The first week in Peru ended in a bang as my fellow volunteers, Julio and myself bought our bus tickets for a small but epic trip to the Ica Province. Three martial art films later we arrived in Huacachina Oasis. The Huacachina Oasis is a mysterious lake in the midst of the Ica desert’s white sands. To my utter suprise the temperature is much warmer then Lima with the sun fully out, sharing its rays with us. [Continue reading...]

I couldn’t help but think back to Dorothy’s famous line in the iconic childhood film Wizard of Oz “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Todo” when I first realized there were no more double espressos or maple pecan tarts to be had at my beloved favourite Canadian coffee shop Second Cup. Naturally, I was a little bewildered and a tad lost wondering where my Peruvian neighbours purchased their food or even daily household necessities. With my curiosity piqued to its max, the other volunteers and I ventured out into various mercados (markets) and into a world of churros, hamburgesas, tortas and much much more.
Let me begin by saying that if you long to escape the over-trodden path that is the typical tourist circuit of Lima, begin by heading over to your [Continue reading...]

A new verse was added to my Peruvian adventure in Ica — a coastal desert town located 195 miles south of Lima and flanked by jutting Andes and miles of mountain-like sand dunes. Although the Ica Valley is widely known for its selection of bodegas and wine vineyards, Peru as a whole has yet to make it on the international viniculture stage. But that’s slowly changing. Since the political chaos of the 1980s, Peru has amped up its dedication to wine making, giving it the opportunity to make a run for best South American wine exporter. However, most people argue that Peruvian wine is just not that good — Maybe a tour of some of Ica’s bodegas will change your mind. [Continue reading...]

Four cities and 34 hours later I stand in Jorge Chávez International Airport, lugging around my over packed bags, bombarded by taxi drivers asking me if I need a ride and my Spanish is needed to tell them “estoy esperando por mis amigos” [Continue reading...]

From the moment I got off the plane, sleepy-eyed and exhausted, my senses were instantly awakened to a new culture, new people, and new directions and streets to wrap my head around. At 11:00 p.m., the night still felt alive. Blanketed in Lima’s mildly sticky almost-winter weather, stray dogs roamed aimlessly in the dusty streets, locals conversed nonchalantly on their front patios, snack vendors sat patiently waiting for their next sale. [Continue reading...]