Day Six
Today we got a little much needed rest as we got to sleep in! Just get up before 10 if you want breakfast is what they were told!
Several groups went out to explore this amazing town and went to a coffee shop and down to the mall on the cliff. It's a beautiful part of the city with amazing homes and shops. And, we are 3 blocks from this:
Then at 12:30, we boarded the bus and Puma drove us to our lunch with Mayor George Forsyth of La Victoria in Lima. Here is some background on him: he is a super star in Peru. He was the goalie on their national soccer team for many years (there are some cool YouTube videos) and a model, and his dad is the ambassador to Japan. He was born in Venezuela, grew up in Canada (the son of a diplomat), and he played pro soccer in Germany and Italy. He hasn't been mayor for long but all I have heard from everyone is that he is doing some great things. Including.....hosting a lunch in his district for us to say thank you for what we brought to his community (his words, not mine) last night. And wow did he go all out. We arrived at the restaurant and were taken to the third floor. They were all set up for us and Mayor Forsyth came in and thanked us for performing for them last night. And then they brought the food. And more food, and more food!
Peruvian Seafood and Ceviche! It was amazing!!!
This is Aztec pop corn. They pop, but the popped part is inside the kernal. And banana chips.
And then the entrees came out...
Seafood Rice with Sausage (so good...)
A fried medley of Calamari, Shrimp, Fish, and Octopus
And...the famous Peruvian Ceviche. From the 12 o'clock position, going clockwise: a rare delicacy, black oyster, fish and calamari, shrimp crab and scallops, octopus, and in the middle, fish. It was so good. We had some great conversations with the mayor and his group, as well. We made a new and powerful friend in Peru today!
Then we headed back to the hotel for some downtime before we hopped on the bus to go to our last performance in Peru. This is a bittersweet moment for sure.
We rode the bus to the Union Church of Lima, an English speaking church pastored by a Scottish born pastor. On the way there, we were able to thank Dr. Campos for all of his work, setting up this trip, the performance venues, the food, the hotel, the bus, and so much more. He had to leave to go back to Houston this evening. We are all forever grateful for his hospitality, knowledge, PATIENCE (with us musicians), knowledge of the history of this beautiful country, showing us his "kids" at his organization's school and church, translating, putting up with us musicians (did I say that already), and for inspiring us to do good in this world, just like he and his organization are doing for these kids in Peru. So, we gave him a Baylor Jazz in Peru shirt, and a BU Jazz official polo, to make him an honorary side man in the band! Thank you Dr. Campos, for everything!
Immediately when we got to the church, we were welcomed in with open arms as we set up and got ready to play. They had coffee, water and tea for us and some really tasty cookies. The hospitality of everyone we have met and every place we have been has been amazing. We have felt welcome every place that we have visited.
There was a Baylor family at the concert. A young man who sings in the Men's Choir and who is in the Honors College, and his brother that will be an incoming freshman in the Honors College as well. I was shocked to look in the audience and see a Baylor shirt and an I Know Where I Am Going shirt. Sic'em. It turns out that they are the nephews of the pastor of this church. It's a small world, and there are Baylor Bears everywhere!
It was a very receptive and fun audience to play for and the band rocked it tonight. When there were about three tunes left, I realized that this is the last time that this band, as it is, would play together. And for five of our 19 members, this was their last Baylor Jazz performance. This is always a tough time because of the joy of the final performance and moving on to bigger and better life things, but there is a sadness that they are moving on as well. I just hope that they remember their days in Baylor Jazz fondly, and that they remember that there is a reason why they call it playing music. It's supposed to be fun!
Here are some pictures from tonight's performance:
After the concert was over, the pastor on the church presented me with this Peru hat, and a young girl and her mom gave me flowers! What amazing new friends we have here!
Fun moment of the day.....
(Parker puts the hat on backwards and dances in the bus...)
Mitch: "Look, that's Mr. Parker trying to be cool!"
Parker: "Look, that's Mitch trying to be funny!"
(Parker takes a bow as the bus erupts with "ooooohhhhhh" and "roasted!")
(pic credit goes to the good Dr., Ed Taylor!)
Sic'em Jazz and Buenas Noches!!!
