail mail system, allow for a good three to four weeks, regardless of what is "promised".

7. For four months, you CAN in fact get away with two pairs of pants (deep side pockets), two pairs of underwear, two pairs of "smart wool socks", two pair of all-in-one sports tank-tops, one pair of nice sandals (Keen Sandals specifically), one fleece jacket, one rain jacket, one pair of long underwear... and one nice scarf.

6. contrary to beliefs, you don't need a compass, three pairs of shoes, a vast selection of clothes, a traveling airpillow...

5. A nice square scarf can keep you fairly warm on a chilly night, can turn an all-in-one sports tank-top into something elegant, can turn a pair of black pants in to a nice pair of skants for the evening, can keep your neck warm during a stroll in cold weather, can cover your sleeping face when out like a light in the middle seat of an 8-hour plane flight.

4. instead of a traveling airpillow, the airline blanket, when wrapped tightly around your neck can be used to prop your head up while sleeping.

3. The airline counter person might be stressed and rushed because of the lines, so be sure you get your luggage sticker to reclaim your luggage.

2. the world is not that scary. Even though common since and staying aware is valuable in everything you do; I had no personal experiences of being mugged, harrassed or scammed. Paranoia is perhaps a bit crippling.

1. Pure Castile Soap and Plastic ziplock bags ROCK!!

(.5) If you meet someone in australia at the beginning of your ventures, and you do not have will power... throw your cell phone away!!!!!

The End ... and the beginning

It's all too much.
It's all not enough.

I have learned a lot
I haven't learned enough

I am more aware
I am still naive


My Brother Chris at the start of my adventure emailed me and quoted Walt Whitman. I'd like to repeat his quote.

Happy and free
Strong and Content
I travel the open road before me...
---Walt Whitman

USA: back in BOSTON

I'm back in Boston with my Brother. He was kind enough to host Pal Fekete my buddy from Australia and kind enough to taxi Solomon and Noni to their host's house in Boston. For about an hour my worlds collided as my brother, Pal from australia, Solomon now from seattle then from toronto, and Noni whom I had met in Melbourne sat on a bench at the market, and then using my brother gps in his suv to find solomon and noni's host. It was short but surreal.

I FINALLY received the care package that Sarah sent in July. I had given her some stuff to forward me but she added a few things!!! She sent it to Graham's in Australia what should have been plenty of time, but I left before it arrived. Graham sent it to Toby's in Boston. I opened it today!!! Sarah sent my favorite shampoo and portland post cards, some for Graham. (i'll be sending them on to him later today.) Someone anonymously sent a good chunk of cash (money order) with Sarah's Package! So thank you thank you!!! whoever you are!!!

I've received an email from my subletter. My apartment is in good shape. Apparently she has planted herbs outside the kitchen window, left a long lenghth mirror and purchased a new iron that she broke. Richard Rodriques has my house keys... Eric Lane has my car and car keys. Helen has collected my mail and stored all the packages I sent home.

I leave for Portland tomorrow (tomorrow!!) thursday ... I make it in to Portland just in time for Kristin's Gig at North Star ballroom. I hope I can get a ride to my apartment from somebody =]

This is all too much, and yet not enough.

USA: Swingout New Hampshire

Most of you know I started my travels at the Oakland Swing Dance Festival and ended it at Swingout New Hampshire. One of the better decisions I had made.

Swingout New Hampshire was incredible, not only because of the camp itself... but because I was able to see and talk to swing friends from portland: Helen, Kristin, Foster, Carlos, Joshua and Todd. Many of whom not only kept up on my blog, but emailed me and took care of things back home for me.

It was quite the feeling to see Helen, Todd and Foster arrive early, even before the registration staff was ready for them. In fact of the 260 people attending SONH, they were the first to register. We caught up quickly, I was running off at the mouth I'm sure, and couldn't get enough of my buddies. I told helen right away we needed some serious helen and deb time, even though there wasn't a starbucks near by.

