Day 1 - Peg 3, Lisa 2

It was all going so smoothly; everyone ready at 12:30pm to leave to the airport. Hey Peg, "where's your suitcase?" So despite the detour to the burbs, we made it to boarding in time. A special thanks to Brian, our chauffeur/cabana/bellboy for fitting 5 suitcases and 4 people in the car (the engineering degree finally paid off.) Our luck continued when Bea made it through with 2 over-sized suitcases w/o paying or getting caught. Doesn't surprise us b/c we personally had an immigration officer waiting for us when we got off the plane, who cut us in line, and checked us in himself. This continued with a large family welcome committee who performed a small wave as we exited baggage claim. Bienvenidos a Peru!

Day 1: Started with a typical Peruvian yummy breakfast at Tia Gla's. Vanessa and Rosita were our personal tour guides for the day. We headed to el Centro de Lima and visited the Catacoombs..Peru fact: Did you know there are over 25,000 people buried down there?! We caught the noon changing of the guards at the Peruvian "whitehouse," but el Presidente did not get the message of our arrival and did not make an appearance. We had lunch at Chinatown - ironic eh? but these Peruvians can cook some mean chinese food (chifa)! Peg and Lisa have a new favorite soda: Inka Kola baby! We hit some shopping (of course). We didn't find any good deals...just4 DVD's for $3 dollars. Anyone wanna see Toy Story 3?

Highlights of the Day:

1. Peruvian drivers are amazing (ay dios mio!!!). It's amazing that we are still alive. We've never before been able to change someone's radio station in the car next to us.

2. Gun shots? Fireworks? or Car Backfires? The jury is still out on this one....we'll keep you posted.

3. Peg nearly shattered the back seat window running from the policia. OR....someone was just trying to announce the fruit they had for sale (via a loud speaker). We may need to adjust her hearing aids.

4. So it's winter here in Peru....who knew temp in the 70s called for jackets and scarfs to leave the house. And we are serious: we are NOT allowed to leave the house without them ON b/c we discovered (Lisa) that holding them in your arm does NOT count.

5. Score: Peg 3, Lisa 2. It didn't take long for the Peruvian hombres to notice the Americanas. It all started with a stalker in the airplane checking Peg out and pursued her in the terminal, but Lisa earned a point with the comment "ella es mucha mujer para ti" from a merchant.

We would like to thank Rosita and Vanessa for taking such good care of the 3 cuyes and Chuy. Yall are the best! We are off to our first "night out." Yes, say a prayer....