Peru: Arequipa & Lima

We had quite the memorable Thanksgiving in Arequipa. We warmed up for dinner by taking a walk around town in search of empanadas. We found a place that specialized in empanadas and tried one of every kind. We considered alfajores (or as Deanna pronounced it "alfa-whores") for dessert, but opted for the Peruvian version of cheescake instead - we probably should have stuck with the alfa-whores.





After lunch, we played an epic game of progressive rummy while drinking the best beer in Latin America: Cerveza Cristal. Ok, ok, so the beer with my name isn't very good...tasted like bud-light, but flip cup worthy at the very least.




Dinner was definitely the main event and we were excited about our Thanksgiving feast a la peruana.





We drank a lovely Peruvian Malbec.










Appetizers were important because we weren't sure if we would be able to stomach our entrees. We had the Tequenos con Guacamole, which were very fried & cheesy. The highlight of the meal for me was the Rocoto Relleno, bell peppers stuffed with some spicy meat something or other - yummy.



Our Thanksgiving entrees were of the typical Peruvian cuisine variety. We had a steak prepared medium-rare, barbecue alpaca & grilled cuy (aka guinea pig). Our server was not joking around when he told us the cuy would come out with his little carita (face) & brazos (arms). It was something else. I will let the videos do the talking...

The next day Rob & I were supposed to hike Cabanaconde, but there was a little mix-up at the bus station. It kinda felt like we were being tortured by forces outside of our control (maybe the Inka Gods were a little mad at us for nicknaming their finest architectural achievement "the Mach"). We also held hands fearing for our lives while the bus driver zoomed down the canyon...but it worked out well in the end because we had such an awful day, we decided to leave for Lima a day early.

I am so glad we were able to spend time in Lima. I was reunited with my beautiful Peruvian family and we got to do some really fun stuff (amazing how articulate I am as a blogger, huh?). The fam recommended we go to the centro in the morning and check out the main plaza in Lima. The cathedral and palacio del gobierno were worthwhile, but thanks to a recommendation from Selma we ended up at this amazing home, Casa de Osembela. It isn't in the Lonely Planet, but the Peruvians can tell you where to find it. From the outside, it looks like a blue colonial home...from the inside, it gives you quite the peek into both historical and modern day Peru.








The house was built in the 1700s. It still has its original balconies & narrow staircases, which were designed to protect the home from intruders. From the roof, we could see Santo Domingo Cathedral, the first church in Lima, the dilapidated top of the neighboring building, which is home to 60 families!, and the shanty towns of Peru across the Rio Rimac.






The view from the roof was something else...and so was our experience in the medical library. Currently the house is dedicated to the study of Peruvian culture. There is a medical library with books dating back to 1520...and our guide, let us open them & take photos. It was unreal.



After our adventure in downtown Lima, we decided it was time to take things up a bit. We went paragliding in Miraflores. Ten minutes & $40 gave us some spectacular views of Lima's coast. I know I am officially yuppy scum & a huge fan of big cities, but I honestly can't believe how some backpackers skip Lima on their trip to Peru - it is a super lastima!

To decompress after our mini-adventure, we walked around the Parque del Amor. I love the story behind this park. In Lima and in most of Latin America, you live with your family until you are married. Of course, it is a little awkward to spend time with your bf or gf in the bedroom next to your parents, so teenagers & young adults head to the parks and literally make-out on top of each other in front of the whole world. The park in Miraflores is dedicated to these young love birds & features colorful tiled walls with quotes about love & famous couples (think Romeo & Juliet, not Brangelina) & a giant statue of a man and a woman making out. Priceless.







I got to spend my last night in Peru with some of the great loves of my life: Robyn and my Peruvian family. I already miss Robyn and I won't write too much or else I am sure I will start crying again, but she is one of my best friends and to steal some words from her...it is pretty tough having the other half of my brain and heart on another continent :)



I can't begin to explain how lovely my family in Peru is. They are so welcoming and generous. I love them so much. Selma & Augusto are an inspiring couple and after knowing each other for 38 years, you can feel how much they love and care for each other - and they still have fun and laugh together - which I love more than anything else! Even though I am totally ok with the idea of being a single-parent-by-adoption-at-the-age-of-35, I hope that we all find the person that we can love for that long and have that much freaking fun with.






A little note for anyone interested in doing some good in the world, Selma is helping build houses in the outskirts of Lima. You would be amazed out how far $20 USD can go to help a family in need. I am going to work with Selma to find out the best way to get her donations. She keeps track of every penny. If any of you are interested in donating, please let me know. There is also the opportunity to help build the homes. I told her to give me a heads up next time they start construction and I am going to head that way. If any of you would like to join, please let me know...and you should definitely take some extra days to get to know Peru...I am sure my blog does not do it justice.

BESOS - Cristal