Day 11: There's No Place Like Home

On the morning of our last day in Peru Mr. Y and I were most interested in acquiring the last of our souvenirs and getting to the airport with plenty of time to spare. We began with one more stellar Peruvian buffet breakfast. I had the smoked trout with capers, chocolate crepes with raspberry sauce and roasted vegetables. We both also enjoyed the large array of breads and pastries.

First stop: the souvenir shop on the corner across the street from the hotel, where we acquired, among other thing, the black and white polka dotted vase I had fallen in love with at Pisac (for a much better price than that seller had wanted), and a crystal llama dipped in silver. Next stop: the grocery store, where we acquired more coffee and chocolate.

On the way back to the hotel, we couldn't resist stopping to record more of the driving hilarity, so we chose an intersection of two one-way streets and set up the video camera. The Peruvian drivers did not disappoint--the side with the yield sign did not yield, and the side with the crosswalk kept pedestrians sprinting across the street in fear for their safety. We recorded the drivers for 30 minutes or so, and if I ever figure out how to speed up a video, I'll post it for you.

Back at the hotel, we repacked our bags, redistributing the weight so our large suitcase would be under 50 lb (it weighed in at 49.8--Mr. Y was so proud). One more look at the pink plants I coveted, we caught a cab and headed for the airport.

The ride to the airport was one of the more interesting cab rides. Like the other Peruvian drivers we had encountered, the cab driver was very laid back and didn't seem at all angry as he laid on the horn for anyone who dared cross his path (or act like they might). He honked at drivers that cut him off, drivers that didn't go fast enough when the lights turned green, and pedestrians standing on the side of the road contemplating crossing. Mr. Y and I had the foresight to record the entire cab ride, but soon realized that while we could record every car cutting us off, and the large line of cars that ran a red light, we couldn't capture our car cutting off dozens of other drivers. (One of these days we'll get a second video camera so we can capture multiple angles!)

The airport was uneventful. We arrived early, declined to have our luggage packaged in green saran wrap, checked in, paid our airport exit tax, and proceeded to the gate. At the gate, there was a liquor store, and some awesome recipes using Pisco, which is apparently the national liquor of Peru.

We were flying back on Taca, which we learned isn't nearly as luxurious as Lan Chile was. Oh well!

After a brief stopover in San Salvador, where our luggage was searched by hand at the gate and the lid to Mr. Y's water bottle was confiscated, we finally boarded a plane to San Francisco.
I loved Peru, and would return in a heartbeat, but it's so good to be home!