Living in Peru : your everyday companion

by
Rodney Dodig

I read Larry J Pitman’s articles titled “Why Do I Live in Peru (Parts 1 & 2)” that were recently published here in Living in Peru and it got me to thinking about what attracted me to Lima as a second home. I think that as people get used to living in a place they tend to stop noticing the little things that make living there the most enjoyable. You get busy with the everyday facets of life and quit noticing those things that put a smile on your face and give you a warm feeling about where you are at in that moment.

I am a transplanted person from the USA who has lived most of his life in small towns. A short time in New York City and Columbus Ohio pretty much makes up my living in the “Big City” experience and I did enjoy those experiences. Let me make it perfectly clear that I am not berating the small town; I love the community where I lived before making Lima a second home. Carbondale, Illinois is a small college town, home to Southern Illinois University and the Salukis (their mascot). The University provides plenty of outlets for cultural and intellectual pursuits and you have the added advantage of less traffic and the quiet life. After some trial visits to Peru and Lima in particular I knew that I wanted to try living here for awhile. I find the city very vibrant and exciting with wonderfully friendly people and lots of very interesting things to do.

I live in the municipality of Barranco and the charm of this particular area has stolen my heart. I want to mention a few things that I think people who have lived in Lima for awhile may have forgotten with the passage of time and the other matters that occupy their daily lives. These are small things that can make each day special. The street I live on is quiet without a lot of big city (traffic) noise and the neighborhood is clean and well maintained. Every morning when I wake up and am sitting at my computer writing I hear the call of a man on one of those bike/cart combinations calling out to announce his arrival. I understand that he collects glass bottles and other articles to recycle them. He is a middle aged man with a friendly smile and wave and on the mornings that he doesn’t make his rounds I find I miss him. Just a little later a man passes by who sharpens knives, who announces his arrival with his whistle. He happily chats with the residents of the neighborhood as he sharpens the blades of their kitchen cutlery. After him, arriving just before lunch time is the woman selling Tamals. Her call up to the residents is loud enough to hear but not annoy. I haven’t purchased any yet and I love Tamals but some day when fixing lunch seems to be more of a chore than I want to deal with, I think I will. I enjoy just looking out my window and watching the residents of the area go about their lives. People walking their dogs, fathers walking their sons and daughters to school, women hanging laundry on the roof and much more make my day interesting in ways I never dreamed of.

Being able to walk almost every where I want to go, something not possible in Carbondale Illinois is a joy in itself. Taking the time to say hello to the people you pass and the warm feeling I get when they respond with a Buenos or other greeting. Stopping to look in the little tiendas to see what surprising delights they might have or walking into the pandelarias with the smell of the fresh baked bread and the visual delight of the postres section. They truly are works of art. Seeing the innumerable small fruit and vegetable carts on the street corners with their selection of fresh produce always makes me crave an orange or banana. Passing a playground where a group of niños are playing on their bikes and skate boards; and the enjoyment of having them all crowd together to have me take a photo of them. Walking by the Military base on a Sunday and the warm feeling I get when I see all the people lined up to see their sons, daughters, husbands, wives or grandkids who are serving their country. I love going to Metro, Tottus or Vivenda and shopping for my groceries. The thrill of discovering new fruits and vegetables or just translating your needs into another language is quite exciting. I even thrill at the rare cab ride to the center of Lima, it is definitely an adrenaline rush at times. Watching the parasailors on the cliffs of San Isidro and Miraflores or meandering through any of the many Malls they have here entertains me for hours. Walking to the coast, sitting on a park bench and watching the beautiful sunsets that occur here. Admiring the street art covering walls and other structures, there are some talented artists here. There is the visual feast of coming across some beautiful flowering plants and trees that I have never seen before. I enjoy stopping at the many small parks and plazas that offer rest and a little coolness on a long walk. Stopping to watch a free aerobics class in one of those Plazas is entertainment that can’t be bought. It seems that every day I am here there is some new discovery or small adventure that makes me love being in Lima even more.

