Greetings from LIMA PERU!
We left Seattle on a cool Wed morning. Our first leg took us to Las Vegas, where we had a good time just wandering the strip in the evening.
After a good night's sleep, it was on to Mexico City, about a 6 hr flight. With only a 6 hr layover, we decided it was best to hang out at the airport. Did I mention we're waiting for a midnight flight?
We arrived as scheduled early on Friday morning. While there was a wait to go through customs, it was still pretty painless. Our hostel sent a taxi for us and, after a hot drive through traffic worthy of a city of 10 million people, we checked in and took a nap.
Once we woke up, I signed us up for the free city tour given by 1900 Backpackers Hostel. Having a couple of hours to kill, we took a short walk around our block, where we found a fairly nice-looking restaurant, Mesa Central. Although this was not our first opportunity to speak Spanish, it was the first time we were trying to get something and not just make conversation. We went in just wanting some juice and maybe a little ceviche. The very kind and patient waitress eventually got us to understand that they were doing set lunches, one at 14 soles and another at 18 soles. Nothing to do but order one lunch (and some yummy strawberry juice) to share. We orded the ceviche pescado and the arroz mariscos. Oh, my! The ceviche was just delicious, the best I have ever had and the rice with seafood was also tasty. The rice was seasoned, the color was deeper than saffron rice, and the seafood was chunks of crab, octopus tentacles, squid rings, fish, and scallops, all sauteed. It was a very good-sized portion. (I hope we go back tonight for dinner!) The price for our lovely meal and 1/2 liter of fresh strawberry juice? 25 soles (about $8)
Everyone loves food pictures, right??
Back at the hostel, we had time to meet and chat with some of the other guests who were also going on the tour. A couple of others from America, a couple from Germany, an older woman from Canada, another from Japan. Our guide was a young woman named Alice, a Lima local. To be honest, I cannot really remember everything and everywhere we went, but we did see the more famous sites in this part of the city, old Central Lima.
Lovely buildings and great color
One of many beautiful colonial churches
Gold and silver alter, in another church
Sure, Froody is smiling now, but we think this is the source of his Lima Belly
So many pictures I could share, but the Internet is a bit spotty here, so I'm going to quit while I'm ahead.
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