International travel on a budgetTravels With The Big Guy!

Five Day Lima Itinerary – Easy Peasy!

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July 20, 2022

Our time was coming to an end in Lima so we put together a ‘loose’ five day Lima itinerary. It only made sense to see how much we could comfortably do in just a very short time left in Lima. We had been in Peru for over 2 1/2 months & had spent our time strolling the neigborhoods of Yanahaura & Camay in Arequipa as well as our present neightborhood here in Pueblo Libre in Lima, all of which we enjoyed getting to know. Each definitely had a variety of sights you must see but Arequipa was covered in an earlier post so this post is dedicated to Lima. Since we are cognizant of the fact of what we can & cannot do in ‘cold’ weather or prefer not to, we spent our time adventuring in Lima that we had not previously seen. We may at some point be back during warmer weather to venture outside of the capital!

In no particular order here are the places we deemed necessary to see & what can easily be seen in a week or shorter time span on your trip to Lima, Peru.

Historical Lima Itinerary

Give this trip a day only because there are so many historical buildings that you can see. You may not see everything but what you can walk & see in four hours will leave you time to check out one of the restaurants or stop for a great cup of coffee & your feet will appreciate it. Tip: if nothing else write down the name of the building & you can search it later for back history. You are not going to remember everything you read or hear while on a walking tour.

Traditional Market

Located close to downtown Lima, this market is a sight to see. Rows & rows of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish & butchered chickens with a little kitchen here & there to catch a seat & sandwich/coffee. Speaking of chickens, this was my introduction to what a butchered chicken really looks like. I wondered why all the chickens hanging had ‘cherry tomatoes’ stuck on them. Well, the ladies at our coffee shop educated us on that! Those are not tomatoes – they are unformed chicken eggs! They laughed so hard when we asked the question. LOL. I consider muself a country girl but then we NEVER had chickens.

Butched chicken at Tradicional Market in centro Lima with unformed eggs intact!

Parque de las Leyendas

This parque is located in Pueblo Libre neighborhood we stayed in. It was a good walk from apartment but well worth it. Price to get in amounted to $4 per person & we spent a good part of a day here. Animals, historical ruins, museum, birds, gardens & restaurant. Of course, there are the vendors but that didn’t bother us. Just be sure to wear your walking shoes. We did not walk all the animal areas but what we saw [seals, kangaroos, deer, etc] was nice & what kid is not entertained at the zoo.

Seals at the Parque de las Leyendas in Lima, Peru. — This big guy was totally entertaining to us and the kiddos watching. He would squeeze his big body between the wall & post (could not have been more than a few inches!) and go back and forth between the two pools.

Our favorite spot of the whole park was the gardens. The birds were so lovely & the flowers were beautiful. It was definitely a place we could have spent the whole day! Check out the colors of the flowers!

The garden at Parque de las Leyendas in Lima, Peru. Beautiful beyond words.

Barranco

Barranco is close to the top (with Miraflores & San Isidro) as the ‘hot spots’ for tourist to stay with loads of hotels, restaurants, etc. We went for an afternoon to meet our friend for lunch & then took a walk about to check out the area. It was beautiful & very “hip” with a bohemian feel. The highlight for us was first the church Parroquia La Santisima Cruz, built mid 1940s so it is a fairly ‘new’ church on the plaza.

The Parroquia La Santisima Cruz was amazing lit up at night with doors open.

I had to give you a close up of the entry to church above. Check out all that engraving!

Miraflores

We spent 1/2 day in Miraflores on a walking tour. AMAZING AirBnB host Jared far surpassed our expectations & just did an incredible job sharing with us the history of neighborhoods we walked & sights, interesting conversation for sure. He took us to another amazing local market & gave us a breakdown on the fruits & vegetable on display. We ended up at Love Park & the amazing view of the Pacific Ocean. This was one of three days of our stay in Lima that the sun actually came out. Here are some miscellaneous photos!

The Famous Kiss - El Beso behind us! — The Famous Kiss – El Beso behind us!

Entre el tiempo schulpture in Miraflores.

