Lima

Yesterday was rough. We didn't get to our hotel and to bed until 6am. Our tour was supposed to leave at 9:30. But we didn’t know that. So due to miscommunication, I missed not only breakfast, but the bus. At least I was able to join the group later by taxi.

My first stop with the group was the Chorillos fish market. It was a small fishing port for local family fisherman. They build their boats, make their nets, catch the fish, sell their catch and have little restaurants right there to serve it. We were there too early to eat, as they were just setting up for the morning. The fish and other assorted unknown seafood entities looked fresh and beautiful. Larry doesn't think this photo even looks like seafood.

We visited the Larco Museum which houses an extensive collection of Peruvian artifacts that have been excavated over the years. I was particularly intrigued by the unusually shaped ceramic jugs. It was an excellent overview of ancient Peruvian culture.

Our welcome dinner was held at a beautiful restaurant on a pier here in the Miraflores section of Lima. From our table by the window, we could see (and feel) rather large Pacific waves crashing into the pylons, shaking the whole building. Sometimes they crashed with such force, we couldn’t hear the conversation.

A central topic at our dinner table was concern about altitude sickness when we arrive in Cuzco tomorrow. Everyone at the table plans to take the preventive medication, but at a table of ten, no two people had the same number of pills or the same dosing instructions. I only have four days worth, whereas someone else has thirty. Makes you wonder who’s right. Hopefully everyone! I guess we’ll know by tomorrow night.

I’ll be writing about the culinary aspects of our trip at www.tastemonials.net. Check it out if you want to see what Peruvian delicacies we’ve eaten.