sushi at swissotel
A few photographs from a recent food assignment for Peruvian business magazine G de Gestión. Care for a little caviar on top of your sushi?
Sushi Cage at Swissotel
artesanos don bosco
Yet another stop I made on my way through Barranco was at Artesanos Don Bosco. An Italian priest started the non-profit that trains impoverished communities in the Andes in woodworking and other arts, such as painting and textiles. The Lima shop sells the beautiful products and the profits go back to the communities. The quality is stunning.
barranco after dark
Some places look better at night. A few more outtakes from The Neighborhood assignment.
Puente de los Suspiros
museo pedro de osma
Back in October I photographed several hot spots of the Barranco neighborhood of Lima for National Geographic Traveler. In the next few posts I look forward to sharing some of the outtakes from the assignment.
These pictures are from Museo Pedro de Osma. If you like historic buildings and architecture, I found the space as stunning as the artwork inside. It was built by the Osma family in the early 1900s and was a private residence until it became a museum in 1987. Behind the main building are additional gallery spaces and beautiful gardens. The art includes textiles, sculptures, furniture, silver and paintings, some dating back as far as the 16th century.
peace in paracas
In February I spent a quick and perfect night in Paracas, a three hour drive down the coast from Lima. Within seconds it became my favorite coastal destination in Peru. The contrast from dry dessert to blue-green ocean is striking. Early in the morning in red kayaks Oscar and I paddled across the bay to an empty, sandy and seaweedy beach and went for a cold swim. Clean. Quiet. Peaceful. Bliss.
final days
As I work on editing photographs from El Ayllu, I thought I’d share a few. Both the church and the historic home in the last frame were torn down weeks ago. The land is slowly being turned over to Jorge Chavez International Airport for its expansion. Ol’ François had it right when he said the only thing constant in life is change.
a new beginning
Yesterday Anita opened the doors of her restaurant Mi Terruño in Callao. This month the Peruvian Ministry of Transportation and Communications is expected to turn over 1730 acres of land to Lima Airport Partners for its US$800 million expansion plan for Jorge Chavez International Airport. Anita used to live on this land; she is one of about 700 families that were relocated to make way for the expansion. Plans are underway for the construction of a new runway and eventually the creation of an entirely new main terminal, control tower, shopping area and other commercial infrastructure.
Anita ran a restaurant and store in her former neighborhood, known as El Ayllu, for decades. Now she carries on the tradition, alongside three of her sisters, at this new property. Her carapulcra chinchana – a Peruvian stew of dried yellow potatoes, peanut, ají panca, pork and lots of other flavorful things – was the first I tasted. I don’t expect to find better. Hoping Anita finds lots of luck and customers in her new place.
Anita laughs as her godfather, sister and godmother officially inaugurate Mi Terruño with a sign advertising the menu.
barranco in national geographic traveler
I enjoyed a chance to hang around one of my favorite Lima neighborhoods for the February/March issue of National Geographic Traveler. I look forward to sharing more photos from the assignment in a couple of months.
lazy days
Sunday feels like the right day to blog this photo. It kind of sums up how I feel right now. Resting up for a busy week ahead.
Centro Cultural Carabayllo
best of 2012
A few weeks ago my husband and I put together our best of 2012. It was a great chance for us to reflect on what we did well this year and think about what we could have done better.
This year we witnessed sadness and joy, success and despair, devotion and apathy. We traveled throughout Peru and documented religious traditions in the Andes, mining in the Amazon and recycling in Lima, among dozens of other stories. We found more stories than we’ll ever have time to tell, which makes us optimistic that we’ll have plenty to do in 2013. Happy New Year to everyone. May your life and story this year make you proud.
