Arrived in Lima at 4:30 AM. Immigration was quick. They will tear off the bottom section of the entry form. Keep it with you and your passport at all times. Was informed that even if your passport is stamped without this form you may get a hassle from the police. Don't be in any hurry to get your luggage. Waited nearly 30 minutes. Customs is pure luck. A security guard will direct you to push a button. If it comes up green, turn left and move on. Red turn right for a search. My search was nothing more than a peek, but locals seems to be very thorough.
After customs, heading towards the exit about 20 feet on your left, is a small tourist office. Chat a bit and I was given a good street map of Miraflores They might have more maps of the districts.
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Directly across from the tourist office is a taxi company. Taxis are Taxis. Wanted $20 for the ride to the hotel. Offered $10 settled for $15, which was the price many hotels quoted while researching.
I stayed at a place called Los Suites Apart Hotel. Off the main drag, quiet area seemed very safe. Staff was friendly. $45 a night 10% discount if I used my Visa. Address 446 Avenida Grau. Phone number 447-6415. Big bed, kitchen, mini bar (if that's what you want to call it), couch, chair, 2 bathrooms. Not sure why both were so small, your knees hit the wall when you sat down. I only stayed 2 nights. Had I not been so exhausted I would have left immediately. They advertised jacuzzis and being a lot closer to the beach than they were. Must have been a typo they stated. Even if I had forgiven that sooner or later I would have had enough. Room service doesn't open until 7AM. 7:10 AM I need coffee and food. Restaurant is on the 6th floor room service doesn't deliver coffee and breakfast. Never did figure out their definition of "room service" Ok so up I go I need coffee and food!! Only the dishwasher was there. Others were late. No food, no coffee. I'm gone. Wanted to spend the morning getting familiar with the area anyway.
Found Kennedy and Central Park. Only a pedestrian street separates the 2. Always seems to be something going on in those parks. Art exhibits, street entertainers, speeches, and food festivals. Finally found a street café for breakfast. A very tall, cute, extremely helpful and flirty waitress. Seems I'll be seeing more of this place. While eating a crowd began to form a block away. Seems some locals had a real problem with one of the banks. In short time it was huge and getting loud. Gotta love a Democratic society. My chat and flirting with the waitress was cut short. Saw the police coming up the street with one of those armored water cannons. Decide it was a good time to exit. Saw the protestors later in the day, it stayed peaceful. On with my search, more marching, more searching. Found several hotels.
FYI: I had a hard time finding and booking the local cheaper hotels online. I learned too late, seems some hotels offer discounts if you use credit, some charge 10% more and 8% for Travelers Cheques. Was told some hotels won't allow guests, others absolutely 1 at a time. Didn't try 2 at a time at my hotel but my guess it would not be a problem.
Carmel Hotel
Address: Calle Atahualpa 152 Miraflores
Telephone 241-8672, 225-8633, 225-8634
Website: www.hotelesdoncarlos.com
Nice size rooms, well kept. They posted $89 per night, quoted $50. Might have been off-season rates, but seems no price is set in this town. Half a block off the main drag in Miraflores. Guests are no problem, but a $10 fee.
Hotel and Casino Boulevard
Address: Av. Jose Pardo 771 Miraflores.
Phone number: 444-6562/63/64
Website: www.hotelboulevard.com.pe
Once again posted $89 and quoted $50 a night. Very nice place. Did not look at the rooms. Guests were acceptable but frowned upon. No reply about the guest fee. Right on the main drag in Miraflores. Traffic noise would be a problem.
Hotel and Casino Bruce
Address: Calle Jr. Bolognesi No. 181-191
Phone 445-3198 445-3377.
No website
E-mail: brucemkt@treea.com.pe for information.
Very nice place a block off the main drag. Should be quiet. Posted $89 quoted $70 per night. Guests were not a problem.
My choice
Hotel Los Palmas
Address: Calle Bellevista 320.
Phone: 444-6033.