View of Pacific Ocean from Malecon, Miraflores Lima Peru

Forever Travel Friends

Although the weather was in mid 60s, we found ourselves wearing sweaters & jackets most days. The sky was a continuous dreary gray everyday [we had three days of beautiful blue sky] which left our bones somewhat achy BUT we really enjoyed the history & sights we were able to take in. The weather could have definently been better but after all we were in Peru during their winter, duh!

We won’t miss the weather but boy will we miss the many people we met who will forever have a spot in our hearts & hopefully will stay in touch.

Cafe Max – our go to coffee shop for absolutely wonderful coffee & four awesome ladies – Lucia, Eduarlis, Julia, Maria & Karol. Every day visiting the cafe for coffee was also a Spanish course for The Big Guy & I. So patient with us.

Mary – this little high energy local introduced us to a very popular Peruvian dish, Popeyes. LOL! Enough said.

Ladies of Cafe Max & Mary, Pueblo Libre, Lima Peru. — Love always to these ladies & yes we will stay in touch!

Addiction Tattoo

Steven definitely has grown on us and will forever be in our thoughts.

Pueblo Libre

We’ve said from the start of our travels we want to be immersed in the neighborhoods of whatever country we land in & it was no different with Lima, Peru. Our AirBnb was located in the heart of a working neighborhood called Pueblo Lima & because of the locals we have met & formed bonds with, it will be forever in our hearts a great place to be. We were treated kindly & never had any issues.

We were asked toward the end of our month in Pueblo Libre “WHY are you there”? “You should be over in Miraflores.” I’m just going to say again we don’t travel to see tourist sites alone & we never stay in tourist hotels. That’s not us. I’m not going to say it was perfect – there were streets off main streets that were still dirt like but… Traffic was horrendous but when is it not for a city population of around 11 million? Streets were clean! We had our pick of bakeries & restaurants, etc. We really do want to get a feel for the locals – after all the intent of this traveling to begin with was to find a country/town that we felt comfortable enough in if we decided to move permanentlyl

Again, you know what you are looking for – we definitely know what we want! No judging here! Happy travels.

One Day in Arequipa?

Good Golly its Holly!

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July 5, 2022

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If you only have one day to visit Arequipa, there is a lot you will be able to see. Get your walking shoes on! As our time in Arequipa was narrowing to an end, we decided what the heck lets do a walking tour to see what we have missed. Yikes! Turns out that although we enjoyed our daily walkabouts, there was a whole other part of town that we had missed.

We signed up with Paolo thru AirBnB & took a walking tour of Arequipa. Now, if you follow us, you know I am not one that easily promotes guided tours {we’ve had a couple not so good ones] but this guy was amazing. A three hour guided tour of the hidden neighborhoods in Arequipa. A great walking tour as we listened to his amazing stories about the history of Arequipa was well worth the price we paid! After the tour ended, The Big Guy & I spent the balance of the afternoon walking home through other neighboring streets we had not previously seen.

Children playing at the park in Arequipa at the end of a school day. — A group of older boys were practicing pull ups so of course The Big Guy joined in. We loved seeing all ages of children playing in the parks after spending a day in school.

With a population of close to one million & framed by three volcanoes – Chachani, El Misti & Pichu Pichu – Arequipa has a lot to share with you. The city has a history that goes back ten thousand years & I’m not even going to try to break it down for you but I’ll tell you below how you can get a short but great understanding of it.

Highlights of our one day in Arequipa walking tour with Paolo!

Santa Catalina Monastery

The Santa Catalina monastery covers 20,000 square meters having been built in mid 1500s & is basically its own little town. Over time it has been damaged by earthquakes but reconstructed for the most part. Presently it is still an active monastery with a small number of nuns but our guide informed us that there is a lack of young women desiring to become nuns which is sad. This view from across the street gives you an idea of its size!

Capilla de San Ignacia

This church built in 1698 had so much detail in & out! Paolo explained the meanings of the various symbols. It even had a miniature replica for the blind to be able to appreciate the architecture.

