Lulo Cheescake

My friend Juli gave me an early graduation present, a Lulo Cheescake! And even better, I learned how to make cheescake (it's dangerously easy to make...which means I'll be making lots of it!)
I have no idea what Lulo is called in english, Juli and I talked about it and she said someone told her it was called "wild apple". In Panama they call it "naranjilla"...but really, you can make your cheescake with whatever you prefer. I personally love lulo, its super acid and delicious.
So, here goes my first recipe post!

All the ingredients necessary.
1 Egg, Lemons, Cream Cheese, Lulo (or any fruit you prefer),
Butter, Cookies (and sugar, not pictured)

Melt the butter and add the crushed cookies until the mix sticks in the pan

Cover the pan in the yummy cookie mix 

In a blender, add the cream cheese

...one egg...

...lemon juice... 

...some sugar...

and MIX.
The amount of sugar and lemon juice depends on you!
Personally, I like it more acid than sweet. 

When the mix is homogeneous and soft, pour it onto the pan 

And into the oven! The time in the oven is about 20 min, at medium heat.
Check to see when the mix is firm and bubbles appear on top, then its ready!

While the cheescake is cooking, start peeling or preparing your fruit.
With lulo, you must peel it well first and then cut it into big chunks.

Add some sugar to taste and let the fruit simmer for a while until tender and the liquid is gooey.

When the cheescake is ready let it cool for a while before adding the fruit 

Add the fruit to your cheescake and its almost ready!

Juli and I realized why lulo cheescake is never offered in restaurants,
the greenish gooey lulo doesn't look too appetizing 

Leave to cool in the fridge!

We were extra anxious about
eating some so we put it in the freezer for a while to speed up the process.

Deliciousness...pure deliciousness.

Hope you enjoyed it, im doing another one next week but instead of lulo I will be using raspberries...can't wait!

Currently

Loving: Life. I feel so much support from my family, Mr. P and friends that it makes me feel so happy. I feel great now, having a new goal and something to look forward to makes me feel focused and content.

Reading: Maria Antonieta. I love history, biographies, and specially when they're about queens and royalty...it's fascinating! This particular book is not written like a novel, which I'm more used to reading, but it still manages to grab my attention, learning about how life was during that time. 

Watching: Lots of movies! No shows recently, they're all in their mid-year break which sucks because I have nothing to watch! Watched Madagascar 3 last night and thought it was hilarious, I want to watch it again this time in English to see how it is. The night before that, the new Tim Burton movie...Shadow something? It was a lot funnier than I expected and loved going to the movies with 2 of my college friends, one of them was the "weird, laughing-too-loud guy" which made the whole movie just extra funnier. 

Anticipating: My trip to Africa. It's still a few months away but I'm very excited about it. Also, saying goodbye to Mr.P..but that's not good anticipation, I know it's going to be something incredibly hard to do and am dreading it completely, I haven't been apart from him almost since we started dating so it's something I'm very scared about really.

Listening to: Absolutely nothing...did have a week of Bruno Mars intensity.

Planning: My trip to South Africa! What to take, buying tickets, medical insurance, everything!

Working on: thinking about NOW and TODAY, not fill my head with plans for months ahead. Basically, selling and giving away everything I own in the next 20 days!

Wishing: I were more disciplined and did things I know I need to do ASAP instead of googling the hours away  (and amazoning and ebaying..)

Thanks to Danielle from Sometimes Sweet for the post!

Decisions

Last week before going to Lima I had a conversation with my mom. She was very worried about how I was dealing with things, not really being myself and not understanding the dimension of the decisions I was taking. She was right, I knew that she was right...that I was undecisive and nervous and not completely sure that what I was going to do was O.K. Mainly, because I felt that I needed to do something else, something on my own, something that I love doing...
So, after hearing her out (I was crying too much to talk) I decided to start looking into international internships available, after seeing a million option I found a magnificent project that had my name written all over it - Thanda Photography Project.
Going to a game reserve in South Africa for 6 weeks to photograph wildlife...it's a dream come true. So, without discussing it with my parents, or Mr. P, or my therapist, I decided that was what I was going to do.
I'm going on my own, to do and learn something I'm very passionate about and try to clear my mind and find myself, detach myself from the role of daughter, of girlfriend, and have to just be plain simple me...in a new environment, new culture, new people, new everything. I'ts an experience I have dreamed abotu and never considered a possibility, always worrying about money and costs. But, I have a saving accounts where my parents have saved up money for my education, and I'm using that money for this - for my proffessional interest and what I believe will be a truly amazing learning experience.
My journey will begin in September. The project begins on the 16th and will last 6 weeks. The game park is located in the north of South Africa, near Durban and my days will consists of photography expeditions as well as participating in diverse conservation efforts with the communities in the are or helping out with data bases.
I feel very focused, and it feels great. For the past months I have felt very confused and kinda feeling that life is just passing me by, its an awful sensation. This week, I decided I was going to graduate oficially with the universities ceremony, I realized I did need an "official" closure of this stage of my life. And I also decided I was gonna take this risk, this adventure, this amazing experience and enjoy it to the fullest. I am at peace with my decision and incredibly excited.
The best part of all this has been the support I have recieved from the people that matter to me, my parents, my family, Mr. P. Specially Mr. P, who is aware that we don't really have a date set when we'll meet again...but knows that this is an amazing opportunity and something that I need to do.

