a Mini Meet Up on Monday, Europe & America ;)

After our delicious lunch it was time to go to Miraflores and meet other TB's. After a long time looking for parking place, finally I could park, yeah! And finally we met them: Jenny & Cinthia, both Peruvian TB's and Michael a German TB who just arrived to Lima a couple of days ago. It was so great meeting Michael. We have been in touch since a long time and I felt as if we already knew each other, haha. When I first saw him, didn't need to say anything else. Just gave him a big hug. I'm so happy the girls could join us. I had to take care of business and wouldn't be able to hang out with all of them, but I'd meet them around 7:30pm. I was sad about the idea of leaving them but I knew they were in good hands + work was calling me...

I was supposed to meet my colleague, but he wouldn't arrive to Lima until 8pm, so I just left a message: "Meet you first thing tomorrow morning, hehe" and I was free to go, hehe. It was around 6:30pm when I met the guys. They were sighseeing around Miraflores and finally went to Mangos to try the Pisco Sour, haha. The guys were happy about seing me back earlier than expected. Were they happy for me or because of the fact their stuff were at my house? haha. Sorry, but I coulnd't help it. I have to organize things, hehe. So I saw them and say: why don't you take a sit boy, girl, boy, girl... ? Another surprise was waiting for me. They didn't order Piscos, just beer, well at least the local one. But they didn't want to try the Pisco since they were to drive all night. Mmm. When my pisco came it was tasted by everyone haha. Now they had the pisco bug and can't wait till try a full glass each haha.

We were a large and happy group. We were just enjoying the breeze and chilling out when Michael told me he has 2 things for me. #1 a magnet of Passau - his hometown - well it means I have to go to Passau; otherwise it'd be cheatting. oh!!! and #2 he asked me what was the other thing I'm always doing when I travel. Mmm, no idea... and he remembered it: "you are always trying the local beer, so the local beer came to you!" OMG, isn't he sweet? Vielen Dank!!!!! Well, now it was picture time! We started to take as many pics as possible, haha. People there were watching at us as if we were crazy, but we didn't care, hehe. We were just being happy :)

Our drinks were over, should we order a second one? well, I said: "better no!" they looked at me like saying: "what are you talking about girl?" well, while I was driving back to meet the guys I called the Tayta (my favorite bar) and asked at what time they'd open. So, my plan was: let's move to Tayta! haha. Everyone agreed, hehe. Now, we had a small problem. Just 1 car for 8 people, mmm. Kitty reloaded is big, but not that big, haha. So, I drove with Michael, Marian and Martin; Jenny, Cinthia, Dan and Pavel took a cab. It was still early for the bar, besides it was monday, but we got some beer and could relax for a while.

Around 8:30pm the guys and I had to leave. A taxi would come for them at 9:15pm, so better hurry up. We wouldn't drive straight there. We had to make a stop first. It was time to say goodbye to Cinthia, Jenny and Michael. Thank you girls for taking care of them! And hope see you soon Michael, before the Meet Up I mean, since you are part of the Meet Up ;) Yadi & her 4 bodyguards left the Tayta and drove to a supermarket. They wanted to get some water and snacks for the ride. We did it in the record time of 10min, haha.

We arrived home and the guys finished packing and getting ready. I called the cab and they have already been there and left when they didn't find us. Well, they would come back. In the meanwhile Martin asked me if he could play with Gunther! haha! my Gunther is famous!!! Seriously, he should have his profile, mmm. I think he could get some vouches, since almost everyone I met, has met him too, haha. We were just checking and double checking everything. They guys were ready for the adventure, which I will track from Lima, hehe.

After an endless waiting the taxi arrived. The adventure was officially starting, how exciting! I'm sure they are gonna have lots of fun and they'd have a friend waiting for them back in Lima, actually 2 friends: Gunther is their friend too. Good luck, guys!

Martin was one of my 1st friends on TB. He let me know that coming to Peru was part of this 2008 plans and the idea of organizing a Lima Meet Up had popped out at same time- thanks to Lauro ;) Martin would me able to attend to the Meet Up - how cool! Furthermore, he was not coming alone, they were 4 guys, and you know: the more - the merrier! Some weeks ago I was helping Martin arranging last things for the SA Adventure and they'd stop in Lima but just for a few hours - later they'd stay longer but not this 1st time. Anyway, Lima was a layover this time and booking a hotel was pointless, so better come to the HQ, haha, and so they did!

