A little chicken goes a long way
(Page 2)

The Granja Azul restaurant nearby was a result of a whim of Auntie Oeschle. She felt the Limeños should stop eating so much beef and start eating chicken. Shortly after acquiring a chicken farm, she slipped in the tub and died. Another nephew who knew more about the business was chosen to accompany Roger to run the business.

Nightime at “El Pillo”

Back in those days, legend had it that by painting the walls of the coop an electric blue, it would rid them of the perennial flies. That's how it became the Granja Azul! Roger eventually bought out half the business from his older cousin, who had run into debt a lot higher than he had admitted to his cousin. Perseverance and hard work produced 5,000 chickens, most of which died due to a plague. Reduced to a simple barnyard and their home, the Schulers decided to open their dining room with three tables to a curious public. When a Swiss merchant reserved a table for 20 people and paid in advance, they felt inspired to move ahead.

Eventually 36 bungalows were built on the hillside over the restaurant, and a tiny cable car served to transport guests to their quarters. The foreign mining company executives would take their altitude leave several times a year and enjoy the peaceful setting with the great food nearby.