Kristin, Carlos, Joshua all showed up with the SONH bus from the airport, so I could only give a squeal to them when they were standing infront of the registration table, and I was behind it checking people in. Once settled in our cabin, Kristin delivered a monitary package (halleluha) for me from a buddy in portland... helen gave me two extra shirts, a pair of underwear and a pair of socks. She figured I could use the change =) and boy did she peg it! Very thoughtful Helen! Thank you!

Of course, as what usually happens at these swing camps, there were many folks with whom to reunite, regardless of my travels. Getting a really good dose of dancing and lessons with folks I see once a year, came as more of a delight this year. I also caught up with Pal Fekete from australia. The gentleman I met dancing in sydney and who took me hiking in the blue mountains, and who hosted me, and who was doing his own three-month travels in the USA.

The week was not only filled with lessons, dances, and late nights, but, while dozing off in our sleeping bags, or while eating in the dining hall, I was caught up slowly to portland news.

I definitely felt needed by SONH reegistration organizer, Judy, a refreshing change from four months of no work whatsoever. I found I was quite eager to assist in anyway I could. It was about time I started working!!! =]

This was a great way to come back to the states. Books and websites tell me to be careful of culture shock as I return from my travels... and I think the way I am returning to the states was a better idea then I had thought.

Kristin's photo from sonh. http://pics.livejournal.com/kbuxton/pic/00001x7e/g1

Finalissmo - email from dad

- Ben Balsley wrote:

Deb,

Well....the traveling's over....at least for a while. In my opinion,
you have done a really remarkable thing that has and ever will change your
life completely. The experiences you've had, the knowledge you've
gained, the friends you've made, the global "appreciation" of a small
other part of the world, these things are priceless.

I am both pleased that you made up your own mind to do it, and very
proud of your stamina and good humor throughout your adventure.

Whatever comes in your future will bear strongly on your adventures the
past few months.

LYP

USA: Boston

After a bit of a harry departure from Argentina, Buenos Aires.... I am back in the states, but not home yet. I flew into boston, 10 hours of flying, backpack on my back and ready to be home and was greeted my brother Toby.

I am at Toby's. We saw the Broadway version of the Lion King and will be seeing a Red Sox Game tomorrow ... two wonderful USA type of activities. I'm working on my Dance Lab Artical for a website, so that I will have a link for folks to go to if they have some interested. The last two time I've done this I had nothing to give them. I will be heading to the swing camp in New Hampshire a little early to assist Mark with some pre-setup stuff.

Of course I'm a little stressed about the money job thing. Interestng words of wisdom came from one of toby's coworkers: "if you've traveled around the world... you can find another job". Although I generally think these are different skill sets, one perhaps easier to accomplish then the other, depending on the person, I understand what she was getting at: I can take another risk, move to the next country and deal with whatever comes my way... i guess

ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires. Tomorrow... I leave for the states!

Because of money and energy, I´m heading back to the states tomorrow. Going first to see my brother in Boston, then Swingout New Hampshire, of course, only earlier. Mark needs some assistance setting up and preparing for the workshop. Then, finally, home to Portland on Thursday the 9th of September. Man... this is all too much... I´m ready, but I´m not.

Okay, except for one last private Tango lesson with Mario, the last few days have been spent entirely on logistics. My tango lesson with Mario is discribed below. But my task lists for today was to do the following. It was a great test to my Spanish speaking skills:

