I was up by 8:30 Tuesday morning. I shaved, showered, checked my email and was dressed and ready to go by 10:15.
Since I was now in strict leche management mode, I had to plan the timing of my two remaining liaisons carefully. Wednesday was a no-brainer: I had to get out and have my business done by 11:00 or 11:30 in the morning at the latest - I needed to be in a taxi to the airport by 12:30. So working backwards, a late night date tonight wouldn't work - I needed to do something in the afternoon.
I decided to go downtown and try to pick up the maps, so I headed downstairs and had the driver take me to Plaza Dos de Mayo in Lima Centro.
Like all old Spanish cities, Lima is full of all the huge, old, imposing buildings clustered around plazas with statues of huge, old, imposing guys. Plaza Dos de Mayo certainly fit the bill to a 't'.
The Plaza is more of just a traffic circle these days, with six or seven streets going off in all directions from the circle. This area was full of stores that sold (apparently) handmade musical instruments. I really didn't feel comfortable taking out my camera and getting off some photos - this was NOT a tourist area, and I would have felt as if I was imposing to start shooting away. If I had any friends who were musically inclined, I would have paid more attention and picked something up. I can't imagine that the prices could be all that high and it looked like good stuff to my untrained eye.
I finally found the right spur off of the circle and was able to successfully get through the transaction to purchase the maps (write me if you want one). This was the first place that I received a double take when I tried to pay for something with dollars - I guess that I as far away from Miraflores (at least metaphorically) as I could get. After a lot of discussion, they decided that they could take my greenbacks, and I was all packed up and on my way.
It was still early, and the area didn't seem all that unsafe, so I decided to walk down Ave. Ugarte (a pretty busy thoroughfare) and take in the sights, sounds, and smells. Since I was carrying a bag with my maps, I deluded myself that I was just some random Peruvian walking home from his shopping, and I fit right in.
Anyway, it was hot (it is summer over there), and I passed this big, old, sturdy building that was giving off lots of shade. I stopped and noticed that I was in front of the National Museum of Peruvian Culture (Museo Nacional de la Cultura Peruana). Well, it looked like it was cool in there, and I was on vacation, so I went in. Admission was a whopping 3 soles ($0.94), so I paid up, left my maps at the desk, and took a look around.
The museum was OK. Certainly worth a dollar. It wasn't very busy; they didn't offer me a tour guide, but a security person shadowed me throughout my visit. It had some cool stuff from all over the country that would help explain many of the items on sale in the tourist crap places. I might have been more impressed if I hadn't already visited many larger museums on my previous visits. As it was, I appreciated the chance to come in out of the sun for 20 minutes.
When I emerged, it was still hot out, bit I walked some more, until I decided that enough was enough - I needed to get me to a Banos Turcos, and quickly! I flagged down a taxi and had him take me to Aqua Spa.
Aqua Sauna & Spa
Av. Arenales #2685
(a 1 Cdra. Av. Javier Prado)
Lince - 422-7625
Mon-Sat 9:00 am-10:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am-4:00 pm
I had read about Aqua Spa in the Spanish section of PeruTops, it was close to my hotel, and it was a new place for me to check out, I figured, "what could it hurt?" Even though the address was Lince, it might have well been in San Isidro, so don't let the different district deter you from going.
Like all the other Banos Turcos, you sign in and leave your valuables locked up at the front desk. You're given a numbered key for a locker and you use the facilities dressed just in a towel, and you pay for everything on the way out.
I don't know how new Aqua Spa is, but everything was kept in good shape. Both the wet and dry hot rooms were wet, dry, and hot, respectively. The showers actually had working hot and cold spigots, and the towel boy brings you soap, drinks, fresh towels, whatever as needed. I don't remember seeing a Jacuzzi.
What I didn't like all that much about the place was its size. All the areas were small. The rest area wasn't really separated from the rest of the facility. In many BTs, you find a sealed off, dark room with guys sleeping. That really wouldn't have been possible here. Also, Aqua Spa doesn't have as full a restaurant as many other places. They had a large choice of beverages, and a list of available sandwiches and salads, but that's about it. Then again, admission and use of the facilities is only 20 soles ($6).
After sweating, steaming, showering and resting (all on the first floor), I walked up the steps to the massage area. There was only one girl in the waiting area, so it made my choice easy. I said good morning to the girl there, and when she smiled back, I said that I was ready for a massage.
Gabby said that she was 24 years old. I suspect that she was a little older than that, but not by all that much. She had dark hair, not fat, not thin, not a raving beauty, but hey - she was there, and I was just about naked, and I was due.
I got on the table and confirmed that I wanted lotion, not oil. Gabby spent a few minutes rubbing lotion on my back and legs (absolutely nothing special) and then told me to turn over. She rubbed some more lotion on my chest, and started to circle down towards my groin area. I encouraged her by holding on to her ass and fondling her legs, and when she got some visible response to her, er, massage, and asked me if I wanted 'servicio.'
I told her that of course I did. I really didn't feel the love between me and Gabby, so I told her that what I wanted was a blow job. She quoted me 100 soles additional, and when I agreed, she said that she would be right back, and went to get a condom.
Gabby returned and stripped to just her panties, and proceeded to deliver a standard, but completely professional, blow job. It went on for quite a while, but my not taking the day off yesterday made it not very easy going, especially with the condom. I eventually took pity on the poor girl and had her remove the rubber and break out the lotion. She enthusiastically led me to a happy ending, and I think that she was as happy as I was that it had ended.
As I'm putting my towel back on, I realized that the entire operation only took 37 minutes. I felt a little bad about being rushed (the sign in the lobby quoted a price of - I think - 40 soles for an hour massage), until I realized that I had basically had all I could handle in 37 minutes, so I kept my mouth shut. It was a good thing: when she had me sign the slip, she had only charged me 25 soles; I guess the half hour price.
