Cerrado - Another Walk

CERRADO

Closed for Cleaning

2/25/2020

The Arequipa temple is now closed for cleaning until 3/10/2020, the next two weeks.  We don't really have anything to do today, so we decided to go exploring.  We wanted to see where the blue bus goes, so we got on it, paid 2 soles each (about 60 cent) and rode it until it stopped.  Not exactly sure where we went but it was on the other side of the Chili River and on the other side of the bridge below the temple.  We saw a lot of the same scenes of homes, tiendas (little stores), and beautiful farm land.

When we stopped, we were up on a hill and we were able to see the temple.  It was really neat.  On our way back, we decided to get off the bus and walk.  The mall that has the Chili's Restaurant, seemed close and we wanted to get some lunch/dinner.  

We walked and walked and came to a really neat oval or round about.  There was a round walk way that was elevated above the road.  We walked around it and enjoyed the views of being above the streets.  It was pretty neat.   It was getting cloudy the more the afternoon went on.  it rained a little, we found a bus stop and sat under the covering until the rain stopped.  

Look at those clouds!!!

Looks like rain

Standing on the raised round about.

You can see the temple just to the left, top corner of the yellow sign. We are on the walk way above the big circle round about.

After we got off the walkway above the round about, we kept walking toward the mall with the Chili's  

Along our walk, we passed an interesting restaurant.  We decided we want to go back and eat there sometime.  It was called  Tradicion Arequipa Picanteria Turistica the address is Av. Dolores 111, Jose Luis Bustamante y Rivero 04002  phone 054-426467

As we walked by and looked inside the walls, there were beautiful gardens and it looked like a really nice place to eat.  

We saw this interesting display on our way.  Shrubs shaped like traditional people dancing. 

 It was pretty cool.  

We finally made it to the mall with the Chili's  

We had lunch and walked around the mall before we left to get back to our apartment.

We got on the bus that said Tottus and Ripley because we thought it would take us back downtown to the Tottus we shop at,  then we could get back to our apartment.  We ended up at this big new mall that had a big new Tottus and Ripleys.  Not where we thought were going. 

  

We walked in just to check out the Tottus and to see if we could find some Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.  They didn't have any.  I guess we got tricked by getting on the wrong bus, but we found a new mall and a Sodimac.  Not sure if we'd know how to get back to it though.  

This is a picture of the bus, not the one we actually rode.

We go on another bus that we thought would take us downtown,  By now it was raining pretty hard.  We rode the bus to where we knew we could catch the bus that goes up by the temple.  We had to walk in he rain to get to where we needed to be.  We got on the last bus with all of the other wet people and watched through the fogged up windows for the temple stop.  We got off in the rain and walked up the hill to the temple with the rain drenching us.  I had on my rain proof shoes and they were worth the $20.00 they cost.  When we got back to our apartment, we got dried off and I washed all the wet clothes.  It was quite an adventure.  We have decided sometimes we should just take a taxi, but then look at all the adventure we'd have missed.  

It took up our day and we were together which we enjoy the most.  Times like this we will always remember because were were together.  It's such a blessing to be serving in the temple even though we really haven't served there much yet.  We love where we are and are so blessed. 

Tomorrow afternoon while the Arequipa Temple is closed for cleaning, we are flying to Trujillo until March 4th to spend some time at the Trujillo Temple.  i

It will be nice to see some of our Trujillo friends and spend some time in a place that we both love so much. I think it will be a great trip. 

  

We are finally getting use to the altitude here at approximately 7,977 ft.  It has taken us almost 2 weeks to acclimate.  When we go to Trujillo tomorrow, the altitude is sea level.  It will be nice to have oxygen again, but then in a week when we get back to Arequipa, will we have to acclimate again?  We will see!

A Beautiful Walk

Beautiful Day for a Walk

2/24/2020

A look out our window this morning at 6:00.  Drizzle of rain and they were mowing the lawn early this morning.  Sorry the screen on our window, makes it hard to get a good picture out our window.  I love freshly mowed green grass.  I don't like uneven cuts and grass that gets cut to short.   In a few days it will look great. 

