Fri 19th - traditional Lima, Peruvian lunch... - a full day Meet Up - part I :)

At 10 am we met, as usual, in front of the church. Not sure why, but almost everyone was wearing sunglasses, haha. Plus some of us were carrying big bottles of water. When Dan wanted to say hi! I could barely listen to him... Our voices weren't the same, but we were full of energies. :) The survivors who went to downtown were: 10. Again I was the lucky girl surrounded by knights who took good care of me ;)

We took a cab to downtown and went straight to the Plaza Mayor (Main Square). I became a teacher again, haha. I was explaining the guys a bit about Lima history and the buildings there. Then we went to the Square and there were 4 girls who agreed to take pics of us and they also wanted to get pics with us, haha. They were surprised about the fact people from different countries were together and that I was the only girl with them. I became their idol, haha. We were just walking around taking pics. Everyone was still tired and didn't want to follow a fixed schedule, yeah!!!

We went to other square just a couple of blocks away. Picture time again! what a suprise and I got a call of another TB who will join us for lunch yeah!!! In our way back I saw a street vendor with Peruvian sweet and snacks. At the end everyone got something, haha. I remembered how much Minh (a TB) liked the Peruvian candies and asked if the gang would like to try it. Great idea!!! But please don't eat much, since a Peruvian Buffet would be waiting for us for lunch time.  Then another call: "Hello... ok, feel free to join us!" Who was there? Mom!!! OMG! That would be hilarious.

Why did I invite mom? well, last week I went to the restaurant to make the reservation and she joined me. Also I wanted her to look what her daughter enjoys so much, maybe she would be able to understand better. We took 2 cabs and left downtown. Why is this restaurant  special? First of all I have to say the outside doesn't look the greatest, but once you are inside it's totally different. Well, besides the fact of offering a really tasty Peruvian Buffet, as every Friday they would have a show with dances and music. Yes, yes, show and dances were part of the night attraction, but I knew some of us wouldn't join us at night and this way they would be able to enjoy a bit of our folklore ;)

Mom was a bit shocked when she arrived and saw me surrounded just by boys! haha. But she was fine with that, when all of the guys introduced very politely. Mark couldn't help it and asked her where Gunther was, haha. The waiter brought our pisco sours. There was a band and the musicians started to play. Mark stood up and went to the stage. He sang: "New York, New York" Perfect! Not just our table was clapping, but also the whole restaurant, haha.

We were getting hungry and the buffet was waiting for us. I went in front of the gant to explain them what they would it, but it was better if they discorved it by themselves. It was great seing how the gang was curious about the food, but didn't have second doubts about trying as much as possible, haha. The buffet was a wonderful idea, since they could choose what to eat. And they could come for more, as many times as they wanted / could, haha.

While I was doing the line, one of the waiters approached telling me someone was looking for me. It was: Malvin!!! yeah!!! after 3 months, we were finally able to meet in person!!! I gave him a big hug!!! Now the table was ready. A 12 person large table. Malvin thought mom was a TB and asked her: "Where are you from?" haha. She just said: "Yadi's mom!" haha. Thank you guys you were so kind, friendly, nice. Mom felt welcome and also very happy for her daughter, who has many friends :)

I was getting my food, when I listened the presenter pronounced my name. My boys were sending greetings to me. Thank you!!!! I was back at the table and the lady couldn't help it to ask who Yadi was. I stood up and she asked: "How did you meet people from all over the world?" Well, explaning all the TB story would have been too much, so I just pointed to each of they boys saying where they were from. We had ambassadors from: Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Philippines, Netherlands, Singapore, USA & Puerto Rico! The whole restaurant was amazed and started to clap very loud. We were the spoiled table, hehe, the center of attraction ;)

Now it was time for the show. First there was an Afro-Peruvian dance. There was a couple dancing. This Afro-Peruvian dance is very nice and you have to know how to move your hips. Suddenly the girl came to our table and asked Dan to join her. Not even 30 sec later, he was dancing likes a pro, haha. Good job, Dan!

The next dance was from highlands and Francisco was asked to dance too, haha. How could they miss the guy who was laughing loud? haha. After another dance, they presented the Alcatraz, which is another Afro-Peruvian dance. The fun part of the dance is that you have to try to set your partner on fire. How? well one of the partners has to dance holding a candle trying to burn the "paper" tale of the other one. You should avoid be burned just moving your hips and dancing. I was laughing when the boy came and asked me to dance. OMG!!! That was so much fun. I don't have any idea how many pics have been taken, haha. I even found some in my camera, haha. Malvin was also asked to dance and he almost succeeded.

After a few more dances it was time to leave. We all had a blast, including mom, haha. I guess she's the first Mom part of a Meet Up, haha.
Ok, it was getting late and we had some plans for later. So we agreed to meet at 6pm in front of the church in Miraflores.

Attendants: 12 happy people
USA: Mark (travelman727), Shawn (geerbox)
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: Lita (Yadi's mom) & Yadi (yadilitta)
Miraflores: Romain (romancito), Jim (JimLNA)