This week I also finished my Antigymnastics cycle which was bittersweet. It helped me take this decision. When I began this cycle 2-3 months ago I was in such a different emotional state. I mean, I was depressed...full-on depression. I complained a lot about my internship (I was finishing it when I began this blog) but I believe everything in life happens for a reason. That internship lead me to an emotional crisis, during spring break I touched rock-bottom and realized I needed help and I needed to find a balance in my life. Now, a few months afterwards I feel like I'm there...I feel like I felt years ago, when I had a much clearer way of seeing life and what I wanted. I'm not saying it has been easy, it never has, but it feels great...feeling a bit like my old self again. I still cry, I still miss my brother and something I still get angry over what happened, I don't understand fully why things happened the way they did...but there is no point in me dwelling over it. It's time to live my life, to start my life again, im scared but happy, and the greatest thing of all is feeling loved through all of this.

Why English?

I live in Colombia, I grew up in Panama...I'm completely latin and spanish is the only language spoken in my family. However, I went to an all-english international school where english was the main language to communicate with other people from all over the world. Not everyone was like me, not everyone spoke english so much but my group of close friends were all bilingual and english was the language we were most comfortable speaking between us. Either way, in Panama people speak in english and I have the capability of switching from english to spanish in the same sentence (english speakers as well as spanish speakers and bilingual people get very confused when my friends and I talk and switch up so much)
Today I was asked "why english? why blog in english about all your personal stuff?" and I think some of the people that read this also wonder the same thing. For me, talking about my feelings and the "important" stuff that's going on with me isn't easy and when I talk to myself or when I talk in my head in english, about how I'm feeling, its like an outside voice. I hear myself in english and it simply makes me sort my thoughts out a little better, its like I need to detach myself a little and look in to understand what is going on with myself. I need to de-tach myself from, well, me. And "me" is spanish, its my native tongue, its my heritage, my family, everything. To really try to understand what is going on with myself and express it out onto the world I need to take some distance to find what I really want or need to say and feel.


I'm not sure this post made any sense at all, it was much more clear in my therapy session today, I swear. Not really sure who out there reads any of this, but anyone feel the same way or somewhat similar? Does whatever I just said make any sense?


G'night!

Monday, FUN DAY!

From now on I'm gonna be mixing things up a little here in the language department, sometimes spanish sometimes english, depending on the mood a little (sorry, blame multiculturalism, bilingualism, etc). 

Cousins

Today was my first day back in Bogotá after spending some time in Lima. Martina was left at a dog daycare/hotel so instead of having them drive her over I decided to make a little trip and get her. So, left Mr. P at the office, went to pick up my cousins and we were off! We picked up Marti who went insane when she saw me, jumping to and from the car like a crazy flying squirrel (seriously, I just love my dogs so much, no one can give you so much unconditional love). After that we decided to go see the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira. It's a very touristy must-go when you come to Bogotá and I had never been so it was a pretty fun plan. The cathedral is located underground, it was also a salt mine (obviously), and its 2km long. Yea, when I heard "2km, and we've only done 300m" I almost had a mini panic attack, I really don't like closed underground spaces such as caves, crypts and such... Luckily this place was big and had very high ceilings and there was no sensation of stuffiness. Because Martina was in the car, and we were startvign and really not catholic enough for the whole thing, we skipped the tour guy and walked around on our own. Its really beautiful specially because of the lighting they have which are constantly changing and give everything just a greater dimension.
After the Salt Cathedral we went to look for lunch. I have heard about a great place in Chia called "Galapagos" but apparently no one knows how to get there so after a LOT of driving around almost in circles we ended up at a restaurant we had seen on the way to get Marti. It was perfect, had a big indoor patio for Marti to run around and it was empty so service was super fast, we had "bandeja paisa" which is basically a plate full of yummy delicious fattening stuff (beans, rice, powder beef, avocado, chicarron, chorizo, arepa and a fried egg). It was very, very good and after eating we headed out towards Sopó (again we got lost getting there and went in circles) to have dessert at the Cabaña Alpina. We were so full and the desserts were so big we didn't even finish them but packed our stuff and headed back to the city. We went through the small route which has such a beautiful scenery, I love it. Got into the city at 5 sharp, when traffic just decides to go insane, so quickly picked up Mr. P at the office, stopped by to get some anti-flea stuff for Marti and headed home to wait for traffic to cool down before taking my cousins back to their place.
All around it was a fun day, a different one, and thankfully a BEAUTIFUL one! The sun was out, the sky was blue, a perfect day to be outside Bogota. If you ever happen to come to the city, rent a car and drive towards the outside of the city, the scenery is great and there are many little town you can see (not so much fun if you ask me) and lagoons or river dams that offer a great view and a fun camping experience!


