Lima, Peru

Been in Lima for one night and two days, wow a lot of different impressions already. I am staying in the Miraflores area, and there are a lot more tourist down here than anywhere I can think of in Bogotá, I heard a lot of English today, a lot, not to mention a little French and German too. The Miraflores area of town is very cool, crowded and a lot going on. A good place to take a beer or coffee and just watch the action. Not to mention it is walking distance to this mini mall that over looks the ocean. Now I am here during the winter time, and it actually is as I am south of the equator for the first time in my life. All and all it is very cool, there is a lot of people out there praying on the Tourist money as well though. People will come up to you because you speak English, make small talk, and than ask for money for food, etc, after a couple of heart break stories. Or they will try to get you to go somewhere to talk to somebody about a product you must have for altitude sickness etc, and than charge twice as much. And when you walk away! Now all the sudden it's half off, weird.... This one little girl really wanted me to buy some candy as I was walking in to this circle of artist, selling trinkets like most air fairs do, and i didn't want to. So i offered her all the coins in my pocket, which was on 10 Soles, it's all I had! Anyways that is only about 3 or 4 cents, but once again it is all I had. She through it back at me after she told me it was worth nothing, and than when I started to walk away she tripped me! That has happened a lot, the Taxis are a trip, too. Because they don't have meters it is the old debate game about prices, it is mostly done by neighborhoods with standard pricing from neighborhood to neighborhood, or district rather. The "safe" taxis are twice as much, the normally taxis would be the same if i couldn't speak spanish. Like most travel warnings, they strongly urge you to only call taxi companies, etc, as they can be dangerous, is that a standard rule in every country? I am convienced that is a tactic done by government owned taxis or something, because the are a ton more money. Anyways, tomorrow i am headed to Cusco, for the morning and than to the majestic Macchu Picchu, but right now I gotta go get my sister from the airport!

Waiting in the Airport

A post a month huh? Nah, just gotta get back in the groove, Bogotá can very demanding. I am stuck in the damn airport this morning, tip, if you want a taxi in the morning in Bogotá, call early, 6:45 is impossible. So, i have spent the entire day online today, finally i got the Tigers on the radio, but it was a lot of youtube and iTunes for the morning, plus a long nap laying on my luggage. Anyways, i am headed to Popayan! The white city, known for it's very strong religious presence, and during semana santa, the week of the saints, it is one of the most popular destinations for national tourism, and they have large parades, and religious festivals. I don't know a whole lot more about it, other than that it was destroyed by an Earthquake once and rebuilt. So, i am sitting in the airport, lets draw some comparisons between the most organized airport in Colombia, and any airport in the US. Number one, no toilet seats. Number two, people can come in and walk around and sell you things, while it is not very common because there isn't a large customer base, it does happen. I have been here since 8, it is 3, and this one guy has literally tried to sell me some bag of cheese 10 times, and this only lady, dressed up as a nurse, has come around and tried to get me to pay to have my blood pressure taken 5 times, ?!? But, one thing that remains the same is the food is expensive. Anyways, back to the road. I will let you know how Popayan is in the next couple of days.