General Info

[QUOTE=Dick Rambone]Is this airline any good? That is great now we can monger in Lima and then Rio....I was looking in Kayak.com and most trips from Lima to Rio were expensive and took a long time to get there.[/QUOTE]

I used to fly Gol all the time in Brasil. It's their version of Jet Blue, except it was a top-notch, tightly-run low cost outfit. No BS involved. No frills, no meals, no extra stuff, just on-time, and efficient. When I was using them, they were the preferred airline over such dinosaurs as Varig and TAM.

Plus, Gol had the hottest female staff in Brasil, from ticket counters, to gate agents, to flight attendants. And they were very friendly indeed.

I'd fly them again in a second.

[QUOTE=Screwed Up]....but also kinda sad because of Barranco's new closing hours. I can't believe they're doing this and it seems to be a trend that gains popularity. .....[/QUOTE]

Screwed Up:

A quick update. From what I understand, first hand and in the last two days,(and post to follow on this) is that shops, gas stations etc. have to stop selling alcohol by 11:00pm. Clubs and bars stop at 3:00pm and Suites of Barranco is a hotel - so the fuc* le ley.

Now - this of course could be a typical Peruvian response to the law - but it seemed to hold up good and I did careful research in a great many places!

Polvo

I'm planning on being in Lima during the first week of April. It seems like many businesses will be closed on the 5th and the 6th for Easter. Does anyone know what the impact on the hobby (as well as other things, i.e. clubs, restaurants) is? How dead is it going to be?

Thanks!

[QUOTE=Polvo]Screwed Up:

A quick update. From what I understand, first hand and in the last two days,(and post to follow on this) is that shops, gas stations etc. have to stop selling alcohol by 11:00pm. Clubs and bars stop at 3:00pm and Suites of Barranco is a hotel - so the fuc* le ley.

Polvo[/QUOTE]Theres a bright side to this new law gents, less drunk people lurking around, leaving me to monger more safely, and I generally think that this law will cut back on late night crime in some areas. Cant trust some people to be on their best behavior after theyve had a couple of shot, you know.

I am interested in the possibility of operating a cargo boat of about 25 meters in length on the Amazon River in Peru. This sort of boat carries both passengers and cargo. I have taken these "slow boats" that carry cargo on several occasions as a passenger. These boats seem to be always full of cargo and are appearently profitable.

I am wondering what are the chances of a gringo owning and operating a vessel like this. If you have a Peruvian partner, say a wife, would that help with the red tape?

I have also taken a boat from Ecuador to Iquitos on the Napo River, and this boat started out empty but filled rather quickly with bananas, vegetables, livestock, and agricultural stuff. It seems like these boats can barely handle the available cargo from the river communities.

Needless to say, this could also be a tailor-made mongering opportunity.
Seems like this could be a good way of making a living in Peru. I am just wondering how the other boat owners handle competition.
By the way, on my trip down the Napo, I have conversed with many chicas, but the places were so isolated that I hesitated to be dropped off at a riverside village and do some mongering while the next boat showed up.
There is no mobile phone service out there. Shortwave radio is the only way to raise Iquitos 500km away. So, an investment in shortwave radio is essential even if you are going to do self-styled jungle tour like this. Then you can call the port authorities in Santa Clotilde or Iquitos from the villages to make sure that the authorities know where you are. It's a long journey, but an unforgettable one.

The other concern: piracy, is not so much of an issue according to the captain as it used to be in years past.

Has anyone had these ideas for making a living in Peru?
Perhaps others, who would like to extend their stay in Peru, like me are interested in a partnership?
At this stage, I am inviting all those interested and have considered the pros and cons of such a venture to give their opinions.

Other possibilites: Certain fish are plentiful near the Peru/Ecuador border, but scarce (and expensive) in Iquitos around Easter. Put a few hundred kilos of this fish into the freezer on board, and you can make a tidy profit in Iquitos.

A monger buddy of mine has a fear of flying. He finds that a 10mg tablet of diazepan (generic form of valium) helps reduce his flight-related anixety considerably.
Question: does he need a prescription to get diazepan in Lima?
------------
And no, this is question is NOT related to recreational use. And my friend has no intention of returning to the States with the meds in his posession (except the one entering his tummy in the cab en route to the airport).