Alright, after like 2 hours of blogging (adding some info on my Lima Day 3 post and writing up my Lima Day 4 post) its finally time to go to sleep! I have LOTS of studying to do tommorow because I didn't read anything for my class during Lima and Mr. P has been trying to get some sleep but I won't let him with the light on. So, goodnighty everyone! I wish all Mondays were always Fun Days!

Before getting to the main cathedral you go through 12 "chapels" (not sure what to call them exactly),
which represent the 12 steps that Jesus went through during "the passion"
(again, my spanish..not sure how to call all this in english)

Catedral de Sal, Zipaquira

Being silly with the short ceiling
 

The lights made everything look magnificent

Sisterly love

Climbing the wall of salt

When we left the mine the sun had decided to come out,
it was a beautiful day!

Mmmm...yummy food!

The first one to finish her plate

Great place for dessert

My cutie 

Couldn't believe how beautiful the day was!

Driving and photographing, not very safe 

Only posting this one because Marti looks so cute in it

Girls day out

Maria Jose and Marti

The outsides of Bogota are so beautiful

The road and us

Lima - Day 4 y regreso a Bogotá

Ayer no escribí porque llegamos mamados por la noche a la casita. El día comenzó bien, Pacho amaneció peor de su gripa y yo amanecí mal de la garganta pero con mucho ánimo. Yo abrí los ojos un poco mas tarde que Pachangas y me termine de ver la carrera de F1, que felicidad que Schumacher haya quedado en podio! Quedaron Alonso (ganó) y Raikkonen también así que fue como un "get together" de los viejos tiempos. Mientras veiamos la carrera empacamos maleta. 


Bajamos a desayunar y Pacho seguia empeorando. Cuando subimos decidió hacer una siesta a ver si se mejoraba pero estaba muy maluco, sudando frio y todo así que baje a traerle una limonada y averiguar el envió de unas cositas a Buenos Aires. Nos iban a recoger a las 2 p.m 

Último atardecer

para llevarnos al aeropuerto (el vuelo salía 5:40...para mi era super temprano pero son políticas de la empresa así que nada que hacer). Logré mejorar a Pacho un poco para que a las 12 se levantara, hicimos check out, casi me enloquezco buscando mi tarjeta de credito que había "guardado" y no me acordaba donde! (termino estando en mi bolsa de maquillaje) Por fin, salimos al "Mercado Indio" a checherear. Por suerte no fuimos mas temprano porque apenas estaban abriendo las tiendas a esa hora. Busque como loca por todo el mercado un anillo pero absolutamente ninguno me quedo, me toca mandarmelo a hacer o encontrar una manera de hacer que mis dedos engorden un poquitin. Encontré igual un par de regalitos que queria y me antoje de comprar muchos mas, me hubiese encantado poder regalarle algo a todas las personas que estuve pensando en el paseo pero...no todo se puede. 
Volvimos al hotel antecito de las 2 y aprovechamos un cupón que nos habían entregado cuando hicimos check-in para dos pisco sours gratis. Nos sentamos en el bar mientras veiamos parte del partido Italia-Francia y nos despedimos del hotel con unos piscos. A las 2 nos recogieron y fuimos al aereopuerto (nos mandaron a recoger en una super van como para 10 personas MUY comoda) .


La verdad no me gusta viajar con Avianca internacionalmente. Las dos veces que he viajado me ha parecido que tienen un sistema que no funciona. De que sirve hacer Web Check In si hay que hacer una fila para que una srta revise que has hecho Check In y te haga pasar a otra fila? Y esta segunda fila que es para "web check in only" es mas lenta que la fila normal! Nos demoramos como 10-15 minutos mas en esa fila que si hubiésemos estado en la fila normal, absurdo! Ah, otra cosa (no de Avianca) cuando entre a Peru fue con mi cédula (si, para todos los países en Sudamérica excepto Venezuela y Brasil se puede entrar con cédula) me entregaron un papel de migración pero nunca dijeron que lo guardara o que no lo podia botar. Por suerte, lo decidi guardar porque me lo pidieron haciendo check-in y otra vez cuando iba a salir, mejor dicho..sin ese papel creo que seguiria en Lima moviendo papeles para poder salir. La próxima vez, señores de migración, seria muy bueno que le avisaran a uno que ese papel es tan importante!

