My buddy gave me directions out of town. Did well and rather easy. My thought's about "seeing some sights" Pure stupidity!!! The most boring drive I have taken in my life. NOTHING and I mean NOTHING but rolling hills and desert terrain. If Mother Nature calls don't even think about waiting for a tree, bush or even a shrub to hide behind. Occasionally follow the shoreline, some real poverty stricken villages. A few were a little more modern. With only two hours sleep finding a radio station that played nothing but American Rock and Roll was god sent. Oh........their idea of "Rock and Roll" includes Cyndi Lauper and such. If you can struggle thru that it wasn't too bad. No problem finding gas, but keep the smelling salts close by. Nearly $30 American to fill that little car. Good side they surely didn't have all the air pollution devices American cars have. The mileage was terrific. 5 or 6 tollbooths along the way, pay 3 to 6 soles. Most were free heading north but had to pay heading south.

Pisco was easy to find just a couple of turns and about 2-21/2 hour drive. Be careful if you decide to ask directions. Asked one guy, mid 20's told me straight ahead. Suddenly my little voice spoke. Turned around asked 3 people at the bus stop. Guy had me heading in the wrong direction. Shortly after that a trucker verified the previous information. Not sure why, but there was police posts every 30 minutes or so. Like Lima the laws are not obeyed. 80Km speed zone, I'm doing 90 a bus and another care passes me. I sped up, doing 100KM. next thing I know the bus, car and eventually myself pass a cop. Cop was doing the speed limit. No problem! Doing nearly 110 during the pass and they never blinked. So was able to make good time.

Finally made it to Pisco. I always said there is a fine line between courage and stupidity. Might be crossing the line onto the "stupidity" side. Foreign country, poor grasp of the language, heading into a town I don't know, no hotel reservations. It's daylight, windows up, doors locked and getting a little nervous. Feel the "gringo target" growing on my back. Not a nice section of town. Was told there were parts of Pisco that were nice, but spent the next hour or so lost/wondering and trying to find the nice section or get out of this town. Finally saw a sign for Paracas. Small town my friends recommended. 20 Km to the south. Salida a la izquierda rapido!!

Not really sure you can even call Paracas a town or even village. Nothing more than a port for locals who make a living fishing and a stop over point for tour buses. It seems to be more for the high society Peruvians and their "summer homes". Found a yacht club and some real nice homes away from the little port. This would be a nice place to get away for quiet, relaxing and even romantic times. Be sure to take company with you!! There seemed to be one small club and not much more. Finding company might be impossible, difficult at the least.

Once I parked a young lad approached and offered to watch my car. So many people around I'm sure it would be safe, hell for 2 soles help the kid out. For 5 soles he would also wash the car. Did a terrific job. I was real impressed. Paid him 7 soles, nothing wrong with sucking up to the locals and having a buddy in town. Chatted a bit and told me about different tours in the area and seemed to be a good kid. Wondered around a bit and I mean a bit as not much to see. Checked out the menus of 5 or 6 restaurants that lined the street. If you don't like seafood your in trouble. Had visions of ordering a meal, a young lad runs out the back door, goes to the pier, buys the fish and hurries back. Hey, can't get much fresher than that! A note on the cars. The security systems are different from anything I've experienced. Assuming they work different if the keys are in the ignition, they arm themselves. Engine off, doors shut after a minute or so the alarm sets it's self. This includes locking the doors. If you're like me and have a habit of throwing the keys under the front seat you might find yourself in a bad situation. No, I didn't lock myself out. I did learn about the system while getting gas. When I saw the doors were locked my heart did jump for a moment.

Found Hotel Paracas. If you really want to impress a chica this would be the place. Hotel Paracas did not check out the website. Phone number 445-9376 447-0781. Easy to find many billboard size signs. Very nice place. $50 a night single, $80 double. Surely expensive for getting out of the big town, very nice and surely out of reach of most Peruvians.