I arranged a cab for them. The driver was waiting for them at the airport and drove them to my house. When I picked up the intercom a voice in perfect Spanish said: "Hola Yadi, soy Martin!" Yeah! They arrived! Well, you already know me and don't have to say how happy I was about meeting you guys! I love to feel I'm helping people :) Well, 2 of the 4 guys are TB's now, maybe after this SA adventure the other 2 would decide to join the site. Here's a brief description of them:

1. Martin: he's one of us (a TB), is Slovak, speaks perfect Spanish, besides English, German and Slovak. He's the leader of the group, maybe because he's already been in South America - but not below Equator - and is the only one who speaks Spanish, haha. Just kidding he's travelled a lot and has a lot of expertise ;)
2. Dan: also one of us, is Swedish speaks English, German, besides Swedish. He's the youngest of the group and looked a bit shy but that was just his disguise, haha.
3. Pavel: not a TB - yet, from the Czech Rep (1st person I met from Czech Rep - yay!) He speaks English and was his 1st time in this side of the world. Hope he enjoys this 1st time here.
4. Marian: not a TB either, is Slovak but doesn't speak Englilsh or Spanish.
   

   when we first met :)
   Problems with communication? maybe, but after a couple of weeks in SA, there won't be problems anymore, haha. This is his 1st big trip! Great he chose SA for it!

I might be meeting quite a few TB's, but always try to do something new with all of them. The guys noticed it too and called themselves: "my first Eastern Europe TB's" Yes!!! haha. The guys left their big bags and just took what they'd need during the next couple of hours while we'd be hanging out. Suddenly Martin noticed his camera was missing. Ok, take a deep breath! While he was looking for it, I called the taxi company and the camera was in the taxi. 5 min later, the driver was at the door with Martin's camera, haha. Dan was laughing since Martin was the one in charge and was giving the boys all kind of advises, haha. Problem solved! now, we were ready to go, but before leaving my dad arrived. It might have been quite a shock for him finding 4 European guys with huge bags at home, hehe. I wanted to give him some kind of explanation, but he just said: "Don't worry, I'm getting used to it" Isn't he cool? I introduced my dad to my new friends and we left in order to get their bus tickets for the night. We accomplished the tickets and money exchanging. Succesful!!! We'd meet Jenny and Michael (she's a Peruvian TB and he a German one) later. We still had some time + we were hungry. So, better go for lunch first.

I asked them what they would like to try and the answer was just one: "Peruvian food!" Ok, we were in Lima, so go for Fish & Seafood. We went to a tasty restaurant, very well known by the locals, haha, this is the way to experience the cuisine of a country. We found the perfect parking place and table. We were thirsty but it was early to drink alcohol, altough Pavel was asking for Pisco, haha. So I ordered Inca Kola for everyone! I was a bit afraid they'd find it too sweet, but no fears anymore; they loved it! haha. Ok what to order now? The guys just closed the menus and said: "Yadi, we trust you..." They were in my hands, haha. I ordered 2 appetizers one of them was vegetarian ;) and then 3 dishes to split + Martin's special cebiche haha. We got: Fish & Seafood Cebiche, Tiradito and Fried Seafood and Fish. As usual the food was very fresh, tasty and filling. I think I can say this was a succesful lunch. But before eating the guys tried the canchita - fried corn - and really liked it, haha.

I became the model and they were following my instruction to enjoy the Peruvian food as much as possible, hehe.

Now we had more time to talk about ourselves and knew each other better. All of them have been friends since a while - maybe not the 4 at same time - and had traveled together. But it was the 1st time the 4 did it together. Actually it was 1st time in the South Hemispher from America for all of them. They were so excited for this experience and I was excited about being a small part of it too. Marian doesn't speak Spanish, but it didn't stop him to order another Inca Kola: "una Inca Kola mas, por favor". There you go, boy!

As good TB's lunch, there were cameras on the table, haha, and every time the waiter showed up, he had to take pics with all of them, ooops! It was so much fun, haha.

I was just trying to think how crazy it'd be during the big Meet Up, haha. This lunch was just the beginning of the SA adventure. It was around 3:30pm when we left the restaurant in order to meet Jenny and Michael. The 4 guys were really cool and nice. I felt so glad I was able to welcome them to Lima :)