These sights and activities are just a few of the things that I love about living in Lima. I am sure that with time, the new will wear off but I hope that I will take a moment when that time comes and reflect on the things that made me love and want to live in Lima in the first place. I hope these words helped to bring back some good memories for all who read it and let you reflect on what brought you to this city in the first place. For those who have lived here their whole lives I hope it brings a smile to your face and lets you see this vivacious city in a new light. For those living in other places, take another look around you and look at those everyday things with a new perspective.

To learn more about Rodney, you can read his bio at the end of this article!

Add to del.icio.us | |

What a nice article ! It almost brought tears to my eyes. I know exactly what you mean, and I'm glad you appreciate it, not many people does. I miss my Lima so much. I lived there almost all my life. Destiny brought me to the U.S to stay, but my husband and I are plannig in retiring there. Here in the US you don't see or don't find those "little things " that makes you feel alive, plus not to mention how bad all the food is, and in Peru you eat organic at a cheap price. I don't need to go into detail , you know what I mean.  I do miss the warmth of people, a smile from a stranger . We live in a town away from the city in Northern California, but still no "small town " here is "small ". There's no such thing like that anymore . I loved your article, it really touched my heart and made me realize that I'm missing so many things from Lima. Hopefully soon we can go there to visit. I will like to visit you and have my husband meet you.. as many americans they feel a little uncomfortable leaving the US (   why,  I don't know ) ...probably they grow so brain washed with the idea that this is the best place to be ,  but he knows is not.  Don't get me started.. well thanks again for the article ! The magic of Barranco is awesome !

Dear Rod, what a fantastic article.. Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences and feelings with all of us... Lima is a beautiful and lovely big city with the charm and atmosphere of a town sometimes as you noticed. I am very proud and happy because you learnt to love it and appreciate it in a short time, something that a lot of people can´t do after years.. All those little things are what make the difference in a person´s life. Thanks for the article..and please keep writing!

Barranco is Very special,Anticuchos at Tio Marios,..The Bridge of Sighs,the view of the Pacific,..the town square,..the Food Court on weekends,and The Music!
   I live near a small town in Indiana,in the country-side,..But,I Will return to Lima & Barranco will be one of the first places I return to.

Dear Rod, thanks for such a wonderfull article. I'm from Lima, and I work in the center of the city, but I've never thought a foreigner would teach me or show me the wonder of living in Lima and those little things that make Lima a great place to live in.

what a super and loving observation of my town, yes I am from Barranco and when I was a kid there we used to know each other families and all the kids had a ball and real good friends!
Thank you, your article about my city made me smile and brought such a happy memories to my mind and heart.
Now I live in California, the sunny state, but I go to Barranco every year!

Rodney, glad to hear your enjoying yourself...for now.  I've had a second home in Lima for almost twenty years.  The novelty wears off after a while and the departure gate at Jorge Chavez becomes your favorite part of the city. 

Yes why dont you leave Peru david n , If you hate my country so much & please dont come back.

Rodney, What a lovely article, I love Barranco and my country, at the moment I live in England but I'm planning to go back to Lima for good, I miss Peru very much.
Don't forget to go to Dedalo the lovely shop that sell peruvian articraft and meet their nice staff.
Also you have to go to the back of el Mercado de Barranco there is an excellent restaurant where you can have peruvian food.

Thank you David, what a wonderfully warm article. I am in Trujillo for 6 months..I love it!! I could find myself a permanent resident in Peru. I have a daughter that has a place in Mancora/Vichayito and she would never move back to the U.S...I am beginning to feel that same..wonderful warm want to stay feeling!! Thanks again for your article..it is so true..and so easy to live in Peru!!!...It is a wonderful country!!!

I'm so sorry, it is Rodney...not David!! Anyway Rodney..GREAT JOB!!

I love to read the wonderful chronicles that Rodney, Larry and others who love Living in Peru, write periodically. They bring many memories and some tears sometimes.
Thank you. I appreciate their love for Peru and I'm grateful for it, on the other hand I can only feel sorry for those who cannot see the beautiful things in life.
Although I left Lima at age 19 and at 62 I live happily, in the lovely US city of San Francisco, I miss Peru and its charm and warmth and recharge my batteries on my periodical visits.

Dear Monica, I'm sorry to tell you that el Mercado de Barranco doesn't exist anymore... although they have kept the face of the building, it's now a "Metro" (supermarket), so for any reference to it you have to say behind Metro. 

