19 Apr Peruvian Food Renaissance
Peruvian food is a spectacular fusion of cuisines. And, at the head of the table, is this chef: Gaston Acurio. I spent some time at his flagship restaurant in Lima, Astrid and Gaston, where we...
Author: Melanie Chambers
30 Mar Amazonian mountain mama
I love many things about travel, but one thing that stands out is change. If you don't like a place, you can change your direction and plans immediately. If the rest of daily life were...
15 Mar Grubs, alligator and monkey on Amazonian Menu
Iquitos. Capital of the Peruvian Amazon. A city only accessible by boat or plane. Impressive. Little motorcars buzzing through the streets outnumber people. Busy. Yet, imagine floating homes on stilts; and decrepit Colonial homes with colourful...
08 Mar Peruvian beach to mountains
Paracas National Park, which has been mined and scrapped of most of its salt--this is a theme I'm discovering throughout Peru, is now a desert on the ocean. "It hasn't rained here in over 100...
05 Mar Solace and the birds
I haven't changed clothes in two days (bra, sports underwear and a cheap summer dress); Ditched the sandals; feet black. I smell like sweat and sand. Simple. Dumped my human-being-sized backpack into a seaside room, then hit the...
03 Mar Throw up over Nazca Lines?
Ok, I didn't, but I really, really wanted to vomit in the plane flying over the Nazca Lines. Mel, you didn't have enough of that last week? Imagine, one of the most mysterious, and oldest...
01 Mar All in a day of travel
Today I saw a man get hit by a car. About 50 meters away, I saw his body hit the front hood, but it was the sound that I can't get out of my head....
28 Feb Peruvian poo diary
A two hour mountain bike ride, followed by a Spanish class, in which my teacher and I talked about boys in Spanglish--"ah, si, los hombres en Peru esten...
21 Feb Arequipa!
It's odd. I actually don't know what time of the year it is. Doesn't feel like February since I'm shedding skin like a snake in odd patches on my neck and calves--missed sun block-- and...
21 Feb Year of firsts: Explore Series for The Toronto Star
Becoming an artist at the age of 43 http://www.thestar.com/life/2016/02/02/posing-naked-for-life-drawing-class-offers-life-lessons.html...