POTD: Peruvian Cuisine

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. If television can be believed, Peruvian cuisine is making a name for itself in world gastronomy. If our own meal here is an indication, that growing reputation is deserved (Peruvians' fondness for guinea pig notwithstanding).

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: Cemetery Mural

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. Someone recently said they'd like to see more public murals in Richardson, Texas. Up your game, Richardson. This mural is on a cemetery wall in Cuzco.

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: Cuzco Woman

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. Like I've said before, in my judgment, the women of Peru have the best hats of anyone in the world.

POTD: Cuzco Market

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. The fruits and vegetables and breads were deliciously appealing.

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: Shaman

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. While there, a shaman blessed us. That's all I have to say about that.

Bonus photos after the jump.

Random Thoughts: Two Very Different Men

Tweets from January, 2020:

• 2020-01-02: The Two Popes (2019): Conversations between Benedict and Francis when Benedict decided to retire. Two very different men, with different philosophies, portrayed by two great actors. Only action comes from flashbacks to Francis's early career, which deserve their own movie. B+
• 2020-01-03: If you ever want to know what Trump is guilty of, look at what he accuses others of.
• 2020-01-03: Cats (2019): The costumes/makeup/CGI is distracting. The comic relief doesn't work (dancing cockroaches?). The plot is thin. But so? Cats is what it is, a musical made from a book of poetry about cats. It's always been about the singing and dancing. Critics hate it. I like it. B+
• 2020-01-05: Headline: "Iranian state TV reports Iran will no longer abide by any limits of its 2015 nuclear deal."
  I'm old enough to remember when tensions in the Persian Gulf were down. There were no rocket attacks against U.S. forces. No attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Iran's nuclear program was verifiably locked down. And, oh yeah, Obama was President.

After the jump, more random thoughts.

POTD: Cuzco

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is of Cuzco, Peru, a city in southern Peru with an elevation of 11,200 feet. It's not much to look at from the surrounding mountains. It's brown and dusty. But...it was once the capital of the Inca empire and the Spanish conquest after that. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So, don't let the birds-eye view turn you off. It's a great city to visit.

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: Back at Aguas Calientes

From 2019 08 20 Machu Picchu

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Aguas Calientes after visiting Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes is itself a picturesque town in the canyon below Machu Picchu.

Click to see a bonus photo.

Just Mercy (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes

Just Mercy (2020): Racist legal system. This time in Alabama, where black men are guilty from the moment they are born. Sheriff, DA, judge send innocent man to death row because they care more for convictions than justice. Brutal and predictable, which makes it tough to watch. B+

POTD: Machu Picchu

From 2019 08 20 Machu Picchu

Made it. Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Machu Picchu. Whether you get there via a four day hike along the ancient Inca Trail, or like us, by a two hour train ride to Aguas Calientes, followed by an hour long bus ride on a switchback road up a mountain, when you get there your breath is taken away, and not just by the altitude. It's beautiful.

Bonus photos after the jump.