Well we got here no problems and even managed some sleep on the overnight bus.
We got to our chosen hotel around 7.30am and although she couldn't give us a double until 12 she offered us a standby room to snooze in if we wanted. Something different than how we're usually treated. When you're only paying $10 a night the service is often a tad lax.
The hotel is amazing - it's an old rambling mansion that eventually has 6 levels all over the shop reached by various spiral staircases (interesting with a 14kg pack on your back). It has a roof top terrace and overgrown garden with the required 2 tortises wandering around. There are busts of David everywhere and chandaliers and ancient paintings of blokes looking serious.
It's a gorgeous place even with the skulls in the front foyer.
Lima is big and busy. We decided to stay in the heart of the city instead of 30 minutes away in the tourist suburb on the coast. And surprise, surprise we arrived a day before another huge celebration - the foundation day of Lima - so there's mucho prepartations for something big. All around the goverment palace theres huge assault tanks complete with dude sitting one the top with his big pointy gun. Not sure whos that important to guard but they look all pretty relaxed and just there for show. I wanted photos but decided it's best not to be deported for photographing military things.