O Meet Mario for my last private tango lesson and a take a photo with him.
O Go to Correo Argentine, or to OCA to send yet another load of items back home so that there´s room in my back pack. (a regular task in every country as I accumulate things on the way.)
O Go to travel agent on Maipu 42 and change my ticket (Argentina to Boston) from August 30th to tomorrow (September 24th)
O Phone (from a "cabina telefonica") my Property Management association about my studio on lovejoy (I may be giving my 30days notice..... )
O Go to internet shop about cost for a round trip ticket to Sydney for three months.
O Phone Leo about my customized tango shoes before I go home
O Phone Estuko at Luna Llena, to see if we can meet up for dinner before I go.
O Phone Facundo, a gentleman I met on the subway, to see if we can meet up for "un cafe" before I leave.
O Email Richard Rodrigues for a copy of my resume, from off my lap top.
O Go to internet cafe to look over Adecco´s website and other temporary jobs.
O Work on my Communications Dance Lab & Forum article in time for SONH
O Call Matthew in Melbourne to help me with the "copy lefting" idea for the Dance Lab article.
O Call COBRA about my insurance.

My tango lesson with Mario...splendid. ¡Absolutemente! He is exactly what I needed, or at least felt I needed, in my tango dance. His technique is from the heart, literally. Working from the inside, on balance, axis, strength, resistance, engery, and not worrying about steps (so much). The "dance is one of the heart" he says, and from there, is where he works. He speeks little english so he doesn´t "go off at the mouth" since I wouldn´t understand him. Every spoken word, every exercise, every dance, was slow, intense and meaningful. Every word to be translated and understood. Every movement to be translated and understood. Incredible. He is a good man, and a wonderful soul.

After my tango lesson and a goodbye that finished at about one, for the rest of the day, the hardest thing to do was to change my departure date of my ticket. I walked everywhere! At least I knew the streets and subways fairly well. In every other country changing my departure date had been a simple task, but for some reason this was not the case in Buenos Aires. I went back to the agency that helped me with my Lima Peru flight and they were an absolute joy to work with. After about a half hour of trying, it turned out they could not help me either, but they got on the phone and found out who and where and when. I´ve kept their business cards so if any of you plan to go to Argentina, and need some ideas while you are there (here) I´ll give you their card... (by the way I also have the card of a wonderful taxi driver, Juan Manuel, who comes recommended by Luna Llena. He would meet you at the airport 32 pesos) . I finally ended up at the United Airlines Headquarters for Argentina and they too were an absolute joy. The task was to change my departure date, but after an hour of talking in spanish and english, laughing and sharing, I finally left the building at 5:40 when the building closed at 5:30. Of course, I took a photo.

Shit...I´m leaving tomorrow.

PERU - Cusco, Machu Picchu and new friend Sarita,

Cusco was stunning, like a rose in that if you touch it you could get hurt. If you visit cusco, you might get a massive headache.

I had been told to expect to acclimate acclimatize. I kinda shrugged because well after all, hmph, I had summitted Mt Adams several years ago.

Mt Adams (internet) 12,276 feet (3,742 m) . Two Sources for Cusco: (either) 12, 628 feet (3, 850 m) or 10,561 feet (3,219 m) . Either way it´s close, but I still got the head ache a cusco.

I, indeed, I did befriend a MASSIVE headache, a kind I´ve never experienced before ( I don´t get headaches, so I can compare the ones I do get.) This headache was all over my brain. Quite odd. It´s of course a lack of oxygen, and they say to take glucose tablets that stimulate what oxygen you do have to go to the brain. Well it was too late, but I popped an advil and slept it off. I did get glucose tables in time for my return from Machupicchu to Cusco (Machupicchu is a lower elevation then the city of cusco), and well... I didn´t get a headache as some other folks did.

Cusco has a beautiful nightlife, with the main pedestrian square in the center of town surrounding a well-lit catholic church. I felt completely safe, and enjoyed all the children that tried to sell themselves to my camera for a picture, or who simply tried to sell me something from chiclets to flashlights.

Machupicchu was stunning. I just wish I could enjoy its majesty alone, without the tourist. It is incredible. The guide I had, Jose, was well informed, articulate and charming. You could tell he know only knew his stuff, but cherished the Inca History.

