The numbers don't add up!!!

down to our last 2 weeks here - for the second time.  Time to air this topic which has been going round and round in my head for the past 8 months.

The numbers don't add up.....

Money numbers that is.  On one hand, things are relatively cheap (inexpensive) here, but some things are quite expensive.

Obviously our Aussie Dollars go a lot further here - $1 = S/2.60 approximately - so it works in our favour.

I've been told that when travelling, you should try to work in the local currency, and not try to convert prices back to your own currency.  Fair enough, but you need to sometime to see how prices compare.

Some things are about equivalent $1 = S/1

For instance - a very good meal in a good restaurant costs 30-50 soles. Dollars = Soles probably fairly similar to Australia.  And of course you can get good meals a lot cheaper than that.  Great nachos at Paddy's Pub are about S/16 - and that's generally enough for Lex and I.  We also eat at a number of 'Menu' lunch places where you can get a 3 course meal and drink for S/10  Don't think we can do that in Australia even for $10

A large cerveza (620ml bottle of beer) in a bar costs around S/10.  Cider, that I like is around S/20

But groceries vary greatly.... and I realise I am quite out of touch with prices of things back home .... and am probably in for a shock when I go shopping.

How do these compare???
Tub of butter (500g)  S/9.30
Large box of cornflakes - S/10
1L long life milk - S/3
Ham S/35 per kilo - There's a lot of cheaper style pizza ham ...
mince  S/13 a kilo
Chicken breast meat is about S/14 per kilo
sausages are even more expensive  S/50 per kilo  chorizo sausages  More expensive than steak
Small tub of Philly cream cheese S/9.50
2L coca cola S/5.50
small yoghurt S/1

Families here are very good at stretching meals - with rice, beans, lentils, potatoes, pasta etc.  

We buy 'pan' (bread rolls) fresh - sometimes twice daily, and we can get 4 ciabatta rolls for S/1  delicious too!

So not all grocery prices seem cheap ... thinking $=S/  Anything that is imported is obviously more expensive than locally produced items.  Pasta sauces are starting to appear in the supermarket - around S/10 a jar.  Local Peruvian style sauces are not so expensive.

BUT the one price that still amazes me is the price of bus and taxi fares.

We catch a local bus - 70c will get you anywhere in Cusco - out of town is a bit more.  Obviously buses can be very crowded, standing room only, and this can be difficult for anyone taller than a Peruvian in a 'combi', which most buses are.  And of course, you need to be careful of pick pockets.

A taxi from town centre to our area usually costs around S/3 - sometimes more because we are 'gringos' or it's raining, or late at night, or the driver doesn't particularly want to go that way.  Varies.

So any way I figure it transport costs are a bargain...  Can't imagine a $3 taxi ride anywhere in OZ.

Because fares are so cheap, we take taxis often - so I guess they get their money in the end.  It's not as if fuel prices are all that cheap either.  Prices vary for different blends, but around S/15 per gallon - too much maths for this retired brain!!!

Of course I'm only looking at how far our $AUD go here - Any consideration on prices etc needs to also take into account local wages.  From what I understand and see around us, there's a growing middle class in Peru .... and there are some very wealthy people as well.  In addition, there's a large number of very poor people.  I understand that it is possible to live very cheaply here - especially if you have a place to live and don't have to pay rent.  It is possible to get a 2 or 3 course 'menu' lunch for S/2.50 - I probably wouldn't want to eat it.

Wages are generally NOT high by our standards.  I read that minimum wage in Peru has been increased this year to S/750 per month, and that the average wage in Lima is approximately S/1200 per month.

I find myself constantly comparing prices - considering  $ = S/ strategy, but I am still confused.  All I can be certain of is that our Aussie dollars go further here, and while we enjoying eating out often here in Peru, I think that will not be the case back home in OZ!!  So better live it up in our last 2 weeks here this year!!!

Birthdays are a BIG deal in Peru

It was Milka's birthday yesterday.  

Time to celebrate and it starts early!!!  Like midnight.  Having experienced the family wake up at midnight for Lex's birthday, we were ready.... with a cake. Very easily obtained - there are cake shops everywhere.  Took less than a minute for the girl to write Feliz Cumpleanos Milka on it.  Two alarms set, just in case.  Woke up OK, but biggest problem was trying to turn them off without my glasses.  Failed miserably, as both continued to go off.

We woke them up alright.... singing Happy Birthday in English and Spanish, but we weren't the only ones awake at that time to wish the birthday girl Happy Birthday - her mum also rang her.  We didn't bother with cake-eating at that hour, thankfully, but did it all again in the morning....

 

It's a Peruvian custom - in fact I've been told twice that it's Peruvian LAW, that you get time off on your birthday.  Milka got half a day off - others say it's a full day.  Either way, I wonder if that would catch on back home? Half day at work seems to be a good idea ... oh and another cake!!!

So we went out to lunch to celebrate, since we're already flexible with our time ... Yeah!  

Zac looked a little concerned about the wine opening .....

 

LOL!!!!

A delicious lunch for the third celebration for the day....  then home (for me) for a rest before a night out celebrating with friends.

AND.... another cake!!!!  Birtday cakes here in Peru only have ONE candle, regardless of age.  And it's customary for the birthday person to take the first bite out of the cake ......

Milka did it in style!!!

Happy Birthday Milka 

- we enjoyed all the celebrations - but I think there is more to come on Saturday evening!!!!

Moving day .... into the brewery.

After weeks of preparation, it was finally time to move all Zac's beer making gear out of the house and into the new brewery premises, and you couldn't get the smile off Zac's face!!!!

