August 6th Lima Day 3

Still rather overcast in LimaI. After breakfast I travelled to IPEN with Eric Bosc, to collect a representative who would help with customs release, then on to the airport. It then took 2 and a half hours to get my ‘personal’ box out of customs. This involved going round multiple offices accompanied by a ‘helper’ (taken on at the airport) who negotiated at each point with cash, if needed (though what for wasn’t clear), and indicated when I should sign documents (all in Spanish). In the end the box was opened for inspection, and the ‘helper’ spotted a pair of new jeans that I had packed on top of the equipment, and demanded them as an additional ‘payoff’, but after some argument he was refused (I think some more money changed his mind).

Eric and I then wont back to the Sheraton Hotel, as we’d been told the other vehicle we were to hire was available at the hotel. When we arrived, it turned out to be another SWB Land Rover, not a Toyota. Again, we had a big lunch at Hotel Bolivar, no memory of what we ate though.

We took a taxi back to the Signal office, where we received a telex informing us that the boxes of equipment had been sent to Miami! and I then returned later to the Sheraton.  I had a quick look around outside the hotel – and across the road is the ‘Palace of Justice‘ plus a policeman in a raised box keeping an eye on the traffic and the pedestrian crossing (see photo) which was not what I would have expected.

The Sheraton hotel construction was quite interesting, with the rooms situated round an internal well with a sort of internal balcony for each floor. As we were on one of the upper floors it made an interesting picture looking down into the well. The night views across Lima were also quite spectacular.

Night at Lima Sheraton Hotel