Letting loose in Lima by Kylie Fuentes


I finally found the mental strength to haul my sorry self away from Rio de Janeiro and into Lima, Peru. Not sure what I was expecting, but not quite this. Lima is surprisingly urban, but with this small town feel. And everyone is a flag bearer. Literally, you can't scan the street without getting slapped in the face by a Peruvian flag or two.

This guy rode past me and totally represents what I see when I think of Lima. A bit cool, a lot proud, a smidge cheesy, a little sleazy and a bit vintage. Makes for an interesting mix, don't you think?

They're big on surfing in Lima. Got hit on by this smoked out surfer 'dude' who told me he was going to show me how to surf. Apparently there are great waves in Lima. Check out the pic below. Hmmm... did I mention I live on Bondi Beach? Yep, think his definition of big surf and mine might be two different things. But at least he was creative. The Peruvians are definitely not shy - beeping the horn at a passing lady pedestrian isn't an unusual occurrence. In fact, it's the norm.

All jokes aside, the Peruvians in Lima are proud of their gastronomy. And after sampling the local fare over and over and over again (what? someone has to take it for the team!) I can totally back them. Oh Em Gee. Ceviche de Corvina nearly broke me. So good I'm actually hallucinating as I write this.








The not so botanical gardens by Kylie Fuentes


I need to confess. I'm usually a pretty good navigator, but I did manage to get lost in Rio. One morning, while on a hunt to find the Botanical Gardens in Rio, I managed to get off on the wrong bus stop and get myself in the middle of a jungle garden. Thing is, I totally thought I was in the right place. Wasn't until I left & saw the ACTUAL botanical gardens, that I knew how wrong I was. But, let me ask you this... Do they have Pirana's in the real botanical gardens??? Yeah that's right, my garden did...
Turns out, my fake botanical garden had an aquarium built into a tree trunk, a bat cave complete with stalagmites and bats, as well as monkeys, gorgeous brazilians, jungle lakes and a ancient ruins. Take that real botanical gardens- what have you got to offer?