Someone asked about a building code.  How would you like to be on these stairs in a  

terremoto( earthquake) ?  

Actually how would you even like to be on these stairs?

        Romucho family's dog getting a drink from a leaky pipe.  We aren't sure how a leaky pipe

        comes to be here. Or maybe its an underground water system to water this tree and grass???

We're in the middle of orange season.  The truck on the side has been here every day

 for month with a new load of oranges.

    The street construction is actually moving along but its hard to tell, because they are

    working on all of them at once - which drives the taxi drivers crazy.

We don't know how far this delivery car had to come with its load but  hope they weren't

on the Pan American from Ica or Lima. 

We wondered how they unloaded.

The city workers were the finale of the parade.

Some of their work clothes have got to be suffocating in this heat.

Luzmeri - getting ready to march.  She and her brothers are members.

Parasols were also available for protection from the sun.  Certainly not for rain as it never rains here in the desert.  This little girl is wearing native dress from one of the provinces.

Vendors were blowing bubbles and then selling the devices to all the kids who were enthralled to see the bubbles floating in the air.  Clincy and Kati are friends of ours.

We aren't sure what they charged for rides, but a lot of the kids were ready to ride after walking in the parade.

After opening ceremonies in the Plaza, the parade started.

 Energizing  for the big parade.  Patriot's Day is like our Fourth of July.  They don't have floats, only schools marching.

Another surprise - we went out in our back yard and had another pet.  This one was better than the last, but couldn't get out as our walls vary in height from 8 to 12 feet.  We were going to get him our ladder, but he finally figured his own way out.

Maracona has a suburb, Bella Vista or "Beautiful View".

We were able to get a good view of the dolphin and bear frolicing in the sea

Catching the waves at the playa in Marcona - it has been so windy the fisherman haven't been able to go out.

Besides mining iron, Marcona has marble quarries. 

    "Order de Desparrar" means "Shoot on sight".  This appears on private property a lot along the Pan

    American Highway.  In this case, it is a warning not to disturb the protected species in the reserve.

    Along the highway, probably to discourage invasions.  It certainly discourages us!

We were excited to be invited to the Nazca Social Club.  Luhana is celebrating her first BDay.  It was quite the fiesta!

Besides the construction, there are often groups of marching children and we never know what the occasion is.  These little ones are in their native Quechua dress.

The Hermanas taking a break from looking for members in the Santa Fe area.  Elder Jones went with the Elders to try to match addresses to names in the San Carlos area.

Enjoying a meal at the conference

All sorts of vibrant colors are in the flowers, even on the same plant.

We are getting really spoiled eating fresh oranges, as it is orange season.  This hotel grows their own fruits and vegetables they serve. 

Pepe, the condor,  wouldn't spread his wings for us, but his wing span is 12 feet.

We only got spit at once by this alpaca that roams around the grounds.

I had to catch a short rest from having so much fun.

Huacachina is the name of the oasis and lots of dune buggies go out.  Sand boarders can climb the close dunes on foot and board down.  We're just glad we lived to tell about it!

You would never know an oasis existed in the midst of all this sand.

Sand boarding is really big here.  The guide in the back is 79.  He got down on his stomach and to show us how to go down the mountain.  Peer pressure was really at work here or I might not have gone.  Our dune was about 50 yards straight down.

Riding in our dune buggies was like going on the roller coaster at Lagoon... or the taxis in Nazca.... of course I ended up in the back so I could get the full effect!

  For Pday we got to go to the sand dunes.  These sand dunes go on for 150 miles.  You can take an overnight trip to the ocean.

Our couples conference was a great help as we were able to share ideas in this beautiful setting.

Construction of this house is moving along very fast, with such a big work crew.  Often you see one or two workers on a project.

The cement is almost at ground level now with the rebar all in place.  They wired them together to keep them standing straight up.

Big water trucks come by to fill the barrels so they can make the cement to fill in the trenches and support the rebar columns.

The rebar supports are pulled up by a rope from the guy on the roof next door.

Visitors from home

What an experience, sitting in the Vista Allegre Casa Capilla, listening to Elder Alder bear testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.  It has been fun to visit and know we are working with the same people he taught. The Alder Family have had quite a trip thru the jungle from Bolivia to Cusco and then Nazca.

How Firm a Foundation

The trenches are filled in with layers of the big rocks and dirt.  We aren't sure how that makes a firm foundation.  It seems more like the house built on the sand..

Night watchman

Well, we had a new little house across the street when we got back.  Many people live in houses constructed from these mats.  Some don't even have roofs, since it never rains here.  The workers rest in the shade here and someone stays at night to protect the equipment and materials.

I just had to run out for another picture.  They just brought some mats they use to make little houses.

We think they will build a  house to store the tools.  This is so exciting to see the whole process right outside our window!  We have visits the rest of the day.  It will be interesting to see what has been done when we get back.

We got home to another surprise.  There is now a house going up across from us.  The footings are about 2 feet wide and go all the way around, like where the house will be.  They go down deep, as you can see the workers standing, shoveling.  We aren't sure, but think the big rocks will go in the trenches.

We like to sit on the top deck in the very front to see the view.  Sometimes that isn't a good thing when you are on a two lane road passing a semi, passing a van with another car coming in your lane.  Fortunately, the other car had room to move off the road to the side for us to pass!  When we get to ride Cruz del Sur it is a real treat.

Viaje de Lima

Sunday afternoon we left for Lima on a trip to the dentist for my other root canal and crowns.  But I now have confidence in my dentists and am not as worried as last time.  I'm not sure what breaking teeth while eating rice means, but it can't be good.  Elder Jones is buying the tickets here at the bus station.

Juanes

Our friends from the jungle celebrate Dia de San Juan, June 27, with "juanes", flavored rice with olives, boiled eggs and chicken pieces(bone and all) wrapped in banana leaves.  They brought us some for breakfast before we left for Lima.