criplomats

I flew back to Hot Springs Tuesday night, arriving Wednesday mid-day. Cousins James and Marybeth arrived later in the day and are staying with me while they attend his 60th high school reunion activities. We took BBQ to David and Alison’s Wednesday night, then we all crashed after a long travel day. . The weather here is gorgeous – not too hot, everything’s in bloom, and there’s a nice breeze off the lake.

I’ve done some clothes shopping and am taking care of some appointments, so I haven’t had a lot of downtime. Scott and Julie came for happy hour Thursday night. I enjoyed sitting outside at David and Alison’s last evening, eating grilled salmon and feeling the breeze. I’ve gone to yoga twice at the new studio and it’s great, although I miss Karen, who has retired to Fayetteville.

I re-read “Vladimir” and started “A Far-Flung Life” by M.L. Stedman (set in Australia). I’ve been watching “Imperfect Women.”

I helped this little guy across the road this morning while I was out for a walk. He was small! Probably a young one. I thought at first that he was dead because he was slow to pull his head in when I picked him up. As I looped back home, he was still sitting in the same spot where I left him, so I went back to check on him a couple of hours later, armed with water and apples, but he was gone! I hope he’s ok!

I finally managed to get over my cold in time to celebrate the Europe Day reception this week. The EU Ambassador is one of my favorite people and he put on a great party to celebrate the founding of the EU in 1950.

Tuesday was a local holiday, so Mellisa and Joe, two of the officers who work with John, came over for breakfast. Mellisa and I did a quick walk around the neighborhood first to get in a little birding. We all sat at the table and yakked for over three hours – I really like both of them a lot and it was fun to have a leisurely, casual morning with them. Later in the day, a fellow from the vet’s office stopped by to pick up all of Flavia’s food we had left. He volunteers with a local rescue group and was happy to see cases and cases of food that can help cats in need here.

Friday was my birthday! I had a nice, quiet day, and we celebrated by ordering pizza and watching “Better Call Saul” (my request). We were going to go out for lunch today at my favorite steak restaurant, but we ended up canceling the reservation after we saw their Mother’s Day ads for “Live Music!” & “Kids Eat Free!” (My good friends will understand!). I was happy to get birthday wishes from friends and family near and far. I had a good call with cousin James, and I especially enjoyed a catch-up email from Lynn, a long-time friend from my Nuvell and golfing days.

I caught some kind of nasty cold bug during the journey home, so this week kind of passed in a fog. I haven’t yet processed photos from the Amazon. I finished “Euphoria” by Lily King on the flight home, then read “Marriage at Sea” this week. John was home for Guyana Labor Day. Neither of us are feeling great, so we’ve been taking it very easy. I had a good catch-up call with Lea and Rachel this afternoon which is always good for the spirits!

We finally started watching “Better Call Saul” and now we see why everyone says it’s so good. We’re really enjoying it. I also got caught up on “Friends and Neighbors.”

Hopefully I will have more to report next week!

John and I flew Tuesday morning from Lima to Iquitos, in the north of Peru, to join a four-night cruise on the Amazon. We were on the Delfin III, as recommended by Christie and Brian, a couple we met on our first Antarctic cruise. It was everything they said it would be.

Since it is high-water season there, we were able to explore smaller canals by skiff. We saw wonderful birds, several kinds of monkeys, a Pygmy marmoset (!!!!), sloths (eight in one day!!!), and the famous pink dolphins and their less-showy cousins, the gray dolphins. Needless to say, John and I were both in wildlife heaven. We also visited a small village and met some of the kids at their school, and we did a couple of hikes. It poured rain on us one day, but it didn’t dampen our spirits too much, and it cleared up in the afternoon (after we got out of the skiff, of course!).

Two scientists were on-board to talk about conservation efforts for the pink and gray dolphins, a lovely married couple. We participated in a dolphin count with them one afternoon on the bow of the boat. A woman from the cruise line was also on this trip, and we enjoyed hearing about her work with the communities to replant heritage crops on their land. After we got off the boat Saturday morning, we stopped at an interesting business on the way to the airport. A local guy is working with families in the area to commercially produce honey from the stingless bees found in the forest – it was super interesting.

The boat was lovely. We had the fanciest cabin – it had a panoramic 180 degree view off the front of the boat. The food was amazing, too, and they source most of their ingredients locally. The best part was the other folks we met – we really clicked with three other couples on the boat. With only 18 passengers (including the scientists), the other people can really make or break the trip, and we got very lucky. There were also four Mexicans we enjoyed a lot, too – a middle-aged son with his father and two uncles.

Our last night in Lima, we took three of John’s old employees out to dinner, along with their wives. He used to work with them in the early 2000s, before we joined the foreign service. It was a wonderful reunion at the same restaurant they used to go to back in the day. You could tell it meant a lot to them to see John again.

We had a long trip home! We got off the boat at 8:30 Saturday morning, and didn’t get to our house until mid-afternoon Sunday. We took advantage of a long layover back in Lima to get a shower and a nap at the airport hotel, so that made things a little nicer – but it’s still a long trip! We were glad to finally walk into the house, although it was heartbreaking not to see little Flavia waiting for us when we returned. John and I talked about how we still expect to see her.

John and I flew to Lima via Panama on Thursday. We’re staying at the Marriott on the Malecon in Miraflores, where John used to stay when his work in the private sector used to bring him here frequently. We’re enjoying just relaxing, eating some really good food, and seeing some sights.

On Saturday we took a food tour in the Barranco neighborhood. From fried fish sandwiches to fruit to the ubiquitous ceviche, we tried it all. Yesterday we visited a market, then did a ceviche “cooking” class at a nice little restaurant. The chef was a lot of fun, and we ate our ceviche plus a nice entree. And of course, pisco sours to drink.

Friday night we had a great steak at the Peruvian location of La Cabrera, where we used to go in Buenos Aires sometimes. Saturday night, dinner was at Pescados Capitales that our food tour guide recommended (it was very good). Last night, we had delicious sushi at the hotel. Lots of good food!

Yesterday we walked to Kennedy Park. It was full of families out enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The park is known for its feral cat colony. There are houses for them all over the park, as well as food and water. They all seemed content to get head scratches and belly rubs.

The flowers in the park were gorgeous under the late afternoon sun.

The ocean is beautiful! We have a lovely view from our room. It’s been mesmerizing just to sit and watch the waves. The Malecon and its parks are lovely.

I was glad to come to Peru for a change of scenery after losing Flavia. It’s been so sad to pack away her things, wash the litter boxes and beds, etc. In the mornings, I still expect her to jump on the bed or meow for breakfast. When I’m making my dinner, I still think I need to take her dinner.

John was reading “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” when we arrived and he read me a poignant passage. Karenin, the beloved dog in the story, died and Tereza despaired. “An old thought came back to her: Her home was Karenin, not Tomas. Who would wind the clock of their days when he was gone?”