There is something funny about watching The Simpsons in Spanish. You can still name the episode within 5 seconds, and you wonder to yourself, “What will the guy in the bee costume sound like?”
Landed safely in Lima on Tuesday morning right on time, at 6:30am. The airport is in a poor part of the city, so the landing was interesting. It comes in over all these poor homes, that look like run down homes where no one lives, but then you see people. The flight was fine, I had two seats to myself on the window. Still didn’t help with sleeping, because their was some turbulence on the flight, and I finery difficult to sleep in a basically sitting position. My ride was at the airport, and I met this guy Alexi from Ottawa on the plane/at the baggage claim. He didn’t have a hostel in mind, so we shared my taxi. $6US each. A good price. Took almost an hour to clear customs, and we were the only flight.
The Point Hostel is a pretty cool place in Barranco. Barranco is a laid back part of town. Lots of great people, and they let you run a tab for everything — and we all know how I like tabs. It just makes it easier for everyone in the end, you pay one bill instead of a sole here and a sole there. Breakfast is free (two rolls, with butter and jam) then all the coffee and tea you can drink all day. I read and hear the coffee is bad, but it’s instant, and no worse than what my dad drinks. You can get 2 eggs for 2 sole, and other items for similar prices. It’s clean, it’s big, and it’s social. Highly recommended to anyone traveling to Peru and spending time in Lima. They have a hostel by the same name in Arequipa that I will probably check out.
The first day (Tuesday) was spent pretty much sitting in the backyard of the hostel (more of a square surrounded by the compounds walls) taking in the sun and resting. Took a walk down the street with some blokes for cevecia, and a beer. Cevecia is a raw fish deal (and what Reuben ate to get sick). I report I am fine, and had it again today. Lounged around, talked to people, played some pool, watched bits of movies, and got to bed, pretty tired. I arranged to meet up with Laurdes, and she was going to show me around Lima. Alexi said he’d come along. Got a mild sun burn from just sitting around. It sneaks up on you. The weather is fantastic, 25C, and dry during the day, but still full of UV due to the distance from the equator. The nights are a pleasant 5-10C, maybe even a bit more.
So today was spent touring around Central Lima. I wasn’t that impressed. Some colonial architecture, but nothing as spectacular as say Paris streets. We went into the Church of San Fransisco. Again, it was nice, but nothing compared to say Notre Dame, or St. Paul’s. However I will give it unique. Lima has a unique, yet bland/familiar feel. People offering to change money on every corner, 1 in 7 vehicles are taxis, and smog.
Still working out where my next destination is. Arequipa is for sure, I’m just deciding how many (if any) to make before getting there. I don’t think I’m cut out for the hustle and bustle of downtown Lima, and I concede it was not my reason for coming. I was also concede the view from the cliffs over looking the Pacific Ocean are spectacular.
Just working my way through a 650ml bottle of Cristal, so I will catch you all in the near future.
(I’m still figuring out this foreign keyboard, so please except all the spelling errors, and incorrect punctuation)
See photos from Lima on my flickr.
Cerviche is what I ate to get sick, it must have been an allergy to something.