Hotel Larcomar View Lima

... As they started to process us and we were trying to decide whether to leave her in Atlanta when she breathlessly appeared. The entire plane was seated and overhead bins full and closed. BUT WE MADE IT! But is our luggage on the same plane? The flight was further delayed while waiting for a pallet (maybe our luggage?) and the plane actually left 30 minutes late (5:40).

In the seat in front of Val and I is a cute toddler who immediately started crying. We ...

... watching TV whilst we ventured out into our new environment looking for a takeaway Pizza. We found a large area of restaurants about four blocks away where we ordered a takeaway Pizza, and whilst it was being made went looking, unsuccessfully, for some real coffee. We returned to the Pizza place to pick up a large Pizza, chips and a soft drink for 25 soles, returned to the hotel where we consumed what we could watching a Harry Potter film and slept like logs.

... Peruvian churches anyway. So on to san Francisco monastery. Franchescas happy as all the people are there with their dogs getting them blessed by St Francis. We join on the end of an English tour and ooh and aah at the paintings etc until we get to the good stuff and get to go down in the catacombs where they used to put all the bodies down big pits and cover them with lime. Franchesca is hanging on for grim death by now, nails digging in the arm and every thing. Some enterprising monk ...

... to be either broken, half-built or just shoddy and we have had a string of daft problems that have caused us a lot of stress, but could so easily have been avoided. Sometimes dealing with a laid-back nation can be very frustrating.

The rural areas of both countries are very poor indeed and you see people living in appaling conditions and the cities are over-crowded, chaotic and polluted. But, the natural beauty is ...

... is cheap!) 40 minutes ahead of our bus departure time we found we were still waiting for our food 30 minutes later!

After scoffing our food and with Damien strapped in on the top deck (Safety first!) the tour started. And whilst Iīm sure it was a highly interesting tour and we have lots of interesting photos we couldn`t hear/understand a thing the tour guide was saying (over the sound of the traffic, beeping horns ...

... went to Plaza de Armas which is the center of downtown Lima, and has the Government Palace and Cathedral facing it. It was a really neat place--we walked around, saw the clock that sets the time for the Peruvian Postal Service (see picture. *note, I may or may not be making that up. I'm not exactly sure), and got to be the punch line to a bunch of jokes of a stand up comedian in a random mini-ampitheater. After that I got a map of Lima ...

... and ordered some coffee and cakes. We sat and marveled at this lovely place.

I didnīt want to bore everyone with a very long story, but I just canīt help it. Tomorrow morning we fly to Arequipa as we continue exploring this beautiful country.

I canīt wait to post all of my pictures and I wanted to send a few teasers but this PC couldnīt read my camera, itīs asking for something which I donīt understand ... =)


Hugs,
Nene Malou (aka Maria)

... is a 100 odd years old and very elegant, chandeliers etc and last night we drank in a bar where Ernest Hemingway used to get sozzled, so I got really inspired by his example and got really sozzled to on Pisco Sours, a local firewater mixed with egg white and limes. Wow, had 5 and was seeing all sorts of weird things, Kate was sensible (boring ). On our way to Casma which is 300 kms north of Lima tomorrow. Hasta luego

... None of these cultures ever invented the written word, but the Moche culture, which was centered around Trujillo, was incredibly adapt with ceramics and the story of their everyday life is clearly demonstrated in their superb artistry. No need for words here. We also visit the gallery of erotic pottery. Even their sex lives are on show for all to see, and ...

... displays...pretty cool. The next morning I explored downtown Lima, the Parlimentary buildings including watching the changing of the guards to a fab marching band, the Cathedral of Lima & other elaborate Churches plus the many little alleways filled with locals stalls & shops. After lunch back at Ricardo & Anas gorgeous apartment with its fantastic views over the city up to the sea, we went to the (very ...