Hello! I hope you are all well?
Si I am now in Peru! I managed to get one more day of sunshine in Rio before I left! The clouds shifted so instead of the Botanical Gardens I headed down the beach and spent the day soaking up the sun and watching the world go by. I went and met Annie and Soraya inIpanema in the evening and we went to a night market where they had two big stages with live music and people dancing everywhere! They were so amazing, really enjoying every minute of it - the women had such fluid hips and the men were so good! We were stood watching and then a guy came up to me and asked me to dance! I freaked out and said no! He couldn't understand and got his friend to interpret for him - so an embarrassing conversation ensued! " Dance with me", "No, I can't dance", "I'll teach you", "no really, thank you but no", " Ok but I like you", " well thanks but I'm not going to dance with you", "ok so kiss me!", " er - no! Goodbye!" I* got back to the hostel at 1.00am and finished packing, the transfer never turned up so I had to call a cab at 3.00am and went to the airport. Desperately trying to stay awake we boarded at 6.00am and then were off. Flight was good - didn't get much sleep but the views were amazing. We weren't very high and so we got to see everything in detail over beautiful lakes and snow capped mountains.
Transfer in Lima wasn't there either but after a few phone calls to the hostel we met up and were on our way. The hostel is in Miraflores which is the posh part of Lima by the coast. Beaches aren't sunbathable on {is that a word?} but its all very well kept and tidy. I settled in then went for a walk but after falling asleep in a park I thought I should just go to bed! So at 4.00pm I crawled into bed! At 8.00pm a guy in my room woke me to chat! We ended up having a beer and meeting another couple all 3 from the Netherlands.
On Sunday the 4 of us tried to visit some ruins but everywhere was closed because it was a holiday day too. We ended up hiring a taxi man for the day and went up the coast to a remote beach. We then went and got some lunch at a locals restaurant before heading back to Miraflores. The whole day with the driver cost us 3 quid each! Bonus!! Love it here!! In the evening there was meant to be a free music concert in central Lima so me and Tim decided to find it but there was some confusion as to what time it was. When we got there nothing was going on - turns out its in August!! I think confusion is an understatement!! We decided not to go back and headed to a park where there are fountains all lit up and dancing to music. It was very touristy but pretty.
Monday Tim and I went back to the Pre-Inca ruins and had a walk around. It was very fascinating. It was strange to have a very built up area with a massive old ruins site right in the middle. I then went down into the main shopping area and found . . . . .STARBUCKS!!! How happy was I! Had the biggest Caramel Frappacino EVER! Amazing! I then walked up the coast as the sunset - lovely day. In the evening I had a few beers with Tim before bed.
Tuesday I had a proper wonder around Miraflores and but I'm still for some reason exhausted! The weather is sunny if not a little chilly in the wind but the parks are nice to sit in and watch the parakeets and the world go by. In the evening there was an arranged night out to Jazz bar so I decided to go. It turned out only the guy who works in the hostel and his girl friend who doesn't speak english were going. I managed to rope a guy called dougie into coming who'd just arrived from the uk but his brother went to bed. Jazz wasn't really what I'd call the music but we had a good night and crawled in at 4.00am!
Wednesday I was planning on going into the markets alone but met a lovely girl called Jodie from london and then Dougie and his brother Nick so we headed out together and wondered around the market. The things they sell here are so beautiful and vivid in colour I want to buy it all! We had a coffee then I came back to hostel to call mum and dad and had a lovely chat with them. I had a bit of a nap then the 4 of us went into the centre of Miraflores and had some dinner. Back at the hostel we had a cup of proper english tea which Jodie had stashed away and sat up chatting.
Thursday I went into the main town Lima and walked around the Archbishops residence and the Cathedral which were both very beautiful and fascinating but I was told 5 times when I left I would be tricked and mugged and robbed and basically everything bad was going to happen! Didn't feel so relaxed when I left but sat in the square figuring out my next move and a german man came up to me saying he had been mugged and while waiting for his embassy to help him out could I please give him some money! I said no! I think that was the scam they meant of I was just really unsympathetic the his predicament! I went to see some more buildings then started to feel really sleepy again so I stopped for a strong black coffee, walked through China town and went back to the hostel. Got roped into playing cards, drinking pisco sours and going for a Chinese with a group of lads from the Netherlands, Jodie, Nick and Dougie before getting to bed at 1.00!
Yesterday I had an easy day. I've been so tired its unreal so I just wondered around down to the coast enjoying the sunshine before heading back to the hostel and playing cards with the lads and heading out for another Chinese!
Today I'm cheacking out of the Hostel and into the Hotel I meet my Inca group in. We have a meeting this evening and then fly to Cusco tomorrow morning. I think the itinery has us starting the four day trek on monday so I think my next update will either be after I've completed it or after I've been stretchered down off it!!
Much love as always! x x x
PS I've managed to upload a few brazil pics but computer is being nasty so there aren't many x