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In the last 48 hours I have visited a new continent, rekindled what Spanish I learnt at AS and realised that just because I am in the tropics it doesn´t mean it´ll be sunny 24/7.
The trip that was 6 months in the making started with an emotional goodbye at Gatwick airport as I headed through security. It took a quick flight to Madrid full of spanish schoolkids signing "I´m sexy and I know it" (A fact that I still dispute) before I was on the 12 hour journey to Lima. I slept for the majority of the flight but made time for an episode of How I Met Your Mother and one of The Big Bang Theory before hopping off the plane at Jorge Chavez International Airport.
As soon as I entered the arrivals hall I was greeted by every two seconds saying "Taxi, Taxi". I chose to ignore them and instead headed to the gent´s to change out of jeans and into shorts and a tee in anticipation of all that warm weather I had researched. After a superman-esque turnaround I headed to Miraflores (a district on the southern tip of Lima) with a taxi driver who didn´t understand the concept of speed bumps.
Once in Miraflores I had a look around the various parks which were lovely despite the thick fog (some may even have called it an ethereal haze!) until disaster struck and my camera decided to break. After a bit of deliberation I decided to get a new one at the airport and continued with my day by grabbing some lunch, something called pollo a la leña which was amazing!
By this point the fog had lifted and I headed to another park and just chilled out in the sun for the rest of the afternoon watching various paragliders soaring overhead.
Dinner beckoned so I headed to the aptly named Calle de las pizzas which was hardly Venice but did the job. Plus they had the football on which is always a bonus.
After a good day in Miraflores I finally headed back to the airport to find a new camera and catch the flight to La Paz. By 7 this was all done and with a new Sony in my daysack I headed for a much needed kip at the gate.
In the end, the flight was a blur of sleep, spanish announcements and immigration officers but by 2am I was in my hotel in La Paz and fast asleep.
Thanks to a tiring few days I had a lie in before a solid all you can eat breakfast which I made the most of (I haven´t eaten since). Next up was a call to Granny and a FaceTime session with the family who I enjoyed catching up with after a few days.
This afternoon I have just strolled around La Paz which seems like a great city and is always busy with cars honking and people shouting. Tonight I feel an early night is in order before I fly into the Amazon tomorrow and meet up with the people I will be spending the next few days with.
I hope everyone is well and I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible.
Much love,
Charlie
- comments
Ed Keep the updates coming Charlie, it's a good distraction from revision!
Kurun Agreed :)
Andrea Awesome start Charlie. Reckon you could have an alternative career as a travel blogger after Uni! Stay safe in the Amazon!
Simon Etheridge Simon - Good to hear your all safe and well - Take Care!
Ben more updates please lad!!