Lima

Last Thursday I went to Lima, Peru to visit my best friend from the U of M (Melinda). She is studying there for the semester at a Catholic university. The trip was really awesome but way too short. I got in Thursday night and had to leave Monday morning.

Friday I snuck into the university with Melinda so I could see what the school was like. The campus was really nice. Afterward we went to eat really good Peruvian food and walk around a little bit. That night we went to a bar with some of her friends from the program. Saturday we went to el Centro to see the president's palace and the church and the colonial part of the city which was really beautiful.

Unfortunately that day we met some guys who wanted to take us to get a famous Peruvian drink called Pisco Sour. We sat and talked with them and Melinda and I shared a drink. When we were ready to leave the manager brought us the bill of 380 soles (about $130). Melinda was in shock and we were both really mad. We decided we would pay about $30, leave and let the boys pay the rest because we hadn't ordered the drinks, seen the menu or drank much. So we tried to pay but the woman manager wouldn't let us leave. Things had been a little weird the whole time in the restaurant and at this point I knew it was a scam. The boys were working together with the owners. The boys try to bring in American or European girls who they think have money. The boys order drinks and the manager way over charges. Then they leave the bill to the girls and try to scare them into paying. Then the boys and the manager split the profits made off of the foreigners. But Melinda and I weren't going to let it happen because we knew what was going on. So we fought for an hour with them. About 6 people were yelling at us and arguing with us and when I walked forward saying that I wanted to talk to the police the woman pushed me back. Finally we left after paying part of the bill. It was really scary and I almost couldn't believe that it was happening to us. Lesson learned.

That night we went out to celebrate my birthday, which was really fun. Throughout the weekend, some Peruvians made comments to Melinda and I about our nationality. They all thought we were from Brazil which I thought was really funny. Sunday we went for a walk on the beach and later to a park that has water fountains that look really awesome because of the lights they put them with. Monday I had to get back to Quito! It was a really great trip and made me SUPER excited to travel with Melinda after the semester is over. We have one week in Ecuador together and then two weeks for Argentina. Two more weeks of school and then the adventure begins!