My First Peruvian Soccer Match

Well, actually Football, but not to confuse anyone at home in Canada and the US.  Edwin, from Haku tours hooked us up with Peru Football Tours, a fantastic company in Lima that takes Gringos, that are too nervous to go to the giant stadiums alone with 45000 Peruvians.  Taking the tour was totally worth it, and Josh and I had our friends Colleen and Keith and Matt join us, along with several other tourists from all over the world.  We got picked up from our apartment by Luis Eduardo, in his new Audi A5.  I was NOT complaining about that, but it was a little cramped with me and Colleen and Keith in the backseat!  We met the rest of the van of people at the San Isidro Country Club Hotel and we were on our merry way.  We got beer and snacks on the bus too, so that was pretty awesome.
The match we attended took place at the Estadio Nacional, the largest stadium in Peru near the downtown that holds about 55000 people.  Pretty huge. It is actually a really nice, newly renovated stadium that seemed way easier to get around than any stadium I have been in before.

Alianza Lima and Sporting Cristal were the two teams that were playing.  The are two of the 16 top tier teams that play in Peru.   Josh and I (and our guide Luis) are all Alianza fans, so we came with our jerseys, but we found out that half of the Alianza section of the stadium is closed due to the Metallica stage being set up for the concert on Thursday, so we had to sit in the Sporting Cristal section.  This meant no jerseys for safety reasons.  Unfortunately I only wore a somewhat inappropriate (for a white girl in Peru) tank top because I was just going to slip my jersey overtop, so I spent the game a little uncomfortable. It actually was not nearly as bad as I though in the 30000 men and one white girl sense.  No different than anywhere else, just the "what the hell are you doing here" kind of looks.  I think that fact that they don't sell booze at the stadium (I was actually really happy about this) makes it a little more laid back.
The match started off with a lot of noise and music and fire and confetti and gallons flying everywhere.  So much fun!  I love how passionate the people in Peru are, it is a different level of sport fan than you will find in North America. Football really is life.

Colleen, Keith and Luis Eduardo

I was a little disappointed in the food choices... bags of Lays plain chips and chicken sandwiches.  Although there was some sort of yummy sausage dog things and popcorn at the concession.  And you can't buy water!  Only Coca Cola!

the roster.

I did not mind watching the warmup!

Some of the Sporting Cristal section (light blue)

The start of the match on the deck up from us.

Little kids came out on the field to start the game like they do at hockey games at home.  Too adorable!

fire getting bigger!

The Alianza Lima side across from us.  Insane!

Me with a giant Sporting Cristal balloon thing, only because there were no Alianza ones on our side.

Matt with his Sporting Cristal balloon, he cheered for them. Boo.

The match started out with Alianza scoring a GOLLLLLLLLL (how they say it here but with a lot more LLLLLLs) just a couple minutes in.  The next one was scored at the very start of the second half while we were still in line for popcorn.  There were 2 more goals throughout the second half and the final score ended up being 2-2.  Unfortunately there is no extra time in these matches as they are not finals.  

In this picture you can see the goaltender and the guy closest to him running toward each other.  The picture below is the result of that.

See above description.

Scoreboard after the first goal.

The end of the game.

Right after the game is over, the National Police surround the officials and escort them off the field so no one tries to get revenge.

We headed back out of the stadium, and a couple people stopped to buy jerseys (of the wrong team) and then back on the bus.  I still can't get over how the place was not crowded at all,  you didn't have to push through or get pushed through. 

Check out the TV broadcast of all of the goals that were scored HERE.

And some of the craziness of the Alianza Lima fans HERE.

There were a lot of police and police dogs everywhere!  So cute!

We had a fantastic experience and I want to go back to another match ASAP!  But this time sit on the Alianza side so I can fit in (fit in is a loose term).  If you have the chance in Lima, check it out.

Peru Football Tours

Fab Friday Faves 3.14.14.

