February 3, 2017
After two long flights (Salt Lake City to Dallas and Dallas to Lima), we finally made it to Peru! We were a little bleary-eyed after the all-night flight and had to take a little nap once we got to our apartment.
Into Peru
After two long flights (Salt Lake City to Dallas and Dallas to Lima), we finally made it to Peru! We were a little bleary-eyed after the all-night flight and had to take a little nap once we got to our apartment.
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| Now arriving in Lima - two jet-lagged Americans with 280 points of luggage! |
We can't believe all the luggage we had to bring. Between us, we had 200 pounds of checked luggage and 80 pounds of carry-on. Previous to coming here, we have been able to live for a month with just carry-on luggage, but this 18-month mission to Peru required that we haul all sorts of things we would never have brought except that they were impossible to buy here or were super expensive (vitamins, hair care and make up, lots of clothes, boots for working in tough places, etc.)
Another senior mission couple, Jerry and Jeri Prince from Canada, came to the airport to pick us up in a van. Thank goodness they were here. It was giving us a heart attack to move our luggage!
Another senior mission couple, Jerry and Jeri Prince from Canada, came to the airport to pick us up in a van. Thank goodness they were here. It was giving us a heart attack to move our luggage!
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| At the Lima, Peru, Airport Left: Jerry & Jeri Prince, Right: Sandy & Marshall Henrie |
La Molina - Our Home Base
Here is a shot of the 'La Molina' suburb of Lima where we are going to live. It is about 15 miles east of downtown Lima, an upscale part of the city that will be our home base. The road shown here is a freeway that suddenly turns into a city street and is always jam-packed with cars.
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| Avenida Javier Prado, the main road into La Molina - our new home base |
Our real apartment won't be ready for a week, so we moved into a temporary place right next to our temple here in Lima. This is a shot from the window of the apartment across the hall from us. It shows how close we are living to the temple. Angel Moroni is on the steeple, watching over us every night.
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| Lima, Peru, Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Temperatures here in Lima (summer time in the Southern Hemisphere) are so much hotter than last week's tundra conditions in Utah. We have been sweating since we got off the plane!
For our first preparation day (which happened to be the day after we arrived), we were able to escape some of the heat by taking a taxi with the Princes (the couple who picked us up from the airport) to the nearby suburb of Miraflores. Miraflores (which means "Look at the Flowers") is right on the ocean and was slightly cooler than where we are staying. Here is a shot in Miraflores at the Larcomar Mall. Larcomar is built right into the cliffs overlooking the ocean, seen in the background. Note that the top of the mall, because it is built into the cliffs, is below street level. You can't see this open-air mall from the street as you drive by - you have no idea it is there until you walk up to the edge and look down.
Miraflores, Preparation Day by the Sea
For our first preparation day (which happened to be the day after we arrived), we were able to escape some of the heat by taking a taxi with the Princes (the couple who picked us up from the airport) to the nearby suburb of Miraflores. Miraflores (which means "Look at the Flowers") is right on the ocean and was slightly cooler than where we are staying. Here is a shot in Miraflores at the Larcomar Mall. Larcomar is built right into the cliffs overlooking the ocean, seen in the background. Note that the top of the mall, because it is built into the cliffs, is below street level. You can't see this open-air mall from the street as you drive by - you have no idea it is there until you walk up to the edge and look down.
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| Larcomar Center in Miraflores suburb |
Lomo Saltado - Jumping Meat
Local food here in Lima has been superb. Here is a shot of one of our first restaurant meals - a local traditional food called 'loma saltado'. It is a delicious mix of sliced beef tenderloin and vegetables with incredible seasonings. Lomo saltado literally translates to 'jumping meat' - an interesting way to describe stir fry! The dish of yellow sauce at the top is called 'salsa de aji' (ah-HEE) and is very tasty and spicy in a non-Mexican sort of way. Total cost for the two plates, plus drink and tip in a nice restaurant: $10.89. Incredible!
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| Lomo Saltado (traditional Peruvean Stir Fry) - dinner for two plus drink & tip was $10.89! |
Inca Cola - Peruvian Craze
Now, this wouldn't be Peru without their favorite soft drink - found everywhere we go: Inca Cola. This day-glow yellow drink is available in every restaurant, shopping center, and mom-and-pop corner store throughout Peru. Locals say they drink it with all of their traditional meals (as opposed to Coke, which they only drink with modern meals like hamburgers). And the taste? Sandy describes its flavor as "Double-Bubble bubble gum in a bottle"! That is actually a pretty fair description!
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| Inca Cola - the favorite in Peru for 80 years! The flavor of Double-Bubble bubble gum in a bottle! |
We are glad you made it safely to your mission field and are enjoying local foods. We are sure you will have many wonderful experience and look forward to hearing about your adventures as you touch many lives.
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