We took Mum & Dad to Barranco today, a lovely, well preserved part of old Lima that has great views of the Pacific.
By day Barranco is a sleepy, if slightly menacing backwater of flowers, butterflies and birds (Amazilia Hummingbird, Bananaquit & more Vermillion Flycatchers).
By night it is transformed into the throbbing centre of Peruvian discoland.
It was nicer to go by day, having said that the last time Esther and I were there was on a night out in early 2001, when I was chasing Esther’s affections and she was still running, so I have fond memories of discoland too.
Today, the food was great, the weather was great, even Benci our driver for the day and another convoluted acquaintance of ours was great.
Vultures watched our every mouthful from the top of a derelict church, locals warned us of thieves further down the path and at the viewpoint overlooking the pacific we marvelled at the gay graffiti adorning the fences, Lima delivers the unexpected by the bucketload most days.
It all felt so good that after we had soaked up all of Barranco’s charm, we made a triumphant return to El Olivar Park in San Isidro where Esther and I got married.
The olive tree by the lake which featured in our wedding photos is still there, unchanged, with its steadfastly heterosexual graffiti.
Now we are three we posed again four years further on.
A quick browse around a new toyshop and a new sit on cart for Salvador rounded off a wonderful day.