Really spanning about 40 hours.
Hello everyone. RT here. There's going to be some boring stuff until I get to the girls. Please bear with me.
My flight for Lima leaves Miami at 11:30 on Monday night. I upgraded using miles, so check in and waiting for the plane is a snap. For my money, the First Class lounge in MIA isn't worth paying to join, but for free, it's worth every cent. We board on time and then sit in the plane and take off at 12:45. I actually slept for three or four hours, so I wasn't a total mess when we landed five hours later.
LIMA AIRPORT: 12° 01' 516" S, 77° 06' 510" W
Getting through immigration wasn't bad (TIP: there are two lines -- use the one on the left. There were four clerks. The line on the right only had two, plus the one for for crew and special VIPs). Immediately after clearing Immigration, there is an ATM on the immediate left. I took out 500 soles (about $150) to have some capital. While waiting, I also changed $20 at the cambio right next to the luggage carousel. They only paid 3.4 to a dollar, but it was hassle-free. Now you know.
I got through customs without a search (it is press the button and red, they search you; green, they don't) and was looking for the ride from the hotel in a total of 50 minutes from landing. There were hundreds of guys wanting to drive me to town. Taxis are cheap here, and there's a lot of competition. I couldn't find the hotel guy, so I asked one of the free-lancers how much to Miraflores. He said $20. I said no, thanks and started to walk. He said $10 (The hotel charges $15) and I said, let's go.
The ride was about 20-25 minutes, through an OK area, passing a lot of casinos. It was 6 in the morning, so there was no traffic. A good thing, as there aren't many traffic laws that are followed here, as far as I can tell. We arrive at the Hotel Las Palmas at 7:30 body time (6:30 Lima time)
HOTEL LAS PALMAS:
Calle Bellavista 320, Miraflores
(51-1) 444-6033
12° 07' 323" S, 77° 01' 922" W
(Click here for Hotel Las Palmas discussion)
There are many top-rate, name brand hotels in Lima. Las Palmas is not one of them. What it is, is clean, centrally-located, inexpensive, and monger-friendly. I have their best room (a suite). It has a king size bed, carpeting, a bathroom with a jacuzzi and a restaurant, and all for $54, including tax. The safe is by reception, and cost $2 per day additional. I check in without issue, and go up to my room. The bellhop took my bag up while I was signing papers, and was back down before I finished. No one hit me up for a tip.
I unpack, shower (plenty of hot water and pressure) and grab a couple of hours sleep. By 9 or so, I am at the front desk with my map, asking for some directions. Supermarket? Aero Continente (have to confirm my flight to the convention), Internet cafe? Cell phone store (if they're cheap, I will get one)? Map in hand, I set off on my first recon mission.
I like supermarkets because it gives me a feel for what things cost and how people live. Things are pretty much on a par with Costa Rica, I found. In other words, expensive. I got some water for the refrigerator in my room. Across from the supermarket, I saw the Hotel Bruce, which my reports said was the home of both a casino and Turkish Bath. How convenient! Taking care of my in-Peru plane tickets was a snap, as was finding an internet place (they're everywhere and are about $1/hour).
Everyone I asked told me to go to 'Ripley´s' for my cell phone.
RIPLEY: 12° 07' 367" S, 77° 01' 827" W
Ripley is this big-ass department store right off the parks. More like a Sears than a Nordstrom. They sell EVERYTHING except groceries. In fact, there were three cell phone companies represented there. It wasn't cheap. Just a SIM card for my existing cell phone was going to run about $90, plus usage. Too much for the week, so I passed. Things were not inexpensive there, and were (seemingly randomly) priced in either dollars or soles. Strangely, Ripley doesn't open until 11 am. Gotta love these Latin countries. I return to the hotel to drop off the water and make my plans.