Hi Rodney, thank you for your words and feelings about Lima. I left Miraflores and my Birth Country 33 years ago. Now my husband, who is from England, is retiring and we are going back were everything started. I will miss USA and Chicago (a very Beautiful City) but going back to Lima. for the same reazons you named, is like to a dream we have being having for a long time. Thank you again !!!

Lima is a wonderful, vibrant and beautiful city.  There are metropolitan/cultural activities to excite your intellect but still the people are friendly and warm.  I've traveled the world and can tell you that Lima has a special place in my heart - I would LOVE to be able to leave the U.S. and live there full time.

I traveled around the world also, and the only place other than Miami that I could live is Peru. What I like about Lima is that is is so close to places like Luna Huana, Cuzco, the Jungle. I also like the fact that everything is delivered to your home, and the food is delicious.

I would say value for the money is great. I've lived in places like Quito, which is an adorable city with super nice people, but basic consumer items are luxuries. Import tariffs are so high that basic consumer items are ridiculously expensive and scarce. Europe is also generally way too expensive, with average quality, and even worse service. Peru has everything you need and at great prices, all making for good quality of life.

Then there is the fact that Lima is only 5 hours away from Miami, which I also love.

I'm an Australian and consider myself very lucky to be married to a beautiful Peruvian Angel. We travel with our 3 children every second year to visit our family in Lima. I look forward to my visits very much and when we leave I am the first to start crying. It gets harder to leave every time we go. Our last visit in February this year was one of the best! We finally took the plunge and bought an apartment in Lima. We now have a home of our own in both Australia and Peru, which is a great feeling. When the time is right we will make Peru our permanent home but first we must have our children finish their education in Australia so that they can follow their own dreams as their Mother and I will.   

It is so nice and refreshing to read so many positive comments about Peru, that I almost forget "the other kind".
Thanks to all those "Peruvian Foreigners" who love Peru.

Ame, I know what you mean. There are many stories of crime and violence committed in Peru and it certainly does happen. But people forget that the same crimes and violence occur in every country, including the country they live in. Australia, USA, Canada, England, France etc etc. It doesn't matter where you live, crime exists. When I'm in Peru I do the same as I do in Australia, I stay away from dangerous areas and don't put myself into risky situations. My family have always guided me to the right areas and advised me of the areas to avoid. I listen to their advice and I have NEVER felt that I was in any danger. Every person I have ever met in Peru has treated me with kindness and respect, which is more than I can say for some Australians.
Most Peruvians are naturally friendly people, you just stay away from the other kind. Viva el Peru !!!!!!! 

Yes Rob, you couldn't have said it better.
As in any big city of the world, there is crime in Lima and the smart thing to do is to stay away from it.  If you need to be in a shady area, be acertive, but don't stop living or enjoying the good things in life, because of "those people" ¡¡¡Viva!!!

Rodney, great article, I like the way you write it.  It brings back many good memories of Lima, I lived there for 8 years, before that it was 8 years in the jungle!!  Last Dec. I was back for my 40th class reunion at Colegio Pestalozzi, it was great!   My friends and I also did some sight seeing, some in Barranco!!   El Oceano Pacifico, the food, etc., well, you know, you live there now!!!  Awesome!

Deleted for Inappropriate Content LivinginPeru.com reserves the right to delete any comment containing profanity, political propaganda, spam, insulting language or anything else the editors of this site feel to be in any way offensive. To avoid comment deletion, please use good judgment and try to be respectful of other LiP readers. Thank you --The LivinginPeru.com team

David N. You'll get cancer all right, but not from Lima's air, but form your own poisonous self.

FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE mi vida aca in Peru!!!
I am trying to learn spanish so I can truely experience life here. I REALLY like recieving my weekly edition of Living In Peru, and I enjoy reading and sending comments. BUT, I have become so disgusted with this David N. (#@!%&*) that I really couldn't stomach any more of his disgusting, putrid, small minded idiocy any longer and it really ruined my experience with this great site. THANY YOU, Living for FINALLY sensoring him and his foul attitude remarks. I'm sure that he will make (another) snide remark to me and I do believe in free speach but HAVE A LITTLE RESPECT DUDE, your mother might just start talking to you again in that little trailor park in West Virginia....