Our Biggest Challenge (for now)
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Aquilo -
Translated: These are all the numbers that we won't answer. -
If you have a Stephen, he'll have to sleep in the garage. -
Interesting Peruvian plant out on the sidewalk. -
Lunch time, dare I order something called Mondongo? -
Signs can be anywhere, need to be alert. -
Nice cactus thingy. -
Christina is a bit of a blur when there is stuff to do. -
If you want a room (or three) with a view, need to keep your eyes up. -
Quiz Question Below!
CUSO has been very good at making us feel welcome and preparing us for our time in Peru. However, there is one area that the volunteers are obsessing over that we have been struggling to get information about: Finding a place to live.
We are working on a variety of methods, including networking with ex-Pat Peruvians that we’ve met in the past month in Canada, checking the local web sites, begging CUSO staff and volunteers for shreds of information about neighbourhoods and transit paths, buying local newspapers, and even getting Christina to actually sign up for Facebook to join local ex-pat groups (Whoa!). When that’s all said and done, however, we decided to hit the pavement in search of the elusive ‘Aquilo’ signs which indicate something nearby is for rent.
We set off with a map in one hand and camera in the other to locate and telephone as many rental properties in Santiago de Surco as we could find in three hours. The results to date are not encouraging. Many of the numbers we contact won’t answer, are renting an entire building, are far too expensive, don’t want to rent to a couple, don’t want to rent for less than a year, or are renting dungeon cells thinly disguised as apartments with a few choice fixtures like light switches to trick you into thinking you might be in a living space.
Quiz question: Comment below if you can figure out why the car in the last picture above needs a concrete tongue extending out over it.
I guess the piece is either being stored there because they lack room or is attached to a tarp cover that has been taken away because they lost at the latest FIFA tournament!
Only could download 3 pics –
There is definitely a buzz around the World Cup here, so it is a timely guess, but no cigar. Any other guesses for the Quiz?
Hi Christina and Stephen – the best guess is that the piece is to be used as a leaver when lifting up something – perhaps to repair the car?
Really close! Not quite on target yet, though. (Maybe show it to Fanis?)
I like my little purple creature!
One bit of help for the housing issue is to try looking at posts for house sitting. Maybe someone in Lima is away for a bit and could use some help with house protection. That could apply to apartment sitting.
Glad you like your little monster cartoon. I think they are fun.
I’ve adjusted some of the settings on the pictures. Let me know if they still don’t load up!
I can’t believe you still don’t have a place to live. Oh my! Wishing you luck that you find something soon.
pictures now loaded perfectly. Still no idea about the concrete thingy. Did they just run out of money when they were putting the roof on?
Hi I would love to see more pictures of your new apartment, your apartment mates and the outdoor surroundings – your travels are my travels and I love to see
Have a good week!
It’s for the garage door!!!
Please say it is so! 🙂
And we have a winner for our quiz! YEAC is right – it is indeed for the garage door. Sadly I don’t know who to commend, they’ve kept themselves anonymous. Unveil yourself mystery winner!
You have to be careful walking down the street here because garage doors don’t bend, they tilt and open outwards. If you are caught by surprise you could be hit in the shins as the garage door goes up!
Now I am completely befuddled. How on earth does that translate into a garage door???
More specifically, its for a garage door opener. The motor that pulls the door up has to sit somewhere if your “garage” has no roof, so … concrete tongues!