Today we left Peru. We have spent the last 3 weeks here and found the people warm & friendly and the country stunning. So many of the citizens embrace their native ways. From the Amazon to the Andes. From their self sustaining farming ways to their native dress. The landscape varies from the steamy Amazon headwaters to the frosty Andean highlands.
We decided as a family to take a break the last 3 days of our vacation. We stayed at a lovely resort and it would have been easy to just stay at the resort- rather we opted to walk – along the beach every morning for breakfast. We ate with the locals at their cafes. Plastic tables & chairs, fresh fish sandwiches for brekkie, sometimes dirt floors. Other times we treated ourselves to a gringo breakfast of espresso & smoothie. We watched the flamingoes & other water birds hunt for their breakfast and the rust bucket fishing boats heading out. And as we approached the village it was interesting to see daily life unfold. From small shopkeepers to kids playing in the streets.
And, then we returned to Lima for our flights. I have to write about this… we took a few flights in & out of Lima & the ride to the airport is an adventure! First, the taxi drivers are referred to as the Mafia – as their fares can be gouging. So we always chose Uber – which is good. Imagine yourself in Lima – a city of 10million people. You are in a car heading out from the airport on a 4 lane road / and your driver suddenly turns into a street / that is a lane at best …and you find yourself in a bit of shady barrio.😳 thank goodness Greg had taken this ride in his business trips – I would have thought that we were being kidnapped. Truth is …you travel for about 5 miles going through narrow side streets in various barrios – before you get back to the beautiful 6 lane road that straddles the Pacific ocean. And then to your lovely neighborhood in Lima. I have not described this very well – but – it is really disconcerting and you are worn out by the time you get to your destination. It is just the ‘gauntlet’ you need to travel …until the city finishes the road infrastructure. This was another observation in Lima, buildings don’t always appear to be finished. While they are being lived in, they appear to be ready for expansion to add another floor –RE-bar is sticking out of the roof of many a building… just don’t think a building inspector in my hometown would find that acceptable. And this is why we enjoy travel- we get to experience different customs!
Ecuador is next!
Camino Venture 