Moving around to different hostels... muy importante!

After the rooster, stray dogs, and ceviche at the first hostel I was in, my gut told me I should move to another hostel in another area of Lima. It's not that I'm opposed to seeing the gritty areas of a city, but being that this is my first stop and I'm slightly on edge, I wanted to go to a place where I felt more at home.

Miraflores is considered the social center of Lima, with lots of shops and restaurants, and a giant park in the middle. The description reminded me of Central Park in NYC, so I got a recommendation for a hostel there called The Flying Dog (another sign I was meant to go there -- it has the word "dog" in its name!) and made a phone reservation. How to get there? Taxi: 30 - 40 soles ($10-15) Bus: 2 soles ($0.70). Um, bus, thanks.

After careful directions from the front desk staff at hostel #1, I nervously walked to the "bus stop" a dirt patch next to the road where "buses" (in the U.S. it would be called a small, cramped van) kind of stop, some guy yells a million things, and people jump on as quickly as possible. I got on, paid for 2 seats because my pack is so big and it takes up its own seat, and looked out the window as we went through downtown Lima. It's not a very pretty city, I didn't pass much interesting architecture, but I was psyched to get to Miraflores after reading about it.

When I arrived, YES! Awesome! There were stores, restaurants, people with dogs (this time on leashes), food stands, flowers, and the large park I had read about, Parque Kennedy, strewn with flowers and park benches. I got to The Flying Dog, checked in, and got the private room I had reserved. So what if I had to share a bathroom at this hostel, I had my own balcony!!

Honestly, it was so important to move. My mood has changed, I feel safer, and I've met a bunch of people already. Sadly, I met someone from Texas whose last night was last night, so

we only had time to go out once, but it was great to go out with someone who I could communicate well with and who could share what she had learned while she had stayed here in Lima.

Now, off to explore a temple that is apparently within walking distance. Let's hope I don't get lost. But if I do, at least I'm not scared to be lost in Miraflores.