Inside the hotel there is a fella who will help you with tours. He took me on a tour of Tambo Colorado. Inca Indian ruins. Was $20 American. Much to my surprise we took my rental car and a 45-minute drive to the site. Better off getting directions and going alone. 6 soles entry fee once you get there. I had some knowledge about the Inca Indians. Only thing I got from this fella was "es mystery" and his sense of humor "Jacuzzi" he was a total waste of money, but interesting to visit. If your interested in seeing some restored ruins and a much better tour there is a place about an hour south of Lima. I'm sure the spelling is off but.......Parchomente?

Decide to get a hotel, 4PM 2 hours of sleep and I'm exhausted. Chose Hotel Condor, have no idea where and the hell I put their business card. Just down the road from Hotel Paracas. Real quite and small place, private beach, dock, use of a boat. Just don't go too far with it. Little old for my liking. View was terrific from my room. $50 a night included breakfast. The photos of the beach were taken from the patio outside my room.





Left a wake up call for 7PM. Thought about heading to town, if that's what you want to call it. Maybe my little buddy might be able to hook me up. Phone rang, took a big stretch to wake up. Well that "wake up stretch" lasted until 11 PM. Did head to town. On my way to the car a guard confronted me, realized I was a guest. Place was locked up and he patrolled all night. Had to open the gate to let me out. Guy was even wired (aka armed, packing a pistol.) Absolutely nothing in that so-called town. Drove the road to Pisco might see something and did, enough that I got outa there quick. Was able to catch a little more sleep before heading out on another tour I had setup. Getting a chica into either of these places might be difficult if not impossible. Did find a place right near the pier. Hotel Ballestas. Avenida Paracas Mz. D L9 545-089. Phone number is right, once outside Lima the phone numbers use only 6 digits. Rooms were small, double bed and just enough room to walk around. Clean and not bad at all. total cost $10 American per night. You'll pass this place before you get to Hotel Paracas, best bet to sneak a gal into. Young fella at the desk might even be able to help.



4 or 5 other hotels in the area that seemed nice. One just before you turn right towards the town? Don't bother, looks a WHOLE lot better from the outside.

From what I've read, Pisco is an interesting place to visit en route to the Nazca lineas and Arequipa, but I have not heard much on the 'hunting' that is available there. The nearby reserves are named the Paracas Nation Reserve (with flamingos seen in Peru's summer season) and the Ballestas Islands. Of course, one thing not to miss (while in Pisco) is the Pisco sour.

From what I have heard, if you were to plan on driving the same distance north or east, there seems to be some opportunities in Huaraz, Huanuco, Tingo Maria, and Huancayo. Here's a break-down from the little that I can provide:

(1) Huaraz: There seem to be a number of clubs available such as Blue Sky, El Tambo, Las Kenas, Cascada bar, and a number of other clubs. Just meeting a gf as you've done in Lima seems to also be a viable option.
(2) Huanuco: a few places near the Plaza de Armas.
(3) Tingo Maria: a jungle town with a few clubs available.
(3) La Oroya: another clubs clubs.
(4) Huancayo: another town that is similar to Huanuco but a touch larger.

If you're willing to drive even further down, I've read some good things about Arequipa as well. Anyways, I hope that things go well for you down there. Thanks for your postings.

P.S. What is the best way to reach Amilcar? I have tried to e-mail him, but he has been very vague to me and hasn't agreed to meeting up with me. Is it a trust issue or is there anything that I need to mention to him - to get his attention?

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Also, when you head back to Lima, it might be interesting to take a look at a couple other places. What about taking an early evening venture into the Trocadero on Avenida Argentina, taking a visit to a number of the Banos Turcos, visiting Hotel Bruce's massage parlor, or laying down some cash for a more recent look at the Suites of Barranco?

