I like to say that we visited Peru because "we were in the neighborhood" but this is a bold-faced lie. I have been dreaming of Peru for years. Anyone could have mentioned that they were thinking of visiting and I would have booked a flight on the off-chance that it would put the pressure on. Well with time off (read: unemployment) we really had no choice. Add to that that Dia had friends that were visiting from Puerto Rico and it seems pretty much like fate.

And fate sure as hell didnt disappoint. Direct flights to Cuzco were expensive so we booked through Lima and spent two nights of the 5 there. While I had overlooked Lima with my mind dreaming of the Incans, there are some cool areas of Lima. We stayed in Miraflores while our two companions stayed in downtown Lima at the Sheraton with hotel points. We spent most of the day in Miraflores receiving a tour from a local contact, Andy, that Elisia, one of my travel mates knew. Andy picked us up from the Sheraton and drove us around the downtown area with most of the government buildings and what-not. We then traveled to Miraflores, a Lincoln Park-esque neighborhood southwest of downtown. Andy took us down to the beach and showed us the local "Surf Club", similar to a yacht club in the US (and just as fancy) but for surfing. From there we traveled to a mall area right on the cliffs where we had drinks and dinner that was incredible. If I could eat fresh fish everyday, I would be a happy man. This area is a popular place for people to go out and party as well but we had flights to Cuzco the next day so we were unable to partake.