Urban Design and Subtle Effects of Location

It feels like we are a lot more mobile during this visit to Lima than last time, and I think this is rooted in subtle differences in how the location of our current apartment allows us to interact with elements of urban design. We are just a few blocks from where we lived on our last trip. But, somehow, it feels much easier to get around. The Little Lady is two years older, but I don't think that explains it. There have also been some general infrastructure improvements that I'll mention. But I think the most important explanation is connected to the details of our location and how location affects our interactions with the built environment.

A Wonderful Trip to the Cordillera Blanca

Last week the Little Lady's school was closed for a week of vacation. When school is closed it's tough for Jana and I to make as much progress on research and writing. We traded off childcare duties for the first part of the week, but knowing that work time would be reduced with school closed, we made plans to get away from Lima for a long weekend starting on Thursday. We wanted to go someplace we've never been before, and were hoping for something quiet and close to nature. We ended up choosing the Ancash region, which contains some of the highest mountain peaks in the western hemisphere. Huaraz is the capital of the region, and we made our base there. It was a great weekend, and I highly recommend a visit to the area if you're ever in Peru. Here are some of the highlights:

Settling In

We've only been in Lima for a little over a week. Several of those days included work-related academic conferences. But at this point I'd say we're pretty much completely settled in. That includes a school for the Little Lady, a full complement of groceries that are restocked on a regular basis, a work routine, and finding our bearings around the neighborhood. Here is where things stand and how we were able to set things up so quickly.