Pics by Jerren page 2

Pics by Jerren, Master Photographer, page 2

J's comments:

This is your standard issue peruvian toliet. it looked like this when i got here. fortunately, this one works! most of the toilets in peru don't work at all, except for the ones in major cities. still, i've seen worse than this, like the one shared toliet in cajamarca in this really cheap hostal i was staying in for 7 soles. it didn't flush and was filled with urine and feces with no water in the bowl. the odor was so overpowering i had to hold my breath and cover my nose with my shirt everytime i went to the bathroom.

Steve's comments: Thanks for that. I think I will go make some lunch now.

J's comments...

here is the shower in the bathroom. the big white part is an electrical water heater, which is supposed to heat the water as it comes out of the faucet. this one didn't work. i'm not sure why. i don't think it is broken. i think the owner might of disconnected it to save on the expense of electricity. like most showers in peru, it only puts out freezing cold water, making it nearly impossible to take a shower with any bit of comfort.

Steve's comments

I can tell you why it doesnt work! The wires are cut. Like Jerren said, to save electricity, or "luz" as the say in Spanish Lite. The other cord going up at an angle is just a rope for support. But the black thing inside the little box I drew is what is left of the wires that go into the heater. I've seen enough of these cheap gadgets to know. And when I say cheap I mean it. They only cost about five dollars and barely heat the water. You turn up the pressure too much and it comes out too fast to get hot. You basically have to let it trickle down on you if you want really hot water. When they work at all that is!

J had no comment on this. But it is the floor of the shower. With a tile missing. That is not surprising. What is surprising is that there is only one tile missing!

J's comments...

this is the lunch that i made: instant noodles with "oriental" flavoring. i used an empty inca cola bottle to stir the noodles because i had no cooking utensils! i started to eat it with my hands but i was able to get a small plastic spoon from someone when i went to buy some bread to eat the noodles with.

Steve's comments

He complains a lot! Life is great here! He has been drinking so much Inca Cola that his brain cells have been altered. He now has a chemical imbalance and is suffering from ICD (Inca Cola Disorder). Fortunately, this can be treated with medication. Or if that doesn't work, then he needs to be locked up in a mental hospital where he will get some real help and come out a new person. Like Helen did. I remember reading that she told Jerren..."i lied n left the place still as bad as i went in" (See Dec 2nd convo- (waiting for Helen's permission to post ))

Here is a better shot of the burner. I had it made for me when I was traveling in the van.