Lima... an opportunity almost missed

I didn't want to go to Lima. If there was any way I could have gone straight from Cuzco into Guayaquil I would have done so; unfortunately the pesky Amazon is all in the way and whatnot and so my route was diverted into Lima. This was something of a downer as every other backpacker I had met to that date had said the same to me, "Avoid Lima; nothing to see there, get in and get out as fast as possible". Now others have given me bad advice before... for example I found Cuzco exremely disappointing as a South American city experience, and I loved the whole of Chile after everyone told me that the whole country was a pointless money pit. And so, considering there's a Loki in Lima which would afford me a very enjoyable 'ex-staff' discount on my room and bar tab, I decided to take the dive and stay in the city for a night. Couldn't have made a better decision as I was greeted by clean, wide streets, beautiful architecture and as an added extra bonus I knew just about everyone staying in Loki Lima when I got there. On walking through the door I was greeted by the reception staff who I had served behind the bar in Cuzco the week before, and my good friend 'the other blonde Alex W' was now working behind the bar in Lima much to my delight. On top of this my crazy Canadian friend Eric (pictured top... doing his bit for Movember) who I worked with in La Paz (who had come to visit me in Cuzco three days previously only to find me missing presumed on the Inca Trail) was staying at the hostel, which I was delighted about as he was to fly home to Canada that day and I was so pleased to have a chance to say goodbye.
Actually better than just a measely chance to say goodbye Eric had no plans for the day and no flight till 7pm, and as he knew Lima fairly well (and it turns out LOVED the city as much as I did- we obviously never got round to having that conversation) agreed to come into the centre with me and show me about. So we caught a bus into Lima city centre, and inbetween surveying the beautiful architecture managed to eat our body weights' in street food, ranging from the fresh juice I love so much, all the way up to seafood empañadas that Lima is famous for. Sufficently fattened, and having observed the beautiful cathedral, the parks and seafront that make Lima something quite special, we headed back to the hostel which is situated in an area of the city called Miraflores (very rich, extremely lovely part of the city). Upon arriving I was even more excited to find my firend Dom, who I had been working with for the past 5 weeks in Cuzco, was now also at Loki Lima (how we missed us having identical plans I don't know... clearly I was having a dizzy blonde moment)... and along with the other Alex we made plans to go to the fountain park. If anyone had told me about the fountain park prior to my arrival in Lima I would have made my visitation to see this tourist attraction something of a priority; the park consists of 14 elaborate fountains which at night are lit up to make a gorgeous and magical atmosphere, and as you wonder round the park classical music plays. Some of the fountains you can walk through, one of which the three of us braved, another of which we looked at the soaked Peruvian teenagers in the centre and decided against. And then in addition to the already magical atmosphere there's a nightly show where assorted images are projected onto the largest fountain in time to music. After the unsophisticated experience of 5 weeks in Loki Cuzco dancing every night to assorted eighties classics, and then a week of roughing it on the Inca trail, a wonderfully cultural night in Lima was a real treat. Highly recommended for anyone who finds themselves in this gift of a city.
The next day I got up and went for a run along the newly remodelled and picturesque cliffs that hem the city. Then Alex and I went and explored Miraflores throughly, browsing the markets and designer copies stores, plus enjoying an opportunity to catch up on our girl talk (I met Alex my very first day in La Paz- we have lots of mutual friends to gossip about!). The morning passed far too fast and, despite my intense love of Lima, I was keen to get into Equador in hopes of procuring myself a last minute trip to the Galpágos Islands and so the next day I moved on to Mancora. Another overnight bus, and the location of the final of the four Loki hostels...