Day 2 - First Day of Tour- Lima

 We woke considerably refreshed and ready.  Breakfast was a diverse combination of american foods combined with local fruit, cereals, and meats.  No complaints!  We met our "experience leader" at 11 am for an orientation, meet and greet, and preparation for the excitement to come!  Patti is personable, experienced, and very ready to help and please.  She made it clear that we would not be sitting around very much with some long days interspersed wtih time to rest and regroup.  We discussed how to  manage altitude sickness since we will be at up to 11,000 ft elevations and will be walking a lot.  And, of course, trip ground rules.  

We are a group of 12 people - 5 couples and 2 singles.  Initial introductions made it clear all of us are experienced travelers and most have been on multiple OAT trips.  We will have lots to talk about over the days ahead.  

After a late lunch of Peruvian dishes, we set out on a walking tour of the Miraflores district, including shopping districts, residential areas, and lots of street scenes.  Patti pointed out various architectures, gave us a history of the district.  It began developing as a seaside getaway for rich people.  Then the Shining Path extremist group set off a devistating bomb in the central area causing rich people to leave.  Once the terrorists were capture the area developed into a residential commercial and shopping district with high rises interspersed with elegant homes.

We had a celebratory Pisco Sour drink with the whole group before heading out to dinner.  Tomorrow will be a full day tour with a guide followed by a light show at the central park of Lima, complete with dancing fountains.




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