Hard to believe I am leaving now. Where has the week gone??!!!! I am very sad to be saying good bye. Sophie will be very changed by the time I see her next.
So - to help out as best I can before going (and Kathryn and Sophie are still asleep - I heard Sophie crying just after midnight), I put out Bobba and get him his breakfast (no walk today I'm afraid), fold the washing, clear dishwasher, put out the rubbish, strip bed, get my breakfast, close suitcase - and then the girls appear. I chop up some pear for Sophie - and we wonder where Evelio is! He is normally on time and now it is after 8 a.m.
He gets held up at the security gate - they really ARE hopeless! And then after our farewells, we are off. Bye Sophie and Kathryn (& Regis in Echador - no news on when he'll return ...)
EXCEPT just as we go through security to exit the gated community, I can see that my phone is not in my bag - we race back to the house (fortunately security waves us through) and there it is - on the kitchen bench. I had taken it out last thing to get a photo!!! Just as well I checked ...
Fortunately the drive to the airport is straightforward - fast! Evelio is not working today - he has come just to pick me up. I tip him for his trouble.
Yes, we wait in a long queue; I see some people turned away at the check-in counter after their long wait. Hmm - I hope I have everything in order; or is this one of those airports where I am supposed to have paid a departure tax at a separate counter before check-in? I scan the departure hall for a long queue somewhere else while I wait where I am.
No, all good. I pass through with the minimum of fuss; the locals seem to be the ones that run into the problems?
Another long queue for immigration - very long. Then slow progress through security. Some places want you to take your shoes and watch off; others don't seem to care. Panamá City wants it all off.
Off to Lima! Hard to believe!
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In Lima, we are staying in the Miraflores area which is a 'good' neighbourhood. Pam C's plane arrives later than mine so when I get in I set off for the main part of Miraflores - it has lots of boutiques, cafes, restaurants.
The weather here is in fact milder than I expected - about 22 deg C, so quite pleasant. I was aiming for one of the central parks - Parque Kennedy (dedicated to JFK). It is a nice area formed at the intersection of three busy streets and has an amphitheatre (where there was a mass of people enjoying themselves dancing frenetically to music plus street vendors, painters, craft stalls, flea market and food.
There are also dozens of cats! They meandered, nibbled, lazed, slept and whatever - with people stroking and patting and feeding them.
I found my way back to the hotel; Pam C still wasn't in and I was about to flop down when I realised I didn't seem to have my reading glasses. In a panic, I went back and retraced my steps, groaning inwardly and at a loss as to how I could have had them slip out of my bag. I was cursing myself but acknowledging it could be worse - like a passport! And resigning myself to the loss. On my return, I found them on the top of my suitcase ...
Pam C arrived soon after, so after her settling in we went looking for dinner. This meant she could get a little exercise after all that sitting on a plane, plus get a taste of Lima rather than just going to bed. We enjoyed a yummy meal at La Tiendecita Blanca near Parque Kennedy with a glass each of some very nice wine (don't know what it was); the service was very good too.
Pam C has done very well after all that travel - I'm surprised her eyes aren't dropping out of their sockets!
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