As we enter October I start to mentally catalogue the season's celebrations and all the excuses to eat to excess. I'm a foodie and any opportunity I get to roll out some cookies or whip up some cupcakes, is one I like to take.

“¿Qué pasó con El Gato?” is a question often asked by people driving down Avenida Raúl Ferrero. For those unfamiliar with El Gato, it was for many years the restaurant in La Molina - easily identified by a sign in the shape of a large, smiling cat head. It was owned by Carlos Monteferri, known since childhood as Gato, due to his enormous green eyes.

Fran Schmidt is a good friend of mine, a vibrant Canadian Lutheran Pastor serving the ELCIC (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) as a long-term missionary in Peru. I recently caught up with her to ask her about her work and ministry and life in Lima. She lives in Miraflores and is here for a total of four years, and has already served one year.

Along many quiet backwaters of Amazon tributaries, where the only form of transport is a canoe, there is always someone with a battery-powered radio.

Most of us can't wait until it's time to retire and start doing all the things we've been talking about doing “when we have time.” That is, most people, but not Anna Diaz. Anna Diaz can't wait for the next work day so she can keep the Clinica Anglo-Americana up to date and running smoothly.

What better way to become a part of a new community than to become a member of a great social and business group. That group is ACAP, the American & Canadian Association of Peru. It's a great way to make friends, meet business colleagues and become a part of family activities.

When we speak of music at the highest level we always think of the presence and the personality of Jacobo (Yaco) Chertman.. He has become one of the most comprehensive and accomplished creators of lyric-romantic music not only as a concert pianist but also as a first class composer.

Peruvian artwork is distinguished from that of most other Latin American countries in its continuing creation of religious oils. We've all seen varying qualities of this art style in Miraflores shops. But, if someone is looking for a specific piece, they may have problems finding it. Our family has found great satisfaction working directly with an artist and commissioning the artwork we desire. Meet our favorite Lima artist.

Recently I heard Dr. Mary Malca speak at the American Women's Literary Club. Her talk was about her passion; Aniquem, a rehabilitation center for burn victims.