Lima!

Did you know that every so often you snore? It’s a soft sound, and gently rhythmic. In our room of two twin beds, the sound blended in nicely with the alternating current of the mini-fridge, the occasional on-street merrymaking, and the frequent chirping of a car horn. Some countries have created an entire language out of horn-honking. One short beep may signal something entirely different from two prolonged blasts. In between these are numerous variations that only a local might decipher. We are in Lima Peru, and our world has just shifted slightly; sort of like a kaleidoscope that has smoothly created a brand new picture.

Our first impressions developed upon arrival. We agree that this may be the cleanest airport we have ever seen! This observation has been reinforced repeatedly... the spic and span look of our hotel room, the hand sweeping of streets, people on their hands and knees scrubbing the sidewalk as you divert around them, AND, just now, whilst typing this message, someone cleaning the floor with a broom has asked me to lift my legs so that they can reach beneath the seat! That was right on cue.

Coffee with Terry, Kelley, and Drew

If you will allow me the liberty to ramble, I’ll share, in no particular order, a few other findings. At breakfast, that was the best coffee I have ever smelled or tasted. When a breeze comes from the ocean, and wafts past your nose, it’s not the typical sea-smell. What comes to mind is the smell of steamed shrimp mixed with flowers. And there are flowering trees, bushes, and plants wherever there is space to hold them amidst the concrete. The papaya here is so lovely, ripe and sweet that the imported variety we’ve eaten at home must hide its flesh in shame. On two occasions there were parrots squawking as they flew from tree to tree in the park. Less tropical are the small casino’s, noticed now and again, associated with a small hotel, such as ours. Did you know that it never rains in Lima? Well, almost never. It totals a mere 5mm per year, or 0.2 inches, so you can safely leave your umbrella at home. It is currently Fall, on the cusp of Winter, from this side of the equator, and the temperature is very pleasant. The sky is almost permanently overcast, although the locals call it a “fog”, similar to that described in California.

Ready for the bike tour

I suppose we could go on with the list, but traditionally, for you and I, the experience is best felt in picture and film. On our only full day in Lima, we went on a half day bike tour... I hope you enjoy the memory with our first Peruvian film coming up in the next post (probably later today), plus the collection of photos now loaded for your enjoyment.