Back home, I get the addresses of a couple of incall joints. I wanted to do the first stop quick and dirty, sort of to get my feet wet. I plot out three places on my map (two from trip reports and one from an ad in the paper). They're a little spread out, but what the hell, it was nice out and I know how to walk. It turns out that Kennedy and Central Parks are right around the corner from my hotel, as is Pizza Alley.
KENNEDY & CENTRAL PARKS: 12° 07' 211" S, 77° 01' 776" W
PIZZA ALLEY: 12° 07' 335" S, 77° 01' 884" W
Pizza Alley
Kennedy & Central Parks are side-by-side in the center of Miraflores. They're well-kept, and have vendors and festivals and stuff at night, I hear. Pizza Alley is a 'T'-shaped street of restaurants and bars/clubs, a little touristy, but nice and friendly. The restaurants lean towards Italian, but seafood is a big item here as well. Every restaurant has a tout or two waving menus at you to get you to eat there. Some of the touts are pretty, and it is fun practicing your Spanish and letting them practice their English with you. I think that I could have gotten a couple of the girls' numbers, but it was my first day, and I didn't want to make an error right away, so I erred on the side of caution. No 'stares' yet. I hope that I know when I see one.
I spend the next two hours walking all around Miraflores, looking for incall places. One place was now an office, one could have been where it was supposed to, but when I called from downstairs, my Spanish was sorely lacking and the third place (from the ad) was an empty lot. I am beginning to think that now that I was out of my comfort zones, I might be in over my head. Maybe I didn't do enough research, maybe I should have stuck to the tried and true. I hope not, but time will tell. The only saving grace to the walk was that I found a Starbucks and stopped in for a refreshing Venti beverage. Starbucks was on the Miraflores/San Isidro border. San Isidro isn't bad either, I hear.
STARBUCKS COFFEE:
Ovalo Gutierrez, San Isidro
12° 01' 516" S, 77° 06' 510" W
Enough is enough. I have a taxi take me to the Hotel Bruce, the place by the supermarket that has the Turkish Bath.
HOTEL & CASINO BRUCE:
Avenues Jose Pardo & Bolognesi
12° 07' 206" S, 77° 02' 182" W
(Click here for Hotel & Casino Bruce discussion)
If you enter the Casino entrance, the casino is on your left. Straight ahead is a staircase. Go downstairs and make a right. There's a receptionist. She asks your name, gives you a key for a locker and points you to the locker room. You enter, get undressed and lock up your stuff. The attendant gives you a towel. You then have two choices: go into the bath area or head straight for the massages. I went to the right, into the baths and headed for the steam room. In a very nice touch, there was fresh fruit on the steamer. The room smelled great. I made friends with the one guy there. He was impressed that I was in the country for the first time and less than 8 hours later, I was in a bath house. He said that where we were was OK, but I should check out the Banos Turkos Palace before I left. The best facilities, food, and attention, he said. I cooled down a little, and showered, ready for my massage.
My buddy was in the waiting room, which had comfy lounge chairs, a television and a bar. I ordered a club soda, and relaxed. My new amigo told me that I had to walk down the massage aisle and pick the masseuse that I wanted. He checked for me, and found out that aside from the massage fee, full service should run about $60. After finishing my soda, I walk the gauntlet. There were about ten chicas, all dressed in short black outfits, and all attractive. True to form, I picked the pretty, scared-looking one, and we went into her 'office'.
She started on the massage (good and thorough). After I turned over, she asked if I wanted anything else. Si, I replied. She quoted me $100. I told her that the going rate was $60. We couldn't agree, so I told her to just finish the 40-minute massage. She did, and it was excellent. After, I signed a slip for the massage and added a $6 tip.
I showered again and got dressed. Back to the desk to pay. The total was $33. Not bad for an afternoon, but not what I was looking for.
A cab was waiting outside, so I asked the driver to take me to the Banos Turkos Windsor in San Isidro. This place was well-reviewed elsewhere. I was getting desperate and frustrated by this point.
