Lima

"Beauty, after all, is the stuff of fable with the power to intoxicate, to make men mad, to inspire the creative mind, and, most of all, to plant in hopeful hearts the notion that, despite it all, perfection can be acquired." -Mario Testino

I wake up for my last breakfast in Cusco and I already miss the boys. The ride to the airport is a brisk 20 minutes from San Blas and there is barely any wait at security on a weekday. 

2 hours later I'm in Lima, but I can't connect with an Uber to pick me up at the airport. Eventually I give up and take a regular cab hoping I'm not going to get scammed. I negotiate 50 soles ($16) for the 45+ minute ride into town.

I arrive at Hostel Pucclana in Miraflores. A hungry gal on a mission, I head to La Mar for the acclaimed best ceviche in Lima before they close at 5pm. Delicious. Enough food for a family of 4. 

Although stuffed, I pop into the famous market next door, Pan de Cholo, for some snacks for later. The avocado toast is a game changer. Later on, I head to La Calesa to meet a few future Yalies for Fernando's birthday. The Peruvian Pisco Sours do not disappoint. 

The next day I walk to Larcomar. The shopping mall is beautifully built along the shoreline, but I feel out of place in this kind of luxury.

I keep walking to Barranco. I immediately love this neighborhood. This is where I would recommend staying in Lima. I stop at Canta Rana for ceviche. While this is much more of a local spot with nothing but sports flags as ambiance, the tigers milk ceviche is just as good if not better than La Mar.

I keep walking to Mate, the Testino photography museum. This is my first museum in South America and I love it. Unconventional, modern, emotional.

On the way home I stop by Blu Gelateria for gelato and then the grocery store for some granadillas, my newest fruit addiction since Cusco. I welcome whoever is willing to start a South American fruit export businsss with me. 

Next up: Colombia