Wrapping up

Since I last wrote I've hung out for a few nights in the seaside town of Paracas, but never actually managed to do any of the touristy things there are to do there, and don't have any pictures of it worth posting. So I am just skipping to the end of the journey! Which is: Lima, again.

This time I stayed in the neighborhood of Barranco, which is LOVELY, and shifted my impression of Lima way more into positive territory. Lots of walks along the Pacific coast cliff that the city perches on. Oh, and before my travel buddy, D, headed home, we finally had ceviche in Peru, which we'd been meaning to do for almost a month.

I also ran into a couple of Germans I met in Ecuador six weeks ago--just happened to walk past them on a sidewalk--and got to have dinner with them on my last night in town. All in all, a nice way to wrap up the trip. After being skeptical at first, I have to concede that there is plenty to like about Lima!

Now I'm greatly looking forward to the holidays at home with my family, then gearing up for my February return to Antarctica. I'll be back in the new year from way down under, to chronicle another winter on ice. Till then!

Lima

I'm way behind on my posts here, so this news is a week old, but I have finished my amazing, once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos/Machu Picchu tour adventure with my parents and dear family friends. Our last stop was Lima, which I didn't really give due diligence, but which I might not end up giving due diligence, so I'm going to go ahead and mention it now.

My initial impression: grand old buildings and lots of traffic.

We saw the main square, the heart of the city...

...and just about a block away I saw this awesome thing in an old wall. Seems like someone scraped away down to each of the layers of paint that have been on this wall for years and years. Not sure how old the lowest layer would be, but I love how this looks.

We also took a walk along the city's gorgeous malecon, with amazingly great weather and a beautiful sunset gracing our evening.

And we got to check out the one Lima sight that I'd heard of before coming here: the mall that is built into that cliff along the ocean. This might convince even me to start to like shopping.

And so with that, it was time to say goodbye to my sweet and wonderful parents. That we may travel together again.