Toshiro's

Great sleeping at 68 degrees with all the windows open and a beautiful breeze
off the ocean. Waves pounding the shore and providing a very deep sleep.
Up at 9 to the sound of what appears to be 8 year olds practicing soccer.
Mixed cream with 2% milk to create half & half and perched on the balcony watching one excellent coach for every 5 players do their drills. 25 kids out there.
Surfed the net, looked at the NBA and NHL standings and schedules and hit
the shower. Got ready for an extravagant lunch at Toshiro's which is reputed
to be the best Japanese restaurant in South America.

We experienced our first precipitation this morning. It lasted about 15 minutes and did not interrupt the soccer, runners or cyclists. Hoping it stays dry so we can walk by the embassy's and parks that are all along the way back from Toshiros. It's in San Isidro, the adjacent upscale District which is full of nice homes, foreign embassys and huge Parks. The meal was sensational. We were greeted by Toshiro himself and Irene had her picture taken with the man. Irene had 2 small steamed conch appetizers cooked in their beautiful little conch shells. She followed that up
with 2 of the largest Shrimp I have ever seen grilled in garlic miso. I had Tonkatsu,
gyoza and yakitori. We really enjoyed the beauty of the restaurant, the service and
especially the food. Another 10

Walked about a mile and a half through the gorgeous residential section mixed with fine restaurants, upscale businesses and hotels to our regular Wong's grocery 
For crema, OJ and pop. Taxi'd back for $2 and enjoyed a 4th day in a row over 80.
(88 downtown set a record and 84 in Miraflores. They average 5 or fewer days over
85 per year and we've seen 2 this week. Everything is a little cooler and breezier 
above the Pacific and our condo was a perfect 74 with a cool soothing breeze.
Gotta get back to Hardy in San Francisco! Trying to ignore the Bulls and Hawks 
results.

Miraflores - Friday, March 20

Now we begin our 4 day weekend wind up to the Miraflores review. It's been seriously relaxing for both of us as well as very healthy due to the climate, sun and exercise opportunities. We decided to approach the final days without changing our general routine. Although we still might make breakfast 1 day at the Puku Puku Cafe. They say the coffee they serve is the very best in Peru and the pastry is better. 
So we slept in and didn't get around to coffee until 1030. Worked, read, chilled on the balcony until 1 when we walked to La red, yet another fabulous culinary delight.
Irene's shrimp look like a painting that belonged in an art gallery.
She loved them. I had my (believe it or not) favorite meal so far, a half pound of
perfectly cooked beef sirloin with an exquisite gravy heavy with cilantro. The rice and beans and accompanying habanero sauce were outta this world..another 10.
Walked over 3 miles on a very hot day for Miraflores. We strolled the inner District, took a lotta pictures and wore ourselves out. The temperature (83) is at least 5 degrees warmer away from the beach with much less breeze. Still not a drop of rain and when it mists (hasn't the last 3 days) it dissipates in the air. Watched Roanic beat Nadal while the 20 year olds went at it below. Followed the Bulls and Mirotich 
as they beat Toronto for the 3rd straight time. 

March 18

We had intended to have breakfast at Tanta but couldn't due to work related delays.
So we went for lunch. Well worth the effort. Fried wontons with chicken and rocconto cream served with guacamole. A Green Tamale (cilantro laden delight) and Lomo Soltado (Beef tenderloin sliced with rice, sweet onions, mushrooms and sweet red peppers in a beef gravy enhanced differently by each chef).

Irene had the paella which was loaded with shellfish and chorizo.
We taxi'd each way and hung out at the condo because of business and my huge blister. Oh well! A quiet and beautiful afternoon and evening ensued. A magnificent sunset followed by some good soccer and a good book. Reached 81 for the second straight day. The Limeno's are acting like its 95! Everything is relative.

Wednesday, March 18

Worked all morning and enjoyed coffee and the constant movement below. Biking.Parasailing.Soccer.Volleyball.BBall.Walkers.Runners. Great theatre in general. Meandered over to Costanera 700, the world famous Restaurante for a 230 Rez. Chef Humberto Sato has been featured on Anthony Bourdain's CNN show and many others. It did not disappoint. Irene had fried fish rowe and I had Langostinos  Tempura. The service was superb and we actually had a private room all to ourselves in which Bourdain ate with Sato. Very cool indeed. We ordered more food for dinner to go and hurried back to put it in the fridge while still hot. The sea bass and bouillabaisse were delicious at 8PM! Fell asleep reading about 1030 getting used to Glitzky as a PI. It hit 81 degrees today!

St. Patricks Day in Lima

After another delicious cup of Columbian Aribica on the balcony we headed down
the Malecon to Larcomar. We actually found 2 excellent maps after searching
for days. Hit the Starbucks at the Marriott for agua and a respite before heading to Alfresco's for lunch. Great place in an energetic residential neighborhood just off
the Malecon. Really enjoyed the food, the service and the price! Walked to Wong's supermercado and got some essentials. This Wong's is on the second floor of a high rise close to the restaurant. Both stores are held to an excellent standard
of cleanliness, freshness and service. Prices are about 10% higher than Ecuador.
(About 20% less expensive than the US on most items, especially produce)
Took a taxi for $3 back to the condo. Worked the phone for a couple hours and 
fell asleep reading the further adventures of Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitzky "Keepers."

Monday

Slept in until 9. Got a few business calls in and checked in with the office. 
Wound up with a morning full of crunching numbers for a CEO client
that was in need of help for his presentation to stockholders. It appears to have
worked out and looks like a deal is in the offing so we headed to celebrate 
at the number 1 Ceviche restaurante in the whole world "LaMar".
We enjoyed a shellfish extravaganza and a fantastic grouper Ceviche.
Wontons stuffed with crab, shrimp and lobster in special sauce were next.
Decided to cover some streets we hadn't walked yet and spent about an hour 
at the Wongs Grocery Market (think Publix/Whole Foods). Taxi return was $2.25.
Games keep getting better down at the Park. Outstanding futball/soccer+volleyball 
Is being played by all ages. The 20 something soccer and volleyball games are worth watching! ......Cutting into my reading time.

Lima City Bus Tour

Walked 3 miles down the Malecon and wound up at Larcomar.
Took a cab to Parque Kennedy and grabbed a 3 hour tour of downtown
Lima by day. Well worth it. Except for the Catacombs...Gross!
The streets were crowded with Peruvians enjoying their Sunday. 
The city alternates between modern buildings, Colonial architecture and grungy. 
Places to hang out and places not to hang out. But a huge vibrant energy
throughout. At this point we decided that Miraflores and the surrounding 
Oceanside Districts are the places to be. We returned to Parque Kennedy and had dinner at Cafe De La Paz, a French/Peruvian fusion restaurante that has been around a long time. It was packed outside so we had a top notch meal inside.
Onion Soup, Beef & Pepper Soltado Pizza, a seafood platter and seafood soup.
Fantastic + too much.Take home time. Returned to Our Malecon De La Marina condo.

Time to make a few observations: The Miraflorens are pretty and they are in shape.
They are friendly and affable. There is a city vibe of hustle and bustle reminiscent 
of Chicago with a homey suburban Oak Park/Naperville/Huntington Beach feel.