Back Home…
I had the chance to head back home for a little over ten days in late September and early October, staying—mostly—within a five-mile radius of where I grew up in Miraflores.
My first week was largely devoted to family commitments, which limited how much I could get out during the day. Still, I managed a handful of afternoon and evening outings to nearby restaurants—never a bad thing in Lima. Along the way I revisited a few longtime favorites, including a late lunch at La Mar and dinner at Larcomar’s excellent chifa restaurant, Maestro Tzu.
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Cebiche Clasico
No trip to Miraflores in Lima is complete without a visit to Cebicheria La Mar
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Chifa
Chifa is the fusion of Cantonese recipes with traditional Peruvian ingredients. Simply delicious…
This trip was primarily about spending time with family, and I traveled solo. Because of that, I scaled back the kinds of activities I would normally plan with others and focused instead on staying close to home and moving at a slower pace. Fortunately, Miraflores—and the surrounding districts—are incredibly walkable. Over the ten days I was there, I logged nearly 50 miles on foot and just under 40 by bike. Here are a few highlights from those days.
The Murals
Beyond its ocean views and well-kept parks, Miraflores is home to a growing collection of street art. Murals appear unexpectedly along otherwise quiet streets, adding color and character to everyday corners of the neighborhood. These were some of the ones that caught my eye during my daily walks.
The Valley
Every time I return to Lima, I try to fit in at least one bike ride. This time around, I headed south toward Pachacamac. While most visitors stop at the impressive ruins along the Pan-American Highway, far fewer venture inland into the Lurín Valley, El Prado, or Las Lomas.
The valley is crisscrossed with dirt roads and trails that are both challenging and exhilarating. Below are a few snapshots from El Malpaso, one of the region’s most iconic trails, named after the small settlement it passes through. The trail follows an irrigation channel carved into the hillside, often high above the river valley. It demands constant attention—one misstep to either side can have serious consequences.
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Malpaso
Riding over an elevated boardwalk along the Malpaso trail in Pachacamac
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Hillside Safety
Riding along a bench cut on a Pachacamac hillside
A quick video edit of the ride courtesy of GoPro’s Quik App.
A Quik edit of my recent ride along the Malpaso trail in Pachacamac, Lima Peru
The Hills of La Molina
Unfortunately, I only had access to a bike during the first weekend of the trip and didn’t have one with me when I visited La Molina’s Parque Ecológico. Even so, I set out on a short—steep and cloud-covered—hike to see the work local cyclists have been doing to build new trails in this popular urban riding area.
That short outing barely scratched the surface of what’s available, but it offered a glimpse into the scale and potential of the trail network. Below are a few images, along with a short video edit created using GoPro’s Quik app. I’m already looking forward to a future trip when I can return with a bike and ride some of these ribbons myself.
Getting started
The long switchbacks
Turn with exposure
Start of the expert bike downhill
A quick video edit of the ride courtesy of GoPro’s Quik App.
A Quik edit of my recent hike along the Eco Park trails in La Molina, Lima Peru
More Miraflores
A few more moments from my daily walks—small scenes and details that make Miraflores feel familiar no matter how much time passes between visits.
Ms. Elizabeth, our local fruit lady
The revitalized "Calle de las Pizzas"
Urban squirrel
Lowering the flag for the night
El Panadero
I took the GoPro out for my “last” walk of the trip, A stroll down El Malecon to El Parque del Amor and up la Bajada Balta…
One More Meal…
And just like that, the trip came to an end—but not before one last stop at one of my favorite traditional Peruvian restaurants, Panchita. A fitting way to close out another return home.
Got things started with a Pisco Sour and Agua (sin gas)
Papa a La Huancaina to get things rolling
Anticuhos (de corazón) and a Cuzqueña Dorada to wrap up the main meal
Picarones for dessert
An espresso to close things out
This journal entry is a compiled summary of notes and impressions originally recorded in my Moleskine travel journal. Whenever I travel, I bring it along to jot things down so I don’t forget small details. I also carry a small Bluetooth photo printer to print select images (not the ones shown here) and paste them directly into the journal using adhesive-backed photo paper.
It’s a simple, tactile process that complements the slower pace of film photography and helps preserve memories beyond the screen.
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