Interior photo of Capilla de San Ignacia — Interior of Capilla de San Ignacia church

Queso Helado

This delicious ice cream originating from Arequipa is delicious. The name itself translates to cheese ice cream but there is absolutely no cheese in it – sweet cream, milk, coconut, cinnamon…. We tried it & the one scoop was not enough!

Art Studios

I don’t know why but we were pleasantly surprised by the number of art studios that allowed us to walk thru without entry. Most of the art museums were someone’s home at one time. Here is one, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, we visited with a sample of the art.

One of the many art museums that were converted from homes.

In some of the rooms of art, viewers were invited to write a title for that piece & place it on a sticky by the art.

Comtemporary art piece in Arequipa museum. I'll leave to you to how you want to translate the art. — The Museum guide was quite proud of this one & asked us what we thought of it. I knew almost immediately what the artist was trying to translate. I’ll leave it there for your translation.

In another studio we were met by this courtyard inspired by Spanish artist, Salvador Dali. Do you recognize The Dali Mask? It was used in the Spanish movie “Money Heist”.

Based on Salvador Dali's The Mask used as the mask in the Spanish movie The Money Heist. — Based on Salvador Dali’s The Mask used as the mask in the Spanish movie The Money Heist.

Colonial Architecture

Beautiful buildings, most built using Sillar, the white volcanic rock, were on every street. We learned that the thick walls & arched ceilings help protect against earthquakes which are pretty common in Arequipa. A month into our visit here there was a 7 a.m. 7.2 earthquake out of Puna, Peru that was felt here in Arequipa that woke me up with the bed shaking like crazy. But I’m getting off course.

The thick walls and curved arches are built to help withstand earthquakes.

Curved arches and thick walls are built to withstand earthquakes in Arequipa. — This is the entry to a sample of the larger homes in Arequpa! Notice the thick walls & curved arch.

The colonial style architecture is awesome & have so much character. The shots of color with flowers & occasional bold paint colors are a photographers dream!

Bold blue house with water fountain in Arequipa. — Amazing colors!

Chariot doors in Arequipa;. — We saw quite a few realllllly tall doors like this. Paolo told us these would open for the chariots & the ledge on the left was to get up into the chariots. True or not, it’s a nice story.

Parks

Like many other south of the US border countries, we have been amazed by the number of neighborhood parks. Some with benches to sit & enjoy the world as it zooms by or others where children of all ages gather after school to play & connect with friends.

Chicha

Paolo told us the story of Chicha. To be honest the story made me reconsider trying this drink but it was really good. The drink is made from dried purple corn. Paolo told us that originally the corn would be chewed by a person & then spit the juice into a container which is what you ended up drinking. Yuck! Evidently the Europeans frowned upon hearing how it was made & refused to drink. Hence the Peruvians had to figure out how to process the corn to make it more inviting to others. Chicha is a must to try on your visit to Arequipa.

Last thoughts on one day in Arequipa

If I forgot to remark earlier, here are some things you need to keep in mind when you are planning a trip to Arequipa! There are loose dogs everywhere. Lots of them. So watch your step – there are no “owners” to pick the poo up after these dogs.

Traffic is horrible. Just because the light is red doesn’t mean a motorbike or car won’t try to squeeze past. Buses do not, I repeat, do not, give an inch to other cars or bikes or pedestrians. Well maybe occasionally but rarely so step quickly when crossing a street.

Arequipa is a photographers’ dream! The architecture is amazing & so much history behind the buildings.

Taxis are amazing & easy to wave down on streets. They drive, continually honking their horns to let pedestrians know they are ready to pick them up. Pretty amazing to me. (Uber didn’t work for us?)

Plenty of restaurants to choose from both U.S. fast food chains as well as Peruvian restaurants. We highly recommend the little Peruvian kitchens.

There are so many things we have seen, so many photographs of the beautiful sights, historical & ones you see everyday in a walk. I hope we put a taste in your mouth for Arequipa – even if for a short visit. We spent two months & still didn’t see probably 1/3 of what the city has to offer. There is definitely something for everyone in Arequipa!

Lastly if you plan to travel to Peru in May, June, & July, the heart of the winter season, bring your jacket! Once the sun starts going down it gets cool fast.

