Most of the people that I know that have passed thru Lima seem to think that it is a dirty, chaotic, Third World city that is rather incomprehensible. While it is all of the above, occasionally when the sun comes out during the Winter season, it transforms itself into something rather exotic.
Having family there, and having spent a bunch of time during the Winter season there,(summer season in the USA), I've had the opportunity to notice how different things look when the sun is out.
These pictures were taken at my in-laws place in Lima.

Speaking of family, I've got to be the luckiest man in the world. I have a wonderful family, get to spend a significant amount of time in Peru, and occasionally get to see some really beautiful parts of Peru with my family. This year, we spent my daughter's birthday in Huaraz.
Her mother enjoyed a typical Peruvian dish, but I guess there's just too much gringa in my daughter to enjoy it. (I understand completely).
My father-in-law was born in Huaraz, so we got a chance to visit some of his large, extended family while we were there. (Read: bust out the pisco and roasted pig.) He's not a climber, but it is obvious that he gets that same excitement that I do when looking up at one of these.
Here's a picture of my family and my in-laws on my daughter's birthday.
To celebrate a birthday in the shadow of the Cordillera Blanca, and to be able to turn my family on to the beauty of Peru is a dream come true. My family is the most important aspect of my life. I only wish I was better at conveying that fact to my wife.

Climbing, as many of you know, does not always help with the family situation. When my family returned to Lima, I spent a couple of days wandering around Huaraz, feeling pretty lonely. I don't go on climbing trips as much as I once did. Saying goodbye to my wife and children is always difficult, which makes every climbing trip bittersweet. Hanging out in as interesting a place as Huaraz however, does help one to get into exotic-climbing-trip mindset.

The first peak that I attempted was with my Peruvian bro. We found mashed potatoes on the face above the glacier, as conditions did not hard freeze the previous night.
Once we found the conditions to be so soft, we bailed. Oh well, at least the descent was lovely.

The next attempt produced some nice photos, but no summits.

There comes a time on some big trips, when the realization sinks in that all of those big climbs that have been dreamed of, are not going to happen on that particular trip. Normally, I spell that as
F-A-I-L-U-R-E.
However, on this trip, I spelled it as Hatun Machay. This is one of the most remarkable areas of stone I have ever been to.
While I've never climbed on Spanish or Thai limestone, my impression is that some of the features on the volcanic rock of Hatun Machay would be similar. Tufas, pockets, grooves of the wildest kind.
Okay, so the rock is pretty cool, but what else does this area have to offer the failed alpinist?
So yes, if one has to rebound after alpine failure, Hatun Machay is a pretty good way to do so.

After coming back to Boulder from such a wonderful and varied trip, it didn't take long for me to be reminded of how life can turn on a dime. Sometimes, I suppose a person just has to suck it up and feel the pain. While I am going through that experience now, occasionally I can escape in my mind to a better place.