Lost in Lima continued...
When our check came it was about
150 sols for all the food and drinks. Because one American dollar is about 2.75
Peruvian dollars, this check was extremely cheap to us. We paid our tab and
decided to walk around to a local café to have drinks and dessert. The walk was
exciting. We were slightly lost for a while but our genius friend Ivo had a
map, imagine that! After he studied the map for a few minutes he looked up and
said. “Dos cuadras mas!” as he pointed in the direction of the coast. The
entire group stopped and stared at him knowing he was teasing us because of our
complications earlier that evening. Before we knew it laughter broke out
between all of us for so long my sides began to ache and my face hurt from
smiling so hard. We walked to a small shopping center right on the coast where
we could see the water and enjoy great company. We stopped at a café and
ordered coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. We also indulged in a little Peruvian
tres leches, as well as a chocolate dessert. Cups and plates were passed around
as if it were thanksgiving, everyone trying a little bit of everything. Ivo
entertained us with stories of his travels and life back in Colombia. It is
safe to say he developed a “fan club” with us, being that we were so interested
in his accomplishments. Ivo informed us that he was not only a chef, but the
dean of his university, and that he would be here until Friday taking classes.
The group enjoyed our treats and relaxed for a while, not wanting the night to
end. We had to check out of the hotel in Lima at 8am and it was almost midnight
when we left the café. Having learned our lesson, we caught a cab to take us
back to the hotel. We each hugged Ivo good bye and wished him a safe journey
home, then all five of us climbed into a small cab. Four of us were in the back
seat, Professor Saldana, Felicia, Jesus, and myself, but it took less than five
minutes to get us back home. Go figure. We all laughed and joked about the
night as we spilled out onto the sidewalk and drug ourselves up the stairs to
the lobby. There was one of us staying on every floor so each time the elevator
stopped you could hear a symphony of, “good night!” “Buenas noches!” “Sleep
tight!” “See you tomorrow!”. Finally, on the fifth floor it was my turn to get
off. Professor Saldana and Sonya each wished me a good night and I walked to my
room, alone for the first time in hours. It was so quiet I wasn’t sure if I’d
be able to sleep. Thankfully my fellow classmate and roommate at the hotel
Crystal was still awake when I walked in and I was able to share with her the
crazy night we had before getting some sleep.
I checked my Facebook just before going to bed to let my mom and friends
know I was okay and that I would be flying to Cusco in the morning. Waiting for
me there was a message from Ivo that read, “I made it back to my hotel safely,
good night.” I am so grateful for the night we spent in Lima. The adventure was
not only exciting it was a learning experience for us all, and a chance to
prove to myself that I can do it. I can explore this new country, I can try new
things, I can meet new people, and most of all I can get lost in Lima and live
to tell the tale. ;)
Sonya, Jesus, Ivo/Colombiano, Felicia, Kristina, Lili Saldana
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