** PERU - IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF VON DANIKEN **
This is the 14 July 2002 Edition of
this page.
CHAPTER TWO
LIMA
Just before our touch-down in Peru, at Lima's airport, my nose started bleeding for its first
time in ages. It was a very inopportune moment. The seats have to go into the vertical position
for landing - and my head needs to be in the best position for a nose-bleed. I had a few brief words
with our new English-speaking Dutch MD11 crew that took over from their KLM colleages in ARUBA for the
Lima-leg, and they were agreeable and understanding enough for my 'dispensation', on nose-bleed
grounds, to permit my seat to remain in its 'backwards' position.
[Whilst on the 'ARUBA to LIMA' leg, we had to fill-in several forms, mainly by us aliens, to deal with
such things as 'customs', 'immigration', 'reasons for coming here' etc.. They would have to be handed in,
not to a person on the plane, but to an appropriate person on the ground! No ONE single person
wanted them ALL, they each just took the ONE they wanted and handed the rest BACK! It was confusing
for each individual, but, by and large, it went smoothly!]
On the prolonged 'approach' adjustments of throttle, flaps, ailerons, and everything else, - thoughts on
blood pressure, nose bleeding etc were contained and controlled by willpower, calmness etc even
WITHOUT my blood-pressure tablets (which I hadn't brought with me!), I thought that I may regret
my lack of tablets on this tour, - but I was OK for this approach and landing!! I had controlled the
BLOOD PRESSURE's build-up and any escalation of the nosebleed. I thanked the understanding
DUTCH ladies.
I'd already voiced about the non-contacts by ECLIPSE representatives on this trip. I don't know anyone
(rep or traveller) on this journey!! After my luggage was retrieved (a bit PRIMITIVE and
LONG-WINDED here), I exitted, still in talks and small chats with the Lima resident seat-companion
with whom I'd been communicating (by diagrams) about my routes during this final leg to Peru. Looking
for an ECLIPSE rep here, was going to be difficult, - and if I didn't find one I'd be in 'SHTOOK'!
OTHER reps were there but 'millions' of people barred our exits - or were trying to their taxis!! The
first ALIEN rep said that they'll be waiting outside. Milling through the pleading throngs to 'get
outside', I found that two separate guys had called for "Mr. Peters"!! Was I glad to see them?! I did
not know it at the time, but ONE of them was to be my DRIVER and the other one was a 'Leger' rep in
LIMA (well NO actually, he's from a 'contract reps' firm called RECEPTOUR!!). Confused?? Anyhow,
he and I sat in the back of a VAN whilst the other one drove.
That driver was only just SUBsonic - and drove us for quarter of an hour to the leafy suburb of LIMA
called SAN ISIDRO. This Receptour 'guide' spoke English quite well (he also speaks about 7 or 8 other
languages) and was a 'mine of information' and could answer most questions (and more) and info that ECLIPSE
should have provided me with!! His name is RODOLFO - and we chatted, amicably for quite some time.
He gave me descriptions and clues as to our activities for the coming week.
We chatted some more at the hotel's reception and he gave me MORE paperwork and tickets. He then
VANISHED. I sorted-out these items of paperwork after some rest (like 5a.m tomorrow morning!) -
as I'd decided to FALL into bed at about 20.00hrs (local time ... but 20.00-1.00+6.00 = 26.00hrs
[or 2am tomorrow] MALVERN time) I dropped off to sleep, probably instantaneously, here in
my Room 407 with a kinkily-shaped key.
19th June 2001 (Tuesday)
Having got to bed at 8pm (local time - but equivalent to 2 a.m. today in MALVERN TIME), I slept
through - until noises, people talking, KLAXONS etc woke me up about 2.30 am local time. I did
some more writing between then and 2.30 a.m. and then went to bed again, before getting up and
into RODOLFO's paperwork betwen 4.30 and 5.00 a.m..
