April 22nd, 2013

A quite wonderful day in Lima. The familiarly dreary early morning fog lifts into a beautiful sunny day. This is not quite the usual winter fog season (I usually come in July to Peru).
I spend the day at the PUCP (Pontificad Universidad La Catolica) in the company of Eric Cosio and Norma Salinas, as we discuss plans for the forthcoming campaign and our collaboration in general.
I give a seminar in the university about our Andes work, which is quite well received. Eric is very welcoming and very supportive - the university helps immensely in getting our equipment through customs and also in advancing us cash while our money transfers from Oxford come through. Things would be so much tougher without such strong and proactive local support.
Lima is not the most charming of cities overall but it has its magical spots, and its food is fantastic. We have lunch in the Museo Larcomar among ancient Peruvian erotic art. The new lab space for our project is right next to an old Inca road. And dinner is in an excellent restaurant in the grounds of an old pre-Inca sacred huaca. There I have possible the best cerviche I have ever tasted, a powerful yet subtle fusion of fish, spices, herbs and lemon in perfect combination. They say that Lima is now the gastronomic capital of South America and I can believe it.