Chosica and fiesta de Huancayo

Last weekend I went out with friends from work. On Sunday we went to Chosica, a little village in the west of Lima, like a little weekend place for people here, with BBQ places, pools, sport places,… . It was quite nice to do some sports there and to enjoy an BBQ (i think they were also surprised by some austrian food which i had prepared for them).

When we came back i was invited by Nene, another working-colleague who i appreciate very much, invited me to a fiesta which is typical for a region of Peru (Huancayo). This fiesta was in the district of the city, where the radio observatory is and which is not a typical place for tourists (and maybe not the best). Well, Nene is owner of a restaurant too, so for this fiesta he was in charge (or lets say, his family) to provide the food. With him i was really “inside” from the moment on when i arrived. And as Gringo i seemed to be something like an attraction too! Some words for this evening: dancing, dancing, eating guinea-pig (CUY), dancing, drinking beer, dancing with other people, drinking beer, dancing, making photos with others, dancing, beer heheheeh

cooking with love

singer in the bus

Place in Chosica

photo too late

la fiesta

the kitchen

kitchen

mi cuy :)

wanna try?

gringo benito

con Nene

it was not easy to leave!

Trabajo

JRO with all Antennas

The main raison for this world trip is – if you don’t know it yet – my research internship in Jircamarca Radio Observatory. I was very lucky to find this possibility searching google and then that my application was accepted here. Only JRO made it possible, that i can afford this travel!

As student in mechatronics it seems that i am pretty far away from the fields of research here in JRO. Since my specialisation in Linz will be Communication and Information Theory I am able to apply my knowledge here on the radar systems. Right now my projects are developing to be more and more interesting!

The people here in the Observatory are really nice. Sometimes we have communication problems specially because of my poor Spanish and their different strong accents (yes, not everybody speaks English .. and nobody German ).

The institution is built a little outside of Lima, how I described already earlier in an desert. Every day I go for around 50 minutes with an minivan to work (and naturally the same time back). The way to the work does not show the best parts of Lima. Working time is from 8:00 to 18:00 with one hour brake for sports and meal. An alarm siren rings for signalling these times that you can’t miss your minivan. Usual Working days are from Monday to Thursday, working on Friday is also possible (to take comp time). Beside me there is a second international student, Roger from Cornell University.

La comida

I am frequently asked “what’s about the food”. Well, i try to give a little explanation with this article.

Beside the missing good beer from home i can’t complain about eating here. Well, some days ago i was called “orso Panda” because of my eating habits and my change of figure

I could eat every day a new fruit of which i don’t know the name, i could discover new sorts os Chili (Aji!), Potatos (Papas) in all variations, la ceviche, the national fish meal, chinese influences here, ahhh, just watch:

first time in supermarket

chicha morada

my first purchase… but what is that?

and the knowledge how to eat

ceviche & … ?

street seller

i don’t know the name, but it’s great

CUY

best fruit ever!

chinese

chinese

market hall

market hall

market hall

hmmmm lambs!

dried fish??

ajiiiiiii hmmmmmmmmmmm :)

verduras

frutas

turkey

i should stop eating

The city

I am already enjoying my second weekend now in Lima (ooo time is passing too fast). My project for university is now also finished so i had time to explore the city a bit.

Here i have some really nice people. First, there is the family Kuyeng where i live (today they showed me the old center and china town ). Secondly my friend Paola (una churra peruana que vive en Linz) gave me the contacts of 2 of her friends. One of them is Fiorella, the second, Goncho, i don’t know yet. Unfortunatly i didn’t have so much time yet to hang around with them, but Fiore took me twice to Miraflores (district of Lima with as many inhabitants as Vienna) and took me to a fish restaurant (Ceviche!!! La comida national del Peru) with her friends.

Fiore en Larcomar

Taxiride

La costa + amigas de Fiore

Parque de amor

Costa

Corso de Wong

Corso

Corso

Corso

Again Austria?

lions ride

my family

a la placa des armas

cathedral

Placa des armas

ceremony at presidentials palace

traffic police :D

china town

typical vehicul of Peru

First University of America

There would be so much to tell about the live here. I have to leave it uncomplete… but be inspired!

