Tuesday 17th October. Lima, Peru.

I am really enjoying Lima.

Today is an unusual day here in Peru. A half day holiday has been declared due to the death of Paniagua (a former interim President of the country) and so the country is paying its respects through a period of official mourning.

After school Tim, Margarita and I head out from Surco to the main secondary school campus of Markham College before my introduction to Ceviche (fish marinated in lime juice and in many ways the national dish of Peru). We dine at a local spot popular with the school staff known as Los Ceviches here in Miraflores.

The lime, by the way, should always be hand squeezed to avoid the acidity you get from machine squeezing that grinds right into the rind.

We head off and take a tour of Miraflores, another of Lima’s upscale neighbourhoods and then down to the Costa Verde and the Parque del Amor, based on Antoni Gaudi’s Parc Guell recently visited on my trip to Barcelona.

In this park of love there is certainly no shortage of courting couples.

We head off to visit Larcomar a very modern shopping complex cut into the cliff side in Miraflores and a most interesting architectural concept.

After taking a walk round Tim and Margarita’s old neighbourhood, where they lived in a small colonial house made from adobe, we are off to Barranco to visit a most stunning local workshop.

Casa Taller de Arte Colonial is actually where the Papal throne was made for the visit of John Paul II when he came to Lima, and it is a timewarp. A clutter of all things weird and wonderful in the art of model making and woodcraft.

The people here...Oh my God how friendly they are, and the woodcarving that is going on is beyond compare.

I am getting to know the locals of Lima and I am loving it!!!

Next stop is Juanito’s. A true original Peruvian bar and in all the guidebooks. However, it makes a real difference to come with locals who were partying here and playing the spoons, 20 odd years ago!

Juanito’s Bodega Bar dates from 1937 and, apart from a recent tart-up with a paint brush, remains true to its roots.

This evening we are to attend a cocktail party at Jorge and David’s apartment.
Picture Paris intelligencia in an apartment on the left bank in the 1960’s and you have captured the atmosphere perfectly.

Enroute of course we have to stop at Wong’s for some groceries…It is so cool being a local!!