Even though I slept until 1 p.m. Peruvian time (2 hours head of Pacific Standard Time), I still managed to explore a little. Lima is beautiful. Michael tells me that the district we’re in, Miraflores, is the most affluent which explains why the streets are pretty much impeccably clean and it feels very safe here.
I can see the ocean from the rooftop pool of Michael’s apartment complex. It’s misty and slightly foggy here which reminds me of San Francisco, but instead of a chilly 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s about a steady comfortable 70 all day and night.
Michael made me get a gym pass for the one week we’re here in Lima before Machu Picchu. He didn’t want me hanging out at the apartment by myself while he worked out. I was all for a half hour spent leisurely walking on the treadmill with a good magazine, but he challenged me to go to a spin class. I used to do spin all the time, but that was back at UCLA, a good three years ago when my endurance was great and my calves were muscled and large. This class was ridiculously hardcore. I think the instructor meant to keep our butts from touching the seat the entire 45 minutes.
A little trip to what Michael’s termed “Peru Whole Foods” revived me enough so I could hold out until our 10 p.m. dinner. 
Chica morada is a classic Peruvian beverage. It’s non-alcoholic and made out of purple corn juice. I ate a kernel of the real stuff just to see what it would taste like. Cardboard. But the liquid stuff is sweetened and deliciously refreshing. And I always want to see if it turns my tongue purple. So far, nothing.
Michael took me to Brujas de Cachiche for a late dinner. I love that dining late is a cultural thing here. There were tons of people taking their time even at midnight when we left. Brujas is supposed to be one of the top ten restaurants in all of Peru. Ceviche, pisco sours, crawfish chowder, and two desserts were a delicious way to celebrate seeing one another again.
The route we took on our walk back to the apartment led us right by this park that was full of cats. So many cats. They were all pretty friendly and adorable.
Makes me miss Miaosie and Cleopatra.
xoxo,
Jenn
