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Published: October 13th 2010
After talking up Gustavo our Buenos Aires taxi driver in my previous blog, he is now in our bad books. He agreed to pick us up from our Hotel at 5.30am to take us to the International Airport, but demonstrated some well renowned South American time keeping and failed to show up. We waited for about 20 minutes for the elusive Gustavo before ringing the taxi company for a substitute driver. Our new driver proceeded to drive us muy rapido all the way to the airport, so much so that every 20 seconds, his nav man kept telling him in Spanish that he was speeding. He didnt seem to care and neither did we as we managed to get to the airport in time and check in.
We flew LAN this time as opposed to Aerlineous Argentinas......and what a difference. Attractive hosties, multi channel TV screens in the headrests, no flight delays and a nice new modern plane. The TV screen was a big bonus as Dom and I had to watch Russell Crowe in Robin Hood on just a mid aisle TV screen on our previous flight ex Sydney. I now know that Russell Crowe speaks excellent Spanish, he was jabbering away in Spanish for the whole movie. He really is multi talented. It would have helped if they had sub titles...actually they did, but that was only when those dastardly French were speaking, just as they were about to invade England, luckily Russell and his merry band of Spanish speaking men fought them off. I hope I havent ruined the ending for anyone.
We have now been in Lima for two days and have loved every minute of it. I had previously read in other blogs that Lima wasnt that interesting and had crap overcast weather all the time. Therefore I approached here with no great expectations and it has a pleasantly suprised me. Since we have been here there has been nothing but sun, sun and more sun, or as Russell taught me, Sol, Sol and more Sol. The city has so much to see and do. We took the open topped double decker bus to get our bearings and work out what we wanted to see and do. We have visited some ancient pre Inca ruins in the middle of town called Huaca Puchhana....or something very similar to that. They reminded me of the Egyptian Pyramids. I went did a mid life crisis thing and went paragliding off a cliff in Miraflores, obviously in tandem as I would be dead if I tried it alone. Magnificent views of the ocean and city and at one point I was as flying high as the top story of the nearby Marriott Hotel. My arms are now soooooo sore though as I was hanging onto the handgrips so tight.
We have again done so much walking and exploring but we needed to after some consuming copious amounts of the local cuisine. The owner of our hostel directed us to a place for lunch. It has no sign out the front and no advertising, it is simply a normal house behind a normal looking 6 foot high brick wall, that is until you walk into the rear coutyard which has been converted into an outdoor eating area. Dom had a soup, I had something that resembled a Burritto for entrees, fresh bread and spicy spreads and cold local drink were also provided. We then had a main course of steak, rice and fries before washing it down with a glass of the famous Inka Cola. The cola is said to taste like bubble gum but to me it tasted like Creaming Soda. We could have had dessert but we were too full. This cost us in total $12.50 AUS including the tip. The local drink we were served at the outset tasted different but refreshing until I later found out that it was a form of cold tea. Something I have never tried in my life until now.
Today we tried Perus national drink which is called Pisco Sour. It is a grape brandy mixed with Limes and egg whites.....we will be having many more, that can be assurred.
Just as a bit of useless trivia....... it never rains in Lima and we have been reliably told it never does......how wierd is that.
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Matt B
non-member comment
I'm impressed!
You're trying new things! I bet if you were told it was cold tea you would have said, 'No thanks, I don't like tea' What am I to expect when you get back........"Hey Matt, I've discovered this awesome beverage called coffee, you have to try it!" I'm impressed with the handgliding story, that takes courage.........although it shouldn't be a new sensation for you to have sore hands and arms.....how many times have you been told that you hang on too tightly! When I was in Bali I went on the new waterslide called 'Climax'. Essentially you stand in a tube and the floor gets ripped out from under you and you drop straight down for about 30 metres before the slide levels out and you come to an abrupt stop....unbelievably fast and i did think about chickening out, but the kids were below watching so i couldn't! Watch out for Rapa's and don't go into any abandonded temples you find in the rainforrest....at least without a guide! MB