On a side note, some friends of the Lima Peru bride a groom (Ryan and Elgin) were to be heading to cusco as well after the wedding, so when I was introduced to them, we agreed we´d look out for eachother, but in reality we thought, there´s no way we would hook up.... But we did!!!! I was on my organized tour of a temple in cusco and they were on theirs when we recognized eachother. It turns out the bride and groom were in cusco as well, so to make a long story short, we all met up with eachother for drinks and pizza... In CUSCO! Ryan and Elgin were of course newlyweds, but you could tell they truly enjoyed the company of their friends. Neither Elign nor I recognized eachother, but we can tell stories of eachother´s father! We had a good time although brief.

. 1280 first Incas
. 1450 Inca Empire, improved architecture with no mortar between rocks.
. 1533 Spaniards came to Peru
. 1536 revolution (not 1492 Indians discovered Columbus)
. Incas had no documents, they had an oral history, passed down etc.
. Incas tax was to work for the empire.
. Spaniards first documented various legends in 1616.
. Many of the Inca Temples were destroyed as it was that they worshiped too many gods.
. Apu = God
. Sept 22, 23 solstice important to the Incas, that´s when the could harvest the corn.
. Corn was sacred to them. The harvest in the sacred valley below cusco, supported the city of cusco.
. Kechuas (Inca language) still spoken today
. Pachamama, mother earth
. Religious Mecca -Dominican convents
. Orion Belt´s portrayed on paintings and sculptures.
. Incas did not worship the sun alone, they cherished a "three-tiered" concept: God of the sky, God of the middle world (man and animals) and God of the earth. The "three-tiered" concept is depicted in much of their architecture and carvings.
ulike Galileo, Incas new the earth was round.
. Renascent and the baroque style combined and formed in Peru. (Crescopuquanie naroccoco)

My "transfer" guide, Sarita is another gem and a wonderful memory during my travels. She was the one who met me at the airport (remember this package was set up with the assistance of Koki so I had nothing by the best in store for me) and she was also the one who had the hotel give me a wake up call, and she was also the one who met me every morning in the lobby of the hotel before every tour. She would always introduce me to the English speaking guide for the day.

For Sarita and I, although our time together was brief and our language skills both at a minimal, we still giggled at a few things, and shared simple, brief stories about ourselves. When I said good bye to her at the airport terminal, I found I had a lump in my throat and was holding back some tears. She and I will stay in contact I´m sure.

PERU - Jicamarca - my dad

I am so floored by my visit to Jicamarca Radio Observatory, the radar sight my dad help build. Most all, if not all, the original staff are still there, be it clerical, janitorial, lunch room, maintenance, executive or research staff.

When I returned to Lima from Cusco I, again, was met at the airport by a taxi driver holding a sign with my name. He took me to the now familiar Chau residence. I was again welcomed by the maid, and as I set my backpack down in Tiffany´s room, Gloria, the secretary to both Ron Woodman (whose daughter got married) and to Koki Chau (at whose house I was staying) was on the phone requesting me. She asked of my plans and said she could send a driver to the house to take me to meet up with her and go to Jicamarca! I had all day; my plane for Buenos Aires not boarding that night until 11:00 p.m.

It wasn´t until a half hour in to the drive to Jicamarca that Gloria introduced me to the driver. It turns out he is the driver for jicamarca and knows my dad. His eyes opened wide, looked at me through the rear view mirror, and, returning his concentration to the road, went on in Spanish saying something that seemed to be all pleasantries towards my father. Gloria slowly translated, and indeed he spoke nothing but good things about my dad.

As we drove up, the familiar desert landscape gave way to a site slowly coming into view: the field on which I was sure we played and had "company" picnics. Of course it was smaller then I remembered, but had football (soccer) goals at each end for the lunch hour respite for staff and had two alpachas grazing on the lawn!

Lunch was waiting for me in the lunch room prepared by the kitchen staff at Jicamarac. Lomo Saltado! A childhood memory! This was too much and already I was chocking back tears, unbeknownst to Gloria.

