South America Day 59 - Miraflores

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Today we are having a quiet day, just wandering round Miraflores. We walk along the Malecon for a couple of miles through the line of parks, until we reach Larcomar; a shopping mall built into the cliff side. On the way we find Paddington Bear – who knew he’d made it back to Peru?

Then we walk back through Miraflores via the central park, which might be called Parque Kennedy, or may be named after some random date. Here, dozens of very well fed stray cats live amongst the flower beds.

We stop at Café Buena Vista for a drink and a microwaved empanada. Not the best lunch, but the café is on a cliff overlooking the ocean, so at least it’s not kidding about the view being good.

We spend the afternoon watching tennis on tv, then go out for dinner. The old man chooses Tripadvisor’s top restaurant in Lima - Bao? It’s pretentious Chinese ‘street food’. There are no descriptions on the menu. I choose ‘Cosmic Chips’ – basically chips in a rather unpleasant, massively salty chilli sauce. Oh, and chucks of chicken coated in peanuts.

It’s the first time since being diagnosed with a hazelnut nut allergy 4 years ago that I’ve eaten any type of nuts. It’s not quite how I envisaged testing my allergy to other nuts – in some Peruvian back alley eating hideous food. Luckily, I survive the experience and all that is required is a bag of Oreos to take the taste away. Tomorrow I shall be choosing the restaurant!

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