Back Home…
I had the chance to head back home for a little over 10 days earlier this September/October and stayed, for the most part, within roughly a 5 mile radius of my home in Miraflores.
My first week there was taken up with family commitments so I was unable to venture out much during the day, but I did manage several afternoon/evening outings to nearby restaurants to enjoy Lima’s famous gastronomy. In the process I managed to visit a couple of my local favorites, including a late lunch at Cebicheria LaMar and dinner at Larcomar’s most excellent Chifa, Maestro Tzu.
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Cebiche Clasico
No trip to Miraflores in Lima is complete without a visit to Cebicheria La Mar
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Chifa
Chifa is the fusion of Cantonese recipes with traditional Peruvian ingredients. Simply delicious…
This trip’s primary purpose was to visit with family. Due to various commitments, I traveled alone. Because of that, I limited the activities I would generally plan with my family and opted to just “hang out” close to home. Still, Miraflores, and the surrounding districts are all walkable and I took the opportunity put on the miles. Over the course of the 10 days I was there I managed nearly 50 miles on foot and just a little under 40 by bike. Here are some of the things I saw…
The Murals
Beyond the gorgeous ocean views and beautiful parks and gardens, Miraflores boasts a great collection of mural art. Here are some of my favorites…
The Valley
Every time I head down to Lima I plan to do at least one bike ride, this time around I opted to visit a classic, Pachacamac. Most people who end up in Pachacamac will often just visit the spectacular ruins along the Panamerican Highway and will seldom venture inland into the Lurin Valley or El Prado and Las Lomas. There are miles of dirt roads and trails along the hills that are both challenging and exhilarating. Below are a couple of snapshots from one of the most iconic trails in the region, el Malpaso, named after the small settlement it traverses. The trail runs along an irrigation channel that follows the contours of a hillside, often high above the river valley. Malpaso requires constant attention, a false step to either side of the trail can have dire consequences…
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Malpaso
Riding over an elevated boardwalk along the Malpaso trail in Pachacamac
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Hillside Safety
Riding along a bench cut on a Pachacamac hillside
A quick video edit of the ride courtesy of GoPro’s Quik App.
A Quik edit of my recent ride along the Malpaso trail in Pachacamac, Lima Peru
The Hills of La Molina
Unfortunately I only had access to a bike for the first weekend of the trip and was unable to take one when I visited La Molina’s Parque Ecolólogico. Despite that, I ventured out for a short (albeit steep and cloudy) hike to see all the work local cyclists have been doing to build new trails in this popular urban destination. My short hike only scratched the surface of what’s available. Below are some dramatic photos and another short video edit courtesy of GoPro’s Quik app. I’m looking forward to my next trip when I can actually ride some of these ribbons.
Getting started
The long switchbacks
Turn with exposure
Start of the expert bike downhill
A quick video edit of the ride courtesy of GoPro’s Quik App.
A Quik edit of my recent ride along the Malpaso trail in Pachacamac, Lima Peru
More Miraflores
A few more snapshots from my daily walks, a slice of life in Miraflores…
Ms. Elizabeth, our local fruit lady
The revitalized "Calle de las Pizzas"
Urban squirrel
Lowering the flag for the night
El Panadero
I took the GoPro out for my “last” walk of the trip, A stroll down El Malecon to El Parque del Amor and up la Bajada Balta…
One More Meal…
And, just like that, the trip was over, but not before I visited one of my favorite traditional Peruvian food restaurants, Panchita. Enjoy, I did…
Got things started with a Pisco Sour and Agua (sin gas)
Papa a La Huancaina to get things rolling
Anticuhos (de corazón) and a Cuzqueña Dorada to wrap up the main meal
Picarones for dessert
An espresso to close things out
This journal entry is a “summary” compilation of entries I made in my Moleskine travel journal. Whenever I travel I bring it along for the ride and jot things down so I don’t forge them. I also bring with me a small Digital Bluetooth Printer so I can print out selected images, some of the ones you see here. The photo paper used on these little Zink printers has an adhesive back so that I can easily peel and paste it in my journal.