This morning, I cleaned the apartment and got two batches of laundry going.   At about 9:00 am, we went for a walk to see the big bridge and what was across it.  The following are pictures we took along the way.  

Such a surprise to see a cement truck and a pumper pouring cement.  

Usually men are carrying buckets on their shoulders.  

A beautiful picture of the temple on the hill

This building had tin on the roof.  There must be a system to keep the water out.  

All the houses on the other side of the river and bridge.

Standing on the bridge looking down

The roaring river

Those are tennis courts on the left.  Kids were there taking lessons.  

Looking back at the bridge

Llamas!!! The first ones we've seen

This elephant was in a beautiful park, like a botanical garden.

This pig was also in the same park.

We walked all the way to the Plaza de Aramas

We sat and watched the people.  There were a lot of kids chasing the pigeons and a lot of people walking around.  Interesting to watch.  My favorite were the women who were dressed like Peruvians.  Los Chismosas!

The Cathedral

This is Brother Gerr.  We met him at the temple Saturday.  He is from Utah and bought a house in Ogden to fix up,  We saw him at the plaza while we were walking around.  

We left the plaza and took a taxi to the Real Mall, we ate lunch at TGI Friday.  It was delicious.  We went to PlazaVea and got a few groceries, got a McDonald's ice cream cone, then we got a taxi and came home.  I'm finishing up the laundry.  It has been a good day exploring the other side of the gully and river  The best part is being together with Wayne. 

Happy Birthday George

Happy Birthday George!

We Love You!!

6 years old

Sunday

Sunday

2/23/2020

This morning we went with James and Whitney Fenn to their ward.  James was speaking and we wanted to listen to him.  While we were waiting for them to pick us up for the meeting, I took pictures of pictures that hang in the area downstairs where members can wait and relax. Every time we walk through there, I love seeing the beautiful pictures of Christ with the children.  I really like them. So now I can share them here.  The baptism picture is pretty special too.   

Brother Fenn did a great job speaking at sacrament meeting.  he talked about being true to our promises and covenants, a talk Elder Rasband gave in October conference.  I really couldn't understand much of what he said, but I was able to feel his message.  

  

Wayne and James went to Priesthood and I stayed with Whitney and Sister Marsh in Relief Society.  Our lesson was on that same talk.  I followed along on my phone in English.  It is important to mean what we say when we make commitments, promises, and covenants. It is important to do the best we can. It was nice to be in Relief Society with all the beautiful women.  

Sister Marsh, was showing this little girl a picture of herself, her husband, and her dad, President Nelson.  She was trying to help the little girl understand that her dad is President Nelson.  The little girl was trying really hard to figure it out. It was cute.

Elder Hernandez from Pennsylvania and Elder Hansen from Guatemala

James and Whitney have been really good to us.  They are such wonderful people and great examples of Christ like service.  When they are with members and even strangers, they are so friendly and kind and they radiate the spirit.  We love them already and so appreciate their kindness and friendship.  On Wednesday night we went down town with them.  We went to dinner  but didn't make it to the monastery,  so we walked around the plaza and down some of the streets around the plaza.  I was able to find a cute bag to carry my temple clothes in when we go to the temple.

My new temple bag

It rained a little this morning.  This afternoon it has been foggy.

This afternoon, we've been watching the LDS Newsroom videos of the last few years.  We are members of a wonderful church.  The members all over the world all believe in our Savior and are trying to follow His example, just like we are.  I appreciate President Nelson for the kind spirit and his love he shares where ever he ministers to member all over the world. 

I made peach cobbler for a dessert.  I put it in too small of a dish and had to pour it into a bigger one.  It didn't turn out at all. 

Wayne has been reading the book about President Nelson's life. I love that he shares part of it with me. Such a good book about an amazing man.

Tomorrow starts a new week.  The temple is closed for two weeks for cleaning so on Wednesday, Wayne and I are going to fly to Trujillo so see our friends there and go to the temple.  

It will be a good week.