Lima!

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Hola amigos!

Well we made it. 'twas a long and laboreous trip for which we are still paying the price in terms of sleep (at least, that's the excuse for the afternoon siestas!)

Leaving Lima airport was intimidating to say the least, it must have taken a good hour for our bags to arrive and then we had to go through Peruvian customs. One has to complete a customs declaration and then go through a 'traffic light gate' whereby you push a button, if the light turns red you get searched, if it goes green you are free to proceed.

Needless to say, after 24hours with little sleep the prospect of getting a 'red light' was just not cool. Anyway, we both got through without issue

So, we walk out of the airport to be greeted by hundreds of people - hawkers, taxi drivers, 'policemen,' 'securidad'... more than likely trying to eek a couple of soles out of the next plane load of weary travellers. We were glad of the taxi that the hotel had sent for us.

Anyway, we get to out hotel after a 30min ride through Lima's inner city. Slums, gangs, barbed wire.... all the jouney we're thinking 'no, not here... it can't be here.' Fortunately Miraflores is one of the nicer parts of Lima, not that it would have mattered, so glad were we of a bed!

We left our first hotel in the morning and went looking for something cheaper, more backpacker friendly and closer to the centre of Miraflores.

Miraflores is nice, plenty of cafes and bars etc. Nice to hang out and relax. Moving to Pisco via Bus tomorrow. Will keep you updated.

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Additional photos below

Photos: 15, Displayed: 15

Photos

Iberia's Culinary Delights
We never did work out what the cylindrical meat was...

Where to?
So we sat in the park and thought..."where are we gonna go now?" Behind us there was a aerobics class (in 26'c!!!)

Electioneering
Elections are coming up and there are quite a few of these floats around... Lots of horn sounding and shouting.

Parque Central
Our hotel is just off 'Parque Central'... popular with shoe-shiners, artists and of course Gringos!

GTA: Vice City
Rachel remarked that "it's a bit like that Grand Theft game" and she's got a point... some Limeans drive bad-ass cars and there are plenty of 'local ladies' about...

Miraflores Playa
It looks deceptively pleasant, but the road and walkways down to the (filthy) beach are not too pleasant... lots of muggings and scammers round here. Not for a night out!

Miraflores Beach
Despite the warnings about currents and filthy water, Limeans flock to the beaches at weekends... we turned a few heads with our milky-white and patchy red skin!

GTA Vice City: II
"eh Tommy, I need you to get down to Vice beach and pop that m*****r f****er Vince for me...." (if you've played Vice City you'll know what I'm chatting about) - rachel says "sorry mum"

The contrast
Lima is a wierd mix of colonial buildings, decaying towerblocks and slums.

Sunday Dinner 26.02.06
One for Dad and Donna - this was our Sunday dinner. Cost 30 soles with Beerjies (a fiver) 2/10. (we're sending pics of sunday dinners as tradition to eat at D&D's on sunday.)

Parque Central Nightlife
Besides hosting Aerobics lessons, Parque Central hosts kareoke-accompanied dances by night. (is someone strangling the cat?)

Elton's in town
We went into Lima city on Monday and bumped into Elton John who was buying some flip-flops, hat and glasses.

Plaza del Armes
We spent the day in downtown Lima around the main square and cathedral. A seemingly genuine and friendly young student peruvian approached us and started chatting... it was all good until he offered to give us a tour of Lima. Alarm bells rang! Shame 'cuz he might have been a nice chap... Still, never can be too careful. "The world is full of trickery" and all that.

Policia
In downtown Lima there are loads of Po's. They all seem to stand around not doing much... riot sheilds and full gear.. Muchas Calientie!

Pardo's Chicken
We ate at "Pardo's Chicken" in Lima, mainly for comedy value. Didn't rate it really. Bad meat.

Comments

[Dad (Mark)]

Good Call
Hi gang glad to see you are both ok and settling well to life in the New World, the sunday lunch looks tasty, chips included! Life in France is very cold and windy (may be something to do with too much red wine)... having a great time plasterboarding and tiling! - take care and keep in touch .. dad

[mark5057]

good call
Hi gang, pleased you got there okay and are eating well, chips for Sunday lunch, yum! Glad to took my advice about the world being full of trickery and didnt take the Lima tour! Life in France is cold and windy (May be somthing to do with the rich food and red wine)- going to the loacl chasse (hunt) dinner on Saturday, Wild boar! will try and photo it.. keep in touch ... x dad

[sara]

Great to hear the story so far.Rach if I were you I would watch out for strange Elton John types!!! s xx

[Lucy]

Glad ur both doing well, looks well exciting!
Hey Im really sorry Rach for not having a final chat before you went. I'm a terrible friend! Was honestly meant to ring to say bon voyage. Just read your journal and sounds wicked. Very jealous! Everything is going well with me- just stuck in dissertation hell. And i didnt get through to the next round for that grad job i wanted, which i am pretty upset about. But im sure something else will crop up. Anyway, carry on enjoying your travels. Keep safe. Put lots of sun cream on! Love Luce x