Lima, at least this part of it, reminds me of Switzerland in the winter. It is cold and misty--never rainy--and the skies are gray all the time. We have not yet seen the sun since we arrived. But the people are friendly and the neighborhood is somewhat upscale and certainly better then I experienced in Africa. There are no potholes in the streets, not even the back streets. And all the buildings are painted, some of them even freshly painted in attractive colors.
What is different is that there is walls around the property with spikes on the top and iron bars around the driveways, those that don't have high walls around them. I am told, though, that as long as one is cautious the neighborhood is perfectly safe. I have gotten out and walked most every morning and have found that to be true.
A thing that I like is that I don't have to drive here. Taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap. I can go to the grocery store for about a dollar and a half and across town to my language school for about $2.50. And you don't have to share a taxi with four or five other people. You have it all to yourself. The buses are an even cheaper way to get around. But I haven't tried them yet. Who needs a car! (By the way, there is a Starbucks only a brisk twenty minute walk away.)
We traveled across to Miraflores (we live in Surco) on Tuesday to visit some language schools. One is large, expensive and probably very good. The other is small, cheaper and maybe not so good. I have to decide which one to start at. It reminds me of my experience 10 years ago when I went to Switzerland to learn French. That was hard. Hopefully, this will be easier since I already know French (sort of) and it is similar. And I also have Kristine to practice on and to explain things to me when I get lost.
More later.
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