After doing the sightseeing bit in Barranca, I popped into the Wicks Brewpub, an expat hangout where I had been told I could get a decent pint of real ale and some good fish and chips (the local food in Peru is great but it doesn’t go down as well with a couple of pints of real ale as fish and chips do!). I wasn’t disappointed.
The beer, brewed in the back of the pub (next to the toilets!) using ingredients imported from the UK, was such a great change from the pleasant enough fizzy pop I have been drinking up to now. So, of course I drank too much. Anyway, from what I can remember (!), I met an American traveller who was escaping the post Trump election victory fall out and a Canadian who just happened to live very close to Salmon Arm in British Columbia where I visited my cousin recently. I also fell to chatting to an Englishman who apparently is the ‘best cricket umpire in Peru’. Maybe he’s the only one! Anyway, before long we had established we had at least 4 or 5 friends/acquaintances in common. A small, small, world indeed.
Putting aside fish and chips, the food in Peru is said to be the best in South America. Not surprisingly, being on the coast, seafood is a speciality in Lima and ceviche a symbol of Peru’s culinary expertise.
Simply put, this is a dish of raw fish marinated in lemon or lime juice impregnated with a few spices. It may not sound all that tempting but is absolutely drop dead fantastic. Amongst the non seafood specialities is, I’m sorry to say, guinea pig!! As for the drinks, Peru is home to cocktails made with Pisco (a brandy like liquor) which I have sampled and could easily get used to!
Close by my hotel there are dozens of handicraft shops all seemingly either selling craft type products, clothing
or silverware.
And not a customer in sight so I have no idea how these people make any money.
So, there was just time for a final wander around soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the sights
before preparing to head off to my next destination early tomorrow. However, once the packing was done, I had one more sight to see before leaving . And what a sight it was! A water/laser/light show in the Parque de la Reserva. For less than £1 you can wander around this beautiful park where there are a dozen or more fountains/water displays.
It was absolutely enchanting and great family entertainment. Lots of happy children trying to avoid getting wet
but knowing they would!
A still camera really can’t do justice to this place. Water, lights, lasers, music, all merging together in an extraordinary audio visual display.
What a fantastic way to end my stay in Lima. Can Buenos Aires do better? We shall see.
Phileas
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