LIMA DAY 13: Christmas Eve. The Biggest Tamale Ever

December 24, 2016

What we would call Christmas Eve is the big day in Peru. There's lots of last-minute hubbub, but people celebrate on the night of the 24th, so restaurants are closed. Casinos are closed; the whole place is kind of stood on its end. So I made do.

I started with a Causa stuffed with what we would call Crab and Shrimp Salad and a Leche de Tigre at the Mercado in Surquillo. Then I had a Latte next door to the Apartment, and a little later, a Chicharron Sandwich (picked up earlier) and some Cabanossi (basically, a really great Peruvian Slim Jim).

Later, I headed out to Magdalena to take in some local color. I ran into Diego, and we split a Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding). I saw the Largest Tamale Ever -- the Tamale Ladies use it to give out samples of their wares. I picked up two for later (normal sized). You can see a normal-sized Tamale in the upper corner of the photo.

Since it was Christmas Eve, I had some Traditional Chinese Food (House Special Egg Drop Soup and Duck with Garlic and Mushrooms) and later on, the two Tamales from Magdalena.

Nothing today was fancy, but all of it was excellent.

Sunday, December 25

Off to the airport early in the morning. My regular airport restaurant is under construction, so I wound up somewhere else and ordered some Salchipapas for my farewell meal. Salchipappas are another Peruvian specialty that's mostly (I think) for kids. They are French Fries with sliced up Hot Dogs on top. Well, everyone is a kid on Christmas, so that's what I had.

That's it for this trip. Back home now, an attempting to make some space for the upcoming March trip.