Day 4 in Lima, Peru

The last few days have been pretty adventurous, to put a positive spin on it, because I´ve had to search for a way home to Indonesia from here that won´t cost me my first child´s college tuition. You think I´m kidding? Go ahead and look for yourself.

So. It took a few days to figure out, with plenty of sweat and tears (literally), that I will start my journey home on the 22nd to arrive in Jakarta on the 25th. Of all places, I will be going via Cuba, via Europe (London), Dubai, then Jakarta, Indonesia. Um. Yeah. To quote my friend Chris: "Suuuure, isn´t that how everyone goes?!" Yours truly has to take this (longer, more expensive) route because my passport doesn´t allow me to enter the US or Mexico (either of which would´ve been convenient and cost effective routes) without a visa. Technically I can apply for a visa but since I am not a Peruvian resident, the embassies of the US and Mexico in Peru cannot issue me visas to their countries. So, again, the moral of the story, dear friends, if you have a first world country passport, USE IT. Travel. Go places. Be responsible. The rest of us will deal accordingly but it would be such a shame if you don´t utilize your privilege. I know a lot of you do. Just sayin´!

Anyway, back to Lima. People warn you of thefts and other petty crimes in big cities (esp. Lima) but the thing you have to be most careful of is moving vehicles. They don´t care about your life. They don´t slow down for pedestrians (the lack of stoplights in this city is amazing); they honk for you to get out of the way. When you stand on the narrow crosswalk they barely miss you by mere inches. It takes a long time to get places because crossing the street can be a near-death experience.

Lima suffers from all the big city woes: traffic, pollution, resentment. When I say I´m going to be in Lima for a week people are incredulous. Why? Go to Cusco, Puno, Arequipa, etc. Why Lima? I understand. It reminds me of how I feel about Jakarta´s faults. On the other hand, I like Lima for the same reason I like Jakarta.

Food.

Food here is tasty. And diverse. Man. Ceviche is a Lima specialty, since we´re so close to the ocean. And cheap for Ceviche! Italian food here is really yummy. I haven´t tried Asian food here but supposedly they are also reliable since there is substantial Japanese and Chinese population here.

In two days I head to Cusco, the gateway to Machu Picchu.