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 Pat Patrick April 19, 2026
I got to do 14 dives and 5 snorkel trips over our two weeks at Eco Cove Resort. I feel much more confident and comfortable diving, practice does truly help! Eco has these t-shirts that list all their Resort excursions - we made a nice dent in all of them and it's hard to pick a favorite!
By Pat Patrick April 19, 2026
Friday nights at Eco Cove Resort are sunset excursion time. All the guest are taken over to tiny Yeben Rock Island. This time the tde ws coming in quickly and alot of the island was already covered by water but that didn't dampen our party! We had a cooler of beer this time too! We also have become feriendly with the 2 families that were there sharing with us.
By Pat Patrick April 19, 2026
Eco Cove Resort in Raja Ampat - Oh what a wonderful place! I have truly loved my time here! Sharing it all with wonderful friends, made it even better. Here's some highlights above and below the water.