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!