Despidiendonos bien de Peru

Listo, llegamos a la terminal y todavia teníamos tiempito así que hicimos las últimas compras y fuimos a comer mientras veiamos el final del partido Italia-Francia. Me encanta como un televisor con un partido de fútbol puede atraer a tantas personas, mejor dicho...como el fútbol puede mover y atraer a tanta gente! Yo pedí un Ají de Gallina ya que mi prima Dani me dijo que TENIA que probarlo (si, no fue el mejor sitio para probarlo pero igual estaba rico). Después de una pequeña discusión con Pacho que decía que no alcanzábamos a pedir postre porque ya iba a ser la hora de abordar (aunque estuvieramos a 20 metros de la puerta de embarque y el avión no había llegado) terminé ganando yo y pedimos unos postres muy ricos...estaba que me reventaba de la llenura! 


Nos montamos al avión y ta-da! de regreso a Bogotá. En el avión me vi "This Means War" una comedia tonta pero, me entretuvo.


Llegamos a Bogotá y la verdad fue bastante deprimente. La fila en migración era una cosa ridícula como podrán ver en las fotos y después de llegar a Lima y conocer un poco la verdad quede muy triste con lo mal que esta Bogotá. Creo que por ser la capital y que cada vez nos muestren indices de ser los mas felices del mundo y de reducción de pobreza y desempleo, nos hacemos una imagen que estamos viviendo "Ok" (creo que nadie cree que Bogotá esta "bien", sino "ok") y que Bogotá es una gran capital. Creo que la gran mayoria de las personas con las que he hablado se imaginan a Lima mucho peor que Bogotá y no se dan cuenta lo atrasados que estamos nosotros aca!
Que puede pensar alguien que llegue al Dorado, un aereopuerto muy pequeño, donde tienen que esperar a veces hasta 20 min en pista para llegar a una puerta, para después encontrarse con un millon de personas haciendo filas eternas en migración para después salir a un despelote buscando maletas a una chichoneria de gente afuera (la fila de gente esperando taxi se atravesaba con la salida de la gente que estaba llegando), para después llegar a una ciudad que esta toda en obra y con todas las calles (principales o no) vueltas nada! A mi personalmente me parece muy triste y me da mucha rabia ver como está esta ciudad. Se que todos se aburren de que me queje de Bogotá pero la verdad es que me ha tocado ver su decadencia. Bogotá tuvo un momento muy positivo, donde la gente queria su ciudad, existia algo de educación ciudadana y respeto por los espacios y las personas. Tristemente la calidad de vida en esta ciudad ha bajado mucho, a mi me parece absurdo que haya gente que tenga que viajar 4 horas diarias en un bus, espichados, y teniendo que estar pilas de que no lo roben, para poder llegar a sus casas y trabajar. No me parece que este bien y me da mucha rabia ver que los politicos cada vez hacen menos por las ciudades, por el pais, por la gente y en cambio solo buscan como beneficiarse (si no entienden porque digo todo esto, miren el periodico estos dias). Agregemosle a esto el grave problema que tenemos con el sistema judicial, donde un hombre por robarse un cubito Magi va 6 años a la carcel mientras los Nule se robaron millones de millones de la plata de los colombianos y pagan 3 años en un "carcel-hotel". 


Bueno, creo que este fue un post bastante largo...no se si alguien lo leera completo pero ahi esta! 


Nunca termine el día pero basicamente, nos recogio Martha (mamá de Pacho) y fuimos a la casa a tomarnos algo (que rico que me cuiden! me hizo agua panela con limon para mi garganta enferma) y hablar un rato. Llegamos a dormir como a las 11.30, de nuevo en la casita pero no completos ya que nos faltaba la mega ñeris de Martina que estaba en guardería. 

Camino al aeropuerto en unos asientos muy cómodos

Sigo estrenando mis gafas nuevas

Cara de "estoy viendo el partido"

Carita triste

Le irá a Italia o Inglaterra?

Refrescante

Pacho se despide con un ceviche

Ají de gallina

Viendo el partido...penales!

Me pareció curioso esto, lo ponen para poder ver
bien el compartimiento de las maletas. 

Nos despedimos de Lima con un atardecer

Con caras tristes

Amo poder disfrutar de un atardecer desde el cielo...

...definitivamente ayuda a minimizar mi miedo...

...ya que si se cae por lo menos me voy con una excelente última imagen ;)

Chao sol!