Living it Up in Lima

After a 26-hour bus ride that was supposed to take 18 hours, I finally arrived in Lima, Peru at 9PM this evening. I was actually 35 hours in transit as I started my journey from Copacabana, Bolivia earlier that day at 1PM! Considering how long I was on the bus, the ride was pretty pleasant. There was an adorable 2 year old child that I played football with. Everytime he kicked the ball, he yelled GOAL!!! I sat next to a Colombian man who I at first abhorred because he snored through the night. But Edwin turned out to be quite pleasant and invited me to dinner with his friends when I visit Bogota. I read and wrote a lot and watched the film The Mechanic for the second time on this trip. I ate lunch with an Argentine named Javier who has lived all over South America, Europe and in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. I have a tentative plan to have lunch with him tomorrow. He lived in Lima for a few years and suggested we go to his favorite Chinese restaurant in Lima tomorrow afteroon.

From South America

As for my one evening in Peru, not on a bus that is, I have treated myself to a night at the Gran Hotel Bolivar, a colonial style luxury hotel in Plaza San Martin, right in the heart of Central Lima (Remember when we stayed there, Dad, and my eye puffed up and you almost made me leave South America early?). As they had no more single rooms available, I was upgraded to a matrimonial suite. I have a huge living room, an equally enormous bathroom, a comfortable queen sized bed, hot water and cable TV. Also- there is a balcony that overlooks the Plaza. Quite luxurious for $65. This is my hotel splurge of the trip. After I finish using the free internet in the lobby, I am going to take a long hot shower and fall asleep watching a movie. I can´t remember the last time I had a really hot shower. Or a TV. Or a quiet and clean room. Or stayed by myself.

Plan to walk around Central Lima tomorrow before I catch my flight to Quito tomorrow night at 9:46PM. Plan to see my sisters friend during my 13 hour layover in Quito.

From the drive into Lima, the city seems to have alreay made significant changes in the last four years, the last time I was here. It has a municipal bus system. The Plaza San Martin is much more developed with high-end chain stores, a more modern movie theatre and many more neon lights.

From South America