Sorting through THAT paperwork, I came across my tickets for AREQUIPA and JULIACA which
I inserted into a folder with ECLIPSE's tickets (return from LIMA to HEATHROW). Other tickets
are to be given for the three of us (me plus two ladies arriving later!) - including for the CUZCO train
and the flight back to LIMA. My hotel tickets for ICA and SAN ISIDRO (towards the end of the tour)
are in MY pack as the ladies are NOT doing that part of my extended tour. Before getting back to
bed at 5.30 a.m, I checked the room for shaver sockets in the bathroom. They are American, but with
240 volts!! Goody!!! I'll be able to live with that!
After tidying things up, a bit, I began to fell more 'at home' - even if I am still 'living out of a suitcase'!!
Going down for breakfast at 7.45 am, I made several visits to get self-served with their delicious
buffet-breakfast, toasties, omelettes, flat cakes, sausages, duchess potatoes (more onions), more
omelettes, toasties, fruit juices, fruits etc, etc. You name it - I had it (several times)!! I left at 8.10am
feeling very well fed! A GREAT MEAL!
'Reception', almost in the breakfast area, was my next visit for acquring local maps and $50 of local
currency (170 Nuevo Sols).The good map shows us to be close to the LIMA GOLF CLUB and also
to the 'Parque El Olivar'.
I found out that this 'Park' should come into use before and after my MAIN visits. I obtained some mineral-water
from nearby in the hotel's bar - which I found was marked as No11 on the map of SAN ISIDRO (a delightful
suburb of LIMA). At the bar, both the guy and the girl found it difficult to understand my English accent (the
poor devils had thought that American was English!) - but I eventually got a litre of this water for 3.5 sols (the
Nuevo Sol is their unit of currency - I remind you!) so it works out at about 78p in Sterling.
Then I had to 'get my bearings' around this area. I totally walked around the massive block enclosing the GOLF
CLUB looking for the entrance to Parque El Olivar - but without success. Then I tried the Golf Club's main
entrance after one complete lap. I couldn't understand their language and they didn't (?) understand mine, and
after having shown them the brochure with the Park's photos. Sign language didn't help either!! I then said "No
comprendez" hoping that it may explain my problem. After a bit more sign language and pointing at the
Park's beautiful photos, I then said "I go IN then!!" - and started walking inwards.
The club's guard then remembered (!) his 'English' as he said "You MEMBER??". Disillusioned, I returned
to my Hotel, telling them the whole story, and asked where EL OLIVAR is on the map (as it is supposed
to be a PUBLIC PARK). It turned out to be "Two blocks in the other direction Sir". So I went there and took
several photos and also found a handy supermarket even closer to the hotel!
[Definitely, a tranquil suburb of LIMA!!]
Just after 11.15am, I went for a mooch around this LOCAL supermarket, - firstly to see what prices and
products there were, and (only a little later - happy with the first survey!) then I picked up a basket and
went round picking up items for midday meals and further ahead!! At this Santa Isabel market, my charge
came to 6.60 sols so I then checked-out and got my 3.40 change. At the cheese counter, neither the
assistant nor myself knew each other's language - but sign & body languages made an effective substitute!!
The slices of cheese, which the lady offered me to try, tasted very good - so I had some - indeed, plenty!
Soon, I was back in my hotel room, and decided to do a bit of eating before meeting my guide to chat
about about our 14.00 hr 'City Tour'. We were to meet in the foyer for that!
Its going good so far! There's a nice neighbourhood, nice temperatures. But midwinter out here is more
like an English summer! I enjoyed my dinner - and then waited an 'unnecessarily long time' for Rodolfo and
the two old ladies to join us on the LIMA sightseeing trip.
Having waited three-quarters of an hour from 1.15, a lady guide and two young ladies turned up! We
all went, with the driver, to various parts of the city (old, new, rich, lover's statue, grand square & cathedral -
and then to the GOLD MUSEUM.). It was about a 30 mile tour in this 'van' before coming back to the hotel.
Then it was BULK ORDERING (for the three of us!) for the early breakfast (3.30am), the early call (3.00am)
for tomorrow morning! I went back to my room - and the girls went into theirs (Room 403).
EMail to:
Roy's Location.
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