And like a good neighbor.....

Ace Hardware is somehow involved with a big(ish) box hardware store here called Maestro.   This type of store is new in the past few years.  Dave was (of course) happy to find this outlet, given his tendency toward handy-man-ness.  And the fact that he's a licensed contractor and all and doesn't really have an outlet for that here.

I wanted to let you all in on the crazy differences between an American hardware store and one in Peru.  (There are several small corner shops, called Ferreterias, that sell hardware stuff, but their selection is more limited given the fact that they are only about as big as a typical US bathroom.  It's kind of like a one room Ace Hardware.  They are good places to pick up screws or glue or small little things you need.  We are on the hunt for fly traps which so far have only been sighted in these small shops, not the big box place.)

First off: Grass.  You know how we have lots of healthy sod rolls in the US?  Well, here's what you can buy here.  (Note: most people don't have any kind of yard, so you don't need big.)

Just under $3 US for a square meter 

Second exhibit: Wood?  Not so easy to find.  Just one aisle.  Right on par with the amount of brick.

Third up: They have some do-it-yourself displays, a la Home Depot.  One of them is shown below.  What do you think they are showing you how to build?  (Think: hot.)

And last (but my personal favorite).  A cute little DIY display on how to build an electric fence.  (Something that many people have on top of the fences that are around their house.)  See how effectively the cartoon man is getting zapped?

No need to worry about burglars with one of these babies!

However, Dave was NOT able to find much wood (and what was there was quite expensive and truly 2x6 or 2x4), or very many tool options (about 1/2 an aisle with a focus on concrete tools), or any number of other "normal" hardware store products.  Just some of the differences between the US and Peru!