Lima

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Tommy's Account

What can I say about Lima: well it's probably like most large cities; big, hot, dusty and hectic. Traffic seems to follow some sort of system but I've still to understand it... The people here are very friendly and we've barely been hassled at all, which is a bit of a surprise but a welcome one. The airport was hectic but having prearranged to be picked up we avoided the hordes of Peruvians vying to offer their services in one way or another. We've been staying in a sweet little hostel in the business district, San Isidro with a chuckly little host, a climbing wall and an amorous French couple in the room next door!

We've spent two days here now, we've been down to the coast and seen the Pacific ocean shrouded in a sea mist, we've sampled some of the local cuisine, we've visited the central district with its colonial architecture and large open plazas and we've wandered for miles mumbling spanglish as we go. Laura and I have taken to listening to Michel Thomas' Spanish tapes on my iPod as we wander the streets - it's certainly helping and we are now building a bit of confidence and actually muttering a few sentences: we seem to be understood!

We're heading to Huaraz in the Cordillera Blanca tomorrow in the Central Highlands of Peru; it's very mountainous, very cold and very high at over 3000m. Hopefully we'll get to do some mountain biking and scale some peaks (Laura just sniggered at that - maybe just a smallish one then). First we have an 8-hour bus journey to contend with - another opportunity to brush up on the español then.

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Photos

Miraflores (Southern Lima)
Early in the morning, just when day is dawning...

Sea Mist in Miraflores
The path down to the sea.

Cheese
Look at the building behind!

This One is for Carolyn & Matt
KPMG Kru (oh and T stuffing his face with brekkie on the go)

Plaza Saint Martin
Apparently Marty was a liberator.

Plaza Saint Martin
Marty is being held up by the Mother of Peru.

Bullfighters' Day in Lima
A stroke of luck would have it that we visited the Plaza de Armas when a parade had been arranged to celebrate Bullfighters - lots of funny costumes and drumming!

Comments

[Auntie Heather]

The Pacific Ocean
La foto es maravillosa - quiso especialmente el uno de Laura que deja pasar el Océano pacífico - se parece a la Isla de Barry en un día bueno!

[The Taylors]

Hello from rainy Hornsea
Hello Laura and Tom. How are you both doing? Peru looks amazing and the photographs are wonderful. Pleased to see you look fit and well, and that you are enjoying yourself very much. Hope you don't find the 8 hour bus journey too stressful or hetic. Take Care and speak to you both soon. Reply if you can. Lots of love The Taylors xxxxx Hugs and Kisses Always xxx <----- That was Harriet

[Justine Bull]

Fantastic photos cuz !!!!
Blimey you too have only just set off and are already looking like your having the time of your life !! how lucky you both are to be experiencing the wonders of the world in giant swoop !!!! Justine xx

[Lucho]

Saint Marty?
Hey, having some fun looking through your blog. Just wanted to make a correction: San Martín is the guy's last name (He was not a saint.). He was an Argentinian General who achieved the independence of Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

[T L]

RE: Sainty Marty
You're so right Lucho and after 3 months in SA we were definitely educated of that fact - we saw his staue everywhere! Lima was our first destination, so we were a little lacking in knowledge at the time. I think I probably mentioned him later in another blog and gave the guy his correct military (rather than religious) title!