No sex today - read at your own risk
I was up and out of the apartment today by 10 am. I decided to walk around the area to see what I could find.
Not far from the apartment, overlooking the highway that goes through town, is the Pacifico Hotel. I had seen it many times, and I found out that they had both fairly inexpensive rooms and a Banos Turcos on site.
Pacifico Hotel
Avenida Paseo de la Republica #4128
Miraflores - 421-9828
12° 06.447' S, 77° 01.626' W
http://www.pacifico-hotel.com/
Well, at least **this** hotel really had a banos! Unfortunately, they said that it didn't open until 11 am, and that I should come back later. I took the opportunity to look at one of their suites. It was a large hotel room, with a couch and TV. The bathroom was very nice. It was all clean. The bed (queen) wasn't up to the standards at the Inkari, and the room faced the street and could get noisy. The refrigerator comes with a free small (airplane size) bottle of Johnny Walker and two sodas. I don't know if it was per day or per stay that you got the free stuff. The price was 150 Soles ($44.78) per night. I can only assume that the price is negotiable for multiple night stays. I didn't ask, but I am guessing that guests would not be a problem, especially as they also offered 12 hour pricing. I wouldn't stay there if there were other available options, but a room not facing the street would be acceptable. And they have a banos turcos in the basement with reasonably-priced chicas.
Across the highway and one block down from the Pacifico was a place called the 'Business Inn'. They had a banner on the side of the building advertising 80 Sol suites, so I stopped in.
Business Inn
Avenida Paseo de la Republica #4411
Miraflores - 241-2814
12° 06.559' S, 77° 01.564 W
They showed me the suite. It wasn't as nice as the Pacifico, but it was half the price. It was clean and the rooms had TVs. Their deal included two beers, and the place claims to have 24-hour room service. They have rooms for as low as 35 Soles for 5 hours (or 45 for overnight), so although I wouldn't stay here, it seems like a viable option if you meet someone and circumstances dictate that you don't go back to your regular room.
While wandering through the neighborhood, I stumbled upon a full city block mercado. This was just a smaller version of the real big one in Central Lima. I was the only non-Peruvian there, walking amongst the various items for sale. And there was everything: clothes, DVDs, shoes, housewares, raw meat and fish, sewing supplies… everything. There was also one row that had nothing but cafeterias.
I had a quick 3 and a half Sol lunch ($1.04). For your buck, you get soup or a potato appetizer, a main dish, some cebiche on the side, a drink and dessert. How can you beat it?
After passing one of the meat counters on the way out,
I picked up some DVDs and a nice piece of pottery for my mother. This really nice vase (which I gave to mom without taking a picture of) cost 13 Soles ($3.88), after originally being quoted 15. Later in the week, I saw similar vases in the tourist areas for 35-40 Soles ($10.45-$11.94), and at the airport for $20, so I got a great deal on a nice gift.
I kept walking and was back at the apartment by 1 pm.
After resting a couple of hours, it was time for my evening's entertainment, so I took a taxi to the Cavin Spa
Cavin Spa
Calle Rodolfon Beltran #171-175
Santa Catalina - 224-4120
12° 05.272' S, 77° 00.703 W
http://www.cavinspa.com
I like the Cavin Spa. The facilities are good, they have the nicest 'rest area' out of all the Spas I have visited (a real big, dark room with a bunch of barcaloungers and a big screen tv), the food is very good and cheap, and you can get an excellent massage, aside from the sex. And they're open 24 hours. The only down side is sex on the massage table, but this place is also a cheap hotel, so perhaps someone with better Spanish skills could arrange a room with a bed.
After taking my time in the Spa, resting for a while, and having a great big bowl of seafood soup and a pitcher of lemonade, I select Claudia for my massage from a waiting room of about 10 girls. We go downstairs to her 'office' (she must be a long-timer: she has pictures, stuffed animals and all kinds of personal stuff in there), and I get a killer massage for an hour. It was so good, that I was too relaxed to mess around with her and declined her offer of 'servicio'. I added a 30 Sol tip to the bill, and showered and got dressed and left. The total for everything (sauna, massage, tip, soup, drink) came to a whopping 105 Soles ($31.34). An excellent way to kill three hours in the afternoon.
The taxi took me to the Marriott for some blackjack. The casino is still adjusting as it goes - there was only one $2 table today. I was winning until some idiot sat at the table. It totally ruined the game for me, so I went across the street to Casino Miraflores.
Whoever said, "wherever you go, there you are" was correct. The weird feeling followed me to the other casino, so I walked down to the Hacienda where I lost the first five hands and left there, too.
I just didn't want to be around people, I guess, so I walked over to the supermarket, where I bought some fresh linguine and fresh raviolis, some pesto sauce and grated parmesan cheese for a whopping $6 and went home and cooked myself dinner. Why? I have no clue, but that's what happened.
After dinner and some TV, I went back to all three casinos and did fairly well. The Marriott Casino is much improved from its old version. They have every table game going (3-card poker, tute, blackjack, 'mini baccarat', roulette, pai gow, and some other stuff). It's a pain in the ass to gamble while they're training the new dealers, but the drink girls are cute and attentive. And, they're having a grand opening party tomorrow night, and they gave me an invitation.
On the way home, I stopped and made a reservation at Astrid y Gaston for Wednesday and was home at midnight.
I ended day with $425 in cash. I had started with $500, paid cash at the Cavin Spa and bought $100 in Soles, so I turned a profit on the tables!
COMING UP TUESDAY (I hope): A great lunch at a super restaurant, a nice massage in the daytime, an outcall visit from one of the beautiful girls advertising on the internet, and the party at the Marriott. And, with any luck, another winning night at blackjack.