[QUOTE=Macmasher]Question: does he need a prescription to get diazepan in Lima? And no, this is question is NOT related to recreational use.[/QUOTE]Relax. They won't call the police for just asking, but they will probably tell you they can't deliver it without a prescription. Getting one is easy though, ask the parmacist whether they know of a general practionner nearby who could oblige. Tell the doc with a straight face you get panicky during flights and that you have it from friends or the Web that diazepam is what you need.

The US paranoia about diazepam is not shared by most countries, including Europe, where most docs will prescribe it without making a fuss. Alternatively, other benzos like bromazepam will work nearly as good, whatever the recreational nature of your usage.

What do you guys think about staying in the el centro area near plaza san martin? I've been there before but I was sleeping in miraflores.
I stayed in the old town of quito ecuador without any troubles and there seems to be way better rates for hotels.

Thank you.

Artisttyp

[QUOTE=XXL]Relax. They won't call the police for just asking, but they will probably tell you they can't deliver it without a prescription. Getting one is easy though, ask the parmacist whether they know of a general practionner nearby who could oblige. Tell the doc with a straight face you get panicky during flights and that you have it from friends or the Web that diazepam is what you need.

The US paranoia about diazepam is not shared by most countries, including Europe, where most docs will prescribe it without making a fuss. Alternatively, other benzos like bromazepam will work nearly as good, whatever the recreational nature of your usage.[/QUOTE]

I also get some anxiety when taking to the air.
Botica in Lima wont sell you without a prescription.
I just bought 30 diazapam for 8 soles in Trujillo, Peru in a mom and pop farmacia in downtown. It was easy as buying a bag of M&M's

I am buying a camera before my trip March 15th - April 6th and I'm not sure what to get. I was thinking of buying one of those Sony Digital Camcorders with a 30gb harddrive. I want to film the sights as well as the chicas. I have a regular digital cam that I'm taking with me also.

Any advice? I want to be able to contribute like everyone else. If anyone wants to hangout when I get there, PM me.

I tried to respond to your PM but your box is full again!
LB

If someone doesn't mind answering a few questions I would really appreciate it. They are all based on my notes from rttf. World travel 69 did a great job so I am pretty much well organized.

*This is my second trip to lima

1. Does the maria luisa now have in room safes or are they at the front desk and is there a charge ?

2. I really appreciated the post on the hostal/brothel near the polvo azules
market while shopping for cd's. Will this main road and hostal/chica area be obvious to me or do I wander around and see where my luck takes me ?

3. Any address for "gamarra" brothel in La Victoria ?

4. Would you say a taxi from miraflores to points of intrest such as barranco,el centro,san miguel and la victoria all cost about the same ?

5. Has anyone taken the bus from outside maria luisa to el centro. If so what bus?

6. When you take a SW from lince do you do the deed in a hotel close by or take her back to miraflores? Are they similar looking/acting to those on pizza alley?

I really appreciate it. I know this girl I met last time I was there so that will be a plus for me . I need to figure out how to have my own time as well. My past experiences like that have left me drained and with alot less money.
I will be in lima for a good two weeks .

Pharmacy at Metro supermarket in Miraflores said "you need a prescription."

The folks at a smaller, independent pharmacy (not far from the Maria Luisa) said "no problema" - twenty 10mg tabs for 8 soles.

As Yakov Smirnov once said, "What a country!"

[QUOTE=Macmasher]A monger buddy of mine has a fear of flying. He finds that a 10mg tablet of diazepan (generic form of valium) helps reduce his flight-related anixety considerably.
Question: does he need a prescription to get diazepan in Lima?
------------
And no, this is question is NOT related to recreational use. And my friend has no intention of returning to the States with the meds in his posession (except the one entering his tummy in the cab en route to the airport).[/QUOTE]

Checked into the ML last night, asked about safe. Clerk goes into closet, comes out with heavy, bulky electronic safe (too big for anyone to take from hotel w/o being noticed).

I programmed it with my OWN combination (she looked away) - and I took it to the room. No charge. No probem.

[QUOTE=Artisttyp]
1. Does the maria luisa now have in room safes or are they at the front desk and is there a charge ?
[/QUOTE]

When you walk out the back entrance (go to your left). When you cross the intersection there will be girls in the doorway on your left and also futher up the street. There are better girls elsewhere nearby but this is the easiest to explain.
LB