It was time for the tour. And Gloria slowly introduced me to a few folks walking around the warehouse-type of building filled with an electrical engineers´ candy and toys! Similar items I can also say that could be found on my dad´s garage and work table or office in Boulder.

The tour was not only a tour around familiar specs of memory, but a tour into a life of my father. Everyone I met who knows and still remembers my father, responded just like, if not to a greater degree, the driver. One by one, I met folks who have known my dad since 1964, all speaking so highly and admirably about my dad, more so with fondness then with a respect that might otherwise be expected. Bit by bit the lump in my throat would become tougher to swallow. It was also difficult because I could not fully understand all they would say, but Gloria would translate all that they would say, all being nice pleasantries.

Finally, I was introduced to a gentleman who had said something I understood, perhaps because he spoke slowly, or perhaps because he used words I understood, but as he spoke, this time Gloria only confirmed what I had heard. This gentleman said that my dad would speak to everyone the same way, whether they were scientists or maintenance staff, adults or children. He too ask me to send regards to my father. I could not hold the tears this time. I said in simple Spanish and also choked up speach... That I too thought my dad was a good man. Kindly, we change the subject. =)

Eventually I was introduced to the gentleman that would give me the technical tour of Jicamarca. He wasn´t quite fluent in English, but he could still poor out the technical phrases and words in English needed to describe all that is behind Jicarmaca and the research.

We first climbed a simple ladder to the roof top of a small, single story building, which give way to a sight I only saw in pictures, magazines and documents. I saw what seemed to be miles and miles of a "simple" structure of poles, but what is actually the largest radar site in the world (actually only 90,000 meters square *not* miles and miles =) .

After touring the grounds of the radar, we then went inside and toured several rooms filled with old, antiquated, equipment that still transmits and receives info to and from the radar. Among the equipment would be more modern equipment, transcribing the information into digital information. They are designing software at this site as well. I was able to catch most of the technical stuff this gentleman described.

Lima Peru has been a wonderful end to my Round the World Trip, as I had planned, but not as I had imagined. Directly below is the link for Jicamarca, further below is the link to my own photos of Jicamarca.

http://jro.igp.gob.pe/

http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=279701108103&page=1&sort_order=0

PERU - Lima & The Wedding!

... Stunning.... Really! As Koki parked the car, his wife Jenny and I, in our gowns, walked up to the church, and the bride and her father drove up in a classic antic car. I didn´t recognized the bride, but I recognized my dad´s colleague Ron Woodman right way. While he was with his daughter in the car, his familiar proud smile gave way to a wonderful waive as he recognized me. It of course wouldn´t be until after the ceremony, or perhaps until the reception that I would get to shake his hand. Jenny and I ascended the stairs and picked a place on the pews. The catholic ceremony was wonderful, the bride was gorgeous, the groom was beaming, the preacher (minister?), although speaking in a language I didn´t know, was gracious and wise. Everyone was dressed to the hilt.

The reception #1 just outside of the church in the court yard ... Stunning of course. Champagne was served and if you could get a chance you could talk to the wedding party, you did. As I was shy, Koki was kind enough get the attention of Ron and his wife, and get a picture of us. It´s my favorite picture of my time in Peru.

The reception #2.... Stunning.... In the back yard of a house, my description nor my pictures will even do it justice. Upon entering the back yard, I couldn´t tell if the structure in the back yard was how they had it, or if it was "rented". But I discovered they had turned the back yard in to a dance hall, setting up an outdoor ceiling with white pillars, and walls of shear cloth. You could still get a hint of the trees and bushes outside. There was a dance floor, and the DJ and speakers were hidden! Tables were set with dinner settings, and buffet tables were in every corner. There was a small, lighted, wading pool by the main buffet table,.... I think that was part of the house =)

I met a couple people that new my dad, and danced with one of them. And it was great to meet them. Stunning. I felt like a princess.

PERU - Lima, Koki & my house when I was five years old. My god the memories!

