The seven hour flight from Toronto to Lima felt like the longest flight of my entire life. The only benefit was the lack of light pollution (except for over a couple islands we flew over) meant the stars shone particularly bright. I kept smashing my face in the window like a kid trying to get a peak into a candy store. I arrived in Lima at 1 am local time, found a bench, stacked my backpacks and promptly fell asleep. I alternated reading and sleeping until 7 am, at which point I finished my first book of the trip and decided it was time to take a taxi to my hostel. It´s difficult to know which Taxi driver to go with, but I found one who said that I could wait until Miraflores (the more touristy district my hostel was in) to take out currency, so I wouldn´t have to pay the airport fees. Well this suited me just fine, so I hopped along with him, after he assured me MULTIPLE times that his taxi was totally legit, and there were police around so I was safe (he was wearing a uniform just like all the other Taxi drivers so I didn´t think he needed to reassure me QUITE so many times). Once we got to my hostel and I tried to jump out to see if my hostel had an ATM, I very quickly found out that when I had been saying ATM, ATM, he had just been nodding his head, and was expecting to be paid in American cash that very instant. Well I was dragged down the street to an ATM and I paid him on the spot in sols. My hostel was just behind us, down the (one way) street, so he asked me to walk back which I agreed to. Then he tired to drive away with my backpack still in the back seat which I DID NOT find very amusing!
Upon arrival in the hostel I found out that the guys who had my room before me had lost their key, so I would not be locking the door for the duration of my visit. At this point I´d had about 6 hours of sleep over the past two days, I was sweating bowling balls, I had been wearing the same clothes for 36 hours and I would probably kill any of my family members for an iced coffee (sorry guys), so I quite frankly couldn´t care less. I still had 5 hours before I could check in so I went in search of an iced coffee. After consuming the most beautiful heavenly beverage known to man (blended iced coffee with super fancy honey), I went back to my hostel finished my second book, and hung out at the rooftop bar, desperately trying to continue reading and not fall asleep. Once I finally got my room I napped for a good 5 hours (second best nap of my entire life) until I finally had to go exploring in the city. Because Miraflores is pretty much a district for tourists and upperclass Peruvians it was a tad westernized, within walking distance of my hostel you could find McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Pizza Hut and KFC just to name a few. I am very proud to say I didn´t go the easy way and visit any of them while I was in Lima.
The largest con I´ve found so far about traveling alone, is I never know what to do with myself during mealtimes. I started to bring my Kindle or my journal so I wouldn´t have to stare into space. As a result I finished four books in my first two days. Traveling alone I thought there would be quite a few more boyfriend proposals. I had two little old ladies at the airport tell me (seperately) that I should find one here, bring him back (I very quickly explained that I´m from the North with the Polar bears and they probably wouldn´t survive the winter) and one guy in the park who asked if I wanted to go for a walk to the beach (which I didn´t, so we stayed in the park and actually talked for a good hour and a half). I guess I’ve perfected my RBF a little more since I was 18!
Some of the pros of traveling alone so far is that I can do it so much more at the own speed. Maybe one day I´ll spend in the chocolate musuem and the modern art gallery, and the next day I’ll read in the park and eat a six soles ($2) burger from a restaurant where they don´t speak english. It’s a bit more intimidating, but almost easier to meet new people when you’re alone. I brought my book to my hostel’s roof top bar, and some girl grabbed my arm and promptly started telling me her life story. She wanted advice on whether to say in South America or go back home to France so she could finish her application for a work permit to Australia. She called me extremely wise for my young age (look mom! someone thinks I’m extremely wise). Then her friend from Argentina started singing the Canadian national anthem to me, and we simply had a ball the rest of the night (I don’t think I’ve laughed so much since 30 hour famine when I was loopy from only eating popsicles).
Well that’s most of the fun stuff about my first days alone in Peru. I will hopefully update you tomorrow on the beginning of my tour.
Ciao
Alex
PS- I’m aware that there are probably a few spelling mistakes in the above post, but everything in underlined in red because this computer is set for Spanish. Just please ignore it and I’ll fix it later (looking at you Mr. James)
PPS- A really cool song to listen to while reading this is Weathered by Jack Garratt.
Glad that you are enjoying yourself and are not feeling lonely while traveling alone. Turns out you don’t need me to meet new people while abroad! Miss you lots. Sam and Quinn are interested in your travels I’ll send them a link to the blog.
I love reading your blog – you are truly a gifted writer.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself.
Bummer about the lack of sleep – hopefully you’ll do better as your trip progresses. Good luck as you go onward and have lots of fun!!!
Grandma Vi
Who is this Mr. James of which you speak?
Wonderful update! Everything sounds perfect and memorable…. just how it should be.