Minaflores

Moving from Central Lima to Minaflores was a great idea … like going from gray-scale to technicolor.  Minaflores reminds me of Barcelona minus the Gaudi-style architecture. There’s vibrancy to the place that’s missing in central Lima.

Again, the traffic is frantic here but there’s better sound-proofing in the buildings.  It feels like a ‘24/7’ district. Café culture abounds and there are street vendors everywhere. All budget sizes catered for.

 

It’s still cold and I’m going steady with 4 layers each day. I can’t get over the high humidity though … I washed a pair of socks 3 days ago and they’re still damp. I went to seek out a Laundromat today thinking I'd have to spend a few hours waiting for my wash and dry. Turns out I just have to hand over my dirty laundry, they give me a ticket and I return in 5 hours to pick up my freshly laundered clothes ... sweeeet!!! :)

The hostels have been a pleasant surprise. For an average cost of $25 a day, I get a private room (sometimes en-suite) plus breakfast and hot running showers (usually). It sure beats the image I had in mind before I started out.

Private Digs!

Some random observations not stated in the guidebooks:

1.          Peruvians mostly go bare-faced i.e. no sunglasses. Although the days are bright, I soon feel OTT within 5 mins of stepping out of the hostel with my yellow sunglasses on lol

2.          Peruvians love ice-cream.  2 out of every 10 people I passed were slurping on a cone.

3.          Peruvians take good care of their old people.  Saw lots of tenderness and consideration towards the elderly.

4.          Peruvians love ‘Love’. There were more couples clinched in amorous embrace on the streets of Lima than I’ve ever seen in Paris. And there’s a park dedicated to love in Minaflores.

Parque de Amor

The park wall is made up of mosaics of love inscriptions!

Another random musing here for you :) My new favorite Peruvian dish is Causa. Its made of potato and lots more and is simply delicioso! The best causa I've found so far in Minaflores is at the Punto Azul restaurant off Ave. Larco Mar. I like the shrimp and avocado filling and it comes in the shape of a fish ... you sprinkle lime juice over it and dip each mouthful in Aji (a fiery pepper sauce) ... yummo!!!

Causa con Camarones y Avocado

My trip here is taking on better shape now.  I have a general itinerary that will see me move south and then north, so I should be here till the end of October. 

I’m leaving Minaflores tomorrow to take a sleeper bus down to Nazca to see the Nazca Lines. I’ll overnight in Nazca and then get back on the bus to head down to Arequipa in southern Peru. 

I'll spend a about 4 days in Arequipa, with a day trip down to Colca Canyon (the world's deepest canyon) for a 17hr excursion. Hopefully, I'll get to see some condors too :)

Then it'll be down to Cuzco for Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu/Huayna Picchu. I'll be in Cuzco for about 5 days ... apparently its a fun town with lots to do other than just Machu Picchu, so I'm making it my business to verify this fact lol

I've acquired some travel buddies. Jesse and Brian from California and David from Austria. I met Jesse and Brian at Hostel 1900 in Central Lima and they turned up in Minaflores at my hostel the day after I moved. David has been travelling 5mths in India and arrived in Peru 2 days ago. They're all headed the same direction as me to Cuzco, so we're all departing for Nazca tomorrow. 

After Cuzco, I'm back to solo status and I'll head north to Trujillo for a couple of days and then on to Mancora for another 2 - 3 days ... and here my Peruvian adventure will end. 

Next stop Colombia :)

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