Next stop is Lima!

Age is Just a Number When It Comes to International Travel!

International Travel - Our Plan

Good Golly its Holly!

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June 28, 2022

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Age is Just a Number When It Comes to International Travel!

If Age is just a number does it have to affect your plans as seniors to international travel? It doesn’t!

There were definitely questions we had to ask ourselves when we made the decision to international travel as seniors & the first one was is age is just a number? We did a deep dive on the honesty of the answers we came up with. Does our age have to affect our plans for international travel? We say “Absolutely not” but then we have our first year of international travel under our belt so we think we may be getting the hang of it! Now I should say as seniors traveling our wants & needs are not the same as younger travelers but we are aware of that.

Age is just a number & should never limit international travel for seniors! It really is all in the mindset. We believe you are only as old as you feel & attitude is everything. If you want to do something badly enough you will find a way to accomplish that dream.

International traveling has never been easier for seniors

According to AARP, baby boomers [which is our age group] are growing in the number of international travelers! We seniors are definitely a force to be recognized.

The real difference in age groups traveling internationally is a sense of what is important in life. This may vary from person to person but I think we as seniors have a different perspective in general on life & what makes us tick.

Will the effects of aging affect your travel destinations?

As we age & our bodies change, will the effects of aging affect our travel destinations? The simple answer is it does not have to. We had a taste of international travel vacations during our ‘working’ years & decided early on that a more in depth look at international travel was something we seriously needed to look into.

As we have traveled, our list of essentials have changed from country to country in regards to what we want for convenience and what we need for travel. I for one have realized that as I’ve aged so has my skin – my skin does not do well in the high altitudes. It was a chore to keep my skin moisturized until I figured out what was causing my skin to look like this…

Yikes, scary huh? It is a fight. So now if we stay in high altitude places, I am prepared with a stock of moisturizer!

We have learned that we like being immersed with the locals so we tend to look in those neighborhoods for housing.

We learned that our hands and feet take on a lot while traveling and not all manicures & pedicures are equal in each country*! But we would eventually find one in each stop that we really liked.

You get where I’m going? The more you travel you may well decide that your requirements may change. You do you. You get my drift. If you travel and want the luxury experience in a familiar environment, with little or no roadblocks then stick with the tourist hot spots, but for us we are willing to take the chance & immerse ourselves in local neighborhoods. You do you, you know what you like & what you want to experience.

Why Seniors can travel internationally

1] Financially speaking, I think most of us are more stable as seniors as far as our finances. Do we have the same income now as we did when we worked? Heck No! BUT we have learned how to make a budget & stick to it allowing us to be financially free of useless expenses. We know where every penny is coming from & where it is spent. Bottom line, financially, it is so cost effective to live outside of the U.S!

2] Enjoyment of time – a change of pace – far less stressful – no more fighting traffic to get to work. Escape from the everyday stressors and office gossip. Instead of that feeling of ‘what is the drama of the day today?’ we discuss our Bucket List. It doesn’t have to be in stone. Just Do It! Our bucket list is ever changing as we are constantly come up with another place we would like to visit.

Age is just a number & we are out to prove it. Flight from Arequipa to Lima, Peru!

3] Are you an emptynester with an abundance of free time on your hands? Don’t sit around waiting for the kiddos to visit. Trying to figure out what to do with your free time? Start planning an international trip and let them know where they can come to share your adventure & new cultural experience that just may change your/their outlook on life. What makes you happy? What can you do now that couldn’t be done when your children & work life filled your days – I bet you can think of a couple things.

4] There are over two (2) million Expats living in countries all over the world. Take the leap! Your choices for travel are over the top! Planes, trains, buses, cruises! Does flying domestically or internationally peak your interest? If you are not a flying type of person, check out all the other methods of travel & discounts that may be offered to you as a senior. I personally would love to take the rail around Europe or a cruise!

5] Your level of health & fitness is up to you. Anyone can travel but if you have health limitations this definitely will place some limits on your travel dreams. Healthcare is usually readily available & depending on the country of travel AND it could be better or worse than what you are used to at home. If you have health care concerns do a little more research about the healthcare in the area you plan to visit.

