1st Stop Lima



We got to have Kaya now
January 4, 2013



We arrived to Lima, Peru yesterday all the way from Arbil, Iraq. We had 2 stop before we've arrived to our final destination first in Istanbul and then in Madrid.  It was a very long trip but we finally met with Kaya who was born 4 months ago in Cuzco. Alaz my 4 years old daughter and I, we fell immediately in love with her. Listen to the song by Bob Marley and understand how we feel.






When her parents -Tunca and Luis- decided to escape the rainy season of  the mountains and wanted to spend some time at the beaches in the northern coast of Peru, we decided to tag along. We are so excited to start our 3 weeks road trip from Lima to Mancora -all the way to the Ecuadorian border. This trip has been our dream since my friend of 30 years Tunca moved to Peru couple of years ago.


We are staying at Backpacker's Inn at the hip Barranco section of Lima. Its location is great, right by the ocean and surrounded by trees and colonial houses. We can't also go wrong with $11 a night price tag.




                                                                                                                           

Alaz loved Backpacker's bunk beds and she quickly adapted herself to the hostel environment -like hanging out in the reception area with her pajamas and saying "hola" to the other travelers. She also adapted a new personality. Her Peruvian name is Lola and when I call her Alaz she gets angry. "I'm not Alaz. I'm Lola." We all stay in the same room and Kaya sleeps like an angel all through the night. 










Our first morning in Lima
January 5, 2013






In the morning, when I opened the curtains of our hostel's room, the first thing I saw was a big creature sitting at the distance on top of a church like building. I screamed "Look at this huge thing". Then I've found out that vultures are everywhere in Peru. They are like seagulls of Istanbul. But to my untrained tourist eye, they were so exotic. Not only the birds but the streets, the colors, the houses, the stores everything seem to be so magical.

Back to reality: Alaz wants to push wonderful Kaya's stroller everywhere. It's challenging to convince her that this is not such an easy thing to do. She screams  "I can do it." Tunca smiles. I'm still jetlag and my limit of tolerance is lower than usual so I get nervous. 










We had our breakfast at a street corner near our hostel. Simply yummy avocado and eggs sandwiches. Alaz and I loved the hot herbal drink called Moliente. It's not difficult to see that this tradition comes from centuries ago. Oh I love it. I felt like I was drinking a great secret recipe of the shaman healers. 







                                 To find out more about moliente


By the way do you see the surfer at the far end of the photograph below? The ocean is 10 minutes walking distance. It's great to see people hanging out barefoot and half naked in the middle of the city.





The walk to the ocean

January 6, 2013





Tunca Luis and Kaya are at the American Embassy today to take care of Kaya's passport. This afternoon we're on our own and it's hard to convince Alaz to walk around Barranco. I have to promise her some surprises or threaten her with punishment so that she can take some steps. I don't approve of  "bribery or threats" strategy but it has unfortunately become a way of functioning when we travel with her.



"C'mon Alaaaaaz! We will see so many beautiful things around!"  

"I don't want to see anything."

The Puente de Suspiros (bridge of sighs) is a small bridge in Barranco with a legend attached to it: a wealthy man's daughter fell in love with a poor street sweeper. Her father forbade the union, and she lived out her days waiting at her window for a glimpse of her beloved. Those who walked across the bridge could hear her plaintive sighs. I could definitely hear the plaintive sighs but not the legend's, my daughter's 




Many of the colonial houses in Barranco. 
She gets excited when she gets closer to the ocean.




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Now that she plays with the sand she is very happy. But I'm already thinking how to convince her to walk back up. Do you see the steep hill in the background of the photograph above


Parenthood is like facing waves of the ocean everyday. Some days the waves are bigger some days they are smaller. You can be washed away by them, duckdive in them, or best of all of surf on them but one thing is for sure you can never escape from them.

Bingoooo, on the way to Trujillo
January 8, 2013


                                                                    - Mom, does the sun live inside the sea?
                                              

We could stay one more week in Lima and that wouldn't be enough for us to fully experience Lima. But we have so much more to see. We're on our way to Trujillo with Cruz Del Sur buses which are extremely comfortable with wi-fi, food service and clean toilettes. The bus ride will be about 9 hours. Kaya has her mother's breast and Alaz has her iPad so we're set to go.











As soon as we get out of Lima, the nature takes over.









Tunca wins the Bingo played on the bus: a free ticket from Trujillo to Lima. Youppiee







Let's go back to sleep now.