Peru has awesome crowd-pleasing plug outlets which accept round prongs (i.e. French style) and flat prongs (North American style). No adaptor needed!
I found a complete outsider to Peru who loves Inca Kola—Mark. According to him, it tastes like pineapple. According to Feng, it tastes like sugar mixed with sugar. According to me… well, I’ll stick to Coke Zero, thank you very much. I don’t trust neon yellow drinks.
Traffic is nuts in Lima. The city is completely gridlocked every day, buses are packed and even sidewalks are crowded because it’s just faster to walk to get around.
Llamas are everywhere, I even I saw a few real ones in the Parque de la Muralla. Since they became synonymous with Peruvian culture (same as kangaroos in Australia or beavers in Canada), you can find llama stuffed animals, llama keychains, llamas on t-shirts, llamas everywhere—except on menus. I had never seen a Christmas tree decorated with llamas before… well, I have now.
There’s absolutely no way I can pass for Peruvian. I’m about twenty centimetres taller than anyone here.
Peruvian cuisine is highly valued in Latin America but I can’t say I found it that amazing… probably because it didn’t feel very exotic to me. For instance, there are tons of chifa restaurants, a Chinese-Peruvian fusion cuisine. Fried rice, meat with sweet and sour sauce or fried wontons isn’t new to me.
Peruvian empanadas invariably come in four flavours—carne (ground meat with onions), pollo (chicken cooked in a slightly sweet sauce), lomo saltado (stir-fried sliced beef) and ají de gallina (strips of chicken in a creamy yellow and spicy sauce).
Souvenirs are surprisingly cheap. Feng bought me a silver ring for $20 and we also got two colourful woven blankets (about $20 each). Oh, and I bought a wool sweater for… again, $20.
I haven’t been able to crack the honking code. “Beep beep” means “hey, I’m a taxi, aren’t you tired of walking?”, “hey, I’m a random car taking passengers, going somewhere?” and probably “hey, you’re a woman, I noticed that!” However, no honk will ever be used to warn pedestrians you’re against stopping at red lights and respecting right-of-way.
Overall, I found people friendly, easy-going and helpful, and Lima didn’t feel dodgy at all. Thank you, Peru!
I think you have to go to the fancy restaurants to experience amazing Peruvian cuisine. I loved my stay in Lima because of that reason, while most travelers just quickly fly in and get out. There was this Amazonian restaurant in Miraflores that I found mind blowing. And the modern Peruvian cuisine is definitely something I’m watching out for. Check out Amaz or Barra Maretazo if you’re still in the city.
I agree, I think it’s a cuisine best enjoyed in fancier restaurants. Street food and basic restaurants are good too but they don’t showcase the full Peruvian menu.
Est-ce que tu as l’impression d’intégrer chaque fois un peu plus la culture locale (chaque fois que vous retournez en Amérique Latine)? Comment va Mark, apprécie-t-il de voyager ?
Definitely! It takes a little while to get used to it but I feel I know the “shortcuts” and I don’t stand out too much (except in Peru because I’m too tall :lol:). Mark is amazing so far this year. It makes a difference that he understands concepts like time, countries/cities, languages, etc.
I think you have to go to the fancy restaurants to experience amazing Peruvian cuisine. I loved my stay in Lima because of that reason, while most travelers just quickly fly in and get out. There was this Amazonian restaurant in Miraflores that I found mind blowing. And the modern Peruvian cuisine is definitely something I’m watching out for. Check out Amaz or Barra Maretazo if you’re still in the city.
Damn, should have asked you!
I agree, I think it’s a cuisine best enjoyed in fancier restaurants. Street food and basic restaurants are good too but they don’t showcase the full Peruvian menu.
Est-ce que tu as l’impression d’intégrer chaque fois un peu plus la culture locale (chaque fois que vous retournez en Amérique Latine)? Comment va Mark, apprécie-t-il de voyager ?
Definitely! It takes a little while to get used to it but I feel I know the “shortcuts” and I don’t stand out too much (except in Peru because I’m too tall :lol:). Mark is amazing so far this year. It makes a difference that he understands concepts like time, countries/cities, languages, etc.