Day 68 - Cusco to Lima, Peru

Now as blog posts go this is definitely the grave yard shift after two days in Macchu Picchu.  We are up early again this morning as we have to get our 8am flight to Lima. We are knackered and could have definitely done with another day in Cusco but oh well. Onwards and upwards. Nice views of the mountain tops as we take off. Maybe we can spot another hidden city (they believe there are still others out there!). 

Arriving in Lima. A fact unknown to me is that behind Cairo, Lima is the second driest capital city in the world. It's a lovey temperature when we get off the plane. It's nice to be back in the warm in a place with proper levels of oxygen in the air. 

Our first observation is that drivers are mental here. Most of the taxis are clapped out old bangers. Our taxi driver drove so fast through one of those speed control gates on a road (where they have two posts at a ridiculously small width to slow you down) that he scraped the side of his taxi and knocked his wing mirror in. We also see a man in a van pulled over in the outside lane of a three lane motorway with his hazards on, lying down behind his van for a snooze. He had his head resting on the curb chilling out. Mental. 

As we are too early for check in we have some time to kill. After a few issues with the combination lock on my case that has just so happened to start working on its own enroute and me having no idea what the combination is! Luckily it turns out to be in the lower third of a thousand numbers so doesn't take me long to crack it. 

We drop a humongous pile of smelly washing into the laundry and go for a walk around Miraflores. After a drink we decide to go to the Jockey Club mall to tick off the customary Hard Rock visit but also go to the cinema. The mall is gorgeous. 

We watch Gravidad (Gravity) at the cinema in 3D as it is in Ingles. It is an absolutely brilliant film. Highly recommend. Can definitely see why it is an Oscar contender. Also very good in 3D especially when Sandra Bullock is crying in space. 

The Hard Rock was pretty good too. We have a few beers (a nice wheat Cusquene) and frozen margaritas in here and get my glass (obviously). Music is great. 

Another quick drink before we head back to check in. 

I had to treat myself to some new gym trainers as for some reason my old ones have turned into the most disgusting smelling things after the Inka trail and need binning. I could certainly not do this with my old ones...

Now in Lima, big four bingo has taken an interesting turn. It's gone all natural and green. Along the major highway through town all he major companies spell their names in flowers. We see Deloitte.

And PWC but no EY!! Boooo! 

We check into the Four Points Sheraton Miraflores which is really nice. Get changed then head out. We see the reddest sunset I have ever seen. Definitely need to find a roof top bar somewhere. 

A long walk to a good Civiche restaurant that turns out doesn not actually serve Cerviche. 

So we head back along the coast. It's a lovely walk. Lima has a strange coast line in that it is a huge cliff that drops down onto the beach front. The city is set high above the sea. They even do hand gliding jumping off the side over the sea it is so high. Makes for some lovely scenery. 

We also notice that it is a fairly health conscious city. There are so many runners along the cliff top walkway which is a bit like Venice beach. I have also seen two Golds Gym and they even have free weight machines along the way!

Big Head must be doing well opening a Lima outpost of his shop. 

After a long walk we arrive at a nice little shopping / restaurant complex overlooking the sea. We eat an a nice restaurant called Tanta and have an awesome Civiche followed by seared tuna and mashed potatoes (the preuvians do love their potatoes). 

Short cab ride back and it's time for bed. Very much looking forward to not having to set an alarm tomorrow.