Website: www.hotellaspalmas.com
E-mail: info@hotellaspalmas
$45 per night. Nice size rooms. Big bed, desk, couch, huge bathroom WITH a Jacuzzi. Staff was incredibly helpful, courteous, room service was room service. I enjoyed my stay and would highly recommend it to anyone. Nice thing about this place. Across the street from Pizza Alley, 1 block from Kennedy/Central Park. 2 ½ blocks from Tequila Rock. No guest fee, actually they didn't even bother the girls or myself. No guest fee. I made reservations for my November trip. Was told a single room without a jacuzzi was $20. Absolutely the best place for my money.
Bargain shoppers: Hostal Bellavista Calle Jr. Bellevista No. 215. Telephone 445-7834. Room is slightly larger than the double bed. Small bathroom. $30 per night. Just up the street from Los Palmas. Was absolute only 1 girl at a time, no fee.
Finally found "Pizza Alley" officially San Ramon. As you're standing in the park, look for a big Coca Cola sign on the side of a building. The entrance is under that sign. Pizza alley was nice. They did their best to keep the beggars out. Security guards at both ends. It's visible from majority of both parks. Went there for some lunch. Pizza alley is about 30 yards long. Pedestrian traffic only, street cafes and clubs both sides. Some areas are 3 floors high packed with restaurants, discos, and lounges. Be prepared every time you walk thru there are waitress and waiters shoving menus into your face trying to talk you into eating there. The end farthest from the parks is a place called Old Club. Fri. and Sat. night the place was packed and played old and I mean old American rock and roll. The bands were rather good. Meals at Pizza Alley are a little expensive for that country. $7 will get you a good meal. Made my choice and met the nicest sweetest waitress I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Very friendly, the type of girl you wish your son would bring home. Offered some advice, much I already knew but thought it was sweet she was looking out for me. We really took a liking to each other.
I've been in the country for nearly 11 hours and had no sex. Time to change that. Kennedy/Central Park has a slight downward slope. If you stand on the uphill end look for a Burger King and Pizza Hut. To the left will be Manilla Bonilla Calle. About 2 ½ blocks down the street (162 Manilla Bonilla) you will see a sign. Botica Atenas. Doorway with windows (blue metal gates over them) on each side. Thru the door, at the top of the steps are 3 bells. Ring Suite (just doesn't fit the area) 201. They also had a phone number. 241-0263 or 241-4300 Might want to call them first. Gal stuck her head out and asked me to wait a minute. When she reappeared she was adorable. Little thing cute and stacked. Lead me into a small setting area with 3 rooms attached. 1 other gal there definitely doable. My Spanish is somewhere between weak and lacking, as was their English. Chatted a bit. The girls seemed nervous. Seems the best they had to offer was a hand job at $25. Noting more. I left. Then it dawned onto me. What a dumbass I was. I put the trip together rather quick but failed. I knew prostitution was legal, but didn't know the surrounding and governing laws. Maybe that caused their nervous actions. Grabbed a couple of newspapers and back to my room. After marching around for 6 hours I sure could use that jacuzzi the hotel bullshited me about.
Once in my room I check the phone book. Banos Tucos (Turkish Baths) Just like I was told. Several listed. Checked massages and were many more. The massage places seemed to be more open about their ads. Stated complete service. Mixed in were several escort agencies. Nice to know there's a sure thing to fall back onto. Newspapers, El Comerico and Chino. Look under the relax section. Look for Kinesiologas many ads there also. Several columns of ads. My understanding is most of these ads are girls working out of their homes. Should be cheap. Short nap and decide to try one of the phone numbers I found on the Internet. When I found this site there was about 20 girls listed. Only 6 or 7 when I returned.
http://www.placeresdelperu.galeon.com
Struggled with communication but finally settled on price. $65 for 2 hours. She will be here in 20 minutes. 40 minutes later still no Andrea. Upsetting, I wanted something unknown and some adventure not total failure. Really getting depressed now.
Dinner at Pizza Alley and try my luck there. Of course visited my friendly little waitress. She really is a dear.
