Lima – capital of Peru and the word for L in the NATO alphabet.
I’ve been to Lima. Only for about half an hour, but I have at least been there. I may even have a stamp in my passport to prove it.
I was expecting to stay there for most of a day before going on to Cusco up in the Andes, where I was meeting a friend at the start of my leg of her round the world trip. But somehow or other there was a delay, and I had to scoot through the airport so as not to miss my connection.
I don’t remember why we were late. I’m fairly sure we had flown from Gatwick to JFK and had to go down to Miami before getting the plane to Lima. I can’t remember whether New York was the delay, or Miami. I’m not even sure if we were supposed to be in both US airports, or just one. Certainly I remember being a long time in Miami airport, sure I would be able to get a new camera (having failed to find any shopping opportunities in JFK) and settling for the Ixus model I got. This was about a year before digital cameras became affordable – and about two years before I got a digital. The Ixus turned out to be expensive because the cost of printing the films was extortionate, although they did do a CD with them, so you could put them on your computer – that was really modern in those days!
Anyway, we arrived at Lima airport and I got some help from the ground staff to rush through what seemed dozens of queues to get through various bits of security, crossing from one side of the airport to the other – from International to Domestic, which as every traveller knows, is never an easy transition. And then, having boarded, we waited for about half an hour for other travellers who had not bothered to get help to jump the queues!
I flew out of Lima, which looks like a lovely city, taking off and going up, and up and up… and going over the tops of the mountains and down what seemed like a few feet to land at Cusco. Where I got out and wondered where the air had gone!
I’d love to go back to Peru – and visit Lima this time!
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I haven’t been anywhere in South America, but your comment about transfers between airports, particularly between international and domestic airports, is spot on.
I really enjoyed my South American trip, Keith. We found people very helpful and friendly, but also reserved, which is the best combination. I discovered I’m not good at altitude, though.
Loved this post. We flew into Quito, Ecuador, and had the experience of dropping down between mountain peaks in the dark and hoping we didn’t hit one! We spent some time in the mountains outside Quito before going on to the Galapagos – what a vacation! The travel between airports struck a chord with me – had the same experience in Buenos Aires, where the domestic airport is an hour’s taxi ride from the international one.
Ah – I never got my trip to Quito and the Galapagos – the tour was cancelled on one of the park authority’s clamp downs, and I went to th Dordogne instead 🙂 Maybe I’ll go some day. I do support the Galapagos Conservation Trust, though.
I heard the air is pretty thin but that Lima is also very pretty:) When one has to spend hours in airports and all it is a wonder one can remember one even flew in a plane:):)
Lima has ‘normal’ air – it’s Cusco and points up in the mountains that are a bit thin on the old oxygen. I’ve heard Lima is lovely, too.
Yes…where did that air go? Thank goodness for mate de cocoa! Great post!
Lol! Yes, I found the mate de coca very refreshing. It’s only legal in Peru, of course!
It takes about two weeks to really adjust to altitude–no wonder you didn’t do so well with it!
We’ll be spending a couple of days in Lima–I’ve heard mixed reviews, but there are a couple of museums at least we will want to see.
I know there’s a funny statue there, too – but I’ve forgotten what it is!
Oh the hassles of air travel…and the places we miss because of them! You now have a reason to go back! I believe Lima is wonderful. South America is on the ever increasing wish list!
Yes – but as I never toured much of Europe, unlike the Americas, Australia or Asia, I have a lot of land-based travel to look forward to 🙂
I pinned your blog, btw, Jenny! I’ll be back 🙂