Peru, tocaste mi corazón

It happened so fast. First month down in this 12 month journey abroad. Lima, I hardly knew you but I came to care about you quickly. To be totally honest, I did not know what to expect from Lima or Peru overall. I didn't know much about the country besides the fact it housed Machu Picchu and that the local liquor was Pisco. I learned so much more and came to appreciate my first home away from San Francisco.

First, a quick highlight of what I experienced while in Peru for 27 days: 
  • Visited a legit desert oasis (Huacachina) where we sledded down massive sand dunes, toured around the city of Ica, wandered the desert for 12 hours, caught an epic desert sunset that felt like it was straight out of Lion King, and generally got sun and sandy. Feel free to watch my fellow traveler's awesome professional video of our experience HERE.
  • My personal highlight: Traveled to the city of Nazca, learned about the history of the Nazca lines and the woman who loved and cared for them (Maria Reiche), and then flew over the Nazca lines themselves in a single engine plane that was a trip in and of itself. I never thought I'd ever see the Nazca lines in person in my life or even have the opportunity to do so. The actual time seeing the lines was only about 30 minutes but it made memories that will last a lifetime. For half an hour, I sort of felt like Indiana Jones and it was awesome.
  • Saw awesome graffiti art and explored the areas of Barranco and Callao on a walking tour. Barranco is a very awesome district in Lima and somewhere I'd love to check out more if I ever make my way back. Great nightlife and just a great scene overall. I thought I was going to spend more time here but wound up going only a handful of times.
  • Learned how to make ceviche while on a boat. If you ever want amazing ceviche, come to Peru.
  • Ate at the world's 7th best restaurant (Maido) and experienced an amazing 12 course Nikkei (Peruvian Japanese fusion) meal.
  • Visited the historic city of Cusco and of course set off to see one of the seven wonders of the world: Machu Picchu. It's safe to say, the Inca people were ahead of their time. What they built and how they built it is mind boggling even from a modern perspective. Machu Picchu is breathtaking even when you think you know what to expect. 
Of course, the above were highlights and were amazing adventures. However, having daily routines in Lima and getting to know my tramily has been just as rewarding this first month. I caught several amazing sunsets from the cliffs of Miraflores to the desert of Huacachina. I've made great new friends and people I hope to stay in touch with over the years. I've tasted every type of pisco drink imaginable (shoutout to the Museo Del Pisco in Cusco for one of the best Pisco drinks I've had!) and I now have a favorite Peruvian dish (Lomo Saltado). I've started (key word: started) learning how to salsa dance (but I'm really really bad, like, really bad) and to speak Spanish (apparently a hilarious endeavor for those who listen to me try to speak it). This was country numero uno and I know I have to keep my expectations even keel as this first stop was much more enjoyable than I had envisioned. I didn't know what to expect from Peru and I came in excited about kicking off this 12-month adventure but was a little indifferent about the country itself. I leave having a very strong connection to Lima and very solid memories of Peru as a country overall. Come here, drink the Pisco, eat the ceviche and lomo saltado, enjoy the gorgeous landscapes, and see all the amazing sights. Oh, and try an Inca Kola with vodka.  

Overall, on the Macster Scale of -5 to 5 for how much I enjoyed Peru I have to give it a solid 5. Did not see that coming! 

Macster Recommendations: 

I lived in Miraflores, which is basically the Marina of Lima. It's very easy to get trapped in the bubble that is Miraflores so if you ever come here be sure to branch out and go beyond this hip and trendy neighborhood. If Miraflores is the Marina, Barranco is sort of like the new hipster Mission. And Callao is like the old Mission (which means don't stay after dark unless you're in a big group). 

Best Ceviche: La Preferida or Canta Rana
Best Lomo Saltado: Tanta at Larcomar
Favorite Sando: La Lucha. I got the huevos y jamon at least 4 times. There are locations all over. 
Favorite hangout: Mercado 28 (2 for 1 Wednesdays!). Mercado 28 is sort of like a giant food court with a bar in the middle. It's cooler than it sounds, trust me. 
Favorite moment in Peru: Nazca Lines
Least expected adventure: Sledding down sand dunes. That's a thing! 
Bracelets collected to document my travel: 2 
Cats petted: 2 
Tortoises hung out with: 1 
Alpacas hung out with: Many
Appacas eaten: 0 (I did not try Alpaca unfortunately)
Guinea pigs eaten: 1 (sort of, I had a fancy guinea pig tartare like thing at Maido, but I did NOT have the "real thing" where it's served on a stick like a kebab. Couldn't do it.
Concerts attended: 2 (Passenger, Arctic Monkeys). 
Friends made: Plus or minus 35. 

In a separate post, I will add some photos of my adventures in Peru. For now, hasta luego! 

#ThisIsLife 






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