hasta luego lima

One last breeze through Lima, the haze of the hike still hanging over me. 

A little more art, a little more exploring. A sunny nap, a mid day iced tea. A final dinner and more drinks in Miraflores with a new/old friend. Up too late in our hotel's courtyard, but it didn't matter; I had only another early morning departure left to go.

And that would finally be that for me and Peru. 

Until the next time.

lima, linda

I became more aimless while this otherwise sweaty, frantic city became a little more beautiful.
The sun began to set, things began to slow down, cool down, quiet down.
Suddenly surrounded by people taking strolls just as leisurely as I. A mix of locals and gringos lounging on the grass. My temporary residence of Barranco offering clues of what it might be like to actually exist within this crazy city but beyond its crazy fray. La vida cotidiana.
A walk along the cliffs, the token ice cream cone. The sun setting over the Pacific. An hour plus exploring the supermarket. A shoeless siesta in the outdoor courtyard of my hotel.
I'd soon discover how easy it is to make foreign friends when you're so obviously a gringa. A conversation companion, a dinner companion, a cool and breezy evening leading up to an early morning flight.

Lima, I might just miss you a little. But I'll be back very soon.

buenos dias

Early morning wake up. Complimentary breakfast. Hot coffee. Lazy plans. The kind woman at the reception now calling me by name, giving suggestions, drawing on xeroxed maps with highlighters and red pen.
A walk, a bus, swept quickly into summertime. Changing of the guards, cathedral tours, art sought (somewhat futilely).
Back for a nap. Cooling off.
Tourist mode resumed.

estoy aqui

A late night arrival that couldn't help but feel cinematic. Summertime temperatures, Peruvian radio soundtrack, honking collectivos, a daze of poverty and urbanism whizzing by. My poco español suddenly called upon. My driver pointing to and fro. Arrival to my modern hotel, greetings with promised South American hospitality.
A cup of tea, a tiny chocolate, a hot shower. Falling deeply asleep as if already in a dream to unfamiliar sounds of traffic and radios and ruckus.
Tomorrow: a tourist.
Bienvenidos al Peru.