BANOS TURKOS WINDSOR:
Av. San Miguel Dasso 156, San Isidro
Tel: 4-401050
12° 06' 385" S, 77° 02' 435" W
(Click here for Banos Turkos Windsor discussion)
OK, so now I have been in two Turkish Baths in my life, but this was the best Turkish Bath I had ever been in. It was HUGE, had a restaurant, dozens of people coming and going and a zillion attendants. The posted prices were slightly higher, but nothing to be concerned with.
I did the usual: steam, sauna, lay out and rest. The rest area was awesome. Long recliners with attendants to cover you with towels. It just kicked ass. I finally wandered over to the massage area. It turned out that I should have set up a scheduled time. It distressed them, but they cut me some slack and assigned me the one girl who was on break. She was about thirty, attractive, and decked out in a white nurse’s outfit (sort of). We go to the massage room (not as private as at Bruce), where she tells me that massages are sold in 30-minute increments. I choose an hour and she goes to town and gives a killer massage. Towards the end of the hour, she is circling towards Mr. Disappointed, and asks if I want a massage there as well. Sure, I say. She tells me that I should tip her. I said of course, without discussing money.
Once the HR and balance of the massage was finished, I put my towel back on and was presented with the slip to sign. I asked what was a fair tip, she looked at me in horror, and was ecstatic when I added $15. After another shower, I got dressed and paid my tab. The cost here, including everything: $55.43.
I don't know how I was feeling at this point. On one hand, something finally happened. On the other hand, maybe I was in over my head. I go back to the hotel to rest up before dinner and the night's activities. I operate better at night, I hoped.
At about 8 pm, I walk through Pizza Alley again (more populated, but still no 'stares') and then get a taxi to take me to the Costa Verde Restaurant for dinner.
COSTA VERDE RESTAURANT:
Playa Barranquito S/N Entrda 'A'
Tel: 477-6377
12° 08' 380" S, 77° 01' 695" W
(Click here for Costa Verde Restaurant discussion)
Costa Verde is famous for their seafood. In fact, their Sunday Buffet is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for biggest variety. It was a $1.70 cab ride to Costa Verde. If I was a cabbie, I wouldn't do it for $10. The roads sucked big time. It was a little early for dinner in Lima (things start late there), but the boss lady sat me down, told me that the buffet was Sunday only, and talked to me about what I wanted. I wound up with a seafood assortment -- both hot and cold that was very good, ranging from cebiche to a mixed seafood salad to scallops in their shell, baked with cheese. It was my only dish, and I walked away full and satisfied. The tab only ran to $18.57, including soda and an extra tip. RECOMMENDED, probably the Sunday deal would kill you. They called a cab for me to a casino, and the boss lady recommended the Marriott Casino, next to Larco Mar. Perfect, I thought.
MARRIOTT HOTEL & CASINO/LARCO MAR MALL:
At the end of Avenue Jose Larco and the ocean
12° 07' 896" S, 77° 01' 775" W
(Click here for Marriott Hotel & Casino/Larco Mar Mall discussion)
The Marriott is big, shiny and expensive. The casino is not all that; I think the hostess at the restaurant was watching out for the 'tourista'. The tables were dollars only, and the Blackjack was a $5 minimum. Before heading to the mall, I walked to two other nearby casinos, the Casino Miraflores (across the street) and the La Hacienda Hotel & Casino (four blocks away).
LA HACIENDA HOTEL & CASINO:
Av. 28 de Julio 511, Miraflores
(511) 213-1000
12° 07' 604" S, 77° 01' 766" W
(Click here for La Hacienda Hotel & Casino discussion)
Both of these casinos were dollars only, but the Casino Miraflores had a $1 blackjack table and the Hacienda had a $3 minimum, so I was loving life. To add to the excitement, I won some money at both places. Time to head to Larco Mar to go hunting, I decided.
