It was a happy surprise when one of my daughter decide to gift me and early retirement trip with the words:

” Better you do it now that you are in good health before you get too old” I actually had the same reaction when I decided to have a big party at 65 rather than waiting for the usual big number of 70! I thought, you never know what the future brings! I never regretted it. Two years later arrived Covid and changed the landscape of society affecting friendships and placing significant distance in community relationships.

To set the background: I have always loved travelling; in my 20’s I travelled the “hippy route” to India where I was not able to enter, some if it done hitchhiking. But that story is for another time. Still in my 20’s I went to the Caribbean where I had family and from there travelled to Miami, on to Brazil where l lived 3 years. I remember sitting in my friends living room in Puerto Rico and bringing up my plans to go to Latin America Peru, Argentina, etc.. At time I was able to go to Brazil and later when I had kids, to Venezuela, but I always longed to get to know the rest of the Latin American continent and its people.

So Peru, here I come. I flew from London to Madrid and from there I took AirEuropa to Lima, Peru. Tall lanky travellers, be aware, Air Europa’s planes are “space saving” design. During a down time I managed to sleep and my glasses fell to the floor. My knees were so close to the seat in front that there was no room for my head to lower itself along with my arm to pick up the glasses. Try as I may, no way until the passenger next to me got up to use the facilities, I could then sit on his seat and stretch to look for my glasses. Quite a comical sight!

The trip was a bit long but all went well and I was soon enough in Lima where I had reserved a room on Airbnb. I was travelling fairly lightly. Backpack and wheelie suitcase. On account of my age I decided to make it easy for myself and not to carry the massive traveller backpacks most young people cart around. On the whole, that formula worked for me.

One question that was often asked is: Aren’t you afraid? Most people meant by that” aren’t you afraid for your safety? So honestly? no! I speak fluent spanish, I can communicate easily and I am usually able to sense danger…. Or so I thought! more on that later…

I did have a fear however, and that was the fact that I was planning on backpacking and 99.9% of the travellers were young. To them, I was an old fogey! Or so I thought!

My first encounter gave me a taste of what was to come. Arriving at the room I rented I was greeted by 2 young guys who were sharing the flat as well. Gentlemanly gestures all around, my luggage was carried for me, cup of coffee offered, and when I enquired about buying food they promptly offered to take me there. This was my first day in Lima.