Happy New Year!

The Miller-Hisgens (with a few extra Hisgens, as Bart's parents were with us) spent New Years Eve in Lima, Peru. We heard that in our neighborhood, back in Trujillo, families light off fireworks all night and party until dawn. We decided to get away since our house is smack in the middle of the neighborhood and we didn't feel like being up all night.

After the New Year we took off down the coast of Peru to the town of Ica, where our family decided to once again try our hand at extreme sports. (Some of you may remember when we took the boys caving back in Bolivia and I was questioning my parenting skills). Well, here we were again, all strapped into a dune buggy bouncing up and down the desert sand dunes. It was the most terrifying experience of my life. It felt like a roller coaster ride with out the safety features. Bart and Solan were whooping it up, while Aidan and I clutched to each other. When we were at the top of a fairly steep sand dune, they broke out the snowboards. Bart sandboarded down the dunes while the boys and I used them more like sleds. I don't recommend laughing while doing this as I hit a bump and I am still picking sand out of my teeth. I think what makes things like caving and dune bugging rides more terrifying is the fact that these counties don't have safety codes or standards like the States. We survived but I have to ask myself what our boys will be doing when they are in their twenties if they are doing this kind of stuff at ages 5 and 7. (boys on top of a dune)

On a less extreme note, we hung out at a desert oasis which looked like something from a Lawrence of Arabia movie. We also went to the "poor man's Galapago's" known as the Islas Ballestras. We boated around the islands looking at Humboldt penguins, sea lions, pelicans and other birds. As we were watching theses creatures I realized we were experiencing the real "living coast". (Any of you who frequent the Brookfield Zoo will remember one of the exhibits based on the coastline of Peru).



We finished up our travels by having the best hot chocolate and churros from Lima's famous churro spot, Manolo's. We enjoyed the thickest hot chocolate I have ever encountered. We decided that as we look for new traditions away from our home country, Manolo's at New Years, has to be one of them.

For the time being our vacation is over as we head back to Trujillo after sending my in-laws off to tour Machuu Pichuu.

Until next time, hasta luego.