(Message edited by play274 on January 29, 2003)

Lizzy for BA, lady #10 from www.escorts-argentina.com is from Arequipa. She told me that she sends most of the money she makes in BA to a bank is Peru.

Hard to imagine banks in Peru being better then banks in BA. Sounds like something out of Saturday Night Live.

I stay Hotel Paracas a couple of years ago. I thought that it was one of the nicest places that I have ever visited. Nothing to do there but enjoy the sun, drink beer, or read a book.

You did not mention anything about womer there so I presume that there were not.

Food in Hotel Paracas was pretty good as I remember.

Another thing to do here is to take the boat tour out to some of the bir sancuaries off the cost.

Again, Paracas is a great place to visit.

CP

Play274

Nasca, is a long ways, about 4 hours. Not sure if I'd do that again. surely flights are cheap, go that way if anyone wants to try it. What I saw the town is not that developed. Fluent Spanish might be a nesessity.

Arequipa, anyone who tries that drive might need to be commited. I'm sure it's similiar to the drive to Nasa, except at least 4 hours longer.

Ballestas Island, if you go anywhere near Pisco or Paracas it's a must. It's mother nature at her purest and a splendid view.

Amilicar, not sure he's wanting to do the chica thing much more or at least any new contacts. Yes he will and needs to be vague. Has other business and activites, getting to well known might hurt the other aspects of his life.

Trocadero, tell me more!!!

Banos Turcos, yes plan on visiting more on my next visit. Hotel Bruse been there, expensive service low quality. The other services were terrific, sauna, jacuzzi and such. Nice way to relax and unwind after a long trip.

Suites, EVERYONE says that is where the hot ones hang out. Of course the higher the quality..... Other places I would like to check out, but should someone decide to sponsor a trip.....I'm willing to file a report.

Eastcoastdude ... on the topic of The Trocadero, tell you more? Of course man! It would be my pleasure to tell you more. Okay, so here's what I know about TROCADERO (from what some friends and old reports tell me):

The Trocadero is on located on Avenida Argentina in Callao. It is open from 5pm to around 9pm (some reports have stated 11pm, but I've heard that it's unwise to be there that late) ... with peak activity at around 7pm. If you're going to head over there, ALWAYS take a taxi ... and don't expect to wander around the neighborhood; as you've mentioned, Callao can be dangerous. All one needs to do is simply tell the taxi driver to go to the Trocadero on Ave. Argentina in Callao (mention 'chongo' if they're still confused); the ride should cost around 10-15 nuevos soles for each way. The entrance fee to the place is 13 nuevo soles (a little less than $4US).

There are about 100 girls to choose from with the average price always being less than 40 nuevos soles ... usually around 15 nuevos soles per quickie (20 minutes); if you're gonna take more than 20 minutes, you should try to pay more (ie. double). As Dan had mentioned (on the general Peru posting board), it's akin to being in a Fellini movie. Of note, in a practical sense, it would be a good idea to (1) not bring a watch or any other valuables, (2) bring nuevos soles rather than US dollars - Americans do not go to these places, and (3) dress inconspicuously in a t-shirt and jeans.

The girls have been mentioned to range from a scale of 1 to 8. It is has been mentioned as being one of the only legal brothels in the city, and all the girls are supposed checked regularly for disease. Apparently, it's a quite an experience ... with different girls trying to lure you by flashing and even allowing you to touch their breasts.

A similar but smaller brothel call El Nene is in the neighborhood (which taxi drivers also know about), and it usually has about 25 girls. As you've mentioned, Las Cucardas is also in the neighborhood.

It has been mentioned that local combi services and taxis leave from The Trocadero, as well.


That's what I know, and I hope it helps. Hopefully, we'll get more information on this place after the spring! (yeah baby!)

Thanks for the info

Not sure if I want to visit a place that I need to watch my valuables while inside. Little too risky for me.

big reason I liked Los Cuscades, felt any nationality would be safe once inside. if I get a lot of courage might check it out.