Hola Peru

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Hola! Wish you were here, all those people stuck in the Northern Hemisphere. We could compare sunburns. Nope, I am not complaining. It is hot and humid here, and the beach is one street away from my hostel. I did all those backpacker things in the morning...you know, find bank machine that works, grocery store, travel agent, stamp vender, and BEACH. I have taken many photos of flowers for all my Canadian buddies who have snow, then rain, then snow, etc.
I have sunburn on my feet, legs, face and chest, and it feels good. (she says until the pain starts)
Peru is fabulous. I know, it is only one day, but the food is great, beaches beautiful, weather is summer, what more can I say? I will let the photos do the talking, as per usual. Today´s highlights were dipping my feet in the Pacific waters, strolling along parks and finding the Love park, sipping Peruvian drink on a lovely pier.
Tomorrow I fly to Cusco and will spend three days getting climatized to the thin mountain air. By Tuesday I should be heading towards MachuPicchu.
My flights were relatively smooth yesterday, once the first plane touched down in Toronto. The fog was so thick that the first attempt to land was aborted. We were late leaving for Lima, and when we got there we had to line up for customs for about 40 minutes. Stressful for me, because taxi driver was waiting to pick me up and take me to the hostel. It was a huge relief walking out of arrivals area and seeing my name on his sign. He was very informative about Peru, and adviced me to try local foods and drink. Today, in the grocery store, I think I found the rice cooked with dark beer and the Peruvian-style suschi. I cheated, and microwaved the raw fish and potato meal. All of it was delicious.
I did not make it to the Inca ruins made of bricks which was to the left of the hostel. My feet are aching with the miles that I walked today. I will try to see ruins and museums in April, on my way home.

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Photos

Beach
This is the pre-sunburn photo of my on the beach in Lima.

Orange
Flowers in the park

Flowers
My winter eyes drink in the colours. Birds chirp with exotic tones, too

Love Park
This is the park of love. There was a tour bus of Japanese visiters. Look at the initials on pants pocket. Mean anything?

View
View from park of love. I walked to the pier below and got cooling drink from cafe at the end. Nice breeze from the water

Pier
Upscale and calmer than the pier at Brighton, but the beaches are similar, with pebbles and stones.

Cafe on pier
Lapping waves and cool breezes go well with comfy couches

Peru drink
Peruvian drink is pisco sour, very nice on a hot day.

Birds
Can you see them? They were entertaining Japenese tourists who were going into the pricy restaurant at end of pier.

Shoreline
View from end of pier

Other side
This is the other view from end of pier

Too much sun
Can you see the burn, I mean tan, beginning. By the time I walked along the beach to this pier, I thought I was melting

Steps down to beach
Travel tip - consider the time of day when you descend these stairs, and the time when you attempt to walk up....in blaring heat and sun

Surfers
The beach has pounding surf, which is the reason why the surfers come.

Beach walk
I was heading for the next set of stairs that would get me back up to the city.

Parking lot
I think it is still summer vacation for children here.

Look off
This park is near the hostel

Some Guy
Too hot to stop and read about this monument

Street
The sea is at end of street, the hostel is halfway here, near that car

Trees
Lovely orange flowers

Fountain
Fountin is in centre of round-about at end of main street

Comments

[Elaine Hutton]

wow
Looks fabulous! We've had snow here, pretty unusual, and it's really cold. So am jealous of you in the warm weather.

[marie]

jelous as hell!!
Well you made it!!!! I am so happy for you, you look great, very extatic to be in Lima. I am sooo jelous, wish I was there sipping on that drink in the sun with you. It looks great there, love the sun and flowers, reminds me of hawiaii, same flowers. Cant wait to see the next blog. Love and hugs Marie Have lots of fun

[joannelily]

not fair
I demand to see pictures of ice, snow, freezing rain, teeth chattering and rabid dogs running.