When I left the room, I saw another girl in the bull pen. She appeared to be in her mid- to late 20s, and was equal in looks to Gabby.
I went back down, took another shower, got dressed and tipped the towel boy 5 soles. At the front desk, I reclaimed my stuff and paid the tab. Aqua Spa accepts credit cards, so I was able to get points along with my blowjob.
The total bill came to 147 and a half soles ($46.09). Full service probably would have run another 50 soles. I probably wouldn't repeat at Aqua Spa. Neither the facilities or the girls were all that fabulous, and there are many better options available out there.
It was lunchtime; so on the way back to the apartment, I stopped for lunch at Cuadra Cuatro.
Cuadra Cuatro
Av. Dos de Mayo #475
San Isidro - 421-1278
Open for lunch Mon-Sat. Closed Sundays.
After all of the fine dining I do, it's nice to just eat in a neighborhood joint once in a while. They're fast, the food's usually real good, and they're either cheap or very cheap. Cuadra Cuatra falls into the 'cheap' category - they have a set price menu at 12 soles (some places go as low as three soles).
I enjoyed a huge, delicious bowl of fish soup, followed by a plate of arroz con mariscos (rice with seafood). The rice dish was freshly made and outstanding. Also included was a glass of Inca Kola. If you ask me, eating quality, freshly-made foods for less than four bucks is a miracle. I would certainly stop in here again, if I was in the area.
I was home by 3:00 pm, and napped until 4:30.
One of the things that I really haven't gotten to do this week was spend time with many of my local friends. I had lunch with one on Saturday, but that was all. I called one of my buddies at work, and we set up a dinner date for 9 PM at a Vietnamese restaurant that I had heard about, but hadn't tried yet. He was going to bring his girlfriend, and we were going to make a night of it. I was looking forward to seeing him and catching up. I had previously made a reservation at Astrid y Gaston (one of the best places in the country), so I would cancel that one a little later.
I decided to kill some time playing blackjack. I don't get the opportunity to play when I'm home, so I really enjoy my casino time while I am on the road. The restaurant is about a half hour drive from Miraflores, so I decided to give the Marriott my business. That way, at least I could get a free cab ride to the restaurant - it might improve the taste of the food, especially if I lost at cards!
My rough schedule had me leaving he casino at around 8:30. At 8:15, my cell phone rings. It's my friend - he said that a last-minute work thing came up, and he had to go with a group to entertain some out-of-town employees. He apologized profusely, and I told him not to worry - I would be back, and we could get together next trip. I didn't feel like heading all the way across town to eat alone, so I just decided to use my Astrid y Gaston reservation. I knew that I had a good meal in store.
I show up right at 9:00 and explain to the hostess that I have a reservation for two, but it will just be me tonight. This is a different hostess, and I'm disappointed. Not only was the other one pretty, but she had a good head on her shoulders and some personality. This one just sneered because I had the nerve to not follow the script perfectly. She should have waited to get pissed off. It got worse for her.
I told her that I needed to go to the rest room before I was seated. This caused major heartache - she already had taken a step towards my table, and now I've gone and messed everything up.
As I'm walking back to the hostess stand, who do I see checking in at the podium but my friend I was supposed to have dinner with! We hug each other and get to talking. It turns out that of course, where else would his company take valued out-of-town guests but Astrid y Gaston? We catch up for a couple of minutes (if looks could kill, the hostess would now be in prison for murder), and then I finally sit at my table while my friend's party gets ready to be seated.
I'm looking over the menu when my friend and his boss come to my table. The boss introduces himself, and asks if I would do the honor of joining them for dinner. It seems that my friend explained who the guy that was eating alone was (the friend that he stood up for dinner due to work), and once again, that great Peruvian hospitality kicked in - the guy would have rather roasted over hot coals than make someone eat alone. I looked over the boss' shoulder and saw my friend nod 'yes,' so I thanked him and accepted. The last hurdle was explaining to the hostess that not only would the big party have one more person, but now I didn't need my table at all. I'm lucky that she won't work there long with an attitude such as hers because there's no way she will ever give me another reservation on her watch.
The boss wanted to know how much Spanish I spoke, because aside from him and my friend, I was going to be on my own for this party of 12. I wasn't looking to be the life of the party with a group of strangers, so I was OK with that.
Dinner is always great at Astrid y Gaston. When you sit at a table of 12 people that was probably dropping seven or eight hundred dollars, the service gets cranked up another notch as well.
The waiter suggested a sampler appetizer - four small tastes from different dishes, all in one plate. About half of us took his suggestion, and the rest of the party feasted on a few orders of mini causas. The wine was flowing, the food was delicious, and people were having a good time. My friend translated a few of the table-wide stories for me, but we mostly just talked to each other, so I got my fix of conversation with him; I just hope that he didn't get in too much trouble for ignoring the rest of the table.
Astrid y Gaston changes the menu quite often, so not only does everything sound great, but it's different almost every time I go. The tuna dish, for example, was not the single hunk of tuna filet that I received in the past. This time, it was three or four medallions, topped with a sauce and something else, too. I wish that I could remember, but I thought that it would be really inappropriate if I trotted out my camera and just started snapping away at everyone's plate. It was tempting, but I resisted the urge. You'll just have to trust me that my meal, as well as everyone else's, was excellent.
After I thanked my host and watched everyone drive away, I waddled back to casino-land, and since it was my last night in town, I made donations at all three places.
I was too tired and way too fat to even think about screwing, so I saved my last bullet for the morning. I was home, partly packed, and asleep by 2:00.