Lima, Peru - Natalia's view.

Our plane got delayed one more day due to volcanic ash.  After waiting in Bolivia for some time, we flew back to Lima.  That meant about 3 more hours on the plane, plus waiting at the airport trying to find out how the airline was going to handle 200 passengers stuck in a city they were not traveling to.  Everyone was exhausted!

It was about 1am when we arrived to the designated hotel, The Ibis in Miraflores.   Every single person in the hotel was extremely patient and welcoming. They smiled, fed and accommodated a huge group of tired travelers.   Impressive.

Next morning, having time to kill before our afternoon flight, we decided to walk around.  Miraflores’ streets looked busy.  People walking, businesses were open, street vendors and heavy traffic.  El Parque Central was colorful thanks to the gardens placed around the plaza.  Not far from there, we saw another park, this one facing the Pacific Ocean.   This second park is part of a tiny mall, so we decided to try some Peruvian food.  The ceviche was outstanding.

Maybe it was the breathtaking sight, the sound of the waves or the crisp air.  Maybe it was the delicious food, or the kindness of Peruvians, but all tensions were gone.   We got a good taste of Peru, and now we plan to come back for more. 

We were back at the airport at 2:30 pm.  If all goes as planned, we will land in Buenos Aires close to midnight.

I declare shenanigans!

We're back home.  We were about to enter the Park n' Fly near the airport when I decided to check the flight status.  CANCELED!  Now we have to wait until 7AM tomorrow morning to leave.  One day gone to waste.  As we were driving away from the airport, the airline called to "inform us" of the flight status.  I guess I should have at least gotten a hotel room out of them.  Too late now.

News Update

So far nothing new in the news.  Nobody can either confirm nor deny if we'll be able to get on a plane heading south.  I still haven't packed, but I guess I need to get to it now, if anything to go sit in an airport playing scrabble with my lovely wife, until they decide to call us over the intercom announcing that they are only waiting for us to take off.

And the parking situation has not been decided yet.  Either shell out $150+ to park in an enclosed location such as The Parking Spot or the Park n' Fly, or pay half of that to leave it exposed outside of a hotel near the airport. Shenanigans.

Off to pack it is then.

Aaaaaaand....maybe not!

Turns out that due to volcanic ash over Argentina, flights to and from most major airports have been suspended. I refuse to stay home these next two weeks, so if it's not Argentina it will have to be somewhere else.

I really don't want to have to deal with the airlines to get a refund on the airfare but I might just have to if things don't get better down there.  If we could at least arrive in Buenos Aires, I wouldn't mind my return flight being suspended!

Aeroparque Ezeiza flights remain suspended