Happy Friday my darlings!  I've had a busy week, and like usual, I'm not sure doing what.  Sunday, I went to my Montreal friend Vanessa's for a Canada party (see below) and then Jules and I went to Madam Tusan for dinner, and then back to the Canada party.   I had acupuncture on Tuesday... while I was walking there I ran into a 3 foot concrete post and hurt my knee.  Totally not my fault haha.  Yesterday, I headed out to a community on the very outskirts of Lima called Cieneguilla.  This is where my friend Ericka lives with her two children and her mom and grandparents.  It is a beautiful area, and they run a hostel in a yard with many different fruit trees and birds and animals.  It is located along the banks of one of the many rivers that run to Lima and nestled in the beginning of the Andes mountains.  It took forever to get there by cab, but was so worth it.  Nilma and her son Josh were also there for a short while and we ate one of my favorite dishes, made by Ericka's mom, Aji de Gallina which was amazing and had a delish birthday cake made by Nilma.  We walked down to the river and swam in the pool.  Too much fun.  Ericka, the kids and I came back to Miraflores after and enjoyed an amazing meal at IK Restaurante.  We then had a sleepover so that they didn't have to do the 1.5 hour cab ride at midnight.  I will have a whole blog about my day at Ericka's coming this week.

Sunday is a big day for us, we are going with a few friends to watch the 2 top Peruvian football (soccer) teams take each other on at the National Stadium.  Then on Thursday we are going back there to see Metallica!  It has been years since I have seen them so I am pretty pumped.  We will see how I do in a crazy Peruvian Stadium with 60000 people!

So here are my Favorite things of the week!  Check back again next week!

                         

1.  So as I was getting a tour of Ericka's families home, and all the fruit trees, I noticed something looking at me from an avocado tree... A huge crocodile.  Obviously I had a minor freak out, and her 96 year old grandfather thought it was the funniest thing ever.  He had brought the crocodile back with him from the jungle in the 40's when he was in the army.  Pretty amazing, but my heart was racing for an hour!

2.  When Colleen and I were in Chinatown on Tuesday, we saw a guy set up on the side of the street (nothing new about that) with these amazing wire sculptures.  They are crafted from one long piece of wire and he has some amazing different designs.  Check out his Facebook page Martes Moon.  Oh and this cost me about 9 dollars.

3.  So obviously I had to get this notebook.  I found it in the discount back to school section of Wong.  School started last week so I was hunting for a bargain and how could I not get a sparkly, princess notebook?

4.  There are my new sunglasses I got on my birthday at Polvos Azules.  The white are "Ray Bans" and the pink and clear are "Carreras" (note the quotations marks, because these were bought at the black market)

5.  On Sunday, I enjoyed a Canada party with 2 other Canadians, and American and a German.  We made poutine and mad maple Syrup and Whiskey.  Sooooo good !

Today I am linking up with:

Lulu @ Simply Lulu Style

Lauren @ The Lauren Elizabeth

Lauren @ Style Elixir

Jennie @ The Dairy of a Real Housewife

Casey @ We Took the Road Less Traveled

Lima's Chintown and Acupuncture Adventures

About a month and a half ago, Colleen and I were on a tour with our friend Edwin, and we got to talking about alternative healing.  Since I was suffering from a terrible parasite at the time and was having no luck with traditional medicine, Edwin recommended a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner that he knew.  In true Peruvian style, we made a quick detour to Chinatown and stopped in to visit him.  Dr. Francisco Chung's family has been practicing medicine and acupuncture for generations and he is also written about in a book, that states he is one of the last true traditional healers in Peru.  I told Francisco that I had picked up a parasite in the jungle, and my symptoms and about 10 seconds later he wrote me out a prescription.  Not even kidding, the next day after taking these pills, I was totally cured.  I have been totally fine since.  

Strangely enough, my friend Amanda, from NYC just happened to also be there at the same time getting acupuncture done.  She volunteered to bring Colleen and I back the following week to show us how to get there on the Metropolitano (the major bus line in the city).  So we booked spots for Acupuncture and anxiously waited for the next Tuesday to come.  

