Lima and the Pariwana

I hit Lima in a full force sprint. The past five nights and six days have been different from my norm and more of a blast from my past summer blazen style. Within five minutes of arriving at my hostal, the Pariwana Miraflores, I met Feorella, or Feo. She invited me to join her and her friend for my first Pisco sour once I had settled into my room. I could have been a hermit and stayed in my room after a long day of travel but the energy I felt from arriving in South America was ecstatic and I knew I needed to be social. Social is what I got alright. The beautiful bartender Salvador fixed me my first Pisco sour; Pisco alcohol, limon, egg whites, a splash of soda, and three drops of bitters to top it off! Que Rico!
Feo was visiting a friend who was in town from Brazil, the two if them took me under their wings and took me out. We picked up an Argentinian Phycologist along the way named Frederico. It was a Saturday night and the bar distric Barrco was packed with people our age ready to spend their weeks pay checks. Feo took us to her favorite dive dance bar, what an incredible experience. The bar played only Latin American music from rap to salsa, I didn’t know a single song and yet I love them all. Everyone in the place was shakn it, men and women alike. In fact most of the men in the place could shake it better than I could, not that it’s hard but, just out if my norm. I was the tallest woman in the place, almost the tallest person, and was clearly the whitest person in the place. We stayed out until 2:30am and where some of the first people to leave.
THe next day I got to know Frederico very well. Frederico is an amazing human being, what he lacks in height he makes up in humor and charisma. I found him at the breakfast table the next morning and he invited me to go exploring with a few other Argentinians he had met in the hostel. Here I must interject and comment on the open heartedness of the people of South America I have met so far. They are willing to share everything; food, drink, smiles, and lots of conversation. I am always greeted with a loud “Whitney! Como estas?” As well as a hug and a kiss on the cheek to boot. Happiness is in abundance here.
Of course I agreed to go explore Miraflores with the group I couldn’t say no to the opportunity to adventure and connect. I was a bit relieved when our plans to rent bikes fell through as I had just sent all of my clothing, minus the shortish dress I was wearing, to finally be laundered. As we wondered to the beach a miracle happened. I ended up running into the couple I had sat next to on the airplane. Alysia and I had talked for three hours in Spanish and two more in Spanglish. Her husband put ear plugs in before we took off because he knew how much is wife liked to talk, Ha. It was beautiful running into them again on the streets of Miraflores.
After making our way to the ocean over look we walked to the center of Miraflores to visit ancient Inca ruins. Yes ruins in the middle of the city and only 20% of the ruins had been uncovered. I am still dumb struck about seeing the ancient hand prints embedded in the hand pounded bricks that composed the temple. To think that the bricks where hand crafted some 800 years ago by people that where five feet tall.
During the tour I got to know Iman, a Swede of Persian decent; I look more Swedish than this Swedish resident. Iman is a beautiful soul that everyone knows and likes because he has a big heart that he speaks the truth with, gives great hugs, has a powerful precense, and has a stunning perspective on life; he is awake. By the evening, Iman and I where deep into a conversation about self placed limitations and the Laws of Attraction. The evening continued with a BBQ and Fernet, a traditional Argentinian beverage. I only had a drink or two as I wanted to stay aware enough to practice my Spanish, which I did until 4 am!!! At times it was difficult but speaking is getting easier.
The next day I slept in till noon! I joined Iman and my Argentinian friends for a few hours before heading to lunch with Iman and his friends from Sweeten. It was refreshing and eye opening to meet Fafa, Leo, and their son SomSom( I believe I spelled these correctly). like Iman, Fafa is a Swede with Persian decent while Leo is originally from Chile. They came to Peru from the stomping grounds of the immigrant and refugee neighborhoods of Sweden, they tell me that they are call “black heads” because they are not the traditional tall, blond looking person. During the visit I mostly talked to Fafa. She is a a beautiful and inspirational woman and mother. In Sweden she was a belly dancing instructor for young women with the intent to teach young women about their bodies and learn respect. The couple moved to the jungle of Peru some 5/6 years ago to start a more sustainable listyle. They have secured land, water and community in Peru. They teach English as well as yoga to the community and are beginning to gain trust and respect. I got to hear a lot about e European Unions push for mono culture from this group. It was not the first I heard of it but it’s still disturbing to hear that the EU is trying to make it so that people cannot have their own personal gardens and that the only produce that can be sold to the public must be from a registered plant, of course Monsanto has all the registered plants… Anywho it was great to see that this couple is living out their dream and working towards a more sustainable life, while I am still observing these different ways of life. It was also great to see that even though they live a primitive and organic life they know that perfect is not achievable and sometimes you must eat Pizzahut. W ate and ate and ate all day. I had the best ceviche of my life and we ended our eating spree with plain churros for dipping into chocolate sauce and churro rellenos for savoring. Lastly, I am so impressed at how giving Fafa and Leo are. Fafa bought her son and the child selling knit flowers on the street an ice cream without thinking twice. Leo gave the woman in the park coins without thinking twice if she was actually deaf or not. They shared their stories, wisdom, and truth with me openly. They are one happy, touchy feely family that enjoys a good cheek pinching, hehehe.
The next two days and two nights at the hostel I hung out with a group of Venezuelans. I really enjoyed the company of Kati and her gay friend, I enjoyed the company of the salsa dancing man Carlos until he started hitting on me. I spent one evening chatting with this beautiful man who doesn’t speak any English. The conversation was good practice but it’s also very draining, he is an energy vampire. He expects me to return the passion that he shows to me and trying to tell him in Spanish that I’m not that type of girl over and over again is such a turn off. He doesn’t really know me, what I am passionate about, food, health, freedom and nature. He knows that I have “blond” hair, fair skin and light eyes. I am human so yes there is a part if me that craves affection and attention but when it comes with an hour of pleading to drop my plans and visit Venezuela I’m over it. Here is where I am a bit conflicted on one side of my Carlos dilemma is the question of how will I get to know someone if I don’t experience, while on the other side, more often than not my curiosity leads to hurting someone or discomfort…2nd agreement, don’t take things personally, 1st agreement be impeccable with your word. I think that’s where this situation went a bit astray, I do not speak Spanish fluently and could not be the most impeccable with my word. I also think that the place and energy connected with this Carlos encounter was that of the hostel bar. Again, I don’t want to limit myself but people who frequent the bar are not my usual crowd.
My last day in Lima I honored my need for personal space. I followed my feet to a park to enjoy the silence of the city that only a park can bring. I walked and shooed all day. I bought groceries for my travels to Carhuamayo and churros asp a farewell present to my friend Kati. I also successfully found the store that sells pre paid SIM cards, bought one and loaded it up! All in Spanish! In the last hours of my evening I made friends with a new girl who had passed out on the couches in the bar. Out of exhaust ions not dubachery. I had drank one two many Pisco sours and needed something full of carbohydrates in my stomach so we went on a quest, she was another cool cat sola woman traveler. Go us!