It all happened amazingly quickly!!!!  Lex had worked throughout the morning to move things from the back courtyard and store cupboard to the front courtyard.  Zac would arrive around 2pm with a truck..... Rodolfo, Milka's cousin who is also staying here at the moment arrived just before 2pm - in time for the move.

So in a matter of minutes equipment was moved from the front yard to the waiting truck - well all but the last couple of items which would have to go in a taxi with Zac and I.  Memories came flooding back of  similar event - moving from their first flat to a new one on our last trip over here - 1 truck with the overflow in a taxi!

And just as amazingly, by the time we arrived in the taxi, the truck had been unloaded and everything was in the brewery - not in place - just IN!!!

Zac's grin didn't fade as he set to work putting all the gear where he wanted it, setting up the filter and pump on the tanks and getting the water filtration started.

There are still some things to dispose of from the construction stage - rubbish is not so easy to get rid of (unless of course you just want to dump it anywhere like so many people here do  - NOT), and 22 bags of yeso (plaster), a result of tradesman over-ordering!

There are still things to 'tweak' - cold room is built but not yet operational, filtration still not working as Zac wants, but it's all there and while he is brewing there's time to potter.

 Gear that he's been waiting on also arrived .... Friday was a GOOD day! 

Some of the ingredients!

Saturday was his first brew day - he's still loving it.

Saturday was his first brew day - he's still loving it. 

Wayki Brewing Company .....

Time for inspections, accreditation, licencing and whatever else is necessary, next week!!!  Watch for Wayki beer in Norton's Bar on the plaza in Cusco!!!!  Woohoo!!!!

Happy Birthday Cecy

Last weekend we went to birthday party for Milka's amiga, Cecy.  Just a short walk from our house to theirs... fantastic.  Lex wanted to know if it was a 'special' birthday ... as in one of those significant numbers.  Aren't all birthdays 'special'?  However Cecy told me she was 25 - couldn't argue with that!!

What an amazing evening!!  The party had kicked off by the time we arrived around 9pm.  Cecy does things in style - a red and black theme, lots of decorations, caterers and delicious food, a water cooler full of Pisco Sour ... very strong, loud music coming through enormous speakers!!!  At the time I didn't realise that the huge speakers belonged to a band who arrived sometime after 10pm .... and played until sometime after 1am.  Some band ..... 10 member group!!!! Including huge bongo drums - took up most of the dining room, but everyone managed to find spaces for dancing.  Was fabulous!!! Dance time.... foot-tapping, loud music, it's hard to stand still...

I couldn't believe how quickly time flew by.  Band didn't stop playing until sometime after 1pm, and was closer to 2am by the time they managed to get their instruments packed away - others were keen to have a go at them.

I was asked if we party like that back in Oz - friends- Yes, food - Yes, Drinks - Yes, Great party atmosphere - Yes, Loud dance music - Yes ... but not often a live band in private home.  Only time I have experienced that was in Lima, Peru.  And similarly, the band started playing late - after 11pm, and played until early hours of the morning 4am in that case.  But they also don't stop for breaks .... amazing.  

Thanks Cecy and Mark for a fabulous party!!!

What no Easter Eggs!!!!

Easter in Peru... It's a religious celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) begins on Sunday before Easter with Palm Sunday.  People buy little palm crosses with flowers and herbs, take them to church to have them blessed before placing hem in their homes.

Second event - at least here in Cusco was the Dia de Senor de Los Temblores - a really BIG event where hundreds of thousands of people come out despite the rain to receive the blessing.  Amazing.

Thursday and Friday are the public holidays here.  Banks close but many shops remain open.  Apparently schools close for the whole week so children can take part in all the activities.

Thursday is the celebration of the Last Supper.  Along with hundreds of others we attended Mass in the Cathedral, standing room only - and joined a procession afterwards.  Actually only went around inside the church before stopping in front of a large decorated alter in an annexe of the church.  Oh well - not the sort of procession I was expecting, but I have come to expect the unexpected here.  We were swept along with the crowd.  No photos - I observed the signs!!

Thursday and Friday there was a food festival - La fiesta de lost 12 platos - commemorates the Last Supper (Ultima Cena) and featuring 12 particular traditional food dishes.  We went to the Food Festival on Friday afternoon.  There were lots of traditional fish (and particularly trout) dishes as well as vegetable dishes and lots of sweets.  Wasn't the day to NOT feel like eating, but it was my turn to get the flu. @#$%$#%

We tasted several dishes....

Trout with peach salsa, pear pie, avocado cheesecake!!

Thats's ONE potato!!! Funny story with this potato.... Was suggested that prospective daughter-in-law be given this potato to peel.  If she can do it, she'll make a good daughter-in-law.  Milka's response...."Too late!"

SOME of the 4000 potato varieties in Peru.  

Causa ... delicious

At the Food Festival

Entertainment for the kids ..... smallest train ride ever!!!

Sunday we went to Mass once again - an even bigger crowd than Thursday, and there were several sessions throughout the morning. and a military parade and flag raising ceremony in the plaza.  We headed off for a delicious breakfast at Cicciolina.

I'm sure there were many other services, parades and celebrations that we didn't encounter.  Just as well we didn't follow through with original plans to do the Lares Trek over Easter - I've had the flu, it's been cold and rainy often.  But the boys have have also spent time constructing a cold room for the brewery.  I can't wait to see how it's progressing.... tomorrow.

On the hunt for Easter Eggs......

I didn't seen any Easter Eggs in shops, and they are certainly NOT a big feature of Easter in Peru, but apparently you can find some in speciality chocolate shops, and Milka surprised us with one!!!  Thanks Milka

 I wonder if it will be the same in a few years' time?????