So, still being Saturday, I finally met Koki as he came in from his work out. We caught up a bit and were off to do our errands and site seeing. Koki is fluent in English and very forgiving as he realized I wanted to work on my Spanish. His 10 year old daughter Tiffany, too, is fairly fluent. She speaks slowly, but concisely, using all the correct (or correcting herself) with proper grammar and even using subjective or conditional tense, and reflexive verbs! Certainly she is more fluent English then I am in Spanish.

We went about our errands talking in Spanish. And once we found shoes at Payless, Koki took me and his oldest daughter Tiffany to the house I lived in when I was five. As I mentioned I had various memories and I was a bit figity when we turned down the street to my house at Bartolome Trujillo 134.

It wasn´t instant recognition, but slowly, looking around, it all came into "focus". Indeed, as thought, there was a small (triangular) park just across from the house. As we parked and approached the house we spoke to the people in front who turned out to be the current residents. At Koki´s request, they were quite happy to let me tour around the house.... now an office for counselors.... interestingly enough =).

All was of course smaller then I remembered, but in indeed the memories I had were slowly confirmed with actual and true locations in and around the house.

1. The main car port. the memory: blue tile, having a garage sale, and my temper tantrum as I discovered my mother selling my favorite teddy bear.... I still have that teddy bear and I display it proudly!!! =)

2. The main dining room although now sectioned off into separate rooms, had a large glass doors opening up to the back yard. The memory: sitting just in side the doors at our dining room table (the same dining room table we had in the house in boulder Colorado), experiencing an earthquake and having dad sweep me out of my chair to stand outside in the yard. Another memory: sitting in the dining room table, table cloth off, now only having the familiar red, plastic protective covering to work on, and making those rubbery insects or creatures (spiders, ants, scorpions etc) powering hot liquid rubber into metal molds. To this day the smell of a certain rubber takes me back to this memory.

3. The kitchen: just next to the dining room: much smaller then I remember but never the less... The memory: the maid speaking to me in Spanish, pointing to a dish towel and wanting me to pick it up. I did so.

4. A hall way between the kitchen and the kids room. It was more of a "room" then I remember, but nevertheless... The memory: a cot of some sort in the hall. Also the famous family disagreement about the memory of a tarantula coming from underneath the cot, and us running into the mom and dad´s room. Toby says it´s his dream and that I´ve taken it in as a memory, but I say it´s real.... =)

5. The kids room at the far corner, along the street side of the house. The memory: me climbing up the chest of drawers to turn on the t.v., and the dresser and the tv falling ... Possibly *on* me, but I was fine....

6. I kept asking about cement stairs and indeed, they took me out to the back yard and to the back of the house to a flight of stairs that would lead up to the maids rooms. I climbed the stairs with possibly my most vivid memory of the house: falling down those flight of steps. Indeed... They were in fact cement.

7. The maids room (up the cement stairs), are in fact small rooms on top of a flat roof. The memory: playing on the flat roof top, cement walls of course all around. Another memory: major-ly shocking myself and scaring my finger as I tried to turn on a lamp in the maids room. (you know, the lamp switches that you have to push in on either side of the light build "stem". Even hate those type of lamps today!!) Another memory: Holding my hand in a bowl of ice as we drove somewhere.

8. The back yard: the memory: being able to run around to the side of the house and enter into the main car port. 2nd memory: my childhood furniture i.e. kitchen set and rocking horse along that side of the house.

That about does it. Thanks for reading this one guys!!! I bet this could get boring to you, but this has truly been a wonderful trip back to memory lane.

