Fri 19th - bohemian Barranco, saying Good Bye and Hi... - a full day Meet Up - part II :)

After taking a break in our busy agenda, we met in Miraflores (in front of the church as usual) at 6:30pm. This time Mark was carrying his bag, he wouldn't join us all night long, since he had to catch his flight back home. Martin, Marian, Pavel & Dan weren't carrying their big bags, but they would have to leave us early too. So sad... but we would meet new TB's, locals and foreigners. I had already got a SMS from Paca who was already in town, yeah! My bro arrived!!! At that time we were: 12 people, ready for our next stop. Later we would go to a peña, but before we would do some sightseeing in one of the most charming areas of Lima: "Barranco". We took 3 cabs and drove there...

Barranco is the bohemian area of Lima. I was showing them around. There is a nice bridge called the sigh bridge. But before crossing the sigh bridge, I told them about a tradition. You can make a wish, but you have to cross it with eyes closed if this is your first time. So the wish you made, would come true... I know it was a crazy but also fun idea. Hey guys! I have been taking care of you these past few days, wouldn't you trust me one more time? :P It was so fun, I was leading a line of "blind" guys, haha, all of them holding the other's shoulders, haha. There was an Indi guy walking around and couldn't believe what he saw it and started taking pics of us, haha. We should have been looked like crazy, but fun people haha.

When we crossed the bridge, as usual, boys came to us advertising their restaurants. One even offered me going there for free - just me - if I went with the whole gang, haha. There were 2 musicians and Mark asked for the guitar of one of them and performed a song for us. Cool!!! He should have been paid for that, haha. Then Malvin came to me and gave me a rose, so sweet!!! Me, with a rose and surrounded by 11 amazing guys. What else could I ask for? We went to the view point and while we were there I got the SMS from Jim. He and Yuli (a TB from Chiclayo - the north of Peru) were already in Barranco, yay! Our group was growing and growing. We went to our next stop: The Angel's Place. This is a small cozy bar - although they call themselves "Cultural Cafe" haha.

Lili joined us there. We were early and got a room just for us :) I had with me the shirt for the guy who came from furthest away. The winner would be Malvin and I asked everyone to sign it, hehe. Before going into this place I got a SMS from James (Paca) saying he was in front of the church, but OMG wrong church, haha. So he texted me again when he was in front of the right one. Francisco joined me to pick James. It was just 3 blocks away. I haven't seen him before in real life, but was so easy to recognize him. He's really tall! Plus he was the only one wearing jeans during a wedding, haha. He was taking pics of a couple going out of the church. Well, we didn't need to say anything. I think we just exclaimed: "My friend!" and then a huge hug!!!!

We went back to the Angel's place. Everyone was already ordering something to drink. We had a toast, but we couldn't stay too long since I had reservations for the peña. There was a show which would start early... I have to accept I was starting to freak me out. Sorry guys!!!! :P
Oh! one funny story. Our group was always the center of attraction wherever we went and this place wasn't the exception, but the waiter surprised us too. He looks and talks like an Argentinean but was born in Philippines, haha. Such a mix, like all of us - super!!!! We were having our beers and trying to chill out. Ok, the t-shirt was ready, it was almost time to leave but before doing it...

This was the last meeting during this Meet Up for Mark, Martin, Dan, Pavel & Marian. Since the plans for the Lima Meet Up started - some months ago - we thought about giving the TB's peruvian gifts. Jenny and Romain helped me buying chullos (peruvian hats). I had some with me, fortunately enough for everyone, ufffff! But Romain had more for the people going straight to the show. I'd meet him there. Anyway, I decided to give the chullos to the gang right there, since we all shouldn't be going to the show. They were amazed, didn't expect that. I wish I could have done it in the show, with the rest of the TB's. But I couldn't wait, plus it wouldn't have been possible since that place is really loud. Ok, group pics and individual ones with our chullos.

Ready to leave? No, there was another surprise and this time for me! OMG. I think everybody knows by now - at least all of the people who went to my house - I'm crazy about pics with or from friends. Actually I'm running out of walls, haha. So they gave me the greatest gift: pictures from last night, great framed and signed by all of them, awwwww. I started to feel tears... oh oh. But they were happy ones :)
More hugs and kisses and it was time to leave.

At the door we should say good bye to: Dan Mark, Martin, Marian & Pavel. See you soon, my friends! Let's go to the show and get the party started :)

Attendants: at the beginning
USA: Mark (travelman727), Shawn (geerbox) & Stacey (Xstacey)
Philippines: Rene (RENESO)
Netherlands: Jos (jos-nijenhuis)
Slovakia: Martin (skydiver), Marian (not a TB)
Sweden: Dan (engertdan)
Czech Republic: Pavel (Pavel_Jacko)
Puerto Lico: Francisco (frankrn)
Singapore: Malvin (malvin_soh)
Peru: Yadi (yadilitta)

they joined us during the sightseeing:
Miraflores: Jim (JimLNA)
Chiclayo: Yuli (Yuliana151)

they joined us at the Angel's place:
Lima: Lili (liliana77)
James aka Paca: (jmaxiv)

told you, group is getting bigger and bigger. ..