Smog. Fire-dancing children. Machete-juggling children. Few recognizable words. I am taking my first day in Lima slowly - I have nearly 3 weeks to get to know it better, but the city presents me with a kind of chaos that requires a gentle and cautious approach.
Today I did not walk far, only far enough to get a sense of where I am and how I can acquire simple necessities, like food and water. When you don’t speak the language in a place that has questionable resources, this seemingly easy task of eating good, safe food and the critical cup of coffee can be challenging. But I was lucky enough to walk into a wonderful locals restaurant off the beaten path, filled with antiques, nice people, and a server who spoke English! I had a delicious meal of tomatoes, avocados and white fish - with the necessary cafe con leche.
The smog in Lima is heavy, like a thick alpaca blanket lying on the city. You can imagine in a city of 9 million people, many with vehicles that would not be street legal in the US, that the pollution can get pretty terrible. I can feel the chemicals in the air when I breathe and the headaches are strong, but my experience in cities like Mexico City (22 million people, similar conditions) have taught me that I’ll get used to it in a day or two.
Two of my very good friends are coming through Lima tonight, so I will be happy to get out a little farther and experience the Limeña nightlife and drink the national Pisco Sour.
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