PERU 2017-1. TO THE NEW WORLD

...and so we were off on our journey of discovery to what was once termed "The New World", 

South America. 

 

Thank you Noel and Alois for the ride to Sydney Airport. 

 

From Sydney Australia to Auckland New Zealand then Santiago Chile and finally... Lima Peru, 22 hours all up and that was a relatively short route. 

 

Flying over Chile our first sighting South America.  

 

And the Andes, the longest continental mountain range in the world, 

 

almost 7000km runs from the south to the north of South America and runs through 7 countries. 

 

Looking for Peru. 

 

And there it is. The clouds veiling the coast to lap like waves at the base of the mountains. 

 

Our arrival in Lima was tinged with some anxiety when we got into the taxi and discovered that our spending money wallet was not in our bag!  Our hearts sank. Had we been pickpocket at Lima airport, had we dropped it in the plane, had we lost it in Santiago airport???  A fruitless hour dashing about the airport from one person that could not help to the next.  In the end we resigned ourselves to the loss and decided to get back into the taxi, which by the way was owned by one of our brothers. When I felt around on the floor of the taxi, there it was our money...  imagine if the taxi driver was not a brother.  Thank you Miguel. 

 

The next day, Wednesday afternoon, our host took us to down town Miraflores to change some money to local currency and spend 2 hours buying a phone SIM card (which it turns out is no ordinary feat in Peru) ... 

... and who should we meet?  Naturally two sisters at a Metropolitan Witnessing cart. 

 

At Kennedy Park, also called 'Cat Park' for its collection of 50 something stray cats, we indulged in a plate of delicious "picarones".  A Peruvian treat, basically a light doughnut made with squash and sweet potato and drizzled in honey syrup.  Very nice indeed. 

 

Typical street vendor. 

 

After a little shopping home to a great home cooked meal.  

 

And where is our home?  Meet our amazing hosts, Ken and Christine.  A couple of Aussie "need-greater" pioneers who have opened their home to us and are showing us the ropes as they have done for many before.  

Time to sleep. 

Lloydnalex