This morning I hesitated at my kitchen sink before washing an orange in running water. It took me a moment to remember that in Canada you can just turn on the pipe and rinse your fruit. You don't need to boil water or waste expensive bottled water and constantly risk polluting … [Read more...] about Back in MTL
La Puente de los Sospiros and a Peruvian Debut
How did a girl from Montreal get to Lima, Peru? I'm here for the International Festival of the Peruvian Cajon. I barely play cajon. So why am I here? Turns out that cajon blends wonderfully with other instruments, one of those being marimba, of which I play a whole lot more. … [Read more...] about La Puente de los Sospiros and a Peruvian Debut
Sustainable Seafood, Part 4: Truck Driver Gilbert Comeau on Fish Economics
Gilbert Comeau makes a weekly trip to Montreal from Nova Scotia with a truck of fresh and frozen fish and seafood for Norref Fisheries and several other distributors and even a restaurant or two. He's been in the business a long time, and provided a unique perspective on the … [Read more...] about Sustainable Seafood, Part 4: Truck Driver Gilbert Comeau on Fish Economics
Imaginary Conversations
When your Spanish isn't perfect you listen for key words - hints at what the speaker is saying. From that you extrapolate the meaning of a sentence, a phrase, a question, or a statement. This can be dangerous and everyone has a moment when they nod and smile but really they were … [Read more...] about Imaginary Conversations
To the Top of the Mountain
For 5 soles (less than $2) you can take what you think will be a tacky tour in Lima on a small bus that leaves from the downtown area of the city and winds its way up the San Cristobal hill to give you a view of the entire city. I've seen a lot of cities and in general the view … [Read more...] about To the Top of the Mountain
A Peruvian Fairytale
Once Upon A Time... ...There lived a Spanish king who ruled the South American country of Peru from afar. In those days the will of the King was upheld by his representative in the country, the Viceroy. Peru's Viceroy ruled the Lima with gold stripped from the earth of the … [Read more...] about A Peruvian Fairytale
Mercado Surquillo and a World of Fruit
There are a lot of places in Lima a single female gringo (foreigner) should not go alone. Basically I can walk around my neighbourhood between the hours of 9am and 6pm, but if I walk for more than 30 minutes in any direction I need to consider what I'm wearing, who I'm with, how … [Read more...] about Mercado Surquillo and a World of Fruit
Papaya (Day 2) and Chicha Morada
I'm becoming a little obsessed with papaya juice. I'm convinced it's supposed to taste better than it has to me in the past, so every time I go to a restaurant with fresh juices I want to try the papaya. On Day 2 of my papaya quest I asked for a glass of papaya juice ($1.30 … [Read more...] about Papaya (Day 2) and Chicha Morada
A “Nutritional Masterpiece” and What Papaya is Supposed to Taste Like
In my entire life (toda mi vida?") I have only bought two papayas. Each time, they sat on my kitchen counter in Montreal not ripening for periods of time ranging from a few days to a week and half and in the end they always tasted like nothing. That's not to say I've only eaten … [Read more...] about A “Nutritional Masterpiece” and What Papaya is Supposed to Taste Like
Un Café, Por Favor
I finally understand coffee. It took 24 years and a breakfast of fluffy white bread and jam to get it, but here I am, 'getting' it. When two Montreal business men who you meet in a small hotel in Lima, Peru remark on the quality of the coffee included in the continental … [Read more...] about Un Café, Por Favor