Today we got a little much needed rest as we got to sleep in! Just get up before 10 if you want breakfast is what they were told!
Several groups went out to explore this amazing town and went to a coffee shop and down to the mall on the cliff. It's a beautiful part of the city with amazing homes and shops. And, we are 3 blocks from this:
Then at 12:30, we boarded the bus and Puma drove us to our lunch with Mayor George Forsyth of La Victoria in Lima. Here is some background on him: he is a super star in Peru. He was the goalie on their national soccer team for many years (there are some cool YouTube videos) and a model, and his dad is the ambassador to Japan. He was born in Venezuela, grew up in Canada (the son of a diplomat), and he played pro soccer in Germany and Italy. He hasn't been mayor for long but all I have heard from everyone is that he is doing some great things. Including.....hosting a lunch in his district for us to say thank you for what we brought to his community (his words, not mine) last night. And wow did he go all out. We arrived at the restaurant and were taken to the third floor. They were all set up for us and Mayor Forsyth came in and thanked us for performing for them last night. And then they brought the food. And more food, and more food!
Peruvian Seafood and Ceviche! It was amazing!!!
This is Aztec pop corn. They pop, but the popped part is inside the kernal. And banana chips.
And then the entrees came out...
Seafood Rice with Sausage (so good...)
A fried medley of Calamari, Shrimp, Fish, and Octopus
And...the famous Peruvian Ceviche. From the 12 o'clock position, going clockwise: a rare delicacy, black oyster, fish and calamari, shrimp crab and scallops, octopus, and in the middle, fish. It was so good. We had some great conversations with the mayor and his group, as well. We made a new and powerful friend in Peru today!
Then we headed back to the hotel for some downtime before we hopped on the bus to go to our last performance in Peru. This is a bittersweet moment for sure.
We rode the bus to the Union Church of Lima, an English speaking church pastored by a Scottish born pastor. On the way there, we were able to thank Dr. Campos for all of his work, setting up this trip, the performance venues, the food, the hotel, the bus, and so much more. He had to leave to go back to Houston this evening. We are all forever grateful for his hospitality, knowledge, PATIENCE (with us musicians), knowledge of the history of this beautiful country, showing us his "kids" at his organization's school and church, translating, putting up with us musicians (did I say that already), and for inspiring us to do good in this world, just like he and his organization are doing for these kids in Peru. So, we gave him a Baylor Jazz in Peru shirt, and a BU Jazz official polo, to make him an honorary side man in the band! Thank you Dr. Campos, for everything!
Immediately when we got to the church, we were welcomed in with open arms as we set up and got ready to play. They had coffee, water and tea for us and some really tasty cookies. The hospitality of everyone we have met and every place we have been has been amazing. We have felt welcome every place that we have visited.
There was a Baylor family at the concert. A young man who sings in the Men's Choir and who is in the Honors College, and his brother that will be an incoming freshman in the Honors College as well. I was shocked to look in the audience and see a Baylor shirt and an I Know Where I Am Going shirt. Sic'em. It turns out that they are the nephews of the pastor of this church. It's a small world, and there are Baylor Bears everywhere!
It was a very receptive and fun audience to play for and the band rocked it tonight. When there were about three tunes left, I realized that this is the last time that this band, as it is, would play together. And for five of our 19 members, this was their last Baylor Jazz performance. This is always a tough time because of the joy of the final performance and moving on to bigger and better life things, but there is a sadness that they are moving on as well. I just hope that they remember their days in Baylor Jazz fondly, and that they remember that there is a reason why they call it playing music. It's supposed to be fun!
Here are some pictures from tonight's performance:
After the concert was over, the pastor on the church presented me with this Peru hat, and a young girl and her mom gave me flowers! What amazing new friends we have here!
Fun moment of the day.....
(Parker puts the hat on backwards and dances in the bus...)
Mitch: "Look, that's Mr. Parker trying to be cool!"
Parker: "Look, that's Mitch trying to be funny!"
(Parker takes a bow as the bus erupts with "ooooohhhhhh" and "roasted!")
(pic credit goes to the good Dr., Ed Taylor!)
Sic'em Jazz and Buenas Noches!!!
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