How old am I? Remember age is just a number!

To be transparent [that is my favorite term nowadays] we are often asked our age? I am happy to say I am 67 years young. The Big Guy is a beast at 63! A lot of younger folks think of you as a dinosaur if you are over 55 years of age. I disagree. According to this AARP article “A new study by U.S. Trust has found that perceptions of the onset of old age vary widely among different generations. Millennials, for example, say that you are old once you turn 59. Gen Xers, on the other hand, hold a slightly more generous view, saying that old age begins at 65. When it comes to boomers and the silent generation, both agree that you’re not really old until you hit age 73.”.

Thanks to the support of The Big Guy, I am more active and in better health than some people 30 years younger than me. I should say we push each other. Ha. Do not underestimate our abilities! When we hit our seventies or eighties you may still catch us traveling internationally…. we don’t plan on letting a number get in the way of our enjoying the moment… After all we are still looking for our little piece of paradise to settle.

Arequipa, Peru – Sights To See FREE!

Good Golly its Holly!

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May 29, 2022

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We have been in Arequipa, Peru for over a month but there is still so much to see! Yes, if you are on a tight time-frame, you can see a lot of Arequipa in a few days & still walk away happy. But, if you are senior travelers like The Big Guy & I, you might want a more leisurely stay in this beautiful city!

Is Arequipa, Peru also The White City?

Did you know Arequipa, Peru is also known as the The White City? There is an abundance of sillar or white volcanic stone. Arequipa is surrounded by four volcanoes & thus a LOT of the architecture in this town is built with sillar. Besides being in abundance, it is porous & lightweight. The Basilica at the Yanahuara Park is a prime example.

A Few More Things You Should Be Aware Upon Arrival

We arrived the last week of April & it is now the end of May. The weather here in Arequipa is AMAZING! A steady mid 70s during the day & just a slightly cool mid to high 50s at night. Not sure if it is due to weather or altitude we have had MINIMAL flies & no mosquitos even with our windows open every day. The breeze is wonderful.

Arequipa is at 7546 ft above sea level. Now you would think spending a few months in Quito, Ecuador at 9350 ft & reaching 12500 ft up Pichincha Volcano that the Arequipa altitude would be a breeze for these two senior travelers. Right? Wrong? Between Ecuador & Peru we spent three months in the states. Yeah, the altitude hit us hard coming back into Peru & had us sucking air for a few days. Just let me say the altitude just sucks the moisture from my skin. Lather up early, midday & night. I’m sure without the moisture my skin would look like this:

Dried fruit but also what this altitude in Arequipa Peru does to my skin. — Dried fruit but my skin looks like this as well if it is not lathered up. Ha.

In short, just know you will need to be acclimated to the altitude before you start those walk-abouts but it will be so totally worth it! just take your time & stop to rest to get your breath if needed!

Grocery Shopping

There are several stores for grocery shopping. Our favorite is Tottus & is about a 20 minute walk from our location. The store carries groceries along with a LOT of children’s clothes. Other than that it is a splattering of electronics, bedding, kitchen, etc.

The one thing that I have yet to find is a spiral notebook. What Tottus had – I thought – very high priced? But after looking at another store that carried paper/pens, for me, spiral notebooks are not common & what was available priced way higher than I will pay.

Don’t forget your recycle bags for bagging your own groceries. A small plastic bag will cost .03 -.06 sole. It is just pennies on the dollar but if you are not prepared for a couple weeks groceries….Four bags will cost you a few pennies & are small.

Although these are not grocery shops – The vendors who lined the main streets in their little shops can vary widely in their prices. Bottom line, compare between two or three before you buy.

Don’t Dress Like A Tourist?

All I will say on this subject is research before entering if there is a dress code. Heck, as much as we want to be immersed into/with the locals, it is hard to look like a local. Here in Arequipa, my long blond hair stands out like a sore thumb against the shiny black hair here. The Big Guy gets stared at because of his size & absolutely because of his dark skin. It is mid 70s & when we go on our walks he may wear shorts & I may wear t-shirt with my jeans. The locals are dressed in long pants, jackets, hoodies, etc looking like the weather is 50 instead of what it is.

