Further Explorations in Lima: Barranco and Parque de la Reserva
My second day in Lima started off slowly. I needed to rest (darn cold!) and make some plans for the next few days since I had arrived with virtually none :) After lunch, I decided to check out Barranco, a neighborhood in Lima known for its artistic/Bohemian environment. I also wanted to have a true local experience, so I went looking for a local bus instead of taking a taxi.
I had to ask a few security guards on the street, but I found the bus stop relatively easily. Just as I arrived, a bus pulled up and the bus tout/assistant/salesman leaned out the door and yelled his destinations..including Barranco! So I hopped aboard and paid my 1 sole (33 cents). I was feeling pretty good about myself...and then 2 blocks later the bus made a loud squealing noise and ground to a halt. Whoops...guess I picked the wrong bus! Luckily everyone else on board also needed the same bus, so someone flagged another down and I pretended to know what I was doing. I even confidently told the driver that I had already paid, just like everyone else, and withstood her look of death with false confidence. It worked! I looked out the window until I saw signs for Barranco and for what seemed to be the main plaza and hopped off. I gave myself a mental pat on the back :)
Barranco was nice, but I was a little disappointed. There was a pretty bridge called the "bridge of sighs" and some nice views, but the day was ugly and gray. I found 2-3 examples of street art, a few colorful buildings, and several artists selling their jewelry on the street. I found an art gallery I had read about, and enjoyed all two....yes two...rooms of art. A little bummed, I decided to head back to Miraflores.
I found the correct bus, but had no idea where to get off. I recognized the cliffs and expected the bus to turn right...it did not. About 5-6 blocks later I realized I better get off or I would be walking for hours. As I stood on the corner and looked around with confusion, I saw a grocery store and decided to get my dinner there. Somehow I had managed to find the Whole Foods of Lima, so it was pretty fun looking around at all the products. I bought some fruit, fresh bread, and ham. I even ran into 2 girls from the tour the day before! Now, most people know I have a terrible sense of direction, but wonder of wonders...I found my hostel within 10 minutes! Another pat on the back!
I ate my dinner and watched Peru play Bolivia in the Copa America in the dorm. At 7:30, I went to meet the two Norwegian girls, Maiken and Frida. They had invited me to join them on a jaunt to the Parque de la Reserva for the nightly fountain/light show. We tried 3 taxis before finding the best price: from 20 to 15 to 9 soles! We arrived at the park just as the show was starting. The park had lovely fountains, but the show itself was pretty hokey. I felt like I was at the laser show at Stone Mountain! The music even included a symphonic version of Queen. So terrible :) After the 30 minute show, we wandered around the beautiful park and enjoyed the well-lit fountains. To return to Miraflores, we tried another 3 taxis before finding one that would accept 10 soles. I think we did pretty good!
Back in Miraflores, we decided to go for a drink. We found a relatively quiet Brazilian bar with a patio and ordered some caipirinhas and beers. We were having a lovely time when a drunk older man entered and sat at the table next to use. Maiken and I were ignoring him, but Frida got sucked in because she's so nice. The man got more and more annoying- he was trying to order more drinks but they staff wouldn't let him, thank goodness. Finally, he was getting way too close to Frida, so I started getting very firm in Spanish - Leave us alone, we don't want to talk to you, etc. How quickly he went from calling me Guapa to Fea! So that was my last straw, and I turned and waved at the security guard and waiters to come put an end to it.
One waiter came over and started talking to him and about 2.5 seconds later, the fight started and our table was toppled! The girls and I backed away immediately to let them handle it and I must say how impressed I was by the fact that both girls saved their drinks! They threw the man out, the cops dragged him away, and the rest of the patio started clapping and telling us we did a good job. The owner came out to see what had happened, and a nice bunch of women at the table next to use recounted almost word for word what had happened. Good to know others were paying attention!
After that last drink, we decided we should probably be done for the night! We said our goodbyes, as I would be leaving the next morning, and went back to our hostels. What an eventful day!
I had to ask a few security guards on the street, but I found the bus stop relatively easily. Just as I arrived, a bus pulled up and the bus tout/assistant/salesman leaned out the door and yelled his destinations..including Barranco! So I hopped aboard and paid my 1 sole (33 cents). I was feeling pretty good about myself...and then 2 blocks later the bus made a loud squealing noise and ground to a halt. Whoops...guess I picked the wrong bus! Luckily everyone else on board also needed the same bus, so someone flagged another down and I pretended to know what I was doing. I even confidently told the driver that I had already paid, just like everyone else, and withstood her look of death with false confidence. It worked! I looked out the window until I saw signs for Barranco and for what seemed to be the main plaza and hopped off. I gave myself a mental pat on the back :)
Barranco was nice, but I was a little disappointed. There was a pretty bridge called the "bridge of sighs" and some nice views, but the day was ugly and gray. I found 2-3 examples of street art, a few colorful buildings, and several artists selling their jewelry on the street. I found an art gallery I had read about, and enjoyed all two....yes two...rooms of art. A little bummed, I decided to head back to Miraflores.I found the correct bus, but had no idea where to get off. I recognized the cliffs and expected the bus to turn right...it did not. About 5-6 blocks later I realized I better get off or I would be walking for hours. As I stood on the corner and looked around with confusion, I saw a grocery store and decided to get my dinner there. Somehow I had managed to find the Whole Foods of Lima, so it was pretty fun looking around at all the products. I bought some fruit, fresh bread, and ham. I even ran into 2 girls from the tour the day before! Now, most people know I have a terrible sense of direction, but wonder of wonders...I found my hostel within 10 minutes! Another pat on the back!
I ate my dinner and watched Peru play Bolivia in the Copa America in the dorm. At 7:30, I went to meet the two Norwegian girls, Maiken and Frida. They had invited me to join them on a jaunt to the Parque de la Reserva for the nightly fountain/light show. We tried 3 taxis before finding the best price: from 20 to 15 to 9 soles! We arrived at the park just as the show was starting. The park had lovely fountains, but the show itself was pretty hokey. I felt like I was at the laser show at Stone Mountain! The music even included a symphonic version of Queen. So terrible :) After the 30 minute show, we wandered around the beautiful park and enjoyed the well-lit fountains. To return to Miraflores, we tried another 3 taxis before finding one that would accept 10 soles. I think we did pretty good!Back in Miraflores, we decided to go for a drink. We found a relatively quiet Brazilian bar with a patio and ordered some caipirinhas and beers. We were having a lovely time when a drunk older man entered and sat at the table next to use. Maiken and I were ignoring him, but Frida got sucked in because she's so nice. The man got more and more annoying- he was trying to order more drinks but they staff wouldn't let him, thank goodness. Finally, he was getting way too close to Frida, so I started getting very firm in Spanish - Leave us alone, we don't want to talk to you, etc. How quickly he went from calling me Guapa to Fea! So that was my last straw, and I turned and waved at the security guard and waiters to come put an end to it.
One waiter came over and started talking to him and about 2.5 seconds later, the fight started and our table was toppled! The girls and I backed away immediately to let them handle it and I must say how impressed I was by the fact that both girls saved their drinks! They threw the man out, the cops dragged him away, and the rest of the patio started clapping and telling us we did a good job. The owner came out to see what had happened, and a nice bunch of women at the table next to use recounted almost word for word what had happened. Good to know others were paying attention!After that last drink, we decided we should probably be done for the night! We said our goodbyes, as I would be leaving the next morning, and went back to our hostels. What an eventful day!
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