No Austrian beer in Lima

I really have bad news… yesterday i joined a meeting of Austrians and unfortunatly i found out that no austrian beer is sold in Lima

Lima 1

After spending a night in the airport of Santiago de Chile (brrrrr, real winter there) i arrived on the 7th of July in Lima. My impressions of the airport of Lima were already better than in Rio! At the first glance I thought that i came back to Austria! Everywhere Austrian flags!!!

Austria in Lima???

But pretty soon after leaving the airport area I noticed the differences… i have to commit a little shock. Ronaldo, staff member of Jircamarca Observatory (where i am working) picked me up from the airport. Since he didn’t speak any English and I only very poor Spanish it was a quite funny drive – one hour of “sightseeing” of non-tourist places on the way to the institution. The photos later may give some ideas of my impressions. (I should add: the office is located in an desert next to Lima)

Within the first week i got pretty much used to the things which i see while going to work (i live with an host-family in the district of San Borja and every morning i am picked up with by a minivan).

People here drive really … let’s say “different”. If you have a car which can drive – the condition does not matter – use it. If there is some place on the street – left or right or in the middle – use it. If your horn is working (of course it is) – use it. If you want to be cool, upgrade your horn – different sounds are available! Concerning the houses next to the streets: If you build a house, don’t finish it. One day you may have more money to add an additional floor! A roof… is it raining? hehehe… well, I stop now, even if also should mention the streets!

These impressions are more valid for outer districts. The city centre is modern and clean.

Some words to my work: During the first week i had to do an experience presentation in front of the JRO staff in order to figure out projects in which i can work! It seems that my time in work will be quite interesting.

I am working 4 days per week, 10 hours per day (regular working times – great! ). Every day we have a 1 hour break where everybody is doing sports for half an hour and then going to lunch. As sport you can play soccer, volleyball or you go jogging. This helps really a lot to work easier

PS: Not all of Lima is like my way to work

PPS: Austria is also known here – people watch “Kommisar Rex” every day

Austria in Lima???

Minivan to work is waiting

today not much traffic

traffic regulation

nice lorry

almost arrived

JRO

Welcome Commitee

my office

my coffee can ;)

jogging in the nature

Komissar Rex :D

Rio

Arrival in Rio! After 10 hours an approximately 35 minutes I arrived at 17:45 local time in Rio de Janeiro (River of January)!

The flight itself wasn’t that bad, it gave me the possibility to sober up after my stay in Madrid. I really tried to sleep as less as possible to minimize the influence of the Jet-lag.

Rio – Airport: 2 hours wait at the luggage pick-up… finally i was the last one waiting – without my luggage! Great start, i love Rio! After some really “interesting” meetings i learned that my bag is at the police control! What a luck!!! At least it was not lost After another hour there, checking my bag on eventual illegal contains I could leave the airport!

Thank you Flavia for your patience while waiting on me at the arrival door!

Ok, Flavia pickt me up at the airport. We went directly to her home (shower !!!! ) and then back to the city (well, Flavia also lives in the city), to a Laguna where more bars are located. And voila

Flavias brother had his graduation party during my stay in Rio so i had to move to Isabella, my other friend of Nice. For the rest of my stay i give the speech to the pictures:

welcome drink

Beach

beachboy :)

wave :)

Mateeee and exotic fruits ;)

crazy in the bus

overtaking

caipi de brasil ;)

Gringo in Lapa

cristos

cool :)

Santa … ;)

Bim!

Maracana Stadium: Flamengo is winning!

attack!

monkey buisness

Praia – Specially for Enrico :)

!!!Obrigado special a Isabella y Flavia!!!!

Praia - Specially for Enrico

Madrid

Depart, day one. Madrid! – 2nd July 2008

Culo Tinto

locos :)

I came to Madrid and spent my night because of my connexion flight to Rio. Madrid, City of Elena and Dani (Jaime moved to Cambridge – he sais that the people are nicer there and that they cook better )

Elena, thanks for giving me a Bed, Dani, thanks for bringing me to the airport! And yes, the salchicon in the morning saved my live in the plane! A tip to everybody: Before starting a 10 hours flight, don t take to much alcohol! pffff, it was fatal to get to know all the friends of Elena in the fiesta del barrio!!!

Unfortunatly i didn’t see so much of the city – but honestly, after 4 times there it was ok for me! Seeing friends was more important than old buildings!

Hello world!

This is my new Blog.. finally i decided to create one because i am to lazy to write thounds of emails in hundrets of languages

This blog is invented to describe my travel around the world. So, have fun … and don’t fall asleep