Just to tell everybody that in the meanwhile I arrived safely in Brussels (this morning). I still had a nice time in Lima although the city is not that fascinating.. I visited the main sites: again, a plaza the armas, with a presidential palace (where I watched the daily change of the guard at noon.. almost like in Buckingham Palace... ;-) ) and a cathedral (less impressive than many others as relatively young given the destruction of the previous one during an earthquake..). There is more left of the colonial past than in La Paz though even if only a very small part of the centre is nicely restored.. Quite nice was the San Francisco Monastery with its crypt, where more than 100.000 people are buried (of which there are only bones and skulls left that are actually displayed..), and a room with a series of beautiful Rubens paintings.. (at least from his "atelier"). After that I walked around in town, through the streets and the market area (which I found fascinating - as always.. It seems that I really have a thing for markets.. just in Brussels I never go there because once I am up on the weekends, they are usually already over..;-)). By chance I discovered the former buildings of the old University, with 5 beautiful patios, where I went through with a student who made a guided tour.. quite nice.. I had a hotel for one night in the area of Miraflores, which is quite a bit away from the centre, but the centre is really not nice to stay in .. especially at night.. Miraflores, on the contrary, is quite a chic and bourgeois area, with nice bars and restaurants and trendy "Limeños". I had some very good Ceviche in the evening... that was just sooo good, but also quite spicy because of the Chili in the marinade.. the fish was fresh and the portion quite abundant... I would say at least the double of what I had in Arequipa... it was served with sweet potatoe and corn.
On my second day in Lima, I stayed in Miraflores and took it very easy, as I wanted to rest a bit on my last day and before going on my 24 hours trip back to Brussels... I went to nice shops (there is quite a fancy shopping centre built on the rocks falling into the ocean with very nie ocean-views...), bought some Peruvian CDs and books, was sitting in nice cafés, chatting with some people.. while having lunch I met Steven as he asked whether he could sit at my table, a young Peruvian who works for a travel agency and studies in the evening economy/tourism. We had quite an interesting chat about lots of things and it was interesting that he had similar ideas than myself about the country's development / potential. The country will certainly change with this new generation (actually quite a banal of a statement as all societies change with each generation, no ? But given the developent stage of Peru, the change will probably be more important than in Western European countries...). I had also spoken quite a bit to one of the employees of the hotel in Cusco (where I stayed more than a week, so there is time to chat from time to time...) and he was a real admirer of Germany, which he considers as areal example to folow concerning the way Germans have rebuit their country after the second World War. He thinks that Peruvians shoud have the same discipline and will to tochange their country.. While following this kind o philosophy himself, he wahowever less optimistic about the will of his fellow countrymen...But he was determined to stay in Peru and to try to change things.. He also wants to learn German, but it seems that there is no possibility to do so in Cusco... Well, all the talking and chatting had quie a positive effect on my Spanish which was slowly coming back to a decent level I would say...
Oh, a propos change, or better: no change: you remember that I had written about the referendum campaign in Bolivia? Finally President Evo Morales won the referendum quite clearly (he go tmore than 65 % it seems) and will therefore stay in office. At the same time, most of the regional governors (which are the most important opponents to Morales), which Morales wanted to get rid of through the referendum, were however confirmed as well.. So the situation will more or less stay unchanged. The government already announced a further referendum for next year on a change of the constitution.
Around 21h30, I went to the airport (which took 1 hour because of traffic !!) because my flight was at 00h25 and I wanted to be there early.. However, I was almost the last one toarrive and there was an enormous queue.. it took ages to get through and then there was also a huge line for the emigration procedure and the security check.. I thought I would miss my flight, but the supervisor at the emigration was extremely cool and even 10 minutes before my flight should have left he said that there was no problem and that I should just wait.. In fact, in the end, he was right as the fight was 30 lminutes late... still, I got a bit stressed about everything and was happy once I was on board.. Before I wanted still to get rid of my about 90 soles, which I had kept in order to pay the airport tax that everybody told me I have to pay but which was finally already incuded in my ticket.. there was no way of changing the soles back to dollars.. (strangely enough). Then I wanted to buy duty free stuff but they did not accept it as they have to carry the items to the gates and as my flight was already supposed to leave by that time, they did not want to do it.. I started playing the victim and insisted with the ladies who finally accepted to make an exception and to bring the nice bottle of Pisco that I then bought still to the gate.. Ouff!! I had already bought a bottle in the supermarket, but Pisco Sours are so good, so I cannot get enough of original Peruvian Pisco as the basic ingredient.. the problem was however later in Atlanta, where I transited, but needed to go through another security check (why? don't ask mee... but it seems that this also happes in other non-US aiports..) and I was not allowed to carry liquids in the aircraft !!!! Even if it was a duty free item from another airport which was still sealed and had the documentation. How stupid is that ??? I was so mad and started arguing with the security people, but no way. They wanted to oblige me to give away my Pisco-bottle.. but they do not you my determination!! I refused to let it there and went back to a Delta-Airlines-transfer desk and asked a very nice lady for help.. she shared my view that these rules were extremely stupid and said that this happenend every day several times.. She finally found a little paper box, which I taped together and we put the bottle in and she checked it in for me... Very nice.. !! In an act of heroism, I was able to defend my bottle of Pisco against the evil US-security guards.. oh, and by the way: there are new immigration rules (even compared to 4 weeks before when I transited through Atlanta on my way to Lima): instead of two fingerprints and a photo, they now take ALL (!!!) your fingerprints: first 4 fingers of the right hand, then right thumb, then other 4 fingers of the left and then the left thumb..anfd then smile forthe photo.. and then they put signs on their desks and write on it "Keeping America's doors open and our nation secure". Bravo is the ony thing I can say..! and another cultural shock: There were several announcements informing all passengers that a plane with 350 US-soldiers coming from 18 months service in Iraq had just landed and everybody was asked to applaud and welcome them and thank them "for the great service they did for the American nation". And indeed when the soldiers walked through immigration, everybody clapped and cheered.. I was not the only one in the "non-US-citizens" line being a bit puzzled... I really wonder what kind of service these soldiers do for their NATION in Iraq.. but well, I won't start a discussion on this here.. During the 7 hours which I had to wait in Atlanta, I read the whole book "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho, which is quite a simple story, but also thought-provoking I have to say..
Now I am back in Brussels, a bit jet-lagged and thought I should finish the blog before leaving for another week to Zeeland with my sister and her kids (among which my new nephew Jonas, that I just saw for the first time.. !!) Unfortunately, I still need to upload my last pictures (nto many as there was not much to see in Lima as I had already said..) and I still owe you the story of the Incas and Machu Picchu as well as some facts and figures.. This will now have to wait for another week.. apologies for this.. ;-)
Hope to see you all soon !!
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