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Short Stay Miraflores

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scumbuster
  2/8/2016 08:43 EST

Will be doing a short get away the end of the month. Will be staying in Miraflores for about 8 days. In general will be checking the cost of things and checking out some local touristy things. Any recommendations. Its kinda a scouting trip to check out Peru for future relocation. I certainly will not be making any decisions about relocating yet. Just a first investigatory trip.

pistachio
  2/8/2016 10:43 EST

well, Miraflores is a very nice place in Lima,, it is not Representative of Peru.
Another very fine area is San Isidro, worth a drive through.
Surco is more than notable and is in the general area of the US Embassy near Polo ave.
Outside of Miraflores and in the local area is a neighborhood called Barranco, it is the party place and kinda like East Village in NYC., an attraction there is the Bridge of Sighs and you will enjoy a calming walk there.
The premiere Mall in Lima is Lacomar right on the ocean. It is an excellent mall, large and it could be in NY or any other major city and would be regarded as Excellent.
Also you can ask but in Lima is a park in a City Busy area that is a sanctuary for Cats. I mean,, the cats know it and there are a billion cats that hang there.. It is really a special place and quite an interesting phenomena.
You will need a Taxi from the Airport to Lima. The airport is really in Callao and is a good ride to Lima proper. This ride should cost you around 50s/. maybe 60 tops......
Safeguard your Entry Receipt / you will need it on your return
Eight days goes fast.....have a great trip........
next time,, Trujillo would be a good next adventure......and of course Huanchaco.....

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Alpineprince
  2/14/2016 22:16 EST

I live in Miraflores and concur with the prior poster. You should try a few "menu places" for lunch for 15 soles as these are where Peruvians eat there main meal of the day. Plaza Vea on Arequippa will give you a good idea on grocery store prices, Wong and Vivanda are higher end but more convenient. The market in Surquillo is a good place to shop for your "Fresh Items" (Via Expressa and Ricardo Palma). During the day it is pretty hot but a night time walk along the Malecon or Jose Pardo is delightful. Cross ventilation and some windows facing the Ocean is a must or humidity will be a problem. Avoid streets where buses and combis are allowed.

scumbuster
  2/15/2016 05:54 EST

Thanks to both for your advice. I will be there late Saturday. Looks like I picked the hottest time of the year to go.

scumbuster
  2/15/2016 06:00 EST

BTW.. Does anyone know if there is an ATM in the airport? I will be in late at night and not really wanting to hit an ATM late at night with a taxi.

pistachio
  2/15/2016 07:52 EST

Probably there are ATM's, I hope you let your bank know you are traveling out of the States. Otherwise the transaction may cancel because of suspected fraud.
ok, I am sure your carrying some cash. There are money exchangers for $, €, s/. in any direction.
Expect ABOUT 3.4 soles per $

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pistachio
  2/15/2016 08:20 EST

This is the Season and here it is full blown Summer. Really it is comfortable all year around but in terms of activity and energy,,, this is it !

If you come across 'menu' for lunch.
[first, dinner don't exist, even many restaurants are closed in the evening. The main meal of the day is Lunch / almuerza / and the world stops between 12 and 2. Even workers get a LONG time to Lunch. But,, you will find that most stores are open till 8 or nine]
ok, back to menu...... that is for a complete meal,,, usually, an entrance and a main course, a beverage and sometimes a desert. Menu varies for amount of soles but it is a complete package.

pistachio
  2/15/2016 08:34 EST

AP
please elaborate on your closing sentence: "Avoid streets where buses and combis are allowed."
It could sound that those streets are dangerous or something, Why avoid these streets?
Ps....I have seen cars going the wrong way in lanes, always double parking, taxis stop anywhere anytime not even pulling over, cars driving on sidewalks, motorcycles with 3 and 4 people on it sometimes children sandwiched in the middle, all with no helmets.... most tires are bald even on municipal vehicles, cars with no tail lights or brake lights,,, many headlamps out or stuck on high beams, many many road hazards,,, lots of potholes,,,,typical for a driver in the leftmost lane to just make a right turn or the reverse and just jump out in front of you without any warning forget about signaling.... and drivers will ALWAYS crowd you to demand their Right Of Way .....
So:
I don't think you can find a street where even if combis [ vans used as shared taxis ] or buses are not allowed and you wouldn't find them .... !
Everyone honks all the time without reason... after a while, you pay no attention......

