MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2007
8:01 am. Wonk! Wonk! Wonk! Wonk!
I wake up to loud wonks. The vibration nearly knocks me out of bed. I look out the window, and what do you know – I'm next door to an apartment building that's under construction, and they're at the phase where they have to break concrete by hand all morning.
Wonk! Wonk! Wonk! Wonk! It's now 8:24, and it is bone-jarring, even awake. That's it – I'm moving out later today. If I can get some of my money back; fine, but if not, I will just eat the loss. I'm on vacation, and this is wholly unacceptable. It's a shame, because it wasn't that cold this morning. I'd like to be able to recommend this guy's services, but I am not sure that I can, at least until I see if he does the right thing with my (his?) money. Meanwhile, I start eating the food in the refrigerator for breakfast.
9:12 am – Wonk! Wonk! Wonk! Wonk!
I call Marc and he shows at about 10:15. In between wonks, I tell him that it is difficult for me to ask this, but I'm moving, and blah blah blah. I guess that he was expecting it, because he had cash with him, and made a proposal larger than I was expecting. He has other properties on other streets, but they're full. We decided to meet back here at 4:00 pm, so I could go check into a hotel. Marc is a stand up guy, and I would use one of his apartments again, maybe, but not this building for a few months.
I left at 10:30 and headed to Lima Central to get some new glasses. There's this street down there that's wall-to-wall glasses shops (Jr. Huancavelica). They're all the same – I just look for the one with the prettiest girl working. As I'm walking down the street, a cutie gives me the pitch. I say OK, and she says follow me.
It turns out the block is pretty hollow. We walk through one of the stores on the street, and emerge into a hidden glasses mall. Dozens of stores, with literally the same thing in each store. I get picking, and wind up with four pairs (2 rimless bifocals, 1 rimless distance, and one rimmed reading) and an eye exam for a total of 350 soles ($111.47). She apologizes, and says that they won't be ready until 4:00 pm. I tell her that's OK, and I will be back tomorrow.
I walk around downtown a little – there's just a lot of energy there, and I get a kick out of it, and finally take a cab to the Surquillo Mercado.
The mercado in Surquillo is only a couple of blocks from the Hotel Los Andes, and it is one square block of your classic Mercado, pig's heads, DVDs, hot food, house wares, pet foods… everything. I grab a ceviche lunch, walk the booths a bit, and get one watch battery and three watch bands replaced for a total of 23 soles ($7). I shop a little more before getting a cab back to the apartment.
Well, the Wonk! Wonk! Wonk! has stopped, because they brought in the jackhammer. I would have left for no money – it's horrible. I spent some time typing up my notes and packing, then I watched TV until Marc showed up. Me and my bags took a cab to the Hotel Inkari in San Isidro.
Checking in to the Hotel Inkari was a snap. The girl at the desk remembered me, and even remembered that I wanted a room on a wireless internet floor. I really don't know why I bother trying to stay anywhere else. I get a great room for $40, taxes included, there's a Banos Turcos on premises, 24-hour room service, and they wouldn't care if I paraded through the lobby with a herd of sheep, as long as the sheep were of age.
After unpacking, I went back to the new Atlantic City casino, to kill an hour before meeting another local friend for dinner. I was able to confirm the existence of the sportsbook, and they were showing college football on the big screen. Now, there's absolutely no reason to leave Peru.
I met my buddy at Restaurant La Gloria in Miraflores. The food was very good, and catching up was even better. Best of all, he bought me a present – a guide to Lima's finest restaurants. I had seen the book before, and just never got around to buying it. Look out for reports on all different restaurants on my next trip!
After dinner, he dropped me back at Atlantic City at 11:00. By 11:40, I was down $100 in $3 blackjack, so I bailed and walked over to Tequila Rock.
At midnight, there were probably only 20-25 girls in the club (far outnumbering the men), and a semi-steady stream was arriving. I took my spot at the far left-hand bar and started scouting. After politely rejecting a couple of advances, I allowed Carla to sit with me.
Carla is 25 years old, has dark blonde hair, a flat stomach and a killer rack. She gave me the hard sell for a while, but I didn't appear to bite. I wasn't going to be that picky, and as long as she agreed to photos (she's good looking), the sale was made. She just didn't know it, so I let her continue to kiss and grind and fondle until I was ready. She wanted the standard $100. I could have either negotiated the price down or for more time, but I didn't care – I figured it was money better spent than in the casino. She agreed to clothed pictures, and we left Tequila at 12:50.
In the hotel, we took some shots and got down to business. Carla was totally professional: she did what was expected of her, and she did it well. She moved and groaned in all the right places, making sure that I was satisfied. She had an awesome body when she was naked, and was movable and flexible enough to get me to beg for some nude photos (no dice). Her boobs were enhanced; it was a good – not great – job.
After burning a CD for her with the photos, she left one hour and 20 minutes after we arrived. It was a good date, not a great one, but she laughed at my jokes and let me take pictures.
All in all, a pretty average day in Lima. If you consider that two killer meals, finding a sportsbook and boinking a really hot chick average. I caught up on the day's notes and was in bed by 3:00. Hopefully, here are no jackhammers outside the windows here.
