Taxis: Airport to Miraflores $10 to $15.

I hate change while traveling. Peru has a 5 ($1.50 American) and a 2 (0.65 American) soles coin. I started saving the 5 soles coin (about the size of a dime) as much as possible. You can a taxi anywhere in that city for 5 soles. Many will ask 3 or 4 soles but found it easier.

Currency exchange: Hotels don't want to be bothered. Plenty of banks in the area will exchange no problem. Nearly every corner there were people wearing green vests with a $ sign on them. Currency exchange. Not sure what the rate was surely less than you can get at a bank. Saw many locals haggling with them over the price.

Smokers: Leave em home. Most street vendors carried many American brands. 5 soles ($1.50) seemed to be the average price.

Phone calls. If you need to call the US there are calling cards (sold by most street vendors) A company called Nortek (sp) it was 40 soles ($12 American) for 40 minutes. The hotels wanted $1.35 to $1.54 per minute.

Afternoons and evenings each and every step it seemed someone was bugging you to buy, newspapers, currency exchange, trying to raise money to publish a book, music album, restaurants trying to convince you to eat there, young kids out and out begging, others trying to swap some sort of candy for a donation, even one very open offer for drugs. After a few days this really got old. At first the young (5, 6 and even 7 years old) kids was a great place to get rid of unwanted change. Even stopped that. Give one some change and others seem to come out of the woodwork.

Local beer Cusquena. Price was $1.50 to $2.25 depending on the establishment. Liquor, outrageous in most places. Went over well with the locals drinking Cusquena. It's Peruvian beer and they seem to be real big on buying their own products. Also saw Pilsen and Corona.

Internet: Some hotels had a terminal you could use for free. There seemed to be many around. Prices less than a buck per hour.

Strangest but very important bit of information I was given. Make certain you take some paper wherever you go. Seems public restrooms and even a couple of restaurants I visited did not supply paper in the restrooms.

Take a pen and note pad wherever you go. Girls have no problem giving their home and or cell phone number.

Majority of the currency you should carry is $10 and $20 soles bills. A few $50. Most places came to a stop if you use a $50 soles, tough to make change.

I was confused about postings on another board. It was more babble than anything. Once I obtained a good map of Lima it made a little more sense. Lima is HUGE and I mean HUGE. It's separated into districts. The locals break it down even further but won't go there.

Miraflores; upscale, high rent district of Lima for tourists. It's very clean, well kept and safe. That "safe area" is huge. This does not mean you can get stupid!! The streets are busy until 1AM or so, well lit. Combination of Police, private security is comforting. There are many blocks around Kennedy/Central Park that I felt very safe and comfortable walking around. Like usual the locals warned me about pickpockets, people snatching purses and cameras. Physical violence, almost never.

San Isidro; Seemed to have more bars and casinos than other areas. The trip from the airport will surely take you thru this district. One street was packed with discos and casinos. Some areas look safe (very busy) some looked rather scary.

Barranco; looked rather scary. Was told it's much safer than it looks. If you alone need to be cautious. Once inside most of the disco and lounges your safe. Gringo friendly and welcomes tourists. It's another tourist area but much cheaper.

Others I have no information about: Chorrillos, Magalena, San Miguel, La Perla, Callao, Pueblo Libre, Jesus Maria, Surquillo, Surco, Brena, San Borja, Cercado, La Victoria.

Center Lima; be real careful during the day. No physical violence but will snatch anything they can. Same for Lince.

Rimac; day, night, before, after and in between STAY OUT. Just looking should tell you. Even the locals are at risk. Very few cab drivers will go there during the day. If you're a gringo they won't. Nearly all refuse after dark. Many stay away from Central Lima after dark also. Rimac has what they call Piranhas, groups of young kids. They try not to cause physical harm but by pure numbers swarm and overpower you. If you lucky they will leave you your shorts.

Night life, sleep in. This town doesn't begin to wake up until after 10PM. Bars will stay open as long as business warrants.

Kennedy Park, Pizza Alley, Lacomar don't hesitate or the gals will disappear. Have no idea where they go but need to find out.

The girls at the Blue Marlin think hourly, need to agree on time. The girls in the bars don't even consider hourly, it's for the entire evening. They would rather hang around and get a meal out of you. If it costs them more sex their fine with that.

Blue Marlin, if you have money in your pocket the girls at the Blue Marlin are yours. Here they need to take a liking to you or the price will be MUCH higher (Blue Marlin also) or many will not leave at all. Little hurting on the ego, but I did have 1 gal, in a polite manner, reject me. It seems to be REAL important.

The gifts we bring, not expected nor understood.

Before the girl leaves she will ask you for taxi fare. It's not getting more money. It's the way you rate their performance. No taxi money if dissatisfied. 2 or 3 soles if your pleased. More if you elated.

Cristal beer is also available and is probably Peruvian. It has a drier, slightly tart taste. To me, Cusquena has a bland taste. There are other Peruvian beer brands at the supermarket named Santa Isabel, which also sells wine and booze.

The national spirit of Peru is pisco. The cocktail pisco sour is well-known. It has a taste similar to a daiquiri.

Lima has 42 districts. From Miraflores to the easternmost district was a drive of over two hours in moderate traffic on well-maintained, wide city streets.

Rimac piranhas. I saw a news film several years ago that showed a businessman walking near the market who was swarmed by the teenagers and strip of everything leaving him in torn clothes.

Barranco supposedly has some coffeehouses and discotheques. But, I personally did not look for them.

Blue Marlin? Are you referrring to the bar in San Jose, Costa Rica?

No girls asked me for taxi fare. But I usually give a small tip which cover taxi, soda pop, etc.

Use the currency exchange in the vests. They give BETTER rates than the banks.

For someone that does not speak Spanish, you did great.

I notice when you dealt with some of the girls you mention US dollars. Where the girls / especially the agencies quoting you in dollars? To me it sounds like the agencies, where charging you gringo prices. I guess when you go back you can have your friend call the agencies and make the arrangements for you. I would like to see the price difference.

Is there any reason you did not try another college co-ed? It sounds like the prices are a bargain. Not to mention, Latin college students, the phrase gives me a woody. I guess this is where your Spanish speaking friend can help. Maybe your friend can help with the waitress.

When do you plan on going back?

Regardless, I loved the detail and how you broke down your report. The photos are great.

Thank you,