Yeah,, do not play in the traffic. Pedestrians are like bowling pins,, be careful.

I haven't spoken about country trips and the cliffs,,, another time,,, Yikes !

Alpineprince
  2/17/2016 20:58 EST

In Miraflores the streets that do not allow buses.micro's,combi's, are less noisy, less people,hence, more desirable.

CoogKelly
  4/4/2016 22:56 EST

Pistachio... you mention mountain driving.

What are the (accepted) rules? If any. I guess there are hundreds of steeps and switch-backs. I will need to get my container (yes) from Callao to somewhere in the highland jungle. I think that I might have to pilot this journey.
The rule of the jungle? In NAm I think it is accepted that uphill traffic has the rights, downhills yield...
My Gf told me it is like 20-25 hrs to drive Lima to Tarapoto. Iquitos might be my final destination - or somewhere else high elev'n... 7000 ft to avoid Zika threats. Tarapoto is way lower elev'n than where I live now.
Is there another Mtn range between Tara-Moyo up to Iquitos and other outposts to the south??
Send to: [email protected]
TYVM, P.

Alpineprince
  4/5/2016 12:27 EST

Tarapota is only 1168 ft above sea level. Look into Oxapampa which is about 5-6,000 ft above sea level and 8 hour drive to Lima.

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pistachio
  4/10/2016 09:52 EST

Can't Say much about the inroads of Peru...
The roads are pretty unforgiving....

I once made a trip, well tried to from Trujillo to Otusco,, I eventually turned around... those cliffs really humbled me...

I have gone up and down the coast,, flat ,, no cliffs,, all the way to Tumbes at the Ecuadorian frontier,, no probs....

I could write a couple of chapters about the experiences with buses and cars in a hurry, passing on curves.... single lanes on high passes... cliff collapses,,,,, buses passing you on curves drafting you first,, or meeting a bus head on coming at you lumbering and topheavy around curves... YOU GOT NO PLACE TO GO....
WEIGHT IS THE DOMINATING PRINCIPLE,,, THEY PUSH, HONK AND IMTIMIDATE EVERYWHERE BUT ON THE CLIFFS ,,,,, wao!... Life and death...
The turns around the mountains are hairpin and there is gravel and loose rock on the pavement [ IF it is not a loose dirt unpaved road ] so traction is minimal.... Worse,, when I have decided to buy new tires because I thought the tread was low on my car in the past,,, HERE they are thinking they are just breaking in.....
Worse,, the safety conditions of the vehicles are DEPLORABLE....
If you set out a NYS Trooper inspection or weight station roadside inspecting vehicle.. 98 % would be impounded and towed
Did I mention night driving.. ha!.. one headlight or none,,, oncoming brights with no courtesy even after flashing,, if you get courtesy usually there is only one light working or sometimes not...
Tail Light,, forgettabout it... they are optional... brake lights,, Ha!.......
Sometime white lights at back of vehicle blinding you all the time.....

Did I mention Road Hazards!....

I better stop now but you can see this could go on for a while.....

Hell,, I have seen frequently three people on a motorcycle,, with a kid sandwiched in the middle - all no helmets,, I have seen up to five... wao!

Folks pass you on the left,, right,, on the right road bed sometimes.. that is if there is a road bed....

Drives time their motion to not hit you so you never know if they are going to stop, yield or hit you... this is done to pedestrians to....

Drivers will make a sudden left turn from the farthest right land as if it is the law of the land.. cutting off the drivers without a second of hesitation..

ok,, that's it,,, there is more but I won't go on......

I'm sure you get the idea....

I have seen commerical truck with rear wheel so untrue that it does the mario palm tree dance....

I have seen carsfrequently without doors or glass......

Speed bumps are he rule of the highways and roads,,, there is no confoming standard,, some send you in to the air or bottom out the car....

they are umarked so you hit them IN THE DAY,, at night,, Your Gonna hit them...

People decide where to and how to put a speed bump most of the time,, it is not some Highway authority that does,, that is If there is some kind of authority for roadways....

ok,,, okokok,,,

so,, better the airport for travel when you have to go far...in the mountains

pistachio

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