Life in Lima
Things are beginning to settle down here in the City of Kings. This gigantic city that should overwhelm me is feeling poco a poco more manageable. Not only, can I now take a bus to work and to Barranco but I’m also starting to familiarize myself with El Centro which though I’ll probably never actually be able to visit without a map or asking directions, at least I’m getting an understanding of some of the main streets and bus routes. Parts of Lima feel as though I’m back in southern France or Spain, with beautiful crowded parks, street performers, chain food restaurants, coffee houses, and people watchers. Other times, on my way out to the hospital where I visit a little friend for example, the city looks like shanty’s built upon rubbley hillsides and the chain restaurants are swapped with roadside street food stands and Menu del Dia’s.
Many of the expats I meet here are beginning to create a certain stereotype for themselves. I’m starting to think that Lima is the place where weary travelers come to rest/settle/die. There are many interesting stories out there waiting to be discovered, in a conversation with an unknown foreigner at the bar. There doesn’t seem to be the same cohesiveness among expats as there was in Prague which initially led me to believe that there were fewer expats living here. More and more people, however keep popping out of the woodwork from within Limeñian culture and society.
Anyway, just as I’m getting comfortable in this dichotomous city, where despite hot showers, supermarkets and resident ears plugged with ipods that remind me of home, I’m still very prone to parasites, can buy antibiotics at the pharmacy without a prescription, can eat a full meal for a dollar and a half and stroll through a market stinking of rotting meat to buy sweaty pork. Just as I’m getting comfortable here, I may be leaving very soon. I’ll leave you in suspense.
In the meantime, I am definitely leaving very soon to visit Ayacucho for Semana Santa, the largest Semana Santa celebration in Peru. It will be refreshing to breathe some mountain air, visit the kiddies at the casa, and old friends. The festivities will likely be a bit loco. I promise to take lots of photos and try very hard not to have my camera stolen.
Happy Passover,
Cuidate!
Many of the expats I meet here are beginning to create a certain stereotype for themselves. I’m starting to think that Lima is the place where weary travelers come to rest/settle/die. There are many interesting stories out there waiting to be discovered, in a conversation with an unknown foreigner at the bar. There doesn’t seem to be the same cohesiveness among expats as there was in Prague which initially led me to believe that there were fewer expats living here. More and more people, however keep popping out of the woodwork from within Limeñian culture and society.
Anyway, just as I’m getting comfortable in this dichotomous city, where despite hot showers, supermarkets and resident ears plugged with ipods that remind me of home, I’m still very prone to parasites, can buy antibiotics at the pharmacy without a prescription, can eat a full meal for a dollar and a half and stroll through a market stinking of rotting meat to buy sweaty pork. Just as I’m getting comfortable here, I may be leaving very soon. I’ll leave you in suspense.
In the meantime, I am definitely leaving very soon to visit Ayacucho for Semana Santa, the largest Semana Santa celebration in Peru. It will be refreshing to breathe some mountain air, visit the kiddies at the casa, and old friends. The festivities will likely be a bit loco. I promise to take lots of photos and try very hard not to have my camera stolen.
Happy Passover,
Cuidate!
posted by emily at 3:30 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home