Pizza Alley and Kennedy Park. Walk around or pull up a seat and have a beer close to the walk. Look for a girl staring at you. Don't worry about confusing a long look with a stare. The stare is dead eye contact. Turning her head as she walks, not even a blink. Look her over if you like her just wave her over, smile back, speak, offer her a seat something to get her attention, BOOM they're in front of you. I guess you would have to put these girls in the category of "street walkers" Don't associate them with the reputation of street walkers. These ARE NOT girls who hook to support their habit. Their attractive, clean, have taken good care of themselves. Lima is south of the equator so it's winter during US summer. I think (or hope) the chilly air might have kept some away. Saw a couple girls then finally one really caught my attention. Looked her over real well. Next time thru I'm gonna grab this one. I waited and waited and waited. Finally decide to hunt for her. Nothing!! GONE!! Place is too small to not see her. Nowhere to be found. DAMN !!!!!! There seemed to be 6 or 8 girls there most every night. Most were those closing time girls. Seemed to rally around an older lady, looked oriental. I'll be kind and call her the "ring leader". She did give me her phone number 914-0133. Said she had 10 other girls but they did not want to be seen in public.
Started up the stairs to a disco when I felt a fella (Roberto) tugging at my coat, babbling something about chica. Walked towards Kennedy Park as he told me about this wonderful college girl he could fix me up with. OK not real comfortable with this but give her a call. Took her forever to get there but she was cute and VERY nice body. Went to a local pub for a drink. Roberto tagged along. If that's what it takes to make the gal feel comfortable, no problem. His wife or girlfriend joined us. Accomplice might be a better word. Hit real hard with an ugly stick. They suggested we go to a disco they knew. drinks were much cheaper. Walked out the door there was a taxi setting right there. Wanted us to use this one. Too convenient, no thanks. Should have walked away right then. Flagged down another taxi and off we went. Not sure what district we ended up in but really didn't look all to "gringo friendly" too me. Made the taxi wait while I looked around. Asked the driver about a disco that was nice and safe for tourist. Can't remember the name of it but it was in San Isidro, the strip I spoke about earlier. Worked well as I also spotted Tequila Rock. A club I had heard about earlier. Taxi wanted 4 soles for fare. Roberto relayed the money and Rebecca and the dog distracted me. Next thing I know Roberto was heading for the club. No change from my 20 soles bill. Only about 5 bucks but another flag. Inside the place was hopping. Funny the healing powers of a cute, hot, sexy chica has on an old man. 6 hours ago I could hardly put one foot in front of the other, here I am burning up the dance floor. Having a great time, FINALLY. Rebecca became more friendly and flirting a lot more. Things are looking up, but still thinking with the proper head, well maybe a little with the wrong one. Time for a test. Ordered another pitcher of beer. Cost 22 soles. Gave Roberto a 50 soles bill. Left for the restroom, took my time. When I came back beer was there, no change. Confronted Roberto. The dog immediately tried to drag me to the dance floor. Nice try!! Waitress must have forgotten it. Tried to get her attention when suddenly Roberto remembered he put it in his pocket for safe keeping, yeah right! What about the change from the taxi? There was no change, he stated. We NEED to talk NOW outside. Rebecca would not go with me without his permission. He wanted $60 American to give his permission, then another $150 for Rebecca to spend the night. Rained all over my parade. Not a chance. I'll give him $10 American now, Rebecca $70 for the night. If I'm pleased with her service I'll give her an additional $10 for his service. NO MAS!!! I interrupted his counter offer, simply you heard my offer. Yes or no that simple!! I headed towards the street debating as to flag down a taxi or jumping in front of one. It's like 1AM, been in the country 21 hours and the only thing I have to show for it was sore legs, feet and severe depression. Not to mention horney as all hell!!!
One more beer, try and drown my sorrows then call it a night. Pizza Alley. Suddenly a girl sat next to me and out and out asked me if I would like some company, right upfront about everything. I think this was the only time a girl approached me in this manner. $45 American for 3 hours. Great price but surely won't last 3 hours even with vitamin V. Settled for $20 for an hour. Arrived at the hotel. You do have identification with you? NO, she replies. GREAT GOD ALMIGHT WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS!!!!!!! We went in anyway and chatted with the receptionist. He finally said OK, any problems at all and she will never be allowed back in!! Thank you!! Will give her an A+ for her effort, a 5 for the quality. BBBJ unsolicited. An A for accommodating manner. She gave me her home and cell phone number. If I wanted to meet with her again just call her up. FYI, I was approached by 2 other guys in a similar manner, and a couple of guys asked if I wanted a taxi then an offered a chica. I passed on all, but to each his own!