Location: Lima, Peru
Summary: My arrival in Lima came with a mix of exhaustion, immigration confusion, and luggage drama for most of my group. However, the day turned around with a guided tour of Plaza Mayor, the Monastery of San Francisco, and a relaxed evening in the city, the true beginning of my Peru adventure.
My flight from Madrid to Lima was uneventful, though as usual, I couldn’t sleep on the plane. After twelve and a half hours in the air, I was relieved when we finally landed in Peru.
Arrival in Lima
Immigration was my first challenge. A Peruvian officer insisted my form was incomplete but refused to tell me what was wrong. He sent me to the back of the queue to fill it in again. After comparing notes with the other passengers, everyone agreed my form had been correct all along. I bypassed the same officer and went straight through without any issues. Every country has at least one official whose sole purpose is to irritate exhausted travellers.
My bag was first off the conveyor belt, a small victory. In the arrivals lounge, I was greeted by Rosario, a beautiful Peruvian lady who would be my guide for the next two weeks.
Unfortunately, eleven of the fourteen people on my flight who were also on my tour discovered their luggage had been left behind in Madrid. We waited another two hours while Peruvian customs located their bags at another airport. We finally headed to the hotel for a brief rest before our afternoon tour.
Touring Lima
In the afternoon, we explored Lima, beginning at the Plaza Mayor. Impressive buildings, including the Cathedral of Lima and the Government Palace, surround the square. The guards outside the palace carried rifles that looked damaged, with what appeared to be wine corks plugging the barrels. I didn’t dare ask why.
A short walk took us to the Monastery of San Francisco. The monastery itself was grand, with an impressive library, but the catacombs beneath it felt underwhelming compared to the vast catacombs I’d seen in Rome. The neatly arranged bones looked almost too organised, as if laid out specifically for tourists.
Evening in Lima
Back at the hotel, we were welcomed with a drink before I headed out to a local sandwich shop for something to eat. Later, I returned to the hotel bar for a few beers.
Most of my fellow travellers received more bad news about their luggage. They eventually returned to the airport around 00:30 on day three to collect their bags, not getting back to the hotel until about 02:30. I was grateful mine had arrived on time.
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