We arrived in Lima before five in the morning after an overnight flight from Atlanta. Immigration was quick, our transfer was waiting, and our room at Villa Barranco was ready. We promptly slept for nearly four hours.
By late morning, we were ready for breakfast and a gentle introduction to Peru.
We walked from Barranco toward Miraflores along the cliffs above the Pacific. It was warm and humid, and getting around on foot felt easy. We wandered through Larcomar, walked a little farther, then returned for dinner at Mangos. Shirley ordered ceviche and the seafood of the day. Both were excellent.
The food quickly became a theme.
The next morning we explored Barranco with our guide: street murals, artists’ studios, colorful buildings, and the Bridge of Sighs, where we stopped for a photograph together.
One highlight was visiting the residence of the artist Víctor Delfín. His home and grounds were full of his work. It was remarkable to see so much creativity gathered in one place over a lifetime.
At Ciclos Café, we learned about Peruvian coffee and cacao. We left with chocolate bars and a very good cup of coffee. Later, our guide dropped us at a market, where we bought a few things before walking back to the hotel. I acquired a scarf and a knit beanie, despite having no immediate need for either.
That evening we joined a food tour.
The first stop was a small, unassuming place—somewhere we might easily have walked past on our own. It was neat and clean, and the food was wonderful: a fried corn patty topped with ceviche made with squid, onions, lime, and tomatoes.
More stops followed, ending with another ceviche and a pisco sour. There was so much food that we enlisted our guide to help finish it and eventually declined dessert.
After our recent stretch in California and New Mexico, we kept commenting on how good everything tasted. I couldn’t say whether it was the ingredients, the preparation, or simply what we happened to order. But we were enjoying eating in Peru.
Our time in Lima was short. We found friendly people, beautiful textiles, good walking, and excellent food. We never felt unsafe or out of place on our walks.
It was an easy and welcoming beginning. Next, we were heading into the Andes.
