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SIGHTS FROM THE WHITE CITY – PERU YEAR 2004, PART VI

March 11, 2023 / 8 Comments
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Our tour of Peru, in the year 2004, ended as always, in Arequipa. We had been to the north of Peru, tramping around the lands of the Chimu and Moche. We, then, had also spent time in the Andes around Cusco in the lands of the Inca. Now we gathered up our bags and headed for Deysi and Lupe’s hometown of Arequipa. It was inevitable, that, at some point, we would arrive at the family home for a visit. Named the White City, after the “sillar” or white volcanic stone used in its construction, this was Deysi’s family home and my base for work in the late 70’s. This city held a nostalgia that none other captured in me.

DOWNTOWN AREQUIPA, PERU JULY 2004. A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE “SILLAR” OR WHITE VOLCANIC BUILDING STONE.

Additionally, on this trip, Deysi’s nephew, Nono was due to get married to his childhood sweetheart Juli. So, of course, the girls needed to be there for the festivities. As always, after a couple of weeks holiday, I had to return home, for work. Deysi and Ange remained behind with the family. After reading my babbling for a couple of years, I had a request from a loyal reader. This anonymous fan, asked if l could end our 2004 trip with a series of photographs from that time in Peru. Rather than another long and tedious article, rambling through my memories of days gone by.

AREQUIPA, PERU, AUGUST 2004. THIS PHOTO LOOKING ACROSS THE RIO CHILI ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME.
LOOKING ACROSS THE PLAZA DE ARMAS, AREQUIPA, PERU LATE JULY 2004. DEYSI AND I SPENT MANY HAPPY MOMENTS HERE.

I had to stop here. As I was posting the previous photo, an old memory, from 1978 passed thru the cobwebs. I had to get it on paper. It might never appear again. It went like this. Very early in my days in Arequipa and at a point where I was wooing Deysi, I was always trying to impress her with my “coolness”. When we arrived down from the mountains on Friday, my friend “Wolka from the Colca”, and I, would hurry home to our apartment and don our best attire. This was to show the girls, how we looked “cleaned up” and with all of the Andes mountains dust, washed off us.

1978 ALL CLEANED UP AND READY TO GO DANCING

This particular day on my way to meet Deysi, I passed thru the Plaza de Armas. There was a young shoeshine boy sitting there, extolling the beauties of his work. Looking down at my shoes, I said, “what the hell, they could use a shine”. He didn’t hesitate and jumped all over my shoes. He was grunting and groaning, spitting and shining. On completion, he leaned back and asked if I would like some “brilliante” on my shoes. It was getting dark and they looked good, but I said, “what the hell, let’s get the full treatment”! He then pulls out a bottle of spray, and puts a shine on them that would make a “general” jealous. As I said, it was dark, but my God did they look good. You could see the reflection of the stars in them.

ONE SIDE OF THE PLAZA DE ARMAS WHERE I HAD MY SHOESHINE ONE EVENING IN FEBRUARY 1978

I’m so proud of my shoes, I’m flashing them at everyone that passes. I seen many an envious look, and heard many exclamations of amazement. I few blocks later we meet Deysi for Cocktails and Dinner. We had no sooner, gotten inside, when she looks at me and says, “what did you do to your shoes?” I’m about to explain that I always like to keep myself groomed to high standards, including my shoes. I glance down and I see the most amazing sight. The little bugger had painted my shoes a bright ORANGE color. I was stunned. What in hell can you do, when you are wearing clown shoes and sitting in the best restaurant in town. I might add, with the prettiest girl in town. Well all you can do is curse a bit and then laugh. That evening I was ridiculed by all.

NO WONDER SHE COULDN’T KEEP HER HANDS OFF ME! WHO COULD HARDLY BLAME HER.

Ok sorry for that sidetrack, now back to our 2004 trip.

