part 2 new year's in lima

So after that rather eventful bus ride, we arrived in Lima to spend New Year's. The city was a LOT nicer than I had expected, given how many people have only negative things to say about it. Travellers I mean. The area of Miraflores is extremely modern, with fancier shopping malls than I have probably ever seen, Starbucks, beautiful malecon parks along the ocean, etc. Very manhattanish. But it was weird because we sat on couches outside the Starbucks drinking a post-christmas peppermint mocha, and something about the summer weather, triangle shaped park and outdoor cafe suddenly made me feel like I was in London sitting at one of the cafes by Victoria park. Very strange sensation, like anyone from home might turn the corner to meet me at any second.

The historical centre was really beautiful as well. Huge plaza, and lots of nice shops and cafes along walking streets. Didn't get to see the changing of the guard at the government buildings, but did go for a tour of the catacombs under the monastery of San Fransisco. The church itself was pretty interesting, although not as nice as the Cathedral in Cusco or the Basilica in quito, a little too much geometric-art deco design for my taste I guess. But all the tunnels and bones underneath the main floor were really cool to see, and weird to think of all those people as individuals at one point. Something like 40 000 bodies. The whole place though scarily reminded me of Mom and Dad's basement....... very similar decor.

Bought a new camera while in the city, along with new jeans, to replace the ones that actually disintegrated off my body. New Year's we spent at our hostel, which was located in the area of Barranco, a hip artsy suburb just outside of the miraflores area. Tons of tree lined streets and little cafes and boutiques along the beach. A really nice area, one that I think I would easily go back to to stay for a longer time. Did some paragliding on my last day in Lima, which actually wasn't very scary at all, and had a nice view of the main beach downtown.

Finally got my Brazilian visa processed, although I had to take new (smaller) pictures and wait 2 days. But all set for Carnaval now, and left the Point after about the 4th to meet up with Irene again in Huacachina (she had left earlier to go visit the Paracas islands, like the small galapagos of peru).