January 10, 2025

NEW YEARS DAY - LIMA, PERU 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!! Today we went to explore the Barranco Area of Lima, known for it's street art and the Bridge of Sighs! The ports in Peru have been a bit of a hassle in that we can't walk or taxi out from port - we have to be shuttle bused, on a very slow schedule, out to a local town square - this one was almost an hour out. Regardless, we wanted a FUN relaxing day, so Scott and Delia and I grabbed the shuttle. At the drop off, I met new resident Frazer, from Grand Cayman, (a mosquito scientist), who was traveling alone and once I confirmed he was not a whiner, I invited him to join us! I then introduced him to others as Trevor and we all were calling him that most of day, until he finally told them his name was Frazer!! Guess I scared him too much with my no whining rule! Classic my bad!! So many people coming and going. I had met a Trevor, from Australia, the days before who he looks vaguely like.

We took Uber to the main square of Barranco, there was lots of traffic and people out on this Holiday! The Street Art was everywhere!

The Bridge of Sighs is a wooden pedestrian overpass and one of most popular meeting spots in Lima. Legend has it you have to hold your breath as you cross all the way over the bridge to attain true love! Bridge is 40 meters long - we sprinted and tried not to knock any one over in process (a lot more people on actual bridge the day we did it - first photo from internet)!

Next, we headed to Lima's Football (Soccer) Stadium and the Circuito Magico Del Agua next to it, in Reserve Park. They do a nightly water show that Guinness World Records certified as the Worlds largest Fountain complex in a public park. We got there before dark to wander the park and the show started at 7:15 pm once it was dark and they projected images onto the spray field of the largest rainbow of fountains. Fun way to start the NEW YEAR of 2025!

By Patricia Patrick December 4, 2025
Today we went to see the coastal Naidiri Village that has recently won the Top Prize in global restoration, for their ocean reef project. The reef restoration was borne out of necessity to solve their dwindling food/ main protein source for the village, of fish. It was started by 2 of the villages rugby players and today is run by the local teenagers (mostly boys) in the village. It was great seeing how empowered and proud they were of their amazing efforts.
By Patricia Patrick December 1, 2025
The port agent offered several trips to areas around Lautoka . We chose the trip to Serenity Island Resort which included van and boat transfers and lunch. It was a really nice day enjoying the sun, reef, pool, turtles and amenities!
By Patricia Patrick December 1, 2025
I organized a group tour for a fun day experience. We had a great day despite the rain that decided to join in. We started with a 45 minute van ride out through the city, into the countryside. Then we got in long boats and went up river to a waterfall, some swam or cheered on the guides to cliff dive. Then back in the boats to visit Sabata Village where 50 family members live as a community existing totally off the land, along the river. Next was a quick boat ride to our BBQ lunch spot. After lunch we got to tube down the river, through light rapids, for just about an hour. We ganged our tubes together with the guide - we had a chain of 14 in my group and the guides totally blew us away singing hymns for a good chunk of the journey. It was truly moving in that place with the rain drizzling and all of us linked together. Loved it!