Lima, Peru

So so so. I´m here, I´m scared, I´m excited, I´m surrounded by unfamiliarity, but since it´s only my first day I´m taking it easy. I´m in the little internet cafe attached to the hostel at which I´m staying, and, funny enough, the person running it is listening No Doubt. What a way to make me nostalgic and homesick! If she were playing Spanish music I wouldn´t care.

Anyway, I am here, so there you go. It´s so bizarre being on the other end of the world. Everything is so different. The people here are very friendly and willing to help out with language difficulaties and that kind of thing, but I think it will take a few days before I´m used to being away from everyone at home.

My ride from the airport to the hostel was nuts! Apparently there are no rules to driving here. The hostel employee who picked me up was very nice. He had a beat up ancient car with a busted back window and drove like only a local could drive. A lot of the time there are no lines on the main roads, and when there are lines no one pays attention to them. He was weaving in and out, cutting across 4 lanes at a time, driving through red lights, braking at the last second when approaching other cars from behind... It was a crazy ride but he whizzed me through safe and sound to the hostel.

And what a hostel! It´s this massive 3-story building with ornate carvings, chandeliers, and white busts of random people, statues, a huge macaw that says ¨Hola! Hola!¨, 2 cats, three tortoises roaming around on ropes on the first floor, a little cafe restaurant on the second floor that opens up to the sky, covered in vines and plants, and sorts of wonderful things.

Trying to organize all my stuff and get to bed soundly was a litle stressful when I first arrived at 11.30pm (which felt like 12.30am with the time change) because everyone in my dorm room was sleeping. I had to fumble around with my little flashlight and I think it was the loneliness more than anything that I had a hard time with. This morning was much better after I showered and could organize myself in the light.

I´ve met some good people (who speak English), had a yummy breakfast for 4.5 soles (about CA$1.50), and walked around the Plaza 2 de Mayor with my new friend Mike from Switzerland, after which we watched the changing of the guard at the Government Palace. They change the guard everyday, but there were tons of people, some tourists but mostly locals, who lined the street to watch.

Sitting in my dorm an hour ago I met this guy from Bulgaria (I won´t attempt to spell his name). He´s such a character! I and this French girl who was also there were cracking up at how crazy he is. He´s got this long hair and a wandering, hilarious way of speaking that makes me want to remember him just so he can be a character in a book.

Anyway, I think I´ll stay one or two nights more before I head to Ayacucho. I´ll stay there for a few days before moving onto Cuzco.