Final day in Lima

The second day we were getting things sussed……forget the coffee just go the scrambled eggs!

Decided we had better book our next hotel… in Paracas and work out how to get there! Found out there was a fantastic first class bus – sounded good to us – we had seen the other buses so packed people were hanging off the back – we envisaged being crushed in a corner with our rucksacks on our knees for 4 hours . Been there done that!

So with my terrible Spanish tried to book the bus… all booked out – its Christmas.. oh well 3rd class bus it is!

Found what seems to be an interesting hotel - on the edge of town, good write up in Lonely Planet - so we will see.

By the time we had skyped everyone in Oz and England it was time for lunch!

Yesterday we had seen a really nice place, a bit touristy in a quiet plaza – just what we needed. The usual fascinating walk through the narrow streets, into the plaza where the guards were still doing their high kicking routine. We were met by a Spanish looking guy who did the usual chat “Where are you from?” “Australia!” “Ah Kangaroo” accompanied by little hopping movements. “You want to eat?” He then took us around every restaurant in the plaza explaining the menu of the day.

Much to his chagrin we went to the restaurant we liked the most and it was a good choice. Roger had spaghetti! I had pollo causa – an entrée type dish (appetizer) with layers of seasoned potatoes followed by a chicken layer and potato again. Some Chilean wine and a serenade by a Peruvian quartet and we were smiling. Managed to spend a couple of hours people watching before heading off to do the usual walkabout of museums, churches and plazas.

As evening approached the crowds grew larger and we found ourselves near the bridge which divided Lima from its shanty town on the hill. Its strange isn’t it that rich people in Oz & Europe build their houses on a hill whereas here it is the poor. The hill is dominated by a huge cross. We know we shouldn’t cross the bridge but it is just too tempting.

We thought Lima was crowded but this was a heaving mass of people selling everything from used shoes and boots, single vegetables to the usual tourist crap. Again it was fascinating to peer into the little restaurants, hairdressers etc. What is it that is so intriguing about other people’s lives? When the street lights ran out we headed back.

Just by the river a woman in traditional dress had a BBQ and a guy was eating the food with great gusto! “We have to try that” said Roger. “mmm” I said “Its probably dog” One Nuevo soles later we had two kebabs, cold potatoes and a couple of very interesting sauces. “Tastes pretty good” I said. I looked around and Roger was looking a bit green. “I think it is dog” he said.

So we headed back to the cocktail bar of the Grand Bolivar Hotel. Pisco Sour is the traditional drink of Peru – A couple of these – mixed platter of chicken, cheeses olives and other unknown delicacies and life was good – if noisy with sound of relentless traffic and car horns.

Time to pack for our Paracas adventure!