On our way to Machu Picchu, Lima was our first pit stop upon arriving in Peru. We only had a couple of days, so we focused on a few key sites, as well as the most important thing when in Lima — FOOD! Lima was our first stop on our memorable 6-week trip in South America. We had a long-haul flight, so we splurged on our hotel — the 5-star J.W. Marriott in Miraflores. It was still a good deal considering it was priced like a regular 4-star in North America, and it was worth every penny! The kids were welcomed with cute teddies, we had chocolates and champagne (always a good pairing), and we spent a good hour admiring our ocean view while paragliders flew by our window. We were also just across Larcomar Mall, and a block away from the #1 restaurant in Latin America, Central. Win-win! We arrived early from a long-haul flight, and hunger took over. So we crossed the street to Larcomar, an indoor and outdoor shopping center set on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We don’t go to the mall very often, but if it looks like this, we might reconsider. Our first meal in Peru is brunch at Gaston Acurio’s casual eatery, Tanta. It was a tough choice with their selection of baked goods and desserts, so we got a little bit of everything! It was drizzling during the day, and jetlag took over, so we decided our time was best spent taking a loooooong nap. We woke up hungry yet again, so we headed over to the Barranca district for dinner at the popular local bar & cevicheria, Canta Rana. Gotta love vacations! We had reserve energy from our long nap, so we went to Parque de la Reserva, home to the Magic Water Circuit, the largest fountain complex in the world. With 13 interactive fountains, it’s definitely a highlight and a must-see when in Lima. The next day, the kids and Brood Papa went back to sleep after our hearty hotel brunch, so Brood Mama slipped out for some “mom-me” time. Forgot the name of the salon, but would never forget the view. Ever since trying La Mar in San Francisco, we were set on visiting Gaston Acurio’s flagship restaurant, Astrid Y Gaston. Widely regarded as the chef and restaurant that started the modern Peruvian food revolution, the menu was an exciting taste of Peruvian flavors, with fresh ingredients sourced locally…
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We're Ron, Dawne, Dylan and Reese -- a family of four Puerto Rico transplants from California. Every day and every journey is a learning opportunity for us, whether it's on an exotic trip to the Galapagos or a regular trip to the grocery store. We believe in collecting memories, not things and constantly feed our insatiable wanderlust. Join us in our world-schooling adventures here, on