Lima...what a hole
We had a stopover at lima on our way to cusco and i was very glad it was only for one night. We emerged from customs after experiencing the random ´will we search your baggage button´. They have this large button on a pole as you exit the baggage claim area that you push, if its green you proceed if its red they search your bag. Chris and i were lucky, simon was not.
Once out of the airport area we were faced with what seemed like hundreds of loud hawkers trying to get us to use their taxi service. Luckily we had the forthought to arrange transport through our hostel. Our transport makes my 87 corrola look like a porshe. It was more of a worry that he drove it like a porshe. I had long since forgotten the driving experience i had in KL a few years back, but the high speed, no indication, no attention to lanes, single inch misses brought it all back quickly.
On the 30 minute 10 soles trip to our hostel we, with enthusiasim for learning spanish, that has since expired, practiced a few phrases. Much to the amusement of our driver. It was only when he tried some some english that we realised how we must have sounded.
If i was going to characterise what the planners where considering when they went about their work, post war iraq springs to mind. Most of the areas within 20 minutes of the airport are very shanty town. Then as you get to the nicer areas, and by nicer areas i mean nicer than crappy, its very relative here, the houses and hotels improve though they are all lined with high walls with either razor wire or very painfull looking metal spikes. Regardless at this point i was thinking lets get the f&%k out of dodge as quick as possible.
[Photos from our hostel, Sami Wasi]
We got to our accomodation and learnt something that is common with all south american accomodation. The tiolet paper goes in the waste paper basket not the tiolet after use.
The next morning we had our complementary bread and jam breakfast and gladly exited lima, taking a few pictures on the way. We noticed the low cloud and according to our driver it descended on the sity for months of the year. Giving a really poluted and dreary feel to the city. I commend any travel agent who could find good points to sell this place.
Once out of the airport area we were faced with what seemed like hundreds of loud hawkers trying to get us to use their taxi service. Luckily we had the forthought to arrange transport through our hostel. Our transport makes my 87 corrola look like a porshe. It was more of a worry that he drove it like a porshe. I had long since forgotten the driving experience i had in KL a few years back, but the high speed, no indication, no attention to lanes, single inch misses brought it all back quickly.
On the 30 minute 10 soles trip to our hostel we, with enthusiasim for learning spanish, that has since expired, practiced a few phrases. Much to the amusement of our driver. It was only when he tried some some english that we realised how we must have sounded.
If i was going to characterise what the planners where considering when they went about their work, post war iraq springs to mind. Most of the areas within 20 minutes of the airport are very shanty town. Then as you get to the nicer areas, and by nicer areas i mean nicer than crappy, its very relative here, the houses and hotels improve though they are all lined with high walls with either razor wire or very painfull looking metal spikes. Regardless at this point i was thinking lets get the f&%k out of dodge as quick as possible.
[Photos from our hostel, Sami Wasi]
We got to our accomodation and learnt something that is common with all south american accomodation. The tiolet paper goes in the waste paper basket not the tiolet after use.
The next morning we had our complementary bread and jam breakfast and gladly exited lima, taking a few pictures on the way. We noticed the low cloud and according to our driver it descended on the sity for months of the year. Giving a really poluted and dreary feel to the city. I commend any travel agent who could find good points to sell this place.
posted by Adam Maddox at
10:34 AM
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