Finally when the day arrived, I was soooo nervous.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I get nervous and stressed about pretty much everything so this came as no surprise.  The bus ride is really no different than taking the subway in a large city, expect there are the odd lurching stops for straggling pedestrians or crazy cab drivers.

It was about a 30 minute ride, and when we got to our stop, about another 15 minute walk into the heart of Chinatown.  I am not sure what I was expecting when I got there, but it was similar to any other Chinatown in any other city in the world, and actually quite beautiful.  And of course PACKED with people.  

After a bit of a tour around the main area, we still had some time to spare before we had to be at Francisco's office, so we decided to check out one of the large markets.  The markets in Peru are amazing, and this one was no different.  You ca seriously get ANYTHING you could ever imagine.  From food to clothing to housewares, to craft supplies.  You name it, it is there.  And dirt cheap.  The bottom floor was the meat floor.  Any kind of meat you can get in Peru, hanging and very fresh.  A little too fresh for me to be honest.  Not the biggest fan of seeing my chickens guts before I buy it.  Or still moving seafood.  

There is a whole alley of plastics and vinyls.  honestly I am not sure of all the uses for this but there must be a huge market for them!

 Further down we found places that manufacture things like chip bags and cereal boxes.  You can have anything printed on them that you want.  Some of the largest brands in Peru get their packaging from these places.

We found the party supply section, filled with princess posters and Disney themed plates and cups.

Further down the line, the clothing starts.  Prom dresses, wedding dresses, tuxedos in every size and color and design you could ever come up with.

I have shown pictures before, but the mannequins here are the most terrifying thing I have ever seen in my life.  Honestly, in my nightmares.

This storeowner insisted I have my photo taken with him.  Several photos actually.  He really went in for the cuddle.  He made sure to tell me not to tell his wife though.

Always one of my favorite areas, the dried goods.  Here you can get any sort of spice, or seed bean ever.  I picked up a quarter kilo of shredded coconut for about 4 soles (just over a dollar).

The undergarment section.

We walked back down and found Francisco's office again.  he is a middle aged Peruvian/Chinese man, that speaks decent english.  Thank goodness. Always makes things easier.  He is also hilarious, and in true Peruvian fashion, manages to throw in quite a few "compliments" as he is putting needles all over my body.  These photos are from my first time getting the treatment done.  I look pretty calm compared to what I was actually feeling.  My main purpose for going was to see if it would help my migraines.  After a my first couple treatments I have been migraine free for almost 6 weeks (I say migraine free, but I don't count the ones I have gotten from a few too many glasses of wine of Pisco sours).  That is the longest amount of time I have went without a migraine in a few years.

After about an hour of treatment, we went for another wander, to get back to our bus stop.  There are piles of street vendors selling everything from food to nail clippers to trinkets to apparently hand held sewing machines.  I am still kicking myself that I never got one.  They were pretty cool.

Hard boiled Quail eggs.  These are actually really good, but I can't bring myself to eat one from the side of the road.

The Buddha vendor and incense vendor.

This girl was selling puppies on the side of the street.  They were adorable but I'm really not sure that I like this idea very much.  

These boys carrying the paper towel were so cute, and were not overly impressed I was trying to take their picture.

The street art, as it is all over Lima is amazing.  

Creepy robot guy.

The view of the traffic from the metropolitan on our way back.  Much quicker to take the bus since it has it's own lane.  

Like I said,  the acupuncture has worked wonders.  I will see how it goes long term, but I am so happy with the results right now.  It is also very relaxing and doesn't hurt, although some places he hits really do feel like an electric shock.  If anyone with migraines is reading this, give it a try, it can't hurt.  If you are in Lima, Francisco's contact info is as follows. 

Francisco Chung

Jr. Paruro 851 office 123

open Tuesday to Saturday 11:30-7

telf: 427-3119

cel: 99-935-5912

franciscochung1960@hotmail.com