Welcome to Our Home

Peace and Beauty in Barranco, Peru

OUR HOME

It is not easy to take a photo of our home from the outside. From the street, the view is blocked by a high white wall. On top of the wall are wires to discourage the bad guys. They will be shocked.

Inside is a small courtyard for parking our car. As you enter, after ringing the bell, the first thing you see is a fountain on the wall brought back from Italy by our daughter. Two cherubs and several fish are represented in a colorful fashion, a peaceful welcome to our house. I love seeing the water flow from the fountain, but this is rare due to problems with the motor. I think it is a graceful way to greet visitors. Listen to the sounds of the water and be at peace.

The courtyard is in a white that reminds me of the Grecian islands. Dotted all around are plants and flowers.

A stairway leads to the second floor. On the left is a lucuma tree. Usually, this tree produces an abundance of fruit. However, in the last few years, it has not performed well due to some mistakes on our part in its care. We’ve made some corrections, and the tree is smiling again. A large number of plants add to the greenery.

The car feels out of place. Unfortunately, there is no choice. Otherwise, we would have to leave it on the street, not a good idea.

On the wall before you enter the porch is a sculpture. The previous owner was a ceramist. I feel that the complex green pattern on the wall is another way of saying welcome.

The entrance to the first, or ground floor, is via a porch. Guarding this porch is a large, ceramic, multi-colored Quetzal bird. I don’t know how I do it, but frequently I butt my head on this bird. I forget that it is there, and bang, my head collides with it.

The wall facing the street, along with the solid wood door, separates us from the outside world. When you enter, you are in our domain, apart from the rest of the world. That makes it our sanctuary, our home.

Entering a house, one should feel something about the people who live there. It is our first statement to visitors. It says that we are glad to have you with us. Within our domain, you should feel peace and beauty, and that we are people who know that plants and flowers are important. The white represents simplicity and honesty.

We are honest, sincere people. There is no pretension; it is transparent. We provide much of interest in the first few moments when you enter the house: a fountain, plants and flowers, the white, the lucuma tree, the sculpture, and the quetzal ceramic bird. Of course, visitors do not have much opportunity to linger in this part of our home. But I hope that it creates a first impression that will stay with them.

And that is,

“Come, be part of us for a brief time and feel peace and beauty.”