Month: October 2011

I LOVE BRUNCH!!! LOL

One day I woke up and looked at facebook and one of my friends was talking about how she was on her way to brunch. Hmm and you know this inspired a craving for American style brunch. So I searched for a place that had a minimum of pancakes and mimosas and was in the miraflores/barranco/san isidro area to no avail. But hmm of course the planner in me trotted over to my favorite local menu spot Rafo’s (I mean it’s on my corner and we go there at least twice a week). I told Rafo my idea of having an American brunch and he was game! So of course this means I had to plan a menu lol. And Matthew says to me “You like entertaining”, umm hello.

The menu I requested was:

Appetizers

• Fruit Salad
• Croissants, Toast, Danishes

Entree (Choose One)

• Hash-browns, Eggs, and Toast
• Pancakes and bacon
• French Toast and Bacon

Dessert

• Piccarones

Beverages

Coffee, Tea, Orange Juice for mimosas

I was told that they were not equipped for piccarones so that was nixed from the start. But I felt we needed some type of Peruvian item, and Rafo offered to make a Peruvian sausage sandwich (I can’t remember the name of it) instead. He said we can bring the champagne for the mimosas and it was 25 soles a person. Which was great. I sent out the Facebook event to told the ladies to please invite friends.

I ended up with about 10 RSVPs by the day of.  The day of the event I arrived at Rafos and he showed me the table – he had set it up so that it was absolutely lovely and there were beautiful roses on the table as well. The restaurant also doubles as an antique store inside part of an old mansion adds to the character that it already has. Plus the entire staff is pretty great too.

So brunch was absolutely awesome, the food was great, the ladies were great, and I made two new friends.

Hello everyone! My mother and father -in-law are coming to town in November to visit us and I recently composed an email to them about places to stay that are near us in the Miraflores and Barranco districts of Lima. Please keep in mind that the hotel price ranges are from around $59 – $125 maybe more – so this is not for people who are ok with staying in a hostel or something 3 star or less. Also keep in mind that I have never stayed at these hotels but have received the suggestions from expat friends and the lovely expat community on facebook “Expatriats in Peru” http://www.facebook.com/groups/expatriatesinperu/10150343262652971/?notif_t=group_activity#!/groups/expatriatesinperu/

Hotels In Barranco (our neighborhood) that I received recommendations of:

• Hotel Barranco  http://www.hotelbarranco.pe/English.html (This is not open now =(  maybe in the future)
• Second Home Peru http://www.secondhomeperu.com/ : We stopped by second home peru and it was very interesting looking – Tons of great art and a backyard on the ocean.  That would have to be booked soon. The only problem is that there would be a room change involved. Because it is mostly booked. I believe it was $125 a night
• 3B http://www.3bhostal.com/  This is a bed and breakfast

Hotels In Miraflores that I received recommendations for (all are good locations):

• Hotel Britania:  http://www.expedia.com/Lima-Hotels-Hotel-Britania-Miraflores.h3818941.Hotel-Information#
• The Double Tree: http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/LIMPUDT-DoubleTree-El-Pardo-by-Hilton-Hotel-Lima/index.do
• Habitat: http://www.habitathotelperu.com/  I’ve passed by this hotel a billion times .. its a great location; however, the person that recommended it told me that you are required to leave your key there everytime you leave the hotel. But the pictures look really nice and the price is supposed to be reasonable around $70 a night.
• Casa Andina http://www.casa-andina.com/peru/hotels/miraflores-hotels/classic-miraflores-centro/hotel.php
• Ibis Hotel http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-6971-ibis-larco-miraflores/index.shtml (A European chain)
  

Some things to consider:

• Second Home Peru/ 3B – these are botique hotels not luxury .. i think they are very nice its your preference I think Second Home is beautiful 3B seems very modern and trendy.  There are tons of restaurants close to Second Home Peru.
• Miraflores:

Trip Advisor info (photos included) http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294316-d311718-Reviews-Miraflores-Lima.html

• Tons of tourist shops
• Tons of shopping
• Very modern – you will feel like you are in an American city
• It is a touristy place – not in a bad way
• Parque Kennedy is there
•  which is a place where a lot of people walk around
• there are often markets set up
• there are popcorn, dessert, and sandwich vendors in the park
• occasionally very randomly there will be live music, people dancing, or a comedy show
• It has a more energetic feeling to it
• Depending on the hotel you will be anywhere from 5 minutes away from us to 10 minutes by cab
• There is a lot to do there with just the two of you .. if you’d like some “couple time”
• There are a lot of tourist and 5 star restaurants

• Barranco

Read Trip Advisor info (photos included): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294316-d548265-Reviews-Barranco-Lima.html

• It’s where we live (so of course we love it)
• There are great restaurants here
• It is a walking town – everything is close by
• There is more graffiti here but it doesn’t bother me
• There are a lot of art galleries
• There are some theatrical clown performances, a few muscians here and there
• Its “Bohemian”
• There is a main square with a fountain where you can relax and also a very beautiful park that is less busy than Parque Kennedy

I think that sums it up and gives you everything you need to make a decision =)!!!!