Leaving Lima

Days 1-3 have consisted of getting a feel for the hustle and bustle of smoggy Lima and falling in love with a family of new friends. Background- a couple of years ago as my (Taylor's) mom was getting ready to fly home from a trip to Cuzco, she struck up a random conversation with a woman named Rosa, who was working in the airport. Rosa offered up her home and the next time my mom came through on her way to Cuzco (where she also had new friends), she got to meet Rosa's whole family. Now it was our turn to stay with them, so when we landed Monday night, Rosa and her husband Miguel were waiting in the crowd at the airport with a big sign that read ¨Friends Melissa and Taylor!¨

Our gracious hosts gave us a room to ourselves and have cooked us some delicious dishes such as lomo saltado (essentially steak and fries) and ceviche (fish in a rich lime-juice and chili sauce that cooks it chemically; otherwise it's raw). We met a whole slew of the neighborhood kids and got to play futbol and a street game called kiwi with them. They were adorable and loving. Now we're about to hop a bus down to Tacna, by the Chilean border. Should be about a 20 hr ride. See you in Chile!