The First Leg

31 December 2017
Ive been travelling for about 30 hours and I have to once again conclude that 6 foot does not travel well in economy.

My hotel transfer met me as promised, for which I was terribly grateful. His name was Jose (obviously) and he was lovely. He told me to sit in the back and I knew I was in for a rough ride.

I quickly learned that in Lima: Enthusiastic use of hooters is applauded and rewarded with equally enthusiastic use from drivers also cutting across three lanes where not even a seasoned racer would dare. Also that road lines, broken or solid, are entirely irrelevant road decoration. With this in mind, it is entirely possible to turn a two lane road into a three or four lane road. The traffic lights offer a count down on red. This gives all drivers plenty of time to plot and execute their next terrifying move. Jose, I realised, has a special gift, he can turn any sweeping bend into a perfect right angle corner. For those who ride bikes, perhaps I should suggest Jose turn his attention away from surfing and driving and onto some nice sandy off road trails on two wheels?

1 January 2018
My first breakfast in Lima was utterly delicious – tender meat stew and potatoes. The English could learn a thing or two. I was quite literally kept going until dinner time from my 7am breakfast. I sent my Dad a photo of my breakfast and he reminded me of my need for proper nutrition and green things… thanks Dad. I have a long month ahead. 🙂

On the great advice of the hotel Foresta staff, I hired a bicycle and cycled down to the Larcomar shopping and food centre. Lima offers incredibly well thought-out and marked cycle routes throughout the city. Apart from getting to the ocean – the area where I stayed was incredibly flat and offered the best way to get rid of jet lag. I’d been unable to drag myself to the hotel gym to work it off. Wi-fi is free in many of the parks you encounter along the way – man we have some things to learn. I am immediately amazed by the mix of 3rd world feeling and 1st world influence, where it counts.

The shopping centre really is in a great location and reminds me of a tiny piece of the San Francisco waterfront area, with a better vantage point. It’s a terribly commercial shopping centre with all of the usual suspects – GAP, Tommy Hilfiger, Samsung, Apple, etc.

I am beginning to realise that my smiling and acknowledgement of people as I walk or cycle past them is not welcomed and certainly met with suspicion by law enforcement. Some of the people gave a curt head nod which made the people-pleaser in me celebrate internally; but after a day, I’ve realised that reverting to my sometimes-natural-slight-scowl, will be best.

Dinner was a truly delightful room service Ceasar Salad and it was still cheaper than something I’d get in CT despite the Peruvian Sol being worth about 3.9 times more than our Rand.