Friday, June 30, Return to Lima

Prior to today, we in our group had been told that we would be leaving for the airport today at 9:30 AM. However, as we learned last yesterday, those plans had changed. Instead of a (relatively) late start, we needed to depart at 8 AM, so we had another early wake-up. The reason for the change? The teachers in Cusco have called a one day strike and planned to blockade the airport. (As a side note: our tour guide in Lima had previously told us that all teachers in Peru were members of the communist party -- makes them politically active, I guess.) So, with all roads to the airport blocked, Victor our tour guide needed to budget extra time to get there. As it turned out, the drive was not terribly long, but roundabout. The driver took a circuitous route around the airport and approached it from the opposite direction. Even with this strategy, we were forced to disembark about two blocks from the airport entrance and walk the rest of the way. We could see the strikers in the distance but did not take any time to ogle. Then, I'm not sure what transpired, but Victor said something to get the security guard to let us through his gate. Anyway, when we arrived at the airport, our luggage was magically already there? I did take a photo showing the police lined up in riot gear.

The flight to Lima was not eventful. We once again saw the family of Eric and Suzanne at the airport -- this was the end of their vacation. When we arrived in Lima, we were bused to the Barranco neighborhood (next to Miraflores where our hotel was) for lunch. Barranco is known for its lively nightlife and arts scene, although we were warned that safety there is not ideal. Our lunch was at a restaurant called Amor Amar (love at the sea?). Our group was seated at a long table towards the rear of the restaurant, although we had a view to the entire dining room. The food was outstanding. We began with some tapas: a bite size causa with shrimp, then a delicious bite of beef with sauce on toast, and also grilled octopus. For mains Rob and I both ordered seared tuna with garlic and ginger over Chinese vegetables (mostly bok choy) -- really delicious! Dessert was an almond cake with vanilla ice cream and an apricot/alcohol sauce -- also good!

We were scheduled to take a bus tour after lunch of the Barranco neighborhood, but given that we were behind schedule and everyone was a little weary, the bus brought us straight to the hotel, again the Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel where we had initially stayed in Lima. After a quick check-in, we said our good-byes to the group and proceeded to our room. The room is, of course, as fabulous as before (maybe a little better than the first room). It is so nice -- we don't leave. Rob took a long nap, and then we ordered room service for dinner (chicken ceasar salads). We enjoyed a bottle of Peruvian wine called Intipalka, a sauvignon blanc that was actually pretty good.

Then we both turned in early.