Huaca Pucllana

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Michael

Huaca Pucllana is located in Miraflores district, Lima. It is an adobe and clay pyramid that has different layers and ‘floors’ in an intricate network. It supported the Lima Culture’s rise, a society of the Peruvian Coast between 200-700 AD. This and many things more lost in translation we were told by the nice guide who not only was very informative but also gave us ample time to wander around and look for example through the very good garden, too.

Lima culture people at work, Huaca Pucllana, Lima, Peru

Huaca Pucllana pyramid construction, Lima, Peru

Anden-Lupine, Lupinus mutabilis, Tarwi, Peru

Chenopodium Quinoa, PeruChenopodium Quinoa, Peru

Community work in ceramic arts center La Encantada

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Michael

La Encantada does not seem like the obvious tourist trap, a few miles down the road from local hub Chulucanas, but in fact, it is. Every weekend, hordes (according to a local) are flocking to town to buy the best and artsiest ceramics, which has been and still is being practiced here and which has gained the entire area a lot of attention recently. Of course I could not resist but buy some for my loved ones.

Kunstvoll bemalte Häuser, La Encantada, Piura, Peru

Panorama Aussicht auf die Anden, La Encantada, Piura, Peru

Sunset with Taxi, La Encantada, Piura, Peru

Community building in Polvorines

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Michael

Polvorines is a suburb or outpost of Piura city in the northern desert of Peru. It was few things – it lacks potable water, electricity, an organized land zoning plan and much more. Yet people laugh and are welcoming and friendly. One reason why we must continue our resilience program with better community building, bridge building and capacity building.

(Unstructured) land claiming and building, Polvorines, Pirua, Peru

Bridge building across sewage drains, Polvorines, Piura, Peru

Community work group capacity building, Polvorines, Piura, Peru

Piura from the Air

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Michael

Piura River at Sunset from the Air, Piura, Peru

Piura river locks and fires, Piura, Peru

Piura airport, Piura, Peru

Avianca flight Lima-Piura, Peru

Lima’s barranco district – day and night

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Michael

One of the trendy districts of the City of Lima, from the central square with the historic ‘Biblioteca’ to the Bridge of Sighs and the Electricity Museum with its historic tram waiting outside.

Iglesia La Santísima Cruz, Barranco, Lima, Peru

Historic Tram and Museo de la Electricidad, Barranco, Lima, Peru

Puente de los Suspiros, Barranco, Lima, Peru

High above Chosica – Debris flow hazards

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Michael

Above the main valley of Chosica are various active debris flow areas. Some are subject to further land speculation, as this unreal choice for a new hut shows. Some have been protected unsuccessfully, as seen in the broken through barrier. And some are being protected again, for example with this ring net from Geobrugg in Switzerland, hopefully with more success.

Meteo Station above Chosica, Lima, Peru

Debris flow broken through a barrier, Chosica, Lima, Peru

Geobrugg protection structure, Chosica, Lima, Peru

Unreal choice for living, Chosica, Lima, Peru

Chosica Community Work

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Michael

One of the communities that I am supporting Soluciones Practicas (Practical Action’s Peruvian country office) with is located within the municipality of Chosica, a somewhat remote periurban outpost of the Lima metro area. Depending on traffic, you reach this upstream part of the Rio Rimac in 1-2 hours driving from the city center. A rather unlikely spot for land price speculation, given that there’s just barren rock, subject to flash floods and debris flows, and the flood prone Rimac river in the main valley.

The Rimac River, Chosica, Lima, Peru

Drainage gate at the Rio Rimac, Chosica, Lima, Peru

Brigadista and trainer in front of a flood sign, Chosica, Lima, Peru

Sunset near what is supposed to become the ‘Green Boulevard’, Ate, Lima, Peru

Layover in Panama

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Michael

On my way to the project we support Practical Action in Lima with, I had to layover in Panama. This is the view across the clouds on first barrier islands, the queuing ships for the Panama canal and the highrises that its use fees seem to finance.

Barrier islands, Caribbean Coast, Panama

View through the clouds, Panama, Panama

Queuing ships, Panama canal, Panama

Highrises, Panama City, Panama

Bike Holiday Day VIII – Ardèche and Chartreuse

Posted on September 10, 2016 by Michael

Final bike day – a long trip ahead, I left our ‘base camp’ hotel in Cocurès at seven, before sunrise, to get a really nice view across the Northern Cevennes when the sun finally came out. I made good progress and reached the famous Gorge de l’Ardèche, including the Pont d’Arc, as the first set of canoers passed underneath. Still, the large crowd was still absent, and based on the many warning signs of heavy traffic, straying sightseers and congestion I can only imagine what this looks like later in the day.

After that, a long motorway stretch to north of Grenoble to find some curvy roads again passing through the Chartreuse Natural Park and cutting off some more motorway riding, too. Then entering Switzerland, it was mostly stop and go traffic from Geneva to after Bern, where I lost my patience and tried some other sets of backroads to at least get out of the stifling heat and the queues. Almost 3000 kilometers since last Friday!