Lovelies Land in Lima

After long flight schedules from different parts of the world (London, Dunedin, Wellington) we have all arrived in Lima after 24-28 hours on the move. Ron, Mike, Katie and Becky, RMKB, which sounds a bit like RuMiKuB if you say it fast enough, are set for their adventures. I think I shall use initials in future blogs when referring to all of us.

R & M were delayed out of Auckland due to 'technical issues'. We debated whether this meant slow to refuel, re-attaching the wing or just trouble waking the pilot from his siesta. It could also have been a function of an incredibly rude man boarding the plane with his daughter in tears, who may have needed settling? We took off about 45 minutes late.

K & B came via Paris (no time for shopping), R & M via Santiago. I can't comment on Paris, but Santiago airport reminds Kiwis just how good our airports are at home with respect to clean, functioning, almost attractive facilities. Santiago airport simply gets the job done. The best way to summarise it, is that it is probably publicly owned.

The girls reached he hotel, and the bar, first, and we met them there an hour later. We are staying at the Estalar in Miraflores district for those who are keen to jump on google maps.

First impressions of the traffic are a little like Mexico. Road markings are wasted paint, but traffic flow works, with reasonably regular use of the horn to assist.

We have enjoyed a nice meal at a restaurant nearby (after rejecting a typical food hall scenario that could just as easily have been in Auckland, Sydney or London) and we are now all ready to crash for a decent sleep before heading off on our tour of Lima tomorrow.