Lima, day 1

The taxi transfer from the airport was brilliant, a man had one of those little boards with my name on, and I got to the hotel in short order. I checked in and went up to my room, only to find my key wouldn't turn! I then, still carrying my huge rucksack, went back down for help. A man came up with me, and contemptuously turned the key easily and opened the door.

After 25 hours of travel I wasn't up to much but bed, so I set my alarm for breakfast and crashed out in a lovely, if slightly ageing room.

I woke up *before* my alarm amazingly, and had a shower before breakfast. By chance I happened to meet one of the people on my tour at breakfast, who had also arrived yesterday. She is called Katie, from Australia, and we decided to have a walk around central Lima since we don't have anything to do until the orientation meeting at 6pm. When I got back to my room I once again tried to open the door, and once again failed. This time a cleaner came to my rescue. I asked her to show me how to open it 3 times, but just couldn't get it! 

My roommate Slade, also from Australia, was in the room, so we all went out together for a wander. We are only a block away from the square with the cathedral, and the president's palace, so we just walked around wherever took our fancy. Nobody even threatened to mug us (the government's advice about peru makes it sound like you will be mugged on every corner in Lima) but it probably wouldn't matter if they had, as Slade runs a mixed martial arts dojo for his job.

We have just come back to the hotel for Slade to get settled, Katie to charge her phone, and me to blog, and are planning on going out for some food in a bit.

Edit: Katie and I walked round a bit more, as Slade wanted to use the wifi. We went  to the culture park, and court of justice which is apparently a copy of the one in Brussels. There were some good statues outside the court, and we both got pictures riding a llama statue after we saw some locals doing it. We then went for some food, and since it was getting on decided to share 2 courses, which cost us a grand total of 8.5 soles (about £2), with a drink of some sort of lukewarm lemon tea with sugar included (they like things lukewarm here. I don't, but oh well(

The cathedral (and me)

Inside. It's Sunday so there was a service, and the singing was lovely.

And archeological site that was just tucked out of the way off one of the streets.

Some guards were doing a parade thing in front of the presidential palace.

A Liman street