It was an early morning as our flight to Lima to start our "Quest of the Gods" tour left at 6:40 am. We had to get up at 3:00 am. We arrived in LIma, Peru around 10:30 am. after a 5 1/2 hour flight. A driver was waiting to take us to our hotel. We got settled, had a delicious Peruvian lunch and set off to explore our area, called Miraflores, one of the nicest areas of the city. 

Peru is the third largest country in South America and one of the 20 largest countries in the world. It is located in the west of South America, and has borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. It has sovereignty over 1,285,215 km2 of land and 200 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean, as well as 60 million hectares of the Antarctic. The country has 3 main regions according to the traditional method of dividing the country by altitude: coast, mountains and jungle. The coast is characterized by a narrow band of deserts and fertile valleys alongside the Pacific Ocean. The mountainous region of Peru, where the Andes mountain range dominates the landscape and contains various ecological regions and altitudes. The northern Andes are lower and more humid than the rest, while the central Andes are the tallest and steepest, and located in this area is the country’s highest peak, Huascarán, at 6,768 meters above sea level. The southern Andes are wider, and are also known as the altiplano, or high Andean plateau. Located in the east, the jungle is a vast region of plains covered by vegetation in the Amazon River basin, which begins at the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali rivers. It is Peru’s largest region, and consists of highland jungle, or ceja de montaña – the mountain’s eyebrows, (over 700 meters above sea level), which is characterized by its cloud forests, and lowland jungle (less than 700 meters above sea level. 

Lima, the capital of Peru, sits on the country's arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is well preserved, today Lima is a bustling metropolis that's one of South America’s largest cities. It’s known for its vibrant food scene, encompassing specialties from ceviche and traditional coastal cooking to refined gourmet fare. Lima has been known as "Lima the ugly" but this does not accurately describe this city. It's streets are tidy; it has beautifully landscaped parks and sweeping ocean views. It is now known for its pre-Colombian heritage, ethnic diversity, emerging art and fashion scenes, and its culinary mastery.  

Lima has always been known as the Garden City, and no district rivals Miraflores when it comes to parks. The Miraflores government has spent years improving and adding to the district's green spaces, with a special emphasis on El Malecon, a six-mile stretch of parks situated along the cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean. 

The Malecón is perfect for jogging, biking or simply taking in the view. Dotting the walkway are statues created by famed Peruvian artists. The two most famous works of sculpture are located on either side of the Villena Bridge, which spans a deep ravine at about the midway point on the Malecón. On one side of the bridge is the "Intihuatana" (sun anchor), designed by Fernando de Szyslo; on the other is Víctor Delfín's massive carving of a couple in deep embrace. The latter is the central piece of a section of the Malecón known as Parque del Amor (Love Park), whose design borrows heavily from Antoni Gaudí. We we didn't go across the bridge so didn't see Intihuatana. One "thing to do" in the park is tightrope walking. I didn't manage to get a picture as I wasn't quick enough getting my iPad out. They walk it, bounce on it and do all sorts of tricks as well. A little farther along we saw the taking-off point for parasailers. The Malecón is the prime spot for parasailing in Lima — gliders jump off the cliffs and ride the winds whipping off the ocean below.  

We we also saw an archeological site called Huaca Pucllana. More than 10,000 years ago nomadic farmers and fishermen built camps in Miraflores. The villages expanded and an adobe brick centre covering 15 acres was built. This complex was a meeting place where produce was exchanged and religious ceremonies were held. Around 700 A. D. The complex was abandoned and the Wari took over. They made the site into a cemetery for their elite. Over time it became a place for offerings and was worshipped as a Huaca or shrine. Pucllana was the Quechua name given to the site in the 16 th century. Quechua is the name of a people of central Andes of South America and their languages. 

We had a meeting with the tour operator in the evening and got all the details of the trip. It's certainly not going to be a walk in the park. Our CEO (chief entertainment officer) kept saying you're not at home. In Peru there are often blackouts and hot water can be scarce at times. She talked about mosquitos and malaria and altitude sickness. We knew about all this and are prepared with antidotes from the travel clinic. 

Its anotherr early morning tomorrow as we have to meet in the lobby at 5:50 am. to get our flight to Puerto Moldanado and then a 3 hour canoe ride to our jungle lodge. So I managed to get this last entry done before we disappear into the jungle. So this will be my last post for a few days. Honest!