PERU: Lima - The Chau Family and getting ready for the Wedding

After several emails with both Koki and his Secretary Gloria, I read the last minutes developments from the Buenos Aires airport. Gloria had not only kindly scheduled a taxi driver to meet me at the airport in Lima, where the driver would be holding up a sign with my name, but she had scheduled a 3-day tour that includes an English speaking guide for the city of Cusco and Machu Picchu. She also schedule my hotel room, and my flight in to Cusco from Lima. I guess after four months of travel...I can handle this. :)

Upon my arrival, at 11:30 p.m., I was to look for a sign that said "Debbie - Jicamarca". Jicamarca being the radar site the my dad and his colleagues built. Among the wall of people waiting for their beloved or their colleagues to come through the gates for "Arrivals", half of whom are holding signs with names on them, I finally find my name on a white plague. The man was standing at the very far side of the wall of people. With my broken Spanish, I could tell him where I needed to go.

At about 12:30 a.m., as both Koki and his wife Jenny were at a dinner party, I was met by the maid, who let me in, greeted me, and showed me straight to my room and the bathroom.

My room was the daughter of Koki and Jenny and before I fell a sleep I tried to guess how old she was... I knew they had three kids, so I guessed about 10. I was right :)

In the morning (this would be a Saturday morning) I was awakened by a darling curious 6 year old girl, their second oldest who snuck in to check out the new guest. She was shy, but still curious. After my shower I finally met with Jenny in the hallway. Koki had gone running.

The wedding I had mentioned in my previous post would be that evening at 7:00, so right away Jenny and talked about what I would wear. I showed her what I had and what I had bought, and reminded her, with some embarrassment for some reason, that I had been traveling and didn´t have much. There was a long pause and she said her sister was my size and perhaps there would be something she had for me. She was very sweet and a commodating and was instantly on her wireless phone (nextel =) to her sister and her mother, both who live in the same complex. Her mother came down instantly with several dresses, beaming from ear to ear... This seemed to be her forte to dress someone up for a wedding. Very sweet! She brought the dresses in and I was stunned absolutely stunned, this was not only going to be a nice wedding it was going to be an authentic ball. All the dress were long, and all were, I´m sure, expensive. My eyes went instantly to the shimmery turquoise, sleeveless, strapless dress. It was beautiful I was stunned! And they new it. Jenny reassured me is that this was how they did it in Peru, it´s a big event for everyone.

So we tried on the turquoise dress, tied it in the back, and it was perfect. We didn´t event try the others (of which there were five!) . I felt like I would be the princess and not the bride. But I quickly assured myself, that somehow, I am sure the bride would out shine me =).

Shoes would be the next thing and we agreed that simple silver-grey shoes at Payless would be fine. (whew). Jenny invited me to go with her later that afternoon to get "our hair done" and she said her mother would do my make up... ¡Por su puesto! But of couse! =) She was on her nextel phone again with Koki, explaining to him that in addition to taking me to see my childhood house today, he would need to take me to Payless shoe store. Oye!

So here, after having met Jenny, all the kids and the maid/nanny, picked my dress out, and had the afternoon scheduled for hair and make up, I still hadn't me Koki.

Preparing for Lima Peru - the Wedding

As I would be attending the wedding of my father's collegue's daughter, I would certainly be needing something else then even my "fancy blouse" that I packed.

Shopping for a nice outfit for a wedding is stressful for me to start with, but to shop for a nice outfit in another country, and then *for* a wedding in another country, and for a wedding of the daughter of my father's collegue, and with the possibility of having to buy shoes... all in one day... I was a bit stressed. Would nice slacks be appropriate?? Would I need to buy a dress (they never fit my body shape)? If a dress, I would need to by shoes (they never fit my foot shape)... yada yada.

I kicked it all in to high gear. I was packing, planning get togethers with the other folks in the house for when I return, washing my clothes and needing to get out on the shopping streets to look for an outfit. With my jaunt around to find tango halls, I already had two areas of buenos aires picked out. To hit both areas, it would require a subway ride and a taxi cab. I had it mapped out, literally.

Frustrated, I found nice slacks, that would need hemming, but, still perhaps not nice enough for a wedding, perhaps not this wedding. But that's what I had, it would have to do, and I would of course confer with Jenny for some advise once I got to Lima.