What you don’t see here on locals are tank tops & daisy dukes. When I have seen them on someone, I definitely got the idea that they were tourists.

Free Things To Do In Arequipa

Besides the snow capped volcanic mountains that you can view from the city streets there are many other sights you can see FREE! Those are the sights we will share with you today! As we venture farther out in the city we will share those with you in another post.

Free Walking Tours

If you are on a time constraint with just a few days to explore the inner sanctum of Arequipa than probably a scheduled walking tour might be right up your alley. We have not used this guided tour yet it may be for you. We pick out an area & check out the slghts,

Puente Bolognesi

We crossed this famous colonial bridge on our walk from our AirBnB to the Plaza de Armas. The view of snow capped volcanic mountains that reins over the Chili River were absolutely breathtaking!

One of fourt volcanos surrounding arequipa peru — snow topped mountain in arequipa peru

This bridge also contains the Love Locks hung on verticals on bridge walkway.

love locks on Puente Bolognesi in Arequipa Peru

Cobblestone Streets

It was a surprise to see so many one way cobblestone streets running off the main streets. Pretty to look at but hard to walk on. Sneakers or boots! I saw a few business women in heels & I wondered how they didn’t break heels getting caught? Remember you are in mountains so it is not unusual to be walking downnnnn or upppppp a street.

One lane cobblestone street Arequipa Peru

Plaza de Armas – Basilica Cathedral

The Basilica Cathedral covers the entire side the Plaza de Armas consisting of 70 vertical columns. Built in the 17th century, it has withstood many earthquakes although not that many decades ago the left pillar was damaged so bad that it had to be rebuilt. I couldn’t tell but they say it leans to the left now?

“A cathedral inside a museum” is the Museo de la Catdral de Arequipa. The museum is open for tours with Peruvian art & culture.

The Big Guy standing in front of entrance of Basicila in Yaaahaura Scenic Park in Arequipa Peru — The Big Guy standing in front of entrance of Basicila in Yanahuara Scenic Park in Arequipa Peru

Just a few of the 70 colmuns used in contruction of Basilica in Arequipa, Peru — Just a few of the 70 coulmuns used in construction of Basilica in Arequipa, Peru

Scenic Yanahuara Overlook

The views from the Scenic Yanahuara Overlook are break taking.

The Big Guy on Overlook in Arequipa Peru. — The Big Guy on Overlook.

Tiny blue and white caught my eyes. Lead to a outdoor cafe at Yanahuara Overlook.

This should get you started on your walking adventure in Arequipa, Peru. Each time we have walked over to the Overlook we have seen different & interesting shops, cozy little side streets & people. The park is a nice size with folks walking dogs or trying to get the little ones to stand still for photos. We are now planning some trips out so we will definitely let you know how those go. Until next time, stay healthy & get those travel plans in order.

Five Day Lima Itinerary – Easy Peasy!

Historical Lima Itinerary

Traditional Market

Parque de las Leyendas

Barranco

Miraflores

Forever Travel Friends

Pueblo Libre

One Day in Arequipa?

Highlights of our one day in Arequipa walking tour with Paolo!

Santa Catalina Monastery

Capilla de San Ignacia

Queso Helado

Art Studios

Colonial Architecture

Parks

Chicha

Last thoughts on one day in Arequipa

Age is Just a Number When It Comes to International Travel!

If Age is just a number does it have to affect your plans as seniors to international travel? It doesn’t!

International traveling has never been easier for seniors

Will the effects of aging affect your travel destinations?

Why Seniors can travel internationally

How old am I? Remember age is just a number!

Arequipa, Peru – Sights To See FREE!

Is Arequipa, Peru also The White City?

A Few More Things You Should Be Aware Upon Arrival

Grocery Shopping

Don’t Dress Like A Tourist?

Free Things To Do In Arequipa

Free Walking Tours

Puente Bolognesi

Cobblestone Streets

Plaza de Armas – Basilica Cathedral

Scenic Yanahuara Overlook

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