Regresamos a Lima

In many ways, it feels like it hasn't been long since our last visit to Lima and we have experienced a strange familiarity coming back. Overall, we had hardly any troubles with flights, connections, and layovers. We flew with LAN airlines from LA onward and were impressed with the high quality of service on our 8 hour flight which included movies, a blanket, two meals, ear plugs, and head phones! What more could you ask for in an airline these days? However, just as we were commenting to each other about our smooth sailing, Iain had realized his bank card was only good for one withdrawal as he had left it the ATM machine outside the airport. Thankfully, we will just use our visas and I have my bank card… dodged another bullet.

Lima is a busy city full of crazy drivers and equally loco pedestrians. Cars always have the right-of-way and people boldly leap into the streets when the briefest of traffic lulls present themselves. The buses are always honking, and cars move fast which means we have to too.We came back to the same hostel in the Miraflores district we visited last time called ‘Friend’s House’ which is cheap and a great location that we already know. The only downside is 12 U.S.A. peace corp. are staying here too and the only time it’s peaceful is when they’re gone. I've been practicing my southern drawl with Iain well cursing the Americans for their boisterousness which we can hear at ALL times. Although, we have found humour in overhearing an American gordita (chubby girl) loudly talking while eating, and simultaneously choking/hiccuping without a break in conversation.  

We have spent the last few days shopping for our house and have made some great purchases so far—paintings, beautiful textiles, wooden bowls, and blankets. It has been fun to loiter the various markets practicing Spanish and bartering for bargains, and spreading the money to whom we think could use it most (think elderly, pregnant ladies, and vendors on the market’s periphery).

One of the paintings we purchased 

Lima has somewhat of a grand culinary reputation that we hadn’t experienced during our last stay, but we had a great meal at a restaurant Mezze last night. We also checked out Club Habana for a few mojitos and visited cats in Parque Kennedy. We’ve also tried cortados (coffee & milk) and cake from a great, bustling diner-like place called Manolo. We have also been frequent visitors of a high end grocery store called Vivanda where Iain has been binging on granadillas (he’s had four since I started writing this).

A regalo

Mango is lunch

We have booked bus tickets with Cruz del Sur to Guayaquil, Ecuador on Wednesday. This is somewhat of a commitment (30 hours on a bus), but a much cheaper option compared to flying. From Guayaquil we will make our way north to Canoa.

with Nina, maybe a famous artist? We bought one of his paintings