Gunther wanted to go sightseeing with me, haha
This was Francois’ 2nd day in Peru. The night before we agreed to
meet for lunch. I picked him up at Rom’s at 1:15pm in my new car, haha. I have
driven some TB’s before, but never with this car. Francois is the 1st
one :) So, this drive was even more special, hehe. Although is winter time in Lima, these past few days
have been sunny and this wasn’t an exception. Ok, what do we like to eat when
is sunny??? Cebiche!!! So, let’s go for some fish & seafood. I remembered
he made a comment to one of my reviews of a restaurant, which serves a Peruvian
buffet. So, instead to go to a place just for Fish and Seafood, better going to
this restaurant, where he could get not only the Fish and Seafood, but also
other Peruvian dishes :P
The traffic was crazy, but finally we arrived.
mmm, should I try it?? yes, you did and loved it!!!
This place
is in other area of Lima,
close to the Financial area, but not in the same district. So the drive gave me
the chance to show him other places of Lima,
including the crazy traffic of the city, haha. I hope he considered it safe,
how I drove, haha. We arrived to the restaurant and I was concerned about where
to park. There were no free Parking Spots in front of the restaurant, but the
watchman let me park in a Parking Spot saved for handicapped, hehehe. There was
a table also waiting for us, lucky us!!!! We have been drinking the night
before, so we just had lemonade and Inca Kola, hehe. Since it was a buffet it
was self service. Francois followed me to the appetizers station. There was the
Chef, Eduardo, who recognized me. He treated us as the favorite customers of
the place, haha. He wanted to take pic of us and wanted us to try every single
dish.
nice bar!
Francois got some Cebiche and Seafood of course, besides other Peruvian
hot appetizers.
We went back to our table and started enjoying our meal,
while we were just talking about ourselves, travels, hobbies, etc. Ok, time for
round 2!! These time the hot dishes. I joined Francois in order to introduce
him to all the dishes. There was one “Aji de Gallina” (made of chicken with a
dressing of milk, yellow pepper, etc) he wanted to try definitively. We have
been talking about this dish, so it was a MUST and he loved it!!!! I didn’t
want anything hot, so I went back for more cold appetizers and Eduardo told me
I brought him luck, haha; my friends and I would always be welcomed there.
After having our entrees, we were feeling a bit full, but Francois is just like
me, he loves the sweets and desserts, haha. So, let’s move to the desserts’
station! We tried the Peruvian traditional dessert and despite we were full, we
couldn’t help it and went for a 2nd round :P
We left the restaurant around 3pm and we were thinking
about where to go.
I conquered the world!!!!
Well, I wanted to show Francois a “huaca”, which is a mud
pyramid. The biggest are in the North, but since he wouldn’t be able to go
there, I decided to show him one that is located in Lima. It was the perfect time, before rush
hour. We visited huaca “Huallamarca” in San
Isidro. These huacas are the buildings – usually
ceremonial – built by the Pre-Incas in the Coast. First we climbed it and then
we visited the museum next to it. And I became a guide/translator, haha. Also
we were able to see the “Peruvian dog”, which is special because it doesn’t
have hair, hehe. While we were learning about the huaca, Jenny called me
letting me know she would go to my house later that day. Ok! We had plans,
hehe.
We left the huaca and went for some cremoladas – yummy! The
cremoladas are like iced water, so refreshing and tasteful.
enjoying our Cremoladas, :P
We went to the best
place for Cremoladas and I got one of Carambola and he one of mango. They were
refreshing. It was almost 6pm and I needed to do some shopping before going
back home for our “Cheese & Wine”. First we picked up Francois’ Champagne. We agreed
some time ago, we’d have that “Ch & W”, I would bring a bottle of
Argentinean wine and he would bring Champagne
hehe. After that we made a quick stop at the Indian Market. I needed to buy 2
shirts, hehe and then we went to the Supermarket. We bought cheese (Brie, Goad
with Herbs & Peruvian), cabanossi (spicy sausage), baguette, olives and a
bottle of Peruvian wine. I called Jim and he found a sports bar playing the
baseball game he wanted to watch, so we would go to my house, after it was
over, mmm, ok.
Francois and I were back at my home around 8pm.
with Francois!!!
We put the
champagne, cheese and sausage in the fridge and had some free time before the
people arrived. I needed time to check my TB, haha, also Francois had some time
to know the SA TB Headquarters and we could see a book about Peru and
discuss about ideas of where Francois could to go next. It was already past 9
when Jenny arrived. She was lost! But finally she could make it. The 3 of us
were just chatting when Jim called me and let me know he was with another TB,
Cinthia, who I didn’t know. Of course, she would be also welcome! Also Romain
called and let me know he was leaving and was in his way to my house, yeah!!!!
Around 11pm the whole group was together: Francois, Jenny,
Jim, Cinthia, Romain and Yadi :) We had our wine and cheese.
Playing with the toy Jim brought Gunther :) Gunther loves it!!! Thanks, Jim :)
Cinthia couldn’t
stay longer. She was feeling a bit sick. First of all Jim wanted to play with
Gunther, haha, and Gunther was more than happy to have a new play buddy ;)
Romain was fascinated with the Brie. He wasn’t able to find a good one during
all his time in Lima
and Francois did it during his first day in the supermarket near to my house,
haha. The 2 Miraflorinos: Jim & Francois, were proud talking about their
city, what ?!?!?! I refused to accept that, especially from Romain who hasn’t
visited Machu Picchu
yet, but he just said: “Shadi, Shadi, Shadi, you have to accept the fact, I’m a
Peruvian, haha, that’s what you wish, haha. Anyway, we agreed we all are
“Cosmopolitan” :)
Francois was telling the rest of the gang about the great
time we had and every time, he told where we went, what we ate or visited,
Romain opened his eyes wider and moved his head from one side to the other just
asking: “Why??? Shadi, why didn’t you do it for me????” Well, simple answer:
“Aren’t you a Peruvian? Haha ;)”
Francois wanted to smoke and went outside, 2 minutes later,
he and Gunther were playing haha.
with my cosmopolitan boys!!! - love them!!!
The bottles of wine were gone, but we were
still missing the champagne. I took that
out of the fridge and Francois opened it. We toasted for the “Cosmopolitan
Friends” and for the next fun days to come. Francois would leave to the South
after 2 days, maybe Jim and Jenny would meet him there. I would leave to MI in
2 days (it will be part of another blog) and Romain would fly to France on
Friday. So it was a “Cosmopolitan Good Bye Party”. But at least 3 of us will be
celebrating the Peruvian National Holidays the 28th of July,
yeah!!!!!
The Cosmopolitan Friends rock!!!!!!!
