Blogs from Lima, Peru, South America - page 182

South America » Peru » Lima July 17th 2005

Somehow I have made it to Peru, but my luggage went back to San Francisco. I guess it got fed up and decided to go home. I would normally be pretty upset about this, but I'm not really in a normal state of mind right now. Things just can't really get to me anymore. I seriously considered staying and volunteering at LAX for 2 weeks instead of coming down here. They could really use the help. And I was already prepared to teach conversational English and computer basics, and I think the majority of the employees there could greatly benefit from those skills. But, they finally got me on a flight out of there to New York, and I decided, what the hell, I'm sure JFK employees could use my help as well. So I flew ... read more

Stop off in Lima

South America » Peru » Lima July 14th 2005

"Placio de Gobierno", Lima

Gord

Getting through imigration control, I was faced with a wall of Peruvians holding signs and calling ´you want official taxi?´ The taxi journey was an experience in itself, owing to an absence of road markings and a general lack of motoring rules! I spent the night in the ´kamana hotel´a pretty nice place in central lima. I managed to take a stroll into the central Plaza and have a look at all the Government buildings... and saw the Presedents´ convoy rushing through (16 police escort cars, an ambulance and fire engine, or something similar).... read more

Pachamac ruins....or NOT!

South America » Peru » Lima July 10th 2005

EsquenFamily

Sunday, July 10, 2005 This is our combi for the day: and here are the kids in the back of the combi: This morning we woke up and got ready really fast since Merardo had sent a combi to pick us up at 9:30am. Merardo and William have been friends and were classmates from Preschool all the way until graduating from high school. He is now a chemical engineer who works for Blue Water- they package and distribute bottled water. Merardo also came to our house last March and the kids really love him. He lives with his wife, Rosa, and their daughter, Leslie (10 yrs. old) live in Pachamac near some ancient Inca ruins. Our plans for the day were to visit them at their home and then go to the ruins, but..... img=http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/ElenaE/090720... read more

Maybe 68 degrees is a little chilly....

South America » Peru » Lima July 9th 2005

EsquenFamily

Saturday, July 9, 2005 This morning we woke up, and guess what? I was COLD! I don´t think it´s the temperature, really, but perhaps the environment. It´s gray, and dull, and humid. I have never been to Lima any other time of year, but I think this is just what winter is like here. There was no hot water this morning, so getting ready for the day was no fun! We were rushed, and had little time for breakfast (only one piece of bread!) and 2 sips of coffee. We had to get up somewhat early as today Memo was baptizing his daughters, Ana Paula (she´ll be 3 on Sept. 28) and Ana Lucia (she turned 1 in March.) William was going to be Lucia´s godfather and since the godmother was unable to come to Lima, ... read more

Last day and words of wisdom

South America » Peru » Lima July 9th 2005

Collectivo

A A

Day of waiting for our late evening flight. Sometime during the last 3 days we were supposed take a trip down to Punta Hermosa (1 hour south of Lima) so I could learn to surf in the 5 meter waves, but sloth and fatigue got the better of us. The perpetually depressing layer of winter fog that hangs three feet above your head all day, doesn't really provide much incentive to do much of anything. Perhaps for the better, knowing me I probably would have cracked my head into the nose of a great white shark or something. On a positive note, we found a fantastic Arabic restaurant with awesome shwarmas.... very content. Did a little souvenir and clothing shopping to kill the time till our midnight flight. Happy birthday to Corrado, Alessandra's father! During ... read more

Our First Day in Lima

South America » Peru » Lima July 9th 2005

EsquenFamily

Thursday, July 7 - Friday, July 8, 2005 We arrived yesterday and I already have so much to say that I can´t believe it´s only been 24 hours! I MUST start this blog by saying that our plane trip to Lima was the best one ever! We flew out of Miami at 1pm on Thursday, July 7 on Delta and we changed planes in Atlanta. Delta´s services were phenomenal and we were really impressed. We arrived in Lima right on time at 10:30PM, Peruvian time (we´re an hour ahead in Florida). At once we could tell how much more modern the airport was than last time we were here. They have remodeled and everything looks so clean and beautiful. In addition, there are more security measures and taxi drivers and other people selling things cannot enter ... read more

Perusa del museao

South America » Peru » Lima July 8th 2005

Lost your head?

A A

Awake at 10:00 AM, finally a decent hour. Today is Plaza del Mayor and Museum day!! We grab a ride to Lima Central to explore the inner city, seems quite nice, the central plaza was grand with the fantastic looming architectures of the Placio Municipal and Catedral de Lima. The statue of Fransisco Pizzaro (Spanish Conquistador and Inca Inhalator) which once stood in the square was apparently removed in 2003, its current location is unknown. On strong recommendation we visited the Convent of San Fransisco, this magnificent structure contained a multitude of fantastic sights, from the Painting of the last supper with Jesus and his apostles eating guinea pig, the magnificent 400 year old Royal Academy library, to its most morbid attraction recently discovered in 1943, the massive catacombs of San Fransisco. Until Lima's first cemetery ... read more

Who stole the sun??

South America » Peru » Lima June 28th 2005

The Pacific Coast

The biggest difference between Lima and the rest of the places we've visited is the lack of sunshine and clear blue sky! Located on the coast, Lima is shrouded by a melancholy coastal fog. But at least it doesn't rain, and it is fairly warm although the locals seem to think I look out of place in shorts and t-shirt. Just one day here, so we headed into central Lima from our hostel in Miraflores, and wandered about the pedestrian st between plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin. It's lined with shops, food places and old buildings. We also visited the Monasterio de San Franciso, famous for it's catacombs. Approximately 70,000 burials took place beneath the floor in special tombs up until 1808, but when discovered years later, bones were rearranged and just piled up ... read more

Getting ready to go

South America » Peru » Lima June 26th 2005

Condor over Colca Canyon

Hel

Hi everyone, Podz and I are getting ready to go - we are busy packing and are hoping that everything will fit in our bags and not weigh too much. Check in every now and then to see where we are and what we have been up to - although we will hopefully not be spending all our time in internet cafes.... read more

Lima - The Land of Strangle Muggers

South America » Peru » Lima June 23rd 2005

A rather strange strangle mugging technique

ryanandana

Ok, we have not encountered any strangle muggers. However, our guidebook talks all about them (for those of you unfamiliar with the concept, a strangle mugger strangles his victim to unconsciousness and then steals money and valuables). It´s kinda been a running morbid joke since we´ve been in Lima. Lima has a reputation of not being the safest place. We had heard lots of stories before we arrived about evil taxi drivers, bag slashers, strangle muggers, etc. But everything has been peachy since we got here. Granted, we are staying in the nice neighborhood of Miraflores and haven´t seen the bad parts of town. Lima is a huge city (8 million people) and it´s very busy, but we haven´t found it scary at all. Parts of Lima actually remind us a lot of Los Angeles, and ... read more

Sunset over the Pacific as seen from Lima

Brief history of Peru

Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1...more history

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