Podróże małe i duże > Moje odkrycie Ameryki (Peru – Boliwia – Chile)

Lima, or Welcome to Peru!

MarriottLima de noche

All the formalities fulfilled, we got stamps in our passports, so we can say: WE'RE IN PERU!

The taxi that took as to the hotel from the airport cost us 40 PEN (1 PEN is the equivalent of 1 PLN)! Of course – we overpaid. But these were our first minutes in the country. Through the plane window I admired Lima. Everything was so different, so new. Miraflores turned out to be a very safe district. It was full of security guards and you could go for a walk even at night. And so we did. A pub and another one. We were walking bank to the hotel (around 3 a.m.) when we heard the sound of Cuban music. I knew we had to go there, Karolina agreed and the others had no choice.

Cubata
Dirty dancingCubataCubataWymiana koszulekWymiana koszulek

Following the sound we got to a very nice place called Cubata. On entering we were greeted by Kelly's kisses (the Peruvian hospitality...). Karolina made a deal. We got cheaper bear (I think it was 6 PEN / 0.33 l) and I was supposed to dance with a girl who greeted us very kindly. I didn't even think of saying no. Obviously, Andrea was way better at dancing.

Kelly, Andrea i KarolinaKellyKelly
Andrea, Witek, Kelly i Doktor

Everyone had a great time and we made friends with everybody pretty soon. It was after 6 when we were going back to the hotel but we hadn't got enough. We went on top of the hotel and danced on the roof. This the view of Lima from the Olimpus hotel roof at 6.30 a.m. (A room for 4 cost us 50 PEN a night). Goodnight.

Lima o poranku
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Widok na PacyfikLimaLima

In the morning we went to see the ocean and then we headed to the center by bus (fare – 1 PEN). On the way we admired the local habits. It's incredible how many cars and busses can find place on their streets.

LimaLimaJedziemy do centrumInca KolaJak jeździć w Limie

It's amazing that we saw no accidents nad that on many crossings there are no traffic lights – just small and funny booths in on the middle of the crossings. Sometimes with and sometimes without a policewoman inside. And there is no such thing as right of way. When you get close to the crossroads you need to honk to let others know that you're coming. You can imagine the noise:). And the busses don't stop at the busstops – a guy stands in the open door shouting the direction of the bus. If anyone's interested the driver stops by him! Of course there are no timetables.

Dziewczynka w LimieLima
LimaLima

Almost every main square in Peru is called Plaza de Armas. I don't know why but if you're lost you can always ast Dodne esta Plaza De Armas. As long as you're not in the desert you'll get some instructions. Lima may not be as rich as Barcelona but it has a charm of its own, many interesting colonial tenement houses with beautiful oriels and picturesque courtyards.

LimaPalacio de GobiernoPlaza de ArmasClub de la UnionPlaza de Armas

We get to the main square. It really is impressive. All the most important buildings are here, including Palacio de Gobierno (Vice king palace), Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop palace) and a cathedral that experienced numerous damages caused by earthquakes. The oldest sight at the square is a bronze fountain build in 1650. The weather is fine and the square is crowded. Families with children walk or rest on benches.

Plaza de ArmasFuente de Agua en la Plaza de ArmasLa Catedral en la Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas

The people are very kind and friendly. Timidly I started to take pictures of children playing. I was not sure what the reaction could be. But I shouldn't have worried. In the end the whole family posed for me! It was the first time I truly regretted not knowing Spanish.

Plaza de ArmasKatedraZmiana warty przed Pałacem WicekrólówPalacio ArzobispalPlaza de Armas

We went into the cathedral to see it from the inside and than we saw the change of the guards (cambio de guardia) in front of the Palacio de Gobierno. Then we met some more friendly Peruvians. They were our Lima guides until the day was done. If my comprehension of what Maritza said was right, the police do not work at night in Lima. Therefore it gets dangerous and it's safer not to wander. We got a cab and went to Miraflores. To Cubata of course.

CubataCubata
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Szczepan i oceanPacyfik

Before leaving Lima we went shopping. We wanted to buy cartouches which we couldn't take on board of the plane. On the way we visited the Love Park (El Parque del Amor) and we went to say hello to the Pacific, to touch the water with our feet.

LimaLimaLimaLimaRybka
Salute

By chance we found a great restaurant. We ate raw fish! Believe me or not, it was a revelation! And the staff was very kind. It seems that we were kind too because we got a free round of pisco (Peruvian vodka). Wherever we said we were from Poland (sommos polacos) we were greeted very kindly. 5 pieces of fish, mate de coca and coke's and a delicious I-can't-remember juice cost us just 137 PEN. If you're ever in Miraflores I recommend: CORTEZ, Jr. San Samrtin 465. Greetings for the lady at the picture!

Restauracja CortezRestauracja Cortez
LimaNa południe

The cartouches cost 25 PEN. On the contrary to what we've heard one can boy everything in Peru. Taking everything from Poland doesn't make any sense. Instead of taking a cap from Poland it's better to buy one in Peru and take it home as a keepsake. Instead of taking 10 shirts it's better to take 2 and buy the rest in Peru.

We went back to the hotel to collect our backpacks and then to the bus terminal. A ticket to Ica costs 26 PEN. On the bus you can watch movies, but I found the views outside the window far more interesting. Lima has 8 million inhabitants. May of those people live in the slums on the outskirts. The road is wide, well kept. Another interesting thing is the advertising along the road. Every roadside ad is different, inventive, it pleases the eye.

ReklamaZachód słońca
Witold Wieszczek
Translated by Agnieszka Wąsowska.
PodróżeKulturaMuzykaHistoriaFelietonyPaństwo, polityka, społeczeństwoPowieści i opowiadaniaKącik poezjiRecenzjeWielkie żarcieKomiks
PrzewodnikiAlbaniaNepalPolskaRumunia
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