I love Lima! I'm not sure if it was my low expectations or my jet lag finally subsiding but I really enjoyed my three nights in the Peruvian capital.
It's exhausting traveling fast. Three nights, two days meant no stopping but I can definitely say I made the most of my short time in Lima.
Saturday night was a night out in bohemian Barranco. Another girl and I had flown up from Buenos Aires and, on arriving into our hostel just before midnight, discovered only a few tired travelers. After introductions, we all agreed that it would be a waste to go to bed so jumped into two taxis and headed to Barranco, famous for its bars and clubs. The area was cool, safe, and busy and we hopped between clubs for a few hours before calling it a night.
My hostel was in Miraflores, a upscale neighborhood overlooking the Pacific. On my first day here I spent an afternoon dodging rollerbladers and skateboarders along the malecon which is a pretty and well kept walkway along the cliffs. At the end (or start?) of the malecon there is a fancy mall in the side of the cliff face. Very cool.
It's exhausting traveling fast. Three nights, two days meant no stopping but I can definitely say I made the most of my short time in Lima.
Saturday night was a night out in bohemian Barranco. Another girl and I had flown up from Buenos Aires and, on arriving into our hostel just before midnight, discovered only a few tired travelers. After introductions, we all agreed that it would be a waste to go to bed so jumped into two taxis and headed to Barranco, famous for its bars and clubs. The area was cool, safe, and busy and we hopped between clubs for a few hours before calling it a night.
My hostel was in Miraflores, a upscale neighborhood overlooking the Pacific. On my first day here I spent an afternoon dodging rollerbladers and skateboarders along the malecon which is a pretty and well kept walkway along the cliffs. At the end (or start?) of the malecon there is a fancy mall in the side of the cliff face. Very cool.
One guy at the hostel had put a note up on couchsurfing.com asking for advice on what to do in Lima. One local girl, Jasmin, wrote back saying she could show him some sights so I joined them, plus Jasmin's Aunt, on a trip to the Water Magic Circuit on the Sunday night. Although there were hundreds of Peruvian families and couples there, this park was actually built by the Lima Mayor eight years ago to try and attract Cusco bound tourists. The huge park featured about 20 fountains lit up and there is even a light show every 40 minutes.
On my last afternoon, after my Astrid y Gamon experience, I rolled back to my hostel and hailed a taxi to take me to the Historical Centre. My pending food coma was no match for attempting the Lima bus system. Turns out taxi drivers are great Spanish teachers and I am proud to say the taxi driver now knows I am a New Zealander, living in Australia, who had been in Peru two days and was leaving for Cusco tomorrow. Yay!