Lima

Lima is Peru's (pronounced Peruuuuh, as in gap yaaar) capitol, and with the risk of sounding like a fried negg, I don't think that much to it.

Its what you'd expect from a capitol in a developing country - Thousands of cars, non-stop noise, bars and restaurants, mcdonalds and starbucks. To be fair though,  I'm not much of a big city person anyway, they give me headaches.

Yesterday, I went with Andrea, my room mate, to Gamarra market in Victoria (I'm staying in Miraflores, another district within the capitol) I needed to get some bits and this place is meant to sell clothes on the cheap.

In my minds eye, I could see a small hustle-and-bustle market...I was wrong. This place is like a small city with thousands of locals selling from countless shops and hidden malls. The buildings are arranged into blocks, are high rise-ish and contain separate shopping centres that go below ground and 5/6 stories high. The streets are teeming with locals showing off their merchandise and attempting to lure you in to their make-shift shop. Everyone in Gamarra seems to be on the pay-roll whether they are selling snacks and drinks, shoving business cards in your face, selling pineapple or ice creams, cleaning the street or providing security.  The latter are spaced out and can be seen on-guard outside the shop entrances...it didn't give me much peace of mind to be honest, if someone was going to pick pocket me they were going to, and I wouldn't have a chance of getting anything back. At least the risk of violence was reduced.

Now, Im not a fan of shopping...noooo waaaaay baaabbyy...even walking through Grand Arcade makes my head pound and pores sweat...so after 6 minutes in this place I was done. Luckily Andrea speaks Spanish so could ask people to point us in the right direction. I had no idea where we were or how to get out...there aren't any landmarks...everything is the same...Id say there were 6 or 7 unique shops, but on a crazy loop...like a 3D scooby-doo background with much more noise.

We eventually found what we were looking for: Andrea, a jacket and some bottoms and for me I managed to get: flippedy flops, sunglasses (Bay Rans), Jeans, long sleeved T and some Noike socks...Im not kidding about the Noike. I should've brought these items with me, but they cost very little and without the need to buy them I wouldn't have experienced Gamarra market.

As we left the market I was read my fortune by a Peruvian gypsy lady by a religious building of sorts. I didn't understand a word of it, but I'm going to assume everythings wonderful. Andrea's fortune teller took a 20 Sol note and tied a knot in it, then said she should keep it so that Andrea's bad luck will evaporate.  The cheeky cow! The teller had to make do with 1 sol in the end...guess her luck wasn't great either.

Got back after a crowded bus journey and had one of the best beers I've ever had...Im sure that logically it wasn't, but beer tastes magical after a hard day...good old victory beer. Cusquena is one of the local beers which is available in some supermarkets in the UK, should you want to share the experience.

That's my most interesting event in Lima...I also saw some fountains...meh...


Time for me to leave - as I type, Im sat with bags packed ready to jump on the Peru Hop bus service...one of these hop-on-hop-off jobs. I was a bit hesitant at first as they're almost invariably over priced, but will be a good opportunity to meet fellow travellers and learn some bits...Also did a similar thing in New Zealand which was class.

The journey goes from Lima to Cusco. Cusco being the area famous for the inca ruins, the most famous of which is Machu Picchu. Im buzzing my balls off for the 4 day Inca trail to this place...but the journey there is a long one...and takes at least 3 days by bus, stopping in various places.  Luckily time is on my side, so if I see somewhere I like, I can stay for as long as I want and then hop back on the bus.

So there we go...first couple days done! Will blog again in either Paracas or Huacachina...

In a bit x