LIMA DAY 10: BAM!!!!

Monday, December 22

Q: How many days can a grown man go with only four hours sleep, and eating everything in his path, before he hits the wall and totally falls apart?

A: Eight and a half.

... and eight and a half days happened right at lunchtime today.

It started out normal enough. I walked down to Per-Lizza and had my standard Empanada Breakfast.

In a little twist, I traded an Empanada for a Papa Rellena, but that's pretty much all the same.

I took a nice, healthy, long walk down to Barranco at lunchtime, and I randomly popped into Cebicheria Los Delfines.

They seemed normal enough, so I ordered a Leche De Pantera (Cebiche Juice with Black Clams) and an order of Pulpo a la Parilla (Grilled Octopus).

The Leche went down fine (it was really spicy), and then I started on the Octopus. Two bites in... BAM!

It was like a truck hit me. I don't know what or why, but I couldn't eat any of it.

It was delicious, and I like Octopus, so I continued trying, and I forced down about a quarter of the Pulpo, and didn't touch the Salad or the Potatoes. I got the whole thing wrapped up, fought myself to make it home on the bus, and gave the food to my doorman. Upstairs, I thought I felt fine, but I rested a little anyway... Vanessa was coming over later.

I was awake, feeling better and in what I thought was good shape for Vanessa's visit. We met at Starbucks and hung for a while, and finally decided to get something for dinner. I made the mistake of giving her an option, and she said that she wanted Pizza.

Pizza is not one of Peru's gastronomic strong points. I knew a couple of places that did a good job, but they were all over town. We wound up going to Mama Lola, not very far from my apartment.

I let her pick and she ordered a Pizza with Sausage and Ham.

I had a slice... OK. I had a second slice and... BAM! Couldn't eat it. Felt like I had pouned 547 slices already.

Vanessa didn't seem to have a problem. She put away three of them, and took the rest home for later, or tomorrow, or whatever.

Later, I headed out to see some friends before Christmas. What did they do? They had a Chocolatada.

Yeah, I had some Hot Chocolate. I had some Panetton. One fo the guys had a sandwich shop, and he brought some Chicharron (Pork). I had one small piece of Pork. Panetton is really horrible, but a little better when you dip it in Hot Chocolate. Last year, somebody gave me some with Butter all over it... even worse.

BAM!! I felt like I git hit by a truck.

I got up, announced that I going home to bed, wished everyone a Merry Christmas, and went home to bed.

I laid in bed and tossed and turned and finally fell asleep at 10:30. I woke up at 1:00, feeling like the truck backed up over me, and finished me off.

I kind of slept all night. Kind of didn't.

Here's my steps.