Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Our day began yesterday so it had been a very long day. We arrived in Jorge Chavez Airport about 7:15 this morning. The weather was overcast and humid, in the 60s. A 30-something Peruvian man named Johan met us and, after recommending a potty stop, led us out to the waiting car. The driver was Mr. Morales who had forty years experience driving in Lima’s crazy traffic. Leaving only centimeters between his car and the next, Mr. Morales threaded through heavy rush-hour traffic at top speeds. Johan kept apologizing as we raced through back streets, on the beach, and down back alleyways. It was exhilarating to pass through many of Peru’s forty-three districts at breakneck speeds.
Lima from the air:
Residential Neighborhoods:
After almost an hour driving along the Pacific coast, we reached the Miraflores District and our hotel, the Belmond Miraflores Park. We were warmly welcomed but our room wasn’t ready so we left our luggage in the lobby and went out to explore.
Spanish Colonial Church:
Our Hotel:
View of the Pacific:
There was a beautiful park across the street from the hotel on the high bluff above the ocean. We strolled along the rim to Larcomar Mall on the opposite side of Parque Domodossola.
Larcomar Mall:
We found good coffee and sat outside to enjoy the morning air. Later, after we secured a room and rested a while, we ate a scrumptious late lunch outdoors on the deck of the hotel.
Ceviche and Causa:
Johan had told us there were 3800 kinds of potatoes grown in Peru. The papa amarillo pictured above was delicious. We enjoyed a quiet afternoon and watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. Tomorrow we explore Miraflores.
