It's been three days now since I touched down in Jorge Chavez airport, negotiated my way to a Yellow Fever vaccination, and giggled so much that the (female) doctor accused me of being coquetear (flirty), but also told me I was sexy. Strange, confusing, hilarious, and delightful - welcome to Lima. My three days have only grazed the surface of what Lima has to offer me, but here's what I have loved. The sunsets - crepúsculo is not only my favourite word in the world but my favourite time of day here. Watching the sun sink into the Pacific is unbeatable. Navigating the city with broken english is endlessly entertaining, challenging and fun. I am learning useful words like ovalo (roundabout) and no bolsa por favor (no plastic bag please). The taxi drivers are actually insane, weaving frantically through traffic, cutting off everyone and not giving way, ignoring the cacophony of blaring horns. It's kind of exhilarating. The food - I've only just begun to explore the taste of Lima, but daaaamn! Apparently Peruvians have the third largest number of national dishes of any country in the world. Game on. So far I am in love with manjar blanco, kind of like caramel condensed milk, a filling for pastries etc. Desserts are about as far as I have gotten so far, and pisco sours, the national drink (booze). Unfortunately I tried pisco after a night of Caipirinha (Brazilian) overindulgence, and I wasn't a big fan. Oh, but the fruit! Figs, melons, and an ongoing 'guess the fruit' competition with strange mystery ones I bring home. Heaven. Discovering little beauties. I am in love with the Huaranhuay trees (Tecomba sambucifolia) which brighten up the city with their yellow leaves. I also found a very cool wee fern in Barranco, which made our host comment later that I was a very strange girl. There was a special moment watching two vulchars perched in the foreground of a crescent moon, and the time I spied a vermillion flycatcher from my taxi of death, proudly puffing up his little red chest. The architecture is beautiful, the busses a nightmare, and the men unrelenting. The traffic never ceases, and everything is open late except the botanical garden that I arrived at just in time for closing. It's manic, and I love it.
0 Comments
|
I am a conservation field worker in New Zealand. I love mountains, sunrises, river swims, barefeet, cold beer, campfires, live music and whiskey. Archives
December 2014
Categories |