I get halfway to the mall when I realize that I didn't reclaim camera that they made me check. Walking back, it happens. I get the stare. Three pretty girls are walking towards Larco Mar. One of them looks me right in the eyes from a distance of 20 feet, and continues to stare me down the entire time we approach. It was a little off-putting, but to the point. I smiled as we passed, and we both kept on going. Yes, I knew it when I saw it.
Thus energized, I headed to Larco Mar. This is your standard mall, with movie theaters, shops, restaurants, etc. It is, however, on the cliffs overlooking the ocean and is beautiful. I didn't find my girls, but there were other prospects there. So maybe this was doable after all.
I cab back to the hotel (shaking off some begging children), and drop off my camera and GPS before heading to Tequila Rock for my nighttime date. I had already located it earlier, and was pretty sure that they would not be happy with the camera in the disco. Tequila Rock was a less than 5 minute walk, right through central park.
TEQUILA ROCK:
Diez Canseco 146, Miraflores
Phone 427-7128 / 444-3661
12° 07' 335" S, 77° 01' 771" W
(Click here for Tequila Rock discussion)
OK, I was in my element now. It was about midnight. I bypassed the cover charge by using the coupon in a tourist magazine I picked up somewhere, and headed down the steps. To your immediate left is a bar. To the far left, tables and booths. In front of you, a dance floor. And to the right, more tables and another bar. I enter and make a left to the end of the bar. Oh yeah, and about 50 chicas, all attractive and ranging from about 20-30 years old, and maybe 25 guys, and a few tourist couples.
The feel was reminiscent of the Blue Marlin in San Jose. This I could deal with. Now, if stares were daggers, I would be a bloody mess. I smile and keep moving, settling down at an unoccupied spot of the bar, just enjoying the view. If these girls weren't insane on price, it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.
After 5 minutes, I am approached by a pretty, young Oriental-looking girl. We have the standard conversation (on vacation, alone, American, no wife, etc.). I buy her a drink, the thigh rubbing starts... too easy, I think. Stay away from the sharks, I remember. But she's pretty, and kisses good. I let her bring up the topic of leaving. My standard line is that I'm looking for a girlfriend for the entire night (it sounds better in Spanish, trust me). This usually weeds out the girls in a rush. She answers that she's looking for the same thing and kisses me again. What could I do? We finish our drinks and leave.
Walking to the hotel, she brings up the ugly issue of money, quoting me $100 for all night. I act outraged, and she immediately drops down to $80. There was probably a better deal to be made, but I wasn't haggling over another $10 or so. I agree, telling her that there is a propina in the cards for her if I have a good time.
We get back to the room, shoot a few (clothed) photos, and get down to business. I had an excellent time and it appeared that she did, too. Everything was covered, but that's not a deal breaker for me. We fall asleep, her at least $80 richer and me knowing that this trip can work out as I had hoped.
Photos: Paola 1 Paola 2
We wake up at 7:30, have a second go-round. I give her a $20 tip, take her phone number, and she goes on her way. All in all, a fine Day 1.
COMING UP WEDNESDAY: I will probably try to figure out the incall scene a little better during the day. Lunch in Pizza Alley, to see what happens. Pappy should be here at about 6 pm, so we'll probably get him settled and fed. I want to go to Club Emmanuelle tonight. It is supposed to be the best of the clubs in Lima, and I want Pappy's first night to be memorable. If all else fails, there's outcall and Tequila Rock to fall back on.
You're right about how they give you a feel for local life. I like walking the aisles and just checking out what is being offered. Jackpot is when you hit a classy deli like is found in many major Mexican markets. Disgusting is when you find a broken down refrigeration unit stuffed with weird looking animal parts. One thing I've noticed about foreign grocery stores is that they usually ring up totals that come to those small coins that are worth fractions of a cent and are rarely seen elsewhere. At the end of every trip I always have a handful of metal worth maybe $.25 or so that ends up in my dresser drawer.