ALL THROUGHOUT THE ANDES, THESE LITTLE PLOTS ARE FARMED. THE TERRAIN IS IRRELEVANT, THEY USE EVERY INCH.
IN THE FAMILY HOME AREQUIPA, PERU. JIMBORED, DEYSI, LA FLACA MARIPOSA, AUGGIE, UNCLE J AND “EL PADRINO” PAPI
COCO AND NONO IN CHARGE OF THE PARRILLADA. THE BBQ WAS MADE IN HUAMBO IN 1979 WHILE DEYSI AND I WORKED THERE.
BIG SOLE’s SPECIALTY, ROCOTO RELLENO TO DIE FOR. THIS ONE IN PREPARATION FOR OUR FAMILY BARBEQUE, JULY 30, 2004
LIL SOLE’ INSPECTING THE PREPARATIONS, ALREADY THINKING ABOUT EMIGRATING TO CANADA.
THIS IS THE PART WHERE DEYSI IS LOADING UP JIMBORED’s DINDIN. MAMI DISHING OUT THE MEAT, SOLE’ ON THE POTATOES
NIECE REGGIE, OUT BACK WASHING UP PRIOR TO THE EATING STARTING. ALWAYS WITH A SMILE AND A KIND WORD FOR ALL
JULI MAKING HER ENTRY TO THE FESTIVITIES, JUST A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO HER WEDDING TO NONO. SHE IS A PERUVIAN BEAUTY
ONE CAN NEVER HAVE TO MANY PICTURES OF THE MAIN SQUARE IN AREQUIPA. SHOWN HERE, NONO, COCO, UNCLE J AND DREW
DEYSI’s BIG BROTHER AND MY FRIEND ARNIE, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE I MET IN THE ANDES, IN 1978. HE WAS OUR PROJECT ACCOUNTANT
FROM ABOVE THE PLAZA DE ARMAS IN CENTRAL AREQUIPA, LOOKING BACK TOWARDS THE CITY, END OF JULY, 2004.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHEN EVEN A SMALL PART OF THE CLAN COME TOGETHER FOR LUNCH.
OUTSIDE OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE IN CAYMA, WHERE DEYSI AND I WERE MARRIED 25 YEARS EARLIER.
A LITTLE PERUVIAN FARM BOY, GETTING READY TO WORK IN THE FIELDS. THIS FROM JUST NORTH OF THE CITY ON THE RIO CHILI
ANGE THOUGHT THIS WAS A PETTING ZOO. REALLY WE WERE IN THE YARD OF THE PAI PAI RESTAURANT. THIS GUY WAS LUNCH!
IT IS REALLY HARD TO TAKE A BAD PICTURE FROM THIS CITY. HERE WE ARE LOOKING OVER THE RIO CHILI AT MT CHACHANI
WE ARE ON THE SOUTH END OF AREQUIPA, ON ONE OF OUR ENDLESS TOURS. THIS ONE OVERLOOKING THE FARMS.
THE RUINS OF A SMALL CHAPEL NEAR SACHACA ON THE SOUTH END OF THE CITY. OVER THE YEARS WE TRAMPED EVERY INCH.
A REST HOME FOR THE TIRED AND WEARY CATHOLIC PRIESTS, ONCE THEY HAVE FINISHED THEIR “WORK” IN THE ANDES.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIMES ALWAYS, WHEN WE COME TOGETHER FOR BEER, INCA COLA AND BULLSHIT JULY 30, 2004
INTERNATIONAL CLUB, PISTOL RANGE, AFTER A FEW TARGETS. MYSELF, AUGGIE, UNCLE J AND FLANKED BY OUR INSTRUCTORS
HERE WE GOT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH OUR FRIENDS (AND EL’s PARENTS) AT THE, FORMER, GERMAN CLUB.
DEYSI, ANGE AND DEYSI’s BROTHER. I WORKED WITH HIM IN THE ANDES IN 1978/79. HE IS MY FRIEND ALWAYS.
FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL DAYS. THEY STILL LOOK LIKE TROUBLE! DEYSI AND LA FLACA MARIPOSA (THE SKINNY BUTTERFLY)

After a week together, in Arequipa, Uncle J and I had to return to the business of making money, to fund these excursions. The girls stayed behind to attend the wedding of Deysi’s nephew Nono and the lovely Juli. From what I understand, it was indeed, a fine party. With that, I complete my post of our 2004 trip to Peru. It will stay in my memory forever. For now I have tried to recreate the spirit of this memory, in photos. Enjoy.

THE WEDDING GIRLS. ANGE IS ON THE CAMERA AND LITTLE SOLE’ IS HIDING SOMEWHERE. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL
THIS IS THE ONE WHERE NONO’s BACHELOR LIFE HAS ENDED AND JULI HAS PRESENTED HIM WITH THE “RULE” BOOK

8 Comments

  • Jimbo Red
    March 19, 2023 at 8:49 pm Reply

    This is what La Flaca Mariposa has to say about your latest blog

    Que hermoso video!! Esté me trasladó a nuestra juventud por cierto fueron los más lindos, recuerdo inolvidable que hoy los he vuelto a vivir!! Con mucha alegría y a la vez con nostalgia por todos los que ya no están con nosotros, y están gozando de nuestro Señor!!
    Jim mi querido amigo,hermano, que lindos recuerdos tu y Deysita muy jovencitos y guapísimos ya no recordaba muchos pasajes de ésos momentos, con tantas fotos del pasado dónde todo era Felicidad!!
    Gracias Jim amigo querido por tener una linda familia, pero la reina es Deysita!!
    abrazos para todos con todo mi cariño de siempre.

    Segunda parte, bien todo lo relatado y sobretodo las fotos hermosas y bien tomadas de nuestra AQP hermosa!! dónde estoy incluida, gracias por estar en tus recuerdos y formar parte de éste maravilloso relato con mucha precisión.
    Gracias Jim por escribir tan bonito de nuestro Perú 🇵🇪 y eres un peruano de Corazón!! Felicidadessss….un abrazo inmensooooo..

    • Jimbo Red
      March 19, 2023 at 8:55 pm Reply

      Thank you for your continued support Flaca. I am so happy that you enjoy my humble words and pictures of all of us in Peru. I invite everyone to use the language translator under the tab at the top of the page, to see what exactly our friend says. My last words for her are, “although Deysi was the Queen of the family, JimboRed was most certainly the King!” At least during those times she let me.

  • Soledad
    April 22, 2023 at 7:45 pm Reply

    Querido Jim, es muy lindo lo que escribes muy bonitos recuerdos vividos aquí con todos ustedes.Las fotos muy bonitas verlas es como volver a vivir esos momentos tan bonitos que me hicieron reír y llorar a la vez al verlo a Arnaldo y a Juliana que lamentablemente ya no están con nosotros pero sé que desde el cielo siempre nos estarán protegiendo y mandando sus bendiciones.Te felicito por tener esa memoria tan increíble que recuerdas cada momento lindo que hemos pasado.Gracias por enviarnos tan bonito video.Para ti hermano y hermana Deysi,los quiero mucho

    • Jimbo Red
      April 22, 2023 at 9:51 pm Reply

      Soledad it is so good of you to read my stories. As you know, everyone in Peru was and is a big part of my life and of my memories. I am so happy that you can relive some of our memories thru our photos. We also think of Arnoldo and Juliana often. I do agree from wherever they are watching, they are looking over us. I appreciate your kind words about my humble writings. I will keep going as long as there is a memory left in my mind. We look forward to being with you again soon. Your brother and sister in Canada

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