carnivale

I know that whenever people think of Peru, several things can come to mind. Might be the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, or the dark misterious rainforest. Some of you might think of beautiful beaches along the coastline and, perhaps, those of you interested in politics might actually remember the terrorist hell that the country went through for two (still very recent) decades.

Nevertheless, when I started blogging I decided I also wanted to let people know what life in my city was like. Lima is a difficult and confussing city, and everyone living here will tell you there are always mixed emotions when it comes to how one feels about it. There are, however, things I love about living here. And one of the is the Carnaval.

It is a tradition that had been lost in Lima for many years, mainly due to the insecurity caused by terrorism and crime. It is, however, making a colourful and loud comeback in recent years. It is held on a Saturday in February, from 1 pm to 5 or 6 in the morning of the next day. It is the day to go crazy. You can dress up, dance, get naked, change genre, bring your kids, get drunk, whatever you feel like: there are no rules. People bring paint and you can paint everyone you see, even if you don't know anyone, you can still jump all over them, paint their faces and invite them to join the carnaval. 

You start walking throught the city and then head down to the beach (Lima is located over cliffs, overlooking the coast). There's a party there and concerts and then everyone returns to the city for a street party that lasts until the sun rises. This year we went skinny dipping, got back in our costumes and returned to the party upstairs. 

I hope you enjoy the photos (not all taken by me) and that, maybe, one year you will join me in the Carnaval. 

(I was still clean....)

(that didn't last for too long...)

bye!

(if you happen to be in Lima...)

I seriously doubt having any regular readers in Peru, but in case I'm wrong.....

drop by tonight and say hi!

I'm the guest (laptop) dj for the night. 

(purpleness)

Ever since I saw Jen Brill's purple shoes, something happened inside me. I had never been particularly interested in purple but oh, oh, oh, something changed. Suddenly I wanted my own pair. And I got them. It's too bad you can't really tell from the pictures, but they are really really intense.

Oh. Well. Yes. I had them specially made. That's how obsessed I got with the idea of purple shoes. 

In fact... I've got to say... I'm really starting to like the idea of bright colourful shoes all year long.  

(ghosts)

I am terribly sorry for my absence. I think I'm back now.

I know I've been saying this a lot, but I think this time I really (really) mean it. 

There were some ghosts within me that I needed to heal. And slowly, but surely, things are getting better.

I've listening to this sweet girl lately. She has lovely blonde hair, a gorgeous voice and sweet lyrics. 

Also, she's 18. 

Ghosts 

(for a heart is a home)

So what do you do when you are tired of having the blues? Well, you take out your green skinnies, dress in brighter colors than usual, listen to some funky music and start blogging again. 

But still... I feel like I kind of owe you guys an explanation. My posts lately have been on the sucky side of things and I'm surprised so many of you have kept checking this blog while I was having the blues and writing poor excuses for a post. You truly make me smile.

Things have been strange lately and life has felt like an emotional rollercoaster. A rollercoaster you can't ever remember buying the ticket for. The thing is, growing up, I was idealistic and romantic, and saw life as one of the beautiful novels that had shaped my youth. Love was overwhelming and honest.

Life taught me different. Love can be hard and it can easily change into something that has nothing to do with love and more to do with control, power and ego. Spent two years right before turning twenty in a bad relationship that I think I'm still working at overcoming. Started as intense overwhelming love, turned into something completely different. 

Now... well, I'm a bit on the skeptical side of things. I find it hard making myself vulnerable as I truly fear getting my heart broken. Not only that but... there is a world I live in. A world that I find in my room, in my books, in the gardens nearby my home, in my dog, in my music, my letters from highschool, the photos I've collected... that I find hard to show to anyone. I'm scared that if I let anyone in and it goes wrong, then my own private world will be corrupted by it. So I find it hard to let people in.

And, weirdly enough, most people think of me as lively and outgoing... I find it hard to reconciliate that with how I truly feel.

Phew... didn't plan to make it so personal, but that's how it came out. Also, Josefa left for Colombia earlier this morning so I'm a bit emotional. I don't think I'll be seing her soon and that's a bit hard. Remember how I was talking about my own private world? Well, I haven't let anyone in it in recent years in the way I've let her. 

I hope this didn't sound to self-pitying. I didn't mean it that way. I just wanted to share a bit. 

So again. Thanks.

And as a thank you treat, let me introduce you the wonderful Poladoodles, made by the uber talented Jinnie Lee.  Again, no words. But this time, in a good way.

(gaza)

there are no words. 

(those dancing days)

( Last couple of weeks have been crazy. Finals and end of term essays (I'm not done yet) - Boy having apendicitis and going under emergency surgery and on Friday my birthday. I can't believe I'm 22 already.

I promise to post more soon - in the meantime, here are some birthday pics. I hope everyone is doing alright, I can't wait to start blogging for real again. )