After a flight of almost 7 hours, I was glad to get out of the cramped plane and into the very busy Lima Airport. The inexpensive hotel I had booked was very close to the airport…in fact, when I asked them for a pick-up, they sent me walking directions and a picture of the outside of the place. (This in spite of the fact that their hotel website said they provided “free” airport transfers.)

Well, it looked simple enough and it would be good to stretch my legs. So I started out along the path, dragging my wheelie bag behind me. It soon became obvious that although the distance was short, the actual navigation was problematic. Also, it was very dark and there was a ton of traffic. I headed back towards the airport to get a cab.

A very nice young man showed me his taxi badge and offered his services. I accepted and told him the address. He went in the general direction of the map, meanwhile telling me that this was a “ very bad area for tourists.” In a short time, we were driving through one of the sketchiest areas I’ve ever seen. The taxi guy took several turns through the tiny streets and finally said that he wasn’t sure where the hotel was. That he didn’t think he was a legitimate hotel at all and that he could take me to a more reputable place, not too far and not too expensive.

At this point, all I wanted was a shower and a bed. So I agreed and in a few minutes, we were parked in front of a bona-fide hotel, compete with an actual sign.

Taxi guy went in to be sure there was a room available, brought my bags in and carried them up to my 4th floor room. He said he’d come back in the morning at 5:00am to take me back to the airport.

My room was extremely basic. But the bed was comfortable, it had a fantastic shower and a little balcony looking out over a park.

I availed myself of the shower, sorted out my stuff and crashed.

(Oh, and when I contacted the first hotel to inform them that I wasn’t coming, they told me that this was a “scam”…that taxi drivers pretend not to know where their hotel is so they can take the tourists somewhere else and get a kick-back. Honestly, I don’t know if that is true. But I’m glad I didn’t try to walk through the dark streets to the “illegitimate” hotel.)

Taxi guy was at the hotel this morning at 5:00am. The roads and the airport were already crowded. The domestic gates reminded me of some of the smaller airports in Africa…a huge room with people sitting everywhere, one lone coffee shop, a packed bus to ferry you out to the plane and a stairway into the actual aircraft. I hauled my bag up, found my seat and now am on my way to Cusco. Where I have arranged a pickup and ride to my (very legitimate) hotel!