Well i survived the flight and landed in Lima on Friday night (about 2am Saturday morning at home). I was stting next to a Peruvian who now lives in London who made sure i go through immigration and customs which helped to calm my nerves, and then I walked out into the arrivals area. WELCOME TO SOUTH AMERICA! Just as youd imagine a massive throng of relatives, friends, armed police, security, hotel pick ups and countless taxi drivers all trying to get your business and a huge amount of noise. Then the dawning realisation that after 24 hours of travelling my hostel didnt appear to be there to collect me - arghhhh! Never mind I overcame this first challenge and found a taxi driver who happend to speak English :)I was way too tired and slightly overwhelmed to even try 
to make myself understood in Sanish!
Then the most firghtening car journey of my life ensued. There doesnt seem to be any rules on the roads in Lima its crazy! Amazingly I arrived at the hostel in one piece and not even a scratch to the taxi.
Yesterday I met a few other folks from the hostel who had also just arrived in Lima so we all headed in
the safety of the pack into central Lima. I was pleasantly surprised, its a strange mix of old brighlt coloured colonial buildings (although not original most were built after the earthquake and tsunami of 1746) and modern,ugly drab office blocks.
to make myself understood in Sanish!Then the most firghtening car journey of my life ensued. There doesnt seem to be any rules on the roads in Lima its crazy! Amazingly I arrived at the hostel in one piece and not even a scratch to the taxi.
Yesterday I met a few other folks from the hostel who had also just arrived in Lima so we all headed in
the safety of the pack into central Lima. I was pleasantly surprised, its a strange mix of old brighlt coloured colonial buildings (although not original most were built after the earthquake and tsunami of 1746) and modern,ugly drab office blocks. Plaza Mayor is pretty spectacular and is where the Presidents residence is along side the Catedral de Lima. Ironically just behind the palace and the facade of wealth and prosperity there is a perfect view of the shanty towns on the hills surrounding Lima. Although these too are brightly coloured.
We visited Monastario Francissco, one of the oldest monasatries in Lima which houses the Catacombes,
this was the first public burial area in Peru and tere are 25000 human remains there all catalougued by body parts, sections of femurs and tibias and fibulas. You get the picture!
We visited Monastario Francissco, one of the oldest monasatries in Lima which houses the Catacombes,
The heat and humidity in Lima is immense and the silly Gringo that I am I managed to get some lovely sunburn on my forehead and nose, obvisouly forgot to put cream there!
So now im waiting for my flight to Cusco where ill meet my host family and the volunteer coordinator-cue the anxiety again!
2 comments:
Hooray, she blogeth! Keep 'em coming, my dear! I can't wait for some photos! I miss you a ton, and wish I could talk wit you.... it's been a crappy week! xx
Ria x
Great to hear from you Kirsty bird. Gotta love those foreign taxi drivers, ha ha! Love hearing all you have been up to, glad things are working out with your accommo. Trust you to start work the week of a strike, wots spanish for scottish slacker. Take care, speak soon, whats the time difference? Meeting